Cure for Depression
In the name of Allah, The Most Gracious and The Most Merciful
New click here for new site on peace and happiness
New Urdu book & posters Hayate-e-Tayyebah
New articles on family life and happiness
This life is a one-time opportunity to achieve everlasting happiness in the life hereafter. Allah Almighty is showering countless blessings upon us everyday. Every moment has a great potential to achieve high-ranks in the court of our Creator. Every minute is like a gold coin. The heart and tongue are gifts from Allah to earn millions of rewards (Hasanaat) for the Akhirah.
Let’s view and ponder over this chart of good deeds http://www.islameasy.org/pdf/Convert_Time2Gold.pdf
Every particle of the universe will be left behind, but every deed of a human being will be lifted for the life hereafter! Strong faith and good deeds bring peace and comfort in this life, peace in the grave and gardens of Paradise in the hereafter. When people forget the purpose of life, many of them terminate their lives without hope. When the human being realizes the purpose of life, an ordinary person can become a means of spreading guidance to hundreds of thousands of people. There are diamonds, gold, silver and pearls to be discovered inside human heart.
Paradise is a reality – with rivers of milk and honey, palaces of gold and silver, delicious food and fruits, beautiful spouse, always happy, always young, always healthy – a great kingdom for ever and ever for an unending enjoyment and bliss. Compete with each other to strengthen faith and excel in good deeds and hasten to seize every fleeting moment and turn into gold by a productive activity; sow seeds today to reap a rich harvest tomorrow and rush at the available opportunity before it is lost for good.
Only Allah knows what is beneficial for us. He is All Wise, All Merciful. Allah loves us more than seventy mothers do. Difficulties and trials can become a means of raising our status and earn countless reward. Allah says in the Qur’an: (interpretation of the meaning):
“..Truly the steadfast will be paid their recompense without limit“[Az-Zumar, 10].
Abu Saeed Al-Khudri and Abu Hurairah (RA) narrate that the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) said: Whenever a Muslim faces fatigue, illness, worry, grief, hurt and sorrow, even gets pricked by a thorn, Allah in lieu of his sufferings removes his sins.” (Bukhari)
"Our anxieties, depression and worries are all created because we first make the decisions and then expect Allah Ta'ala to conform; whereas what we plan and decide is subject to Allah Ta'ala's confirmation." [‘Cure for depression’ by Shaykh Yunus Patel]
Islam is a complete way of life and offers a real solution to every problem. Here are some steps one may take to cure depression and laziness, insha Allah.
Love of Allah:
The human heart is the center of emotions and feelings. It dictates what it desires and works in collaboration with mind to act as a platform of good or evil. The human heart also has hidden treasures of matchless jewels. If found and applied, we can become beloved of Allah. Imagine a believer (sister) who always remembers and seeks help from her Creator, praises Allah by her tongue, in her heart, expresses gratitude for His bounties, is patient in hardships. She supplicates in all earnestness and always has good intentions.
Our real love should be for Allah. We love someone due to beauty and excellence, perfectness in knowledge and generosity, loving and caring treatment for us. If we look around and think about the blessings Almighty Allah is showering on us, we will love Him.
He is Allah, besides him there is no god, the All-Knower of the unseen and the seen. He is the Most Beneficent, the Most Merciful. He is Allah, besides him there is no god, the King, the Holy, the One Free from all defects, the Giver of security, the Watcher over His creatures, the All-Mighty, the Compeller, the Supreme. Glory be to Allah! (High is He) above all that they associate as partners with Him. He is Allah, the Creator, the Inventor of all things, the Bestower of forms. To Him belong the Best Names. All that is in the heavens and the earth glorify Him. And He is the All-Mighty, the All-Wise.[Al-Qur’an, 59: 22-24]
Tau’bah (Repentance):
Depression is caused by displeasing Almighty Allah. When a person transgresses the Laws of Allah, he/she is inflicted with various types of harms such as depression. It is for this reason Rasulullah (sallallahu alayhi wasallam) said Who ever makes Istighfaar in abundance, Allah will make a way out for him from every difficulty, free him from depression and anxiety and Allah will grant him sustenance from avenues he will not imagine.
“Why should Allah punish you if you have thanked (Him) and have believed in Him. And Allah is Ever All Appreciative (of good), All Knowing.” [An-Nisa 147]
Here is an excellent article on "Tawba & Istaghfaar – Repentance and seeking forgiveness"
http://www.islameasy.org/K202_Tawba.php
Therefore, the depressed person should repent for the past and turn his/her attention to Allah. Focus on pleasing Allah by fulfilling all His commands and He will grant you ease, peace and satisfaction of the heart, mind and soul. In the Zikr (obedience) of Allah is complete tranquility and peace. Allah is the controller of all situations. If a person is in any difficulty, Allah is the only being that would assist him in coming out of that difficulty. Therefore, turn to Allah and He will take care of all your problems and misfortunes.
Emaan and righteous deeds:
“Whoever works righteousness — whether male or female — while he (or she) is a true believer , verily, to him We will give a good life (in this world with respect, contentment and lawful provision), and We shall pay them certainly a reward in proportion to the best of what they used to do (i.e. Paradise in the Hereafter)” (al- Nahl 16:97 )
Allaah tells us and promises us that whoever combines faith with righteous deeds will have a good life and a good reward in this world and in the Hereafter.
Seeking help with patience and prayer:
Allah says (interpretation of the meaning): “And seek help in patience and al-salaat (the prayer)…” [al-Baqarah 2:45].
Hudhayfah (may Allah be pleased with him) said: “Whenever the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) was grieved by something, he used to pray.”
The Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) said: “How wonderful is the situation of the believer, for all his affairs are good. If something good happens to him, he gives thanks for it and that is good for him; if something bad happens to him, he bears it with patience, and that is good for him. This does not apply to anyone but the believer.” (Narrated by Muslim).
Learn knowledge for the sake of Allah Ta'la:
This will distract one from dwelling on the causes of anxiety.
One of the greatest means of feeling contentment and of acquiring peace of mind is to remember Allah a great deal (dhikr). This has a great effect in bringing contentment, peace of mind, and relieving worry and distress. Allah says:
“Verily, in the remembrance of Allah do hearts find rest” (al - Ra'd 13:28)
Anas (may Allah be pleased with him) reported that when the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) was distressed by something, he would say: “Yaa Hayyu yaa Qayyoom bi rahmatika astagheeth (O Ever-Living, O Eternal, by Your mercy I seek help).”
Looking for the positive aspects of the events in which one tends to see only the things that he/she dislikes.
Abu Hurayrah (may Allah be pleased with him) said: “The Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) said: ‘No believing man should hate a believing woman. If he dislikes one aspect of her character, he will be pleased with another’ (or vice versa )”
Counting one's blessings:
One of the most beneficial things in this regard is to follow the advice of the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) given in the saheeh hadeeth reported by Abu Hurayrah (may Allah be pleased with him):
“The Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) said: ‘Look at those who are below you, not at those who are above you, so that you will not think little of the blessings that Allah has bestowed upon you.”
Focusing on the Hereafter:
The concerns of this world overwhelm and confuse people, but if we make the Hereafter our main concern, Allah will help us to focus, as was narrated by Anas (may Allah be pleased with him):
“The Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) said: ‘Whoever has the Hereafter as his main concern, Allah will fill his heart with a feeling of richness and independence; he will be focused and feel content, and this world will come to him in spite of it. Whoever has this world as his main concern, Allah will cause him to feel constant fear of poverty; he will be distracted and unfocused, and he will have nothing of this world except what was already predestined for him.’”
Alhamdolillah, as Muslims and as believers in Allah Ta'ala and Jannah, we know what treasures and pleasures He has in store for us in the hereafter. Insha'allah, in Jannah you will be rewarded for the patience you had in the worldly life. Put your hope, trust and faith in Allah Ta'ala. It helps when you find that you are not the only one who has difficulties. You can get a great deal of support by helping others and building up your self esteem and confidence. If you wish, you could volunteer to help those who are less fortunate than you. In this way you will meet so many warm and wonderful people and this can bring the realization to you that there are many people who also have difficulties. You will learn new and better ways of coping with your difficulties.
You should emphasize your strengths and not your weaknesses. Allah Ta'ala has given each one of us some strong characteristics which we should maximize. You are perhaps very good academically in some subjects. Maybe you are a skilled crafts person or you have some other hidden talent. Use that potential of yours to its maximum. it is not how you look like that is important, it is what your heart is like and the contribution which you can make to your society, family or the Ummah which is important.
The millionaire’s machine:
Consider three stages of using the tongue:
- Reciting the Noble Qur’an, Salah, making zikr, Da’wah, learning and teaching Islam – like earning gold and diamonds.
- Unnecessary talks and arguments -- like collecting dust and stones!
- Telling lies, backbiting, slandering – like entering into fire!
The life is too short to spend time in arguments and quarrel, which are waste of time, energy and resources.
The life is too short to spend time in criticizing others, thinking badly about others – trying to edit other’s book of deeds while we will need to clean up our own book of deeds. We must not die with jealousy, malice, greed, pride, arrogance, Riya and other spiritual diseases in our heart!
Three-directions to invest:
Today is the day for action – engage in worship, Da’wah, learning and serving others.
Turn your time into gold and earn mountains of rewards in a few minutes.
The past – clean it up by making Taubah!
The future – invest by having good intentions.
Du’a (supplication):
Man, in spite of his energy, creativity, intellect, wisdom, conquest of space, thought and action is but a week and powerless creation in Allah’s limitless universe. From youth to old age, from morning to evening, man has hundreds of needs. If we ask people too much about our needs, they may not like it. But, the more we ask from Allah, He becomes happy.
Everyone is in need of success. Du’a (supplication) is the essence of worship, the light of the heavens and the earth. It opens the doors of mercy and is a means to fulfill our needs from the treasures of our Creator and Sustainer. Turn to the One who has solution to all our problems.
Increase time for Du’a, especially if you could wake up during the last part of night. Ask Allah to ease difficulty, clean the heart to focus on good deeds. Here is a startup script and examples of Dua:
Dua from the Core of Heart http://islameasy.org/pdf/Duae_Walihana.pdf
Munajaat-e-Maqbool http://islameasy.org/Dua_MM_2.php
“Ya Allah! I ask You for Your love, the love of the person who loves You, and the love of that deed which would draw me closer to Your love. Ya Allah! Make Your love more beloved to me than myself, my family, and more beloved than cold water [on a hot day]. Ya Allah! Grant me your love and the love of that person whose love will benefit me by you.
O Allah! Just as You bestowed me with that which I love, make it a source of help to me in fulfilling all that which You love. O Allah! Whatever You kept away from me of the things which I love [but were harmful for me], make them a source of freedom for me so that I may be able to fulfill all that which You love.”
May Allah bless you with peace of mind and contentment of heart, grant you steadfastness and give you the ability to convert time into gold!
May Allah Grant the Ummah the ability to convey the message of peace, the sacred and enlightened values of Islam, its rituals and teachings for success in this life and the Hereafter, for the benefit of mankind.
Suggested Readings
click here for new articles on peace and happiness
Cure for depression by Shaykh Yunus Patel
http://islameasy.org/pdf/Cure_for_Depression.pdf
Easy Road to Paradise - Golden deeds that lead to success
- extracted from a booklet in Urdu ‘Jannat ka Asan Rasta” by Shaykh Mufti Mohammad Rafi Uthmani. http://www.islameasy.org/EasyRoad_Paradise.php
"an easy prescription for rectification of the heart. This prescription is very brief but it is very swift in its effect. It consists of four a’mal (good deeds) that are the life of the Islamic Shari’ah and Tariqah, and they are so easy to do that you do not have to spend your life, wealth, or time to do them. If a person makes it a habit of doing them, a special connection with Allah is created whose effect one begins to feel in one’s life. The heart becomes willing to accept rectification and then gradually a state is reached when even if the person wants to commit sin, he is unable to do so.."
Happy Marriage - Living with Peace and Harmony at Home
http://www.islameasy.org/Marriage_Advice.php
Status of Woman in Islam by Shaykh Ahmed Abdul Mujeeb Qasmi (translated by Muhammad Owais Jafrey) http://www.islameasy.org/K225_WomenInIslam.php
Islam is the only religion which has given woman the status in accordance to her nature and determined her rights and duties according to her personality. Islam gave woman that dignity which no other ideology or faith has ever given. This lecture series talks about the status and role of women in society, removes misconceptions and shows how Islam elevates the status of a daughter, sister, wife and mother.
Tawba and Istaghfaar – Repentance and seeking forgiveness, by Shaykh Ahmed Abdul Mujeeb Qasmi (translated by Muhammad Owais Jafrey)
http://www.islameasy.org/K202_Tawba.php
Note:
SWT = Subhanahu Wa Ta'Ala
SAW = Sallallaho Alaihe Wasallam
RA = Radhiyallaho anhu
RAnha= Radhiyallaho anha
The scholarly reader is encouraged to refer to the original Arabic script for the Ayat of Qur'an and Ahadith.