Mental illnesses, including depression and generalized anxiety disorder, have skyrocketed in recent years. According to the CDC, the suicide rate in the US has increased by 33% from 2001 to 2018, 33%! (1). To say the least, we have a mental illness problem, and a huge one at that.
When I researched about the relationship between mental illness and social class, I came across information that said people with religious beliefs tend to have better mental health. Looking more into it, I found that to be true (2). I also searched the suicide rates around the world, and what I found was that almost all Muslim countries, if not all, were on the green, but the same could not be said for countries with a majority of Christians or other religions. While some of those were green, a lot were not; in fact, the country with the highest rates of suicide is a Christian country.
All of this got me wondering and looking deeper into it, and that led to this blog, so today, let me share with you what I found. Does the Quran help with depression and anxiety? Let's see what science has to say.
A Prospective Into The Situation Of The Muslim Countries
To be able to see the bigger picture, let me give you an idea about how things really are in the Muslim world. First, we have countries like Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, Qatar, and the rest of the Gulf. They have lower rates of suicide, but in the case of these countries, one can say, well, they are rich; they have a strong economy, and when you are living there you are practically living in one of the safest places in the world (that is a fact), so it is safe to assume that those people have fewer reasons to have depression and hence deteriorate to the point of committing suicide.
However, this argument falls short when we look at countries like Sudan, Egypt, Yemen, Morocco, Algeria, Indonesia, and Pakistan. Sudan, for example, is a country that has been torn apart by conflict and wars for decades over decades. It is a country rich in resources, and those resources have been getting stolen for decades while the people of the country live in poverty and hardship. They have a bad, constantly crumpling economy and less safety, yet it is still one of the countries with fewer mental health problems. Same goes for Egypt, Syria, Yemen, and the rest of the Muslim world. So, that pegs the question: why do those countries, despite the bad situation they are in, have lower suicide rates than so called developed countries such as the US, Japan, South Korea, etc.
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What Studies Say About Quran and Mental Health
I heard a lot of people saying that listening to or reading the Quran has helped them with depression, anxiety, and mental issues. I was curious to see if there were any studies about this. I dug around, and here are the results.
1. Reducing the Level Anxiety
A meta-analysis that looked into a collective of studies about the Quran and its effect on mental health has found that the Quran has a protective effect on reducing and managing anxiety and that it can be a non-pharmacological treatment for helping with anxiety (3). The study suggests that since the Quran is full of valuable life teachings, it can reduce the levels of anxiety for those who listen to it.
2. Reducing the Level of Stress
Listening to the Quran and reciting it has been proven by several studies to reduce the levels of stress for participants. One of the studies concluded that listening to the Quran or reading it has reduced the levels of stress for hospitalized patients. Not just the Quran can reduce heart rate and increase muscle relaxation; this could be a result of the reduced stress level or the opposite.
3. Reducing the Level of Depression
Listening and reciting the Quran can help with reducing depression. Leaving the calming melodic way the Quran is usually recited aside, the listener, especially one who listened to more than a few verses, will come across verses such as:
And whoever puts his trust in Allah, then He will suffice him. Verily, Allah will accomplish his purpose.
You know not, it may be that Allah will afterward bring some new thing to pass (which gives the believer hope that whatever is going now will pass).
So we responded to him and removed what afflicted him with adversity.
Indeed, the patient will be given their reward without account (i.e., limit).
Allah will bring about, after hardship, ease.
And despair not of relief from Allah. Indeed, no one despairs of relief from Allah except the disbelieving people.
Allah burdens not anyone beyond his or her capacity.
And We have already created man and know what his soul whispers to him, and We are closer to him than [his] jugular vein.
The Quran is filled with verses that not only give solitude to those who are going through mental struggles. But also, it tells them that this life is a test, that they will indeed struggle, that struggles do not last, and that their creator is closer to them than they believe. For those verses to have such a strong effect that leads to a significant increase in mental health, there must be a strong and firm belief behind them, and Muslims are by far the firmest believers in their religion compared to others (why?). I think I know, but unfortunately it's not related to this blog. We have seen that clearly in the last year.
Interestingly, though, the Quran didn't have its calming effect only on believers but also on those who aren't Muslims. Much to the degree that it is considered a potential psychotherapy (4).
The Bottomline
Depression and mental illness represent a huge problem in the western world, one that's only expanding and increasing. This calls for a deeper look into why some cultures and regions seem to have fewer mental illnesses and also a deeper look into the things that help those societies overcome mental health struggles. Quran is one of the things that Muslims claim has a major role in helping them with reducing depression, anxiety, and other mental conditions, and this has been proven by a lot of studies.
FAQ
1. Can listening to the Quran really help with anxiety and depression?
Yes, studies show that listening to or reciting the Quran can reduce anxiety, stress, and depression, acting as a non-pharmacological treatment.
2. Does the Quran help only Muslims with mental health?
No, studies suggest the calming effects of the Quran extend to non-Muslims as well.
3. Why do Muslim countries have lower suicide rates?
While the reasons vary, strong religious beliefs, societal norms, and spiritual practices like reading the Quran may contribute to this.
4. What verses from the Quran help with depression?
Verses that emphasize trust in Allah, patience, and relief after hardship offer hope and solitude to those struggling with mental health.
5. How does the Quran reduce stress?
Research shows that Quran recitation can lower heart rates, increase muscle relaxation, and decrease stress levels, which may help in mental recovery.
6. Can the Quran be used alongside traditional therapy?
Yes, the Quran can complement traditional mental health treatments, offering spiritual support and emotional relief.
7. Is there scientific evidence supporting the Quran’s effect on mental health?
Yes, multiple studies highlight the Quran's beneficial effects on reducing anxiety, depression, and stress.
References and Citations
https://www.psychiatrictimes.com/view/religion-spirituality-and-mental-health
Moulaei, K., Haghdoost, A. A., Bahaadinbeigy, K., & Dinari, F. (2023). The effect of the holy Quran recitation and listening on anxiety, stress, and depression: A scoping review on outcomes. Health science reports, 6(12), e1751. https://doi.org/10.1002/hsr2.1751
Kannan, M. A., Ab Aziz, N. A., Ab Rani, N. S., Abdullah, M. W., Mohd Rashid, M. H., Shab, M. S., Ismail, N. I., Ab Ghani, M. A., Reza, F., & Muzaimi, M. (2022). A review of the holy Quran listening and its neural correlation for its potential as a psycho-spiritual therapy. Heliyon, 8(12), e12308. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.heliyon.2022.e12308
Jabbari, B., Mirghafourvand, M., Sehhatie, F., & Mohammad-Alizadeh-Charandabi, S. (2020). The Effect of Holly Quran Voice With and Without Translation on Stress, Anxiety and Depression During Pregnancy: A Randomized Controlled Trial. Journal of religion and health, 59(1), 544–554. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10943-017-0417-x
Babamohamadi, H., Sotodehasl, N., Koenig, H. G., Jahani, C., & Ghorbani, R. (2015). The Effect of Holy Qur'an Recitation on Anxiety in Hemodialysis Patients: A Randomized Clinical Trial. Journal of religion and health, 54(5), 1921–1930. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10943-014-9997-x
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