From Crisis to Strength: Islamic Pathways to Resilience Through Tawhid

A crisis is a profound disruption of normal functioning that challenges a person's psychological equilibrium and requires adaptation. This article explores resilience — the ability to bounce back from adversity - and the coping strategies that facilitate this recovery process. Islam offers valuable perspectives on coping with crisis through the lens of spiritual strength and community support. Two events from the time of the Holy Prophet Muhammad (saw.) have been examined from the perspective of resilience and coping with crisis. In addition, four evidence-based coping strategies are elaborated in an Islamic framework: planful problem solving through istikharah (orienting prayer), seeking community support (ummah), cognitive restructuring through remembrance (dhikr) and careful differentiation between productive rumination and counterproductive escape-avoidance behaviour. The article concludes that tawhid (divine unity) serves as a foundational principle that unifies these approaches and provides Muslims with a coherent framework for cultivating resilience through the recognition of divine wisdom and purpose in life's challenges.