Desk Report,
Does disappointment mean weakness of faith?
In today’s fast-paced, uncertain and complex world, is the faith of Muslims weakening? Are emotions like worry, sadness, anxiety and despair a reflection of weakness in faith? Or are they the result of external pressures from our modern lifestyle and society? Let us find a way in the light of Islam.
Does disappointment mean weakness of faith?
Mental illness is not a weakness of faith
Mental and spiritual well-being complement each other. Many people think that as a Muslim, if you are connected to Allah and the Messenger (peace be upon him), you should not have mental weakness. But this idea is wrong.
The story of Prophet Jacob (peace be upon him) in the Holy Quran teaches us that sadness and grief are natural human emotions. He was so saddened by the loss of his son Joseph (peace be upon him) that his eyesight was damaged. Yet he remained patient and prayed to Allah for help. (Surah Yusuf: 18, 84)
In this society, everyone is his own entrepreneur, at the same time the exploiter and the exploited.
Byung-chul Han, Philosopher
It is not correct to say that sadness, anxiety, or depression are signs of a lack of faith. Sadness or anxiety are not weaknesses in faith, but are a natural part of being human. These emotions should be dealt with with the help of experts rather than judging ourselves.
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Is the faith of Muslims weakening in today’s fast-paced, uncertain, and complex world? Are emotions like worry, sadness, anxiety, and depression a reflection of a weakness in faith? Or are they the result of external pressures from our modern lifestyle and society? Let’s find a way out in the light of Islam.
Mental illness is not a weakness in faith
Mental and spiritual well-being complement each other. Many people think that as Muslims, if we are connected to Allah and the Prophet (peace be upon him), there should be no mental weakness. But this idea is wrong.
The story of Prophet Jacob (peace be upon him) in the Holy Quran teaches us that sadness and grief are natural human emotions. He was so saddened by the news of his son Yusuf (AS) that his eyesight was damaged. Yet he remained patient and prayed to Allah for help. (Surah Yusuf: 18, 84)
In this society, everyone is their own entrepreneur, at the same time the exploiter and the exploited.
Byung-chul Han, philosopher
It is not correct to say that sadness, anxiety or depression are signs of lack of faith. Sadness or anxiety are not weaknesses of faith, but are a natural part of being human. These emotions should not be judged by themselves but should be dealt with with the help of experts.
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Motivation of a troubled heart Julaibib (RA)
05 April 2025

The era of burnout
Modern society, which philosopher Byung-chul Han calls a ‘burnout society’, constantly emphasizes productivity and positivity. In this society, breaks or negative emotions are discouraged. As a result, people are constantly under stress, which causes depression, anxiety, and mental fatigue. “In this society, everyone is their own entrepreneur, at the same time the exploiter and the exploited,” says Han.
This excessive self-optimization puts people at war with themselves, causing them to suffer from existential emptiness.
Charles Taylor explains in his book A Secular Age that Western society has transformed from a religion-centered culture to a secular, human-centered culture. This change has marginalized belief in God and the unseen world, which has affected people’s mental and spiritual balance. As a result, modern lifestyles put additional strain on our mental and spiritual health.
