Healing Beyond the Physical: My Journey Through Chronic Illness with Islamic Psychology

by Haadiya Mujib

Healing Beyond the Physical: My Journey Through Chronic Illness with Islamic Psychology

A personal reflection on studying and applying Islamic Psychology

I never imagined my early twenties would be spent learning to live in a body that no longer felt like mine. Most days, fatigue wrapped around me so tightly that even simple tasks felt like mountains that I had to climb. This burden slowly went beyond the physical to weigh on my heart, mind, and soul. From doctors to treatments, I searched for answers everywhere, but deep down, I knew something was missing. Something that spoke to the needs of my soul as much as my body and mind.

I used to wonder: Is this all there is? My soul felt like it was quietly breaking apart while my body was in pain. As a student of Islamic psychology, I began to see that healing could go far beyond just the physical or mental. I started questioning: Why did the approaches I had tried feel incomplete? And how could Islamic psychology, with its holistic approach, offer something deeper?

In my years of living with multiple chronic conditions, the Western treatments I received seemed to tackle one piece of me at a time. My physical symptoms were handled medically, while my emotional struggles were addressed through therapeutic techniques. But what happens when the body aches, the heart feels heavy, and the mind and soul are restless at the same time?

For me, these separate approaches felt like they were trying to put a bandage on a deep wound without understanding what was inside. As if they were trying to fix a cracked vase by only gluing the outside but never addressing the cracks within that needed proper care. Why do we treat the mind and body as two separate entities and ignore the soul? Especially when the pain touches every part of us? Practicing various therapeutic methods taught me about my thoughts and behaviors, and although it was helpful to some extent, it often left me feeling detached from my spiritual pain. The Western models and techniques couldn’t offer the divine purpose and ultimate comfort that I was desperately seeking. 

Alhamdulillah, Allah (swt) guided me to study Islamic psychology, and suddenly, the pieces of my puzzle began to fit together. Islamic psychology sees us not as minds trapped in bodies, but as integrated beings upon the fitrah (innate natural disposition) with the aql (mind), jasad (body), qalb (heart), and nafs (soul) intertwined. It understands that spiritual well-being is inseparable from the mental and physical health, inviting us to trust Allah’s wisdom even in the trials we can’t fully understand at present.

One of the greatest shifts for me was letting go of the illusion of being in control. Islamic psychology reminded me that I don’t have to micromanage every single outcome, as Allah says in the Quran (92:13), “And surely to Us alone belong this life and the next.” Knowing this brought me immense relief both spiritually and psychologically and taught me to change how we interpret difficulties.

Islamic psychology frames this as a conscious choice to see a trial through the lens of Allah’s wisdom and mercy. When this reframing is rooted in deep imaan (faith) and tawakkul (trust in Allah’s plan), the healing feels even more holistic and profound. So how did this help me day-to-day? Whenever my illness flared up, I found comfort in reminding myself that “This too is from Allah, and He is Al-Hakeem, The Most Wise.” Instead of asking “Why me?” I began asking, “What might Allah be teaching me through this test?”

One night, while studying a module from one of my Islamic psychology courses at International Open University (IOU), tired and overwhelmed, I came across this verse: “Indeed, with hardship comes ease” (94:6). I had read the verse many times before, but this time it felt like a personal reassurance from Allah. What if ease isn’t just something that comes after suffering, but something that comes with it? I thought to myself, could healing be more than just getting rid of my illness? Maybe it was all about finding ease within my struggles. That night became a quiet turning point for me, Alhamdulillah.

From then on, I began shifting my mindset from “How do I get rid of this?” to “How can I live fully within this?” and Islamic psychology gave me the framework to explore that. The shift wasn’t always easy but it helped me practice gratitude when I needed moments of clarity. It was a whole journey of learning sabr (patience) and finding strength in trusting Allah’s timing. On days when the pain was intense, I learned to pause and simply say ‘Alhamdulillah’ for the small mercies which I had previously taken for granted, like being able to get out of bed, perform my salah, comb my hair, and drink a glass of water. Knowing that my struggles were a part of Allah’s plan for me turned my coping into genuine healing.

This personal journey made me realise that there could be many more Muslims around the world who are searching and yearning for what I found through Islamic psychology. In my experience, there’s a real need for approaches that don’t separate the spiritual from the psychological or physical, that don’t reduce healing to just medicine or therapy. Islamic psychology embraces complexity and depth: our faith, our emotions, our bodies, our hearts, our souls; they’re all considered essential parts of healing. 

As a student in this field, I’ve witnessed both its profound potential and the challenges it faces. My healing journey was made possible by the dedication of the scholars and students who are building this field, yet I also saw how far we still have to go. The field is still emerging academically and institutionally, but it is often misunderstood or overshadowed by Western frameworks that dominate global mental health conversations. But that’s precisely why we need it now more than ever. I believe more students, practitioners, and institutions need to recognise its value and help it flourish.

If you’re going through a tough time, whether physical illness, mental struggle, or spiritual uncertainty, know that this moment could be a blessing in disguise; an opportunity for healing rooted in trusting the One who already holds all your outcomes. Through my journey with Islamic psychology, I’ve learned that healing isn’t linear or just about getting rid of my symptoms. It’s transforming how we see ourselves, our struggles, and our relationship with Allah, which in turn opens the door to hope, gratitude, patience, and meaning even when life feels uncertain.

I humbly invite you to reflect: what might Allah be teaching you through your test?

May this holistic understanding of healing guide both those who struggle and those who help in our Ummah, and may we work towards a future where this wisdom is taught in more universities, practiced in clinics, and made accessible to every soul in need. It’s in this that Islamic psychology offers an authentic and enduring alternative to Western models, in which healing becomes a path to deep and lasting peace. And perhaps then, no one will have to feel like a stranger in their own body, searching for answers that have been in our deen all along.