Gratitude: The Antidote to Overthinking in the Light of the Qur’an

Gratitude, Overthinking, and the Forgotten Manual: The Qur'an

Nowadays, when we look around, especially at the younger generation, we find that many of them are struggling deeply with overthinking, anxiety, and depression. These are no longer rare issues but rather common emotions that so many silently carry within themselves. It's heartbreaking to see bright, talented, and capable youth weighed down by mental burdens — unsure of where to find peace, clarity, or even a reason to continue.

What’s more ironic is that many of these young people identify as Muslims. We say we believe in Allah, we say we have guidance, and we claim to have the ultimate source of wisdom. In fact, we do have it. It’s called the Qur’an — a book not just of religious rituals, but a complete manual for human life. It is a guide that speaks to the soul, to the mind, to the heart, and to the struggles of every individual regardless of time or place.

Sadly, despite having this divine guidance, we often neglect it. We don’t open the Qur’an until we are in deep trouble, and even then, many of us don't know how to truly understand it. We don't study it regularly, we don’t reflect on it, and we don’t seek answers from it — even though it has answers to almost every problem we face in life. Some answers are given very clearly, while others require deeper reflection and explanation. But the solutions are there.

Take, for example, Surah Ibrahim, verse 7. In this verse, Allah says:

"If you are grateful, I will surely increase you [in favor]; but if you deny, indeed, My punishment is severe." (14:7)

This verse is simple yet profound. Allah is teaching us a timeless principle: Gratitude brings increase, and ingratitude brings hardship. This “increase” doesn’t just mean wealth or material things. It can mean peace of mind, health, emotional strength, opportunities, and blessings we can’t even imagine.

But what does it mean to be grateful? It means being content with what you have. It means not constantly comparing yourself to others or chasing what they have. If you wake up in the morning and start thinking about what others have — a better job, a better house, a better life — you will fall into the endless trap of comparison and dissatisfaction. This is the root of overthinking and anxiety.

Instead, if you shift your focus to what you have, you will realize that you are already better off than millions of people in this world. If you have food on your plate, a roof over your head, and a healthy body, then you are among the fortunate. If you start your day by thanking Allah for the blessings you have — even if they are small — you will find peace and happiness begin to grow in your heart.

The punishment mentioned in the verse doesn't always mean fire and torment in the Hereafter. One interpretation is that this punishment can come in this life in the form of restlessness, depression, overthinking, and mental anguish. When we are not grateful, when we constantly complain or wish for more, we lose inner peace. Allah created our hearts, and He knows what brings us peace. Gratitude is one of those keys.

The world is full of self-help books, psychology programs, and motivational speakers, and you will find a common message repeated across them: “Be grateful.” Why? Because it works. It’s a truth built into human nature. But the Qur’an told us this 1400 years ago. If we truly believe in Allah, then we must believe that His Word — the Qur’an — is the most reliable source of truth. It is the foundation from which all real solutions flow.

So, my humble request to everyone reading this is: If you believe in God, then take His book seriously. Make it a daily habit to read and understand the Qur’an. Study its meanings. Reflect on its message. It is not just a book for rituals or recitation — it is a guide for living a meaningful and peaceful life.

If you are struggling with overthinking, anxiety, or depression, the first step is not always therapy or medication. Sometimes, the first and most powerful step is gratitude and returning to the Qur’an. You will find wisdom, healing, and a deep sense of purpose that no worldly book can give.

May Allah guide us all, ease our hearts, and make us among the grateful. Ameen