Every year many people pass away due to depression. Depression and other mental illnesses affect muslims and non-muslims alike. However as muslims, Islam has given us solutions to every problem, a cure for every ailment and a relief from every distress.
We shouldn’t alienate people who suffer from mental illnesses, and the stigma found in the west should not be found in our communities.
Many who die due to depression are celebrities and comedians. How can depression affect someone who is living the “dream life” or one who lives to laugh?
Well, it is rather simple.
Allah says, “And the life of this world is nothing but play and amusement.” (06:32) This is for the disbeliever, who seeks to gain nothing out of this world, but enjoyment. They chase after their desires until there is nothing left for them. This world is a paradise for the disbeliever because they live to enjoy, as their saying goes, “You Only Live Once (YOLO).” They cherish every moment of fun, and want to make it last for ever. When they realise it will not last forever, and the fun is over, their lives do not have any meaning. And so begins the downhill ride into depression. The prophet (peace be upon him) said, “the world is a prison for the believer and a paradise for the disbeliever.”(Muslim) When the disbelievers arrive at the hereafter there will be no paradise for them, no more enjoyment. There will be nothing but torment and pain, as recompense for their denial of Allah. They don’t have anything to look forward to, nothing to keep them going; that’s why they suffer from depression. For the muslim on the other hand, this life is serious, because what we do here, determines how we will end up on the other side. Our life on this earth is seemingly a prison, because we do not live to do as we please, we restrain ourselves, and live by the rules ordained by Allah. This life is a stepping-stone to our hereafter, we appreciate every moment of our life as an opportunity to increase our ranks in the real paradise.
We are on this earth with a purpose, how do we have time to feel depression? If one obey the commands of Allah, and busies themselves with preparing for the hereafter, then depression cannot affect them to the extent that life loses it worth. When you have tasted the sweetness of imaan then nothing can break you. Nothing can hurt or harm you. Nothing can defeat you, because Allah is on your side. As a muslim, you have something to look forward to. Something to keep you busy. Something to make you happy.
Ibn Taymiyyah famously said, “indeed there is a paradise in this world, whoever does not enter it, will not enter the paradise of the hereafter.” This statement seems controversial to what the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) said. However, what Ibn Taymiyyah was referring to as the paradise of this world which leads to the paradise of the hereafter is Imaan. The sweetness of imaan. It is this sweetness that you look forward to when you go to pray. It is what you yearn to taste when you fast. This sweetness is the pleasure of Allah, and it is the whole reason, we strive and struggle.
So, why talk about depression and duaa, if a muslim should not experience depression?
No one is perfect. Imaan fluctuates; it rises and falls. So perhaps in a state of low imaan a muslim may experience depression. Perhaps as a result of low imaan a person feels depression. or perhaps due to other factors, be they situational or otherwise a perhaps experiences this ‘dip.’
Nevertheless, whatever the cause of depression, anguish or anxiety, duaa is the solution. None else can relieve such stress except the One who gave it to you in the first place. Whenever a matter grieved the Prophet (peace be upon him), he would call out to Allah by saying, “O Ever-Living, O Sustainer and Protector of all that exists, by Your Mercy, I beg for Your aid.” (At-Tirmithi)
He would also say, “O Allah I am Your slave, son of Your male slave, son of Your female slave. My forehead is in Your hand (i.e. You have control over me). Your judgement upon me is assured, and Your decree concerning me is just. I ask You by every name that You have named Yourself with, revealed in Your Book, taught any one of Your creation, or kept unto Yourself in the knowledge of the unseen that is with You, to make the Quraan the spring of my heart, and the light of my chest, and the banisher of my sadness, and the reliever of my distress.” (Ahmad) This is a great duaa. However some of us read this duaa, and expect it to work, without once, reading the Quraan or pondering upon it! How is the Quraan to become a source of happiness if you do not read it? Or you do not know what it contains?! The contents of the Quraan makes you happy when in distress because it connects you to Allah. It is the words of your creator, and it brings you closer to Him.
At a time when the Prophet (Saw) was at an all-time low, when he had lost his supporter; his wife, and his protector; Abu-Talib, he (Saw) called out to Allah. He found hope and relief from his distress with His Lord.
“O Allah! To You alone I complain of my weaknesses, my scarcity of resources, and the humiliation I have been subjected to by people. O Most Merciful of those who show mercy! You are the Lord of the weak, and You are my Lord too. To whom have You entrusted me? To a distant person who receives me with hostility? Or to an enemy to whom You have granted authority over my affair? But as long as You are not angry with me, I do not care, except that Your favour is a more expansive relief to me. O seek refuge in the Light of Your Face by which all darkness is dispelled and every affair of this world and the next is set right, lest Your anger and displeasure descend upon me. Yours is the right to reproach until You are pleased. There is no power and no might except by You.”
The Prophet (saw) had every reason to break down; his entire city wanted to get rid of him. They wanted to harm him, they mocked him, they humiliated him in all sort of ways. Yet he turned sincerely to Allah, the One who is in control of the hearts. Notice how he focused on Allah’s pleasure. That was His only concern, and it should be ours too.
Islam is a complete way of life. From the moment we wake up in the morning to when we get back into bed in the evening, and everything in between. Islam covers it all. Islam is so comprehensive, it covers your dealings with people, your treatment of animals, your wealth, your trade, your property and even your health and hygiene. Islam deals with each area in depth. The subject of mental health is not alien, and the Prophet (Saw) taught us all about it. We should advise those who are suffering and look after them, for they are our brother or sister. It is easy to overcome depression, if you trust your affairs to Allah alone, who is Al-Jabbar, the Mender.