Catharsis

Assalamu alaikum/Hello! Yeah, long, long time, absolutely no see 😊. Here's a (hopefully) thought-provoking piece. Enjoy!

Catharsis... The word has a ring to it, doesn't it?

What is catharsis? If you're a literature or a philosophy student, you probably at least have a rough idea of the concept. If you don't know, doesn't matter - here it is. It literally means:

1-The process of releasing and thereby providing relief from strong emotions

2-Purgation which is purification or cleansing.

I will give you two examples to explain the concept.

#1. A worker is scolded by his/her boss for some reason (maybe not completing the assigned task on time, etc.).

He/she is extremely frustrated and on the way back home, he/she is stomped by some random person and gets into an argument or physical fight.

Some would call this cathasis: the argument being that individual’s way of releasing his/her emotions.

This is a very basic instance of catharsis. If one is to read and observe there are many complex situations in which catharsis takes place.

The second instance is a true story.

#2.There is a young 9 year old girl who has seen her dad shoot her mom and this has affected her greatly both emotionally and mentally. She is psychologically affected, highly disturbed, and grows up with a strong baggage of emotions. At least once in a month she climbs high walls and yells and abuses, owing to fits.

Catharsis!

Do you think in these cases the emotions were released?

No, they were not; in fact these were a result of the accumulation of further negative emotions.

The individual in the first case argued or fought and collected more negative emotions and the girl climbs on the wall every month to release her emotions.

It is important to remember that two negatives repel; however, a negative and a positive attract. A negative release of emotions will only accumulate more negative emotions which might just result in a vicious cycle and spread more hate.

What happens if the same emotion is released in the positive form?

Through such a form of release people will benefit themselves as well as others.

Today most people practice catharsis negatively and the end result is destruction of generations and nations.

Allah says in the Glorious Quran (Ch: 41 V: 34)

“And not alike are the evil and the good. Repel evil with that which is BEST, when lo! He between whom and you is enmity would be as if he were a warm friend.”

When one keeps doing well to another in spite of being harmed, then not only the one harming is forced to stop and think about his actions, but the victim of this harm realises a higher moral level, and broadens his/her view of most things.

Let us be so good that people feel ashamed and guilty to harm us!

It might seem a difficult thing to begin with, but it is the solution given by Almighty and so one can easily trust on the results.

Imagine the kind of change it would bring in the world.

*Disclaimer*

This is just one of the ways of solving problems and catharsis. I do not claim it is the only way.

Leave that which does not concern you

Abu Hurairah(R.A) said that the Messenger of Allah,(SAWS) said: “Part of perfection of one’s Islam is his leaving that which does not concern him.”  (Tirmidhi)

What happens when you are curious to know about things that do not concern you?

·        You are constantly distracted by the things others are doing and in the process you lose your focus thus reducing your productivity.

·        Lack of attention, concentration, loss of time while digging for information, and even dissatisfaction if you are unable to acquire that information.

·        You begin judging people based on what you have heard which could possibly be a lie.

·        This also makes people indulge in backbiting and slandering about others - both of which come under major sins.

·        You become more careless of your own sins, you’re lulled into complacency.

With the rise in the use of social media, which gives a platform to share personal information, though it is quite  a beneficial medium to share messages and connect people, however, has become a great cause of concern as people are constantly indulging in other people’s lives. And therefore this has produced a whole new level of an unproductive community.

Allah swt too filters information for us and provides us only that which we need. If we analyze the first 6 verses of surah Yusuf, we would be amazed as to how Allah has chosen to give us information in a particular format, letting us know a few things while not letting us know some things which are not very important for our imaan.

Allah says in surah Yusuf (Ch:12 V:1,3,6)

1-“Alif,  Laam, Raa, these are the verses of the Clear Book.”

3-“We relate to you the best of stories in what we have revealed to you of this Quran, and you were, before it, among the unaware.”

6-“….Indeed, your Lord is KNOWING and WISE.”

Subhan Allah! This is so amazing.

When we look at the first verse ‘Alif, Laam, Raa’ do we know its meaning? No.

But in the second half of the same verse Allah says, verses of Clear Book. Misleading!?

Third verse says it is one of the best story we have revealed and you were unaware.

Let us understand it:

Allah is only telling us those things that are important ,the meaning of “Alif,  Laam, Raa” is not imortant in terms of our faith, as Allah explains this in another Surah, Surah Ali Imraan (Ch 3: V 7)

“It is He who has sent down to you, the Book; in it are verses Muhkam (precise), they are foundation of the book-and others Mutashabih (unspecific). As for those in whose hearts is deviation [from truth], seeking discord and seeking an interpretation [suitable to them]…”

So here Allah is teaching us not to probe in things that do not concern us and Allah has given us a practical example in surah Yusuf. So we were unaware of the story of Yusuf (A.S) and Allah related it to us as it would help our imaan grow. So we realize us that Allah is selecting necessary information and relating only that to us. And Allah also choses to use two of his attributes i.e. KNOWING and WISE which further elucidate the beauty of the message that though Allah knows everything He is wise enough to give us only that which we need.

Lastly, Hasan Al-Basri said: “O son of Adam! You are nothing but a number of days, whenever a day passes then part of you is gone.”

So why waste your precious time in those things that do not even concern us or benefit us in any way?

TIME is like a sword if you do not cut it, it will cut you!

And Allah knows the best. May Allah rectify our characters ad increase our Imaan.