Reflecting on Islamic Psychology and Trusting in Allah’s Mercy

As-salamu alaykum. Lately I’ve been getting into Islamic psychology and reading some papers - subhanAllah, this deen really speaks to the heart and offers guidance. I came across a paper that struck me (I won’t post the link here, but it’s easy to find if you’re curious) and thought I’d share a few thoughts for anyone dealing with negative thinking or feeling distant from Allah. One passage that stuck with me describes how Prophet Ibrahim (peace be upon him) was thrown into the fire, yet he maintained such a positive trust in Allah that he perceived the fire like a garden of flowers. Because of that trust, the fire became cool and peaceful for him (al-Anbiya: 69). That kind of conviction gives someone strength and a sense of being held by Allah - confident that He will protect them through trials. That story made me rethink how we view hardships and our bond with Allah. If you wrestle with pessimism or worry that maybe Allah doesn’t care, reflect on Ibrahim’s example: he believed first, and that belief changed his experience. The fire didn’t consume him because he didn’t see it as pure destruction; he recognized it as part of Allah’s plan and mercy. This isn’t about denying pain or pretending everything is fine. It’s about trusting that Allah’s mercy is present even within difficulties. Sometimes the real miracle is not that the hardship vanishes, but that iman turns fear into calm. May Allah increase our faith and make our trials a means of drawing nearer to Him. Ameen.