Islamic Beliefs in Islamic Beliefs in Healing of Loss and Healing of Loss and

GriefGrief

By Nooria Mehraby

MD Kabul, MM (Pathology) Kabul,

M.Counsel UWS

Counsellor/Project Officer (Middle Eastern Communities

The N.S.W. Service for the Treatment And Rehabilitation of Torture and Trauma Survivors

(S.T.A.R.T.T.S)

Afghan Refugees/Cross Cultural Counselling

1979 - 1989 RUSSIAN OCCUPATION

1989 - 1992 CIVIL WAR

1992 - 1994 CIVIL WAR (ISLAMIC GOVERNMENT)

1996 Taliban Occupies and destroys KABUL

2001 Taliban rules 85% of the country

(Taliban =“Knowledge Seekers”)

2001 US ‘War against Terror’

26 December 2001 : Interim Government

2 MILLION INTERNALLY DISPLACED

MORE THAN 1.5 MILLION PEOPLE KILLED

5 MILLION AFGHAN REFUGEES AROUND THE WORLD

Afghanistan: MORE THAN 25 YEARS OF WAR

Pashtun 38%

Tajik 25%

Uzbek 6%

Hazara 19%

Minor ethnic groups:

(Chahar Aimaks, Turkmen, Baloch, and others)

Ethnicity:

Islam:

- Sunni 84%

- Shi'ite 15%

Other: 1% (Hindu, Sikh, Jewish, Zoroastrian

and others)

Religion:

5 MILLION AFGHAN REFUGEES AROUND THE WORLD

Afghan refugee children playing in the Afghan refugee children playing in the cemetery at cemetery at

Naser-Bagh Refugee Camp (Peshawar, Naser-Bagh Refugee Camp (Peshawar, Pakistan)Pakistan) Photo: Nooria Mehraby

Afghan refugees and a general view at Afghan refugees and a general view at

Naser-Bagh Refugee CampNaser-Bagh Refugee CampPhoto: Nooria Mehraby

Tents at Naser-Bagh Refugee CampTents at Naser-Bagh Refugee Camp

Photo: Nooria Mehraby

Mud-brick house at Naser-Bagh Refugee Mud-brick house at Naser-Bagh Refugee CampCamp

Photo: Nooria Mehraby

Repairing a Mud Repairing a Mud

brick house at brick house at

Naser-Bagh Naser-Bagh

Refugee CampRefugee Camp

Photo: Nooria Mehraby

Child helping to build her house at Child helping to build her house at

Naser-Bagh Refugee CampNaser-Bagh Refugee CampPhoto: Nooria Mehraby

The Clinic at Naser-Bagh Refugee The Clinic at Naser-Bagh Refugee CampCamp

Photo: Nooria Mehraby

Water Supply at Naser-Bagh Refugee Water Supply at Naser-Bagh Refugee CampCamp

Photo: Nooria Mehrabi

Amputee Survivor of the war Amputee Survivor of the war

at Naser-Bagh Refugee Campat Naser-Bagh Refugee CampPhoto: Nooria Mehraby

Dying of cancer at Naser-Bagh Refugee Dying of cancer at Naser-Bagh Refugee CampCamp

Photo: Nooria Mehraby

Children Children

helping their helping their

relatives to relatives to

build a mud-build a mud-

brick house at brick house at

Naser-Bagh Naser-Bagh Refugee CampRefugee Camp

Photo: Nooria Mehraby

Child caring Child caring for her for her

brother at the brother at the “door” of “door” of

their house at their house at Naser-Bagh Naser-Bagh

Refugee CampRefugee Camp

Photo: Nooria Mehraby

Common Psychological Problems

• Post traumatic Stress

Symptoms

• Depression

• Generalized Anxiety

• Panic disorder

• Psychosomatic

problems(50%)

• Grief and loss

• Psychosis

Counselling Afghan Clients

Concept of Counseling

Safety

Exploration

Social reconnection

Practical Assistance

Spiritual Healings

Five Practices:Five Practices:

1.1. The “Shahada” that is bearing witness that there is The “Shahada” that is bearing witness that there is

no God but Allah and that Muhammad, p.b.u.h. no God but Allah and that Muhammad, p.b.u.h.

(Peace be upon him) is the last messenger of Allah,(Peace be upon him) is the last messenger of Allah,

2.2. Establishing regular prayer, (Salat)Establishing regular prayer, (Salat)

3.3. Fasting for the whole month of Ramadan Fasting for the whole month of Ramadan

4.4. Giving to charity regularly (Zakat),Giving to charity regularly (Zakat),  

5.5. Pilgrimage to The Holy City of Mecca (Haj) once in a Pilgrimage to The Holy City of Mecca (Haj) once in a

lifetime if one can afford it.lifetime if one can afford it.

Islamic Burial and Death Islamic Burial and Death CustomsCustoms

BurialBurial

FuneralFuneral

MourningMourning

Type of lossType of loss

Babies and children Babies and children

Still BirthStill Birth

Miscarriage and abortionMiscarriage and abortion

SpouseSpouse

Parents Parents

Suicide Suicide

The Qur’an says” Do not The Qur’an says” Do not

Commit Suicide ,as God is Commit Suicide ,as God is

merciful to you merciful to you

“(Qur’an:Surah 4,verse 29)“(Qur’an:Surah 4,verse 29)

Predominant AffectsPredominant Affects

Muslims consider a person who committed Muslims consider a person who committed suicide, as someone who has turned suicide, as someone who has turned his/her back on Islam; his/her back on Islam;

ShameShame

Guilt Guilt

AngerAnger

DisgraceDisgrace

StigmaStigma

FearFear

A Hadith states that the actions of a A Hadith states that the actions of a person, acting out of a disturbed person, acting out of a disturbed mind cannot be held against the mind cannot be held against the person.person.

““If a person has in the heart the goodness If a person has in the heart the goodness to the weight of one atom, and has said, to the weight of one atom, and has said, there is no God but Me, he/she shall there is no God but Me, he/she shall come out of Hell-fire” Qur’an (21:47)come out of Hell-fire” Qur’an (21:47)

Quotes from Scriptures..Quotes from Scriptures..

Divine DecreeDivine Decree

Muslims believe that Allah Muslims believe that Allah

creates every soul and life, creates every soul and life,

and that life is a gift from God.and that life is a gift from God.

Divine Decree cont…

Muslims believe that there is life after death,

that Allah appoints

a time for each person to pass from this

existence into the next and that death is

unavoidable and will take place when the

time is right.

Trial and TestTrial and Test

“Be sure we shall test you with something of

fear and hunger, some loss in goods, lives and

the fruits of your toil, but give glad tiding to

those who patiently persevere. Who say, when

afflicted with calamity: To Allah we belong, and

to Him is our return”

(Qur’an: 2:155).

Patience Brings Reward

“I have no reward other than paradise for my believing

servant who is patient when I take away one of his beloved

from among his companions of the world”

Qur’an: 63

“what ever trouble, illness, anxiety, grief, pain and sorrow

afflicts a Muslim, even if it is the pricking of a thorn-Allah

removes some of his sins because of it”Hadith

Self InitiativeSelf Initiative

““Surely God does not change Surely God does not change

the condition in which people the condition in which people

are until they change that are until they change that

which is in which is in

themselves”Qur’an (13:11)themselves”Qur’an (13:11)..

Positive ThinkingPositive Thinking

• ““So the fact is that along with every So the fact is that along with every hardship there is also ease, indeed, with hardship there is also ease, indeed, with every hardship there is also ease” every hardship there is also ease” Qur’an(94:5-6)Qur’an(94:5-6)

• ““It may well be that Allah brings about It may well be that Allah brings about ease after hardship” Qur’an(65:7).ease after hardship” Qur’an(65:7).

• ““You should know that victory comes with You should know that victory comes with patience, and relief comes after distress, patience, and relief comes after distress, and that with every hardship there is also and that with every hardship there is also ease”.ease”.HadithHadith

Devotion to Allah

“He guides to Himself those who turn to Him in

penitence, those who believe and whose heart has

rest in the remembrance of Allah. Verily in

remembrance of Allah, do hearts find rest. (Qur’an

13:27-28).

Mercy and ForgivenessMercy and Forgiveness

““And I have said: seek And I have said: seek

forgiveness from your Lord. forgiveness from your Lord.

He was ever forgiving”He was ever forgiving”

Qur’an 7Qur’an 71:101:10

Professional Professional AssistanceAssistance

““Seek treatment’s slaves of Allah, for Seek treatment’s slaves of Allah, for

Allah did not create a disease except Allah did not create a disease except

He created a cure for it”He created a cure for it”HadithHadith

““Looking after your self is the Looking after your self is the

obligation of each Muslim”.obligation of each Muslim”. Hadith Hadith

Culturally Appropriate Counselling Culturally Appropriate Counselling Techniques…Techniques…

Challenging and reframing Challenging and reframing distorted thinkingdistorted thinking

Prayer for God’s mercy and Prayer for God’s mercy and forgivenessforgiveness

Psycho-spiritual educationPsycho-spiritual education

Final Note…

“Whatever we are given is a gift from Allah. We are not its owner. Everything belongs to Allah and

returns To Him.To Allah we belong, and to Him is our return”.

Amen