Did you know that the Prophet ﷺ laid down the groundwork that was used by Muslim scholars to identify mental health conditions? For those who believe mental health can be addressed solely by having strong faith, it is worth noting that many prophets experienced intense emotional challenges. Tune in to the first episode of Holistic Healing with Dr. Rania Awaad, as she discusses the prophetic guidance to dealing with mental health challenges.

This series was brought to you in collaboration with the Stanford Muslim Mental Health Lab.

What is the secret that allowed Muslims to flourish into the Golden Ages as Europe sank into the Dark Ages? While people throughout the West were thought to be possessed by demons when dealing with depression, Muslims turned to Islamic teachings. Dr. Rania Awaad elaborates on the different scholars who initiated treatments that are now known as “therapy”!

This series was brought to you in collaboration with the Stanford Muslim Mental Health Lab.

The earliest presence of mental health hospitals can actually be traced back to 7th or 8th century Baghdad! Now, when people think about mental health institutions from the past, they often think of prison-like cells and abominable treatment. That was not the case in these early Muslim institutions. Join Dr. Rania Awaad as she describes the first homes of healing found throughout the Muslim world.

This series was brought to you in collaboration with the Stanford Muslim Mental Health Lab.

Has anyone ever uttered these words to you, “A Muslim is not afflicted with depression?” If so, you are not alone. However, this phrase actually contradicts the teachings of our beloved Prophet ﷺ. It’s important to truly understand the factors that influence mental health illnesses in order to begin healing. In this episode, Dr. Rania Awaad discusses how early Muslim scholars understood the complexities of such illnesses.

This series was brought to you in collaboration with the Stanford Muslim Mental Health Lab.

In the previous episode of this series, we discussed the way Muslim scholars examined mental health illnesses. In this video, Dr. Raniaa Awaad delves into the treatment options these scholars employed. This helps us understand that mental health conditions are multifactorial and we must analyze and examine all contributing factors.

This series was brought to you in collaboration with the Stanford Muslim Mental Health Lab. 

Whereas learning about the history of mental health in the Islamic world is important, it is equally important to understand how this can serve our community today. As international efforts attempt to encroach on Islamic achievements, it is vital that Muslims recognize the steps that need to be taken towards continuing and reviving that legacy. Dr. Rania Awaad describes what efforts need to be done to address mental health needs in Islamic society.

This series was brought to you in collaboration with the Stanford Muslim Mental Health Lab.