The past few months were filled with hostilities, first between India and Pakistan and then between Iran and Israel. Not a long time ago, we witnessed India and Pakistan pulling back from the brink of war. Some were experiencing it for the first time, while many had already experienced it, as the countries had fought three major wars and had been at each other’s throats since 1947. The conflict revealed that many people were excited for war, while others genuinely feared its consequences. This raises more questions than answers; amongst all the questions, one is when fearing war or being anxious about it becomes associated with cowardice, and the other is how this is a sign of weak faith or iman.

Before compelling yourself to answer the above question, it would be beneficial to understand what fear and anxiety are in simple terms in the light of psychology. Fear and anxiety are psychological concepts that describe a response to perceived threats and concern for potential danger[Understanding Fear, Anxiety, and Phobias]. They are common in both humans and animals, with moderate to significant levels depending on the situation. It can be considered abnormal if it is disproportionate to the threat, and sanity is considered normal if it is proportionate to a threat, such as a potential war between two nuclear powers. The term ‘war’ can dominate nerves and is not amusing at all, unlike how it often appears on social media in the form of memes, even when it happens.

Fear and anxiety are common during adversity and critical situations, often........

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