Healing for a Better, Safer, and Saner World

"Insanity has many faces — and today, it wears the mask of normalcy."

In today’s world, it has become increasingly difficult to distinguish between what is emotionally healthy and what is simply commonplace. Sadly, what we now normalize as strength, resilience, or even independence, often masks deep-seated emotional pain and psychological distress.

Through my personal interactions — both online and offline — I’ve come to a troubling realization: a vast number of young men and women are drifting mentally and emotionally. Aside from a few who are intentionally working toward emotional intelligence and spiritual balance, many are simply surviving, not thriving. And I do not say this from a place of judgment, but from a place of genuine concern and care.

The Signs of an Ailing Generation

The signs are everywhere. Some are subtle — sarcasm laced with suppressed grief, jokes built on trauma, social media trends that glamorize dysfunction. Others are much more apparent — aggression, detachment, mood instability, and the normalization of cruelty in relationships and daily interactions.

For some, a sincere reminder, a heartfelt du‘ā, or a return to Allah can spark the healing process. For others, the emotional scars are deep and tangled — requiring professional therapy, or in some cases, psychiatric treatment. But many remain undiagnosed and unsupported. Why? Because they’ve learned to wear their pain like armor — laughing through memes, clapping back with snark, hiding wounds behind trendy hashtags and catchy slogans.

One of the most troubling shifts is the rise of default negativity. People now believe that to survive in a “wicked world,” you too must become wicked. We hear slogans like “No gree for anybody” — a mindset that celebrates retaliation, suspicion, and hardness. But where is the character of the Prophet ﷺ in this?

The Prophetic Standard of Emotional Strength

The Prophet ﷺ was tested in ways that would break most people. He was mocked, exiled, betrayed by his people, and lost his beloved wife and children. Yet, his response was never cruelty, sarcasm, or vengeance — it was mercy, resilience, and forgiveness.

He ﷺ said:

“The strong man is not the one who can overpower others in wrestling, but the one who controls himself when he gets angry.”

— Sahih al-Bukhari

Allah Himself reminds us:

“Repel evil with that which is better, and thereupon the one whom between you and him is enmity will become as though he was a devoted friend.”

— Surah Fussilat (41:34)

We were not created to mirror the brokenness of the world. We were created to bring light into it.

The Call to Heal

Ibn al-Qayyim رحمه الله once said:

“He who does not feel the pain of his own illness will not seek a cure.”

It’s time we stop pretending. Stop glorifying detachment. Stop masking trauma as “vibes.” Your pain is real. Your story matters. But your healing is possible — and necessary.

Don’t let your toxic relationships, painful past, or dysfunctional upbringing define your identity. Don’t let what hurt you turn you into a reflection of that very pain. Heal.

• Be the one who enters a room and brings calm, not chaos.

• Be the friend who uplifts, not wounds.

• Be the parent who models emotional intelligence and tawakkul (trust in Allah).

• Be the believer whose presence reminds others of Allah.

This Ummah desperately needs emotionally stable, spiritually anchored individuals — those who embody rahmah (mercy), emotional discipline, and hope in the face of despair.

Seeking Help Is a Sunnah

If you're struggling, seek help. There is no shame in therapy. There is no weakness in talking about your feelings. The Prophet ﷺ himself sought the comfort of Jibreel (عليه السلام) during moments of great pain and sorrow.

Let the Qur’ān soften your heart.

Let dhikr bring serenity to your mind.

Let du‘ā cleanse your soul.

Let therapy organize your thoughts.

Let good companionship reshape your environment.

A Better You for a Better World

As parents, teachers, caregivers, and community builders, we must commit to healing — not only for our own well-being, but so we can model emotional and spiritual strength for the next generation. Because if we don’t heal, we pass down our pain in the name of parenting. And if we normalize dysfunction, our children inherit a distorted definition of what it means to be strong.

The world doesn’t need more “hard” people.

It needs more healed people.

More hopeful people.

More compassionate people.

And maybe, just maybe — that healing can start with you.

© Abu Anas, Abdullateef SADIQ

Founder, Pure Sprouts Nurture Hub