THE OFTEN FORGOTTEN CROWN
(Grateful for the Blessing of Health Before It Is Taken Away)
By: Ali Aminulloh
“Ash-shihhatu tajun ‘alâ ru’ûsil ashihhâ’, lâ yarâhâ illâ al-mardhâ.”
“Health is a crown that rests on the heads of healthy people, but it is not seen except by those who are sick.”
How many people wake up every morning with bodies still able to move, lungs still able to breathe, hearts still beating faithfully, minds still able to think, and feelings still able to feel compassion. Yet all of this is often taken for granted. We only realize the value of health when our bodies begin to weaken, when sleep is no longer restful, when our minds are filled with anxiety, or when our hearts lose their peace.
The Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) reminded us:
“There are two blessings about which many people are deceived: health and free time.”
(Narrated by Bukhari)
True health is not simply the absence of illness. The World Health Organization (WHO) defines health as a state of complete physical, mental, and social well-being, not merely the absence of disease. From an Islamic perspective, health is even broader, encompassing the spiritual dimension that is central to human life.
Allah SWT says:
“And if you count the favors of Allah, never will you be able to number them.”
(Surah An-Nahl [16]: 18)
Among the greatest and most often overlooked blessings is the gift of good health.
Physical Health: A Trust That Must Be Safeguarded
Physical health is the body’s ability to perform its biological functions optimally, enabling humans to work, study, worship, and live productive lives.
The body does not belong entirely to us. It is a trust from Allah for which we will be held accountable. The Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) said:
“Indeed, your body has a right over you.”
(Narrated by Bukhari)
Being grateful for physical health means safeguarding that trust.
First, with healthy and functional food.
The human body is built from what enters it. Therefore, the Quran commands:
“Eat from what is on earth that is lawful and good.”
(Surat al-Baqarah [2]: 168)
The word thayyib not only means lawful, but also good, nutritious, and healthy. Functional foods such as fruits, vegetables, grains, fish, and natural foods help the body maintain health and prevent disease.
Second, with adequate sleep.
Many people pursue worldly pursuits at the expense of sleep. Yet sleep is a recovery mechanism designed directly by Allah.
“And We made your sleep for rest.”
(Surat an-Naba’ [78]: 9)
Modern health science shows that during sleep, the body repairs damaged cells, strengthens the immune system, balances hormones, and stores memory. The body has a biological clock (circadian rhythm) that regulates when humans should rest and when they should be active. Ignoring this rhythm increases the risk of various chronic diseases.
Third, through exercise
Physical activity maintains the function of the heart, lungs, muscles, bones, and metabolism. Exercise is not just about maintaining appearance, but also maintaining quality of life.
Ideal exercise includes two aspects:
1. Cardiorespiratory fitness training (walking, running, swimming, cycling).
2. Muscle and bone strengthening exercises.
A strong body enables a person to worship, work, and perform better. The Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) said:
“A strong believer is more beloved to Allah than a weak believer.”
(Narrated by Muslim)
Healthy Mind: Turning Pressure into Strength
Every human being faces pressures in life. There are pressures from work, finances, partners, children, the environment, and even pressures from oneself.
The problem is not the presence of pressure, but how people interpret it.
In modern psychology, stress arises not solely from events, but from how a person interprets those events. What is perceived as a threat becomes stress. What is perceived as a challenge becomes an opportunity for growth.
The Quran reminds us:
“We will certainly test you with something of fear, hunger, and a loss of wealth, lives, and fruits.”
(Quran 2:155)
Trials are a part of life, not a sign that Allah has abandoned us.
A mentally healthy person is able to transform stress into energy for progress. They do not dwell on complaints, but focus on solutions. They do not ask, “Why is this happening to me?” but rather, “What lesson does Allah want to teach me?”
Therefore, one way to express gratitude for a healthy mind is to cultivate a positive mindset, increase reflection, strengthen the meaning of life, and draw closer to Allah.
Emotional Health: The Path to Peace
Many people are physically healthy and their minds are intelligent, but their lives are unhappy. The cause is illness in the emotional realm.
Diseases of the heart are often more dangerous than physical illnesses.
Building healthy social relationships
As human suffering arises not from lack, but from comparison.
When others succeed, they envy.
When others fail, they rejoice.
When they are at the top, they are arrogant.
When they are at the bottom, they feel inferior.
This is a disease of the heart that destroys peace.
The Quran reminds us:
“Do not envy the bounty which Allah has bestowed upon some of you more than others.”
(Surat an-Nisa’ [4]: 32)
Emotionally healthy people are able to be grateful for their own blessings without having to suffer because of the blessings of others.
They are free from the disease of “SKS”—being unhappy when others are happy, and happy when others are sad.
Cultivating Spirituality
Ultimately, emotional health cannot be separated from spirituality.
Allah says regarding the creation of man:
“Then I breathed into him of My spirit.”
(Surat al-Hijr [15]: 29)
This verse shows that humans are more than just biological bodies. Within each person lies a spiritual dimension that connects them to the Creator.
Scholars and Sufis explain that a person’s deepest anxiety arises when they are far from the source of their spirit, namely Allah.
Allah says:
“Remember, only in the remembrance of Allah do hearts find rest.”
(Quran 13:28)
Therefore, humans need a vertical relationship with their Lord just as they need food for their bodies.
A wise saying states:
“Man ‘arafa nafsahu faqad ‘arafa rabbahu.”
“Whoever knows himself will know his Lord.”
When a person realizes who they are, where they come from, and where they will return, many of life’s anxieties will lose their power.
Gratitude, Sincerity, and Husnuzan: Three Pillars of Holistic Health
Ultimately, physical, mental, and emotional health converge at one point: the quality of the soul.
There are three foundations that maintain complete human health.
First, gratitude.
Gratitude allows people to see the blessings they have, rather than constantly counting their shortcomings.
Second, sincerity.
Sincerity frees the heart from unnecessary burdens.
Third, devotion to Allah.
The belief that Allah always provides wisdom behind every event keeps people calm in all circumstances.
Allah promises:
“If you are grateful, I will surely increase your blessings.”
(Surah Ibrahim [14]: 7)
Perhaps today we are still healthy. We are still able to walk, talk, think, smile, and hug our loved ones.
Don’t wait until you are sick to understand the value of health.
Because health is a crown that is often forgotten. It is invisible when it is present. But when it is lost, the whole world feels different.
So before that crown is taken, let’s be grateful by taking care of our bodies, calming our minds, purifying our feelings, and drawing closer to Allah.
Because in reality the richest person is not the one who has the most wealth, but rather the one who is still blessed with health and is able to be grateful for it.
Indonesia, June 22, 2026
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