The need for Deen: Muslim mental health during the COVID-19 pandemic

The need for Deen: Muslim mental health during the COVID-19 pandemic

Awaad, Rania
Kouser, Taimur
Raza, Leena
Umarji, Osman

English

20210400

The COVID-19 pandemic has impacted every aspect of daily life, but its toll on people’s mental health has been especially concerning. Previous studies have presented mixed evidence about the efficacy of religious coping behaviors in improving mental health outcomes. Our goal in this study was to investigate the religious coping behaviors and mental health outcomes of Muslims worldwide in response to the COVID-19 pandemic. The Yaqeeen Institute for Islamic Research surveyed nearly 9,000 Muslims globally during three stages of the pandemic—initial quarantines, pre-Ramadan, and post-Ramadan. They asked about Muslims’ religious beliefs, behaviors, and perspectives about the pandemic. We then analyzed the results and found that Muslims primarily relied on religious coping behaviors like seeking forgiveness from Allah, performing daily prayers, making du’a, and reading Qur’an, and that these behaviors were associated with better mental health outcomes. These findings underscore the importance and benefit of Islamic teachings for Muslims dealing with trials and calamities like the pandemic.

17.1

17.1; 1.2; 9.1; 21.1

Islamic ethics [pri]; mental health [pri]

alternative therapies; communicable diseases; empirical research; Koran; Muslim; prayer; psychological stress; public health; quarantine; survey

Yaqeen Institute for Islamic Research

COVID-19; pandemic; Qur'an

Journal of the British Islamic Medical Association. 2021 April; 7(3): 5p.

Copyright © 2019 Journal of the British Islamic Medical Association. All Rights Reserved.

j

17 refs.

26348071 (online)