The whole Quran has this unbelievable way of amazing me. Its beautifully poetic verses and breath taking words just settle in my heart and mind so warmly. Though the whole Quran has the power to make me feel like everything will be okay, there is one verse that absolutely wins my heart. That verse is "On no soul doth Allah place a burden greater than it can bear" 2:286. (This verse is also repeated in 6:152, 7:42 and 65:7).
I can not think of any other verse in the Quran that empowers me as much as this one does. This is a verse I often reflect on in times of stress, sadness and need. Think about it. Just repeat the words.
On NO soul does Allah place a burden GREATER than it can bear.
Now, tell me, what is it that we can not overcome? What test is too much to bear? What final exam, what major decision, what grief of a loved one passing away, do we not eventually overcome? The answer is simple - none.
This verse really hit me at a time I needed it most. For the last couple of years, I have been suffering from Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder, OCD. It is a disorder that effects millions of people, and is due to a chemical imbalance in the brain.
This disorder caused me to have many unnecessary thoughts. I would repeatedly replay incidents over and over in my head. The type I have is more of a mental OCD, rather than a physical type. However, I would sometimes encounter physical anxiety. For example, sometimes I felt I had to touch something a certain amount of times or repeat things.
The hardest challenge was when I came to have difficulties in making wudu, the purification washing before performing a prayer. I was always under the impression that my wudu was not good enough or that I missed washing a spot. I would literally stand in front of the sink repeating my wudu until I thought I had it perfect. The same would happen with my prayers. I would pray the same prayer 3 times just to make sure it was "perfect".
Little did I know that on one particularly rough day, I would be inspired. I was feeling very down because of the OCD. I just could not handle it. It is hard to explain to someone who does not have it, it is just so frustrating because it seems like an easy thing to handle, but for one who has OCD it is incredibly exhausting.
So, I am standing in front of the sink, wondering to myself why it is so difficult to just be content with the things I do. I was so angry. So upset. Until the phone rang. It was my brother, calling from his college dorm.
My mom picked up the phone and spoke with him. I assume she told him that I was having a rough day, so he asked to talk to me. When I got on the phone, all he said was, "Go look in the Quran in chapter 2, verse 286".
So I went and picked up my Quran that he had recently bought me. I flipped through the pages until I came to the verse. Then I stared at the words and read them in my head. "On no soul does Allah place a burden greater than it can bear." I had to fight back tears. I actually felt like Allah had written those words just for me.
It was that day that I really understood what those words meant. I still reflect on the words every time I need to. So I want to tell you all, my brothers and sisters, let those remarkable words settle in your hearts and minds. Always remember that there is nothing we can not overcome. Allah said so.
(By the way, OCD can be controlled, please reach out to a doctor if you feel you need too. Always remember Allah is watching over you).
Comments
Hey Jacob,
Hey Jacob,
The fact that you are still alive and trying to find a solution to your problems is the understanding of that verse. Plus you must remember that Hadith of the Prophet s.a.w. "The greater the tribulation, the greater the reward. When Allah loves people, He tests them. So whoever is content, for him is pleasure; and whoever is discontent, for him is displeasure.”". Seek help from Allah for all your problems and have patience. For even your patience is rewarded.
Answer to your issue and clarification
Assalaamu aleikum vv
How are you ..?
I'm giving this answer according to my knowledge and understanding..
This Quran Verse: Allah says that No any soul will be burdened more than it can bear "
Which means Allah makes us understand that which ever tests comes to us, we will be able to go through it without a deadlined capacity.
Which means all humans are created in such way where they can bare there own Tests.
Not only this matter, our overall life span and the things we do watch eat drink and talk think everything is a test.. whether we do it in the proper permissble way.. So this Quran verse Teaches us that Any Man kind can bare it's own Tests and get a solution by striving towards Allah's help and guidance!
Also if you read more Quran, You will get more knowledge and Shifa to all your illnesses brother No doughts!
Allah is great!!!
Stay strong and relax brother!
Love you and Tk care be healthy ❤😊
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Salaam Jacob, I am so sorry
Salaam Jacob, I am so sorry to hear you have had to endure so much pain. Ocd entered my life in around 2001 and it has caused me immense pain and isolation. There have been several points when I have not been able just leave my room for months and months at a time. Ordinary everyday tasks become huge challenges to surmount. So, even though you feel and experience such loneliness, isolation and a sense of desolation, know that there are so many going through similar ordeals and trials — each alone in their room etc. I too have found the pain so overwhelming at times that I have also prayed for the relief and release via death. Even on the days and during the phases when we feel we can’t go on, we still survive and that’s why you were alive to write your comment and I am alive to reply to your comment. Even when it feels unbearable, we somehow get through, even though not in the way and to the degree we wish for. This means that technically we are able to bear this burden. That does not however make it feel any easier or lighter. However, you can perhaps take solace in the fact that Allah has such high expectations of you — He gives the hardest battles to His best soldiers. He knows and sees your pain and He will inshaAllah reward you immensely for it in the afterlife. In the meanwhile, know that He is capable of lifting any burden even during this lifetime. I pray He has mercy on you and on me and that He blesses is with deep healing that sets us free. Also, know that there is a Hadith that states that even the smaller suffering and pain (even so much as the prick of a thorn) that a believer has to bear, becomes a means of expiation of his sins. Also, another Hadith shares that in the afterlife, when believers see the reward for the believers who had to endure suffering in their worldly life, they will want to go back and wish for their skins to be cut up so that they may have the kind of rewards that Allah bestows on the believers who suffered.
I know that it’s been several years since you wrote your comment but I just happened to come across it today.
OCD
My dear brother in Islaam. May Allah have mercy upon us all. The mere fact that you say if it wasn't a sin you would of left along time ago should be proof that this verse is exactly how it should be. Allah hasn't burdened you with more than which you can bear. Allah tests his strongest soldiers for paradise isn't easy to gain. May Allah reward you in both this life and in Jannah Al Firdous. This life is just a temporary journey and Allah will reward you for even a pin prick of pain you have suffered in this life. Please keep your Imaan strong, pray Salah and do Zikar and my brother always remember things could always be worse, I say this with respect and empathy. Never give up. Please try to get support from your GP and I will pray for you and all those brothers and sisters reading this post please read Darood shareef at least once as Sadka.
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Prayers
Brother am really saddened and i pray with all my heart for ur dunya and akhirah. But keep in mind this world is temporary and it is said that when we will see rewards of our sufferrings in jannah, we will say ohh i wish my skin & flesh was scratched/lacerated in dunya meaning thereby that this temporary suffering has infinite eternal reward only with the right set of mind and that is a grateful mind. When we take years and years thanking Allah only for our eyes then we takes years and years thanking Allah only for our speech and so on while concentrating less and less on our sufferings but easier said then done. Ur suffering is great and its very difficult but we can try being grateful and as Allah promises that He will bless the grateful one with more blessings so He takes away ur sufferings one by one in sha Allah and ameen.
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let me
Dear who ever you are, kindly understand ...in your own words you said 'i would have committed suicide but I did not coz so n so..''....that speaks for you..you know that exactly means your burden has been carried away by you...but ofcore I salute you for your quest for survival sfzy786@gmail.com Call me your friend . Byee
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GOD Bless you
GOD Bless you
Hey brother Jacob. I found
Hey brother Jacob. I found this page searching for relief. What you wrote brought it to me. You are a hero and actually a living example that the verse is true and real. You are still here,, surviving and inspiring some one like me to pull through my troubles and keep my head up. Everyone has a calling in life , maybe this is yours. To show us and inspire us that it’s not so bad when we think it can’t get any worse.. thank you for your words, they helps me greatly. May Allah grant you a place in paradise.
zikar
Brother the verse that you have mentioned gives you courage that if you are under duress due to various reasons, God has blessed you with the power to overcome it. However, the actual cure for diseases which are more spiritual than physical lies wihtin another ayat of Quran..ala bizikrillah e litatmainal quloob...the meaning of which is ...the peace of heart lies in zikar of Allah..so my humble suggestion is.. beat obsessive compulsive disorder with obsessive compulsive zikar...one specific technique which i practiced in the past is specifically useful in this regard...practicing zikar with breath...close your eyes in sitting prayer position or whatever postion you deem comfortable..and start taking deep breath inside imagining that you are inhaling word Allah with it...and then start exhaling it by imagining that you are exhaling word HOO with it...increase the pace of this zikar just like you increase the pace of a car through excelator..you will find it difficult initially but overtime you will start loving it..the actual fruits of this exercise will start coming when you will do it with such an intensity that start sweating...besides that when you are comfortably sitting in your room alone.. focus on your breath...just focus on it coming in and going out.. mindfulness they call it...(if you have read rumi you might know that he urges again and again to close your eyes and look inside).. this is one way to look into your self.. May Allah bless every muslim brother and sister and every human being struggling with OCD with peace of heart and above all with obsessive ishq of Allah-the ultimate aim of this life..
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Burdens
As salaamu 'alaykum brother,
What I understand from the verse which says that Allah swt does not burden us with more than we can bear, is that if we feel burdened by something then it's we who put it there, not Allah swt. So, by knowing it's our own self that is burdening our self, we can be informed by that fact and begin to perhaps make small changes in our thinking towards improving slowly but surely. Improvement can come by understanding that Allah swt is our best source of help and to strengthen our connection to Him through prayer, remembrance and making dua, in which we may ask for His enlightenment and forgiveness and ability to trust Him more. His help comes when we make sincere personal efforts towards our self improvement. We are also expected to draw on expert advice from trusted professionals who can offer mental health support or add to our understanding of what is considered a good mental health and wellbeing in general. Sincerely brother I hope you find this a little helpful for the issues you are struggling with at the moment and I pray that as you further strengthen your connection with Allah swt that you find understanding and contentment in your heart. Ameen
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