Stop Overthinking

 

Did you know the Prophet ﷺ taught a way to calm your mind from overthinking?

1. Stop saying “what if”  

What if they leave?  

What if I fail?  

What if I mess everything up?  

Replace ‘what if’ with  

قَدَّرَ اللَّهُ وَمَا شَاءَ فَعَلَ  

Qaddara Allahu wa maa shaa’a fa’al

“Allah decreed it, and whatever He wills, He does.”

Shaytan loves hypothetical disasters. He keeps you in fear so you never move forward.

2. Stop complaining  

Complaining rewires your brain towards negativity. It trains your heart to focus on what’s missing instead of what is present.

If you keep speaking of lack, you’ll start seeing lack everywhere. If you speak gratitude, Allah promises to increase you.

Say الْحَمْدُ لِلَّهِ عَلَى كُلِّ حَالٍ instead.  

Alhamdulillahi ‘ala kulli haal — “All praise is for Allah in every circumstance.”

3. Stop rehearsing disasters  

When you constantly replay the worst-case scenario, you train your heart to fear the creation more than the Creator.

That’s how anxiety becomes a habit. Stop predicting pain that doesn’t exist yet.  

Your job is effort. Allah’s job is the outcome.

4. The 10-second wasaawis rule  

You have 10 seconds to decide:  

Is this thought pulling me closer to Allah or away from Him?

Not every thought deserves your attention. Most are just passing shadows.

When it hits, say:  

أَعُوذُ بِاللَّهِ مِنَ الشَّيْطَانِ الرَّجِيمِ

A‘oodhu billahi min ash-shaytaanir-rajeem  

“I seek refuge in Allah from the accursed Shaytan.”

5. Stop comparing your life  

Comparison makes you feel behind even when you’re blessed.

Nothing steals peace faster than measuring your life against someone else’s.  

Your tests, your timing, your rizq — it’s all written specifically for you.

He ﷺ taught that when your mind feels restless or overwhelmed, you should turn your thoughts into dhikr — remembrance of Allah.

One powerful example is this du’a:

اللَّهُمَّ إِنِّي أَعُوذُ بِكَ مِنَ الْهَمِّ وَالْحَزَنِ وَالْعَجْزِ وَالْكَسَلِ وَالْبُخْلِ وَالْجُبْنِ وَضَلَعِ الدَّيْنِ وَغَلَبَةِ الرِّجَالِ

Allahumma inni a‘oodhu bika minal hammi wal hazan wal ‘ajzi wal kasali, wal bukhli wal jubni, wa dhala‘i d-dayn wa ghalabati r-rijaal 

“O Allah, I seek refuge in You from anxiety and grief, from weakness and laziness, from miserliness and cowardice, and from the burden of debt and being overpowered by men.” (Bukhari)

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This is a reminder that hits deep. May it bring peace to anyone who reads it.