A Guide To Wellness

One’s conviction regarding existence is the cornerstone of one’s true religion. In fact, conviction constitutes a sort of a foundation to one’s beliefs. For example, an adherent to a materialism-driven conviction would seek success, happiness and wellness through a materialistic perspective, and certainly not through a spiritual one. As conviction controls one’s perception, all that the heart sees is purely materialistic! There are others also who adhere to this view, not out of conviction, but out of trend imitation. It is the effect of herd behavior in human societies, as has been illustrated by psychologists and sociologists. Individuals imitate other group members of higher social status in their consumer behavior and embrace their creed of life! Protagonists and imitators of this materialistic religion seek the ultimate development of the self through satisfying natural human instincts. Believing the origin of life is substance/matter, and not God, survival and beyond is secured according to this creed, through the accumulation of goods, comfort of living, and satisfaction of desires. Certainly in the world of today, it is this creed that is driving the souls of people, not the religions they claim to adhere to!

Wellness, which is defined by the pursuit of continued growth and balance, is sought within this creed mentality, through mainly quantitative approaches and physical achievements. Today, gadgets can take care of one’s wellness. Smart devices track diet, monitor physical activities and gage one’s health. They even remind you to “breathe” or “stand.” It is the age of the proliferation of artificial intelligence, aiming to serve humanity and offer them wellness - right in one's hand or worn on the wrist! People are complaining about a violation of privacy, when according to this creed, it is just a service intending to predict the unseen of the next desired element by your soul! When it appears on one’s device screen, after studying one’s behavior through his/her navigation and searches on the Web, the heart pounds out of joy and the tongue utters “I love it!”

But wellness is, in reality, a full integration of physical, mental and spiritual well-being. It is a complex interaction, as it has been stated, that leads to the quality of life. Many people think about "wellness" in terms of physical health only. Wellness is commonly viewed, according to professionals, however, as having seven dimensions. These dimensions are physical, emotional, intellectual, social, spiritual, environmental and occupational. As this may appear as a comprehensive and effective approach to finding wellness, in reality, this approach is also rooted in the materialistic creed, restricted within the realm of the physical life! The drive is always to master and control the nature, either of the self or of the world. A poor common person, not an intellectual, suffering from a chronic disease and laying for years in bed, says from the bottom of his/her heart to the one checking on his/her state of wellness, “AlHamdulillah, praises and thanks to Allah.” This person might have attained a state of wellness that none of those who work on mastering the seven perspectives of wellness would have reached. In fact, trying to master all these perspectives is a delusion, fiction and impractical. Wellness, in this perspective, when attained, passes as a fleeting moment of pleasure, which is then quickly spoiled by the unstoppable trials one encounters daily, or abruptly destroyed by the visit of death.

The greatest issue is that one is seeking wellness without trying to understand his/her nature. One forgets the following aspects about his/her own nature. “Truly man was created very impatient. Irritable (discontented) when evil touches him. And withholding when good touches him” (70:19-21). “And indeed he is, in love of wealth, intense” (100:8). “O mankind, indeed you are laboring toward your Lord with [great] exertion and will meet it” (84:6). “And when We bestow favor upon man, he turns away and distances himself. But when evil touches him, then he is full of extensive supplication” (41:51). These are just a mention of a few of the many Ayat that illustrate humankind is by nature impatient, ungrateful, complaining, hasty, greedy, astray, vulnerable, sensitive, anxious, etc. To such a nature, how one can balance the seven perspectives of wellness in the absence of a divine guidance? “Should He not know, He that created? And He is the One that understands the finest mysteries (and) is well-acquainted (with them)” (67:14).

Real wellness is the attaining of a pleasure that does not fade or perish, regardless of one’s physical or social state. It is a pleasure that keeps a balanced, healthy emotional state and a constant feeling of sweetness in the heart, both sustained by the stream of an inner joy within the soul. 

The question is, "How does one gain the inner joy of the soul?" The answer is in the Ayat that follow the Ayat from Surat Al Maarij, chapter number 70, mentioned above. It is through attaining the balance between the following dimensions: prayer, giving, believing in the Hereafter, protecting one’s chastity, and safeguarding trusts and covenants. Read the Ayat, reflect on them and honor yourself by making them your guide to your wellness. “- Except those devoted to Salat (prayers); those who remain constant in their Salat (prayers); and who give the rightful share of their wealth to the petitioner and the deprived; and those who believe in the Day of Recompense; and those who fear the torment of their Lord - Verily! The torment of their Lord is that before which none can feel secure - And those who guard their chastity, except from their wives or those their right hands possess, for indeed, they are not to be blamed. But whoever seeks beyond that, then they are the transgressors; and those who keep their trusts and covenants; and those who are in their testimonies upright; and those who guard their Salat (prayers) well- such will be the honored ones in the Gardens (of Bliss)” (70: 22-35).