Depression (1/2)

Depression refers to intense sadness. It is a widespread mental illness, indeed one of the most widespread. As for mild sadness or feeling "blue", this is a normal and  natural emotion which hardly anyone can escape, not even a believer. Allah says:

"Secret counsels (conspiracies) are only from Shaytaan (Satan), in order that he may cause grief to the believers." (Surah Al-Mujaadilah, 58:10)

If that sadness increases and takes over a person, it becomes depression.

Signs of depression:

1- Feeling distressed and sad

2- Loss of appetite

3- Lack of focus, forgetfulness

4- Sleep disturbances, weight loss

5- Lack of sexual desire

Causes of depression:

1- External causes and

2- Internal causes

1 - External causes:

These are factors that are outside a person, such as life events like losing a loved one, or losing money or social standing. If this person does not have the protection of faith, he will go through several stages until he reaches the stage of depression.

2 - Internal causes:

These have to do with the person's physical make-up, such as brain cells, a lack of thyroid hormones or a lack of certain vitamins.

Treatment:

As depression is a mental illness, the treatment for it is by means of the Noble Qur’an, especially in cases where the causes are external. The patient should be reminded to remember Allah and to believe in the divine will and decree (Al-Qada Wa'l-Qadar) and the reward for those who are patient. Examples should be given from the lives of the Sahaabah and so on. He should also be reminded to recite a great deal of the Dhikrs and Du'aa's that have been narrated from the Prophet (Peace be upon him) for treating worry, grief and distress, such as the following:

1- It was narrated from Ibn 'Abbaas (may Allah be pleased with him) that the Messenger of Allah (Peace be upon him) used to say at times of distress:

"Laa ilaaha ill-Allah ul-azeem Al-haleem, laa ilaaha ill-Allah Rabb il-arsh il 'azeem, laa ilaaha ill-Allah Rabb ul-samawaati wa rabb ul-ard wa rabb ul-'arsh il-kareem

(There is no god but Allah, the Almighty, the Forbearing; there is no god but Allah, Lord of the Mighty Throne; there is no god but Allah, Lord of the heavens, Lord of the earth and Lord of the noble Throne)”[1]

1- In Jaam’i Al-Tirmidhi it is narrated from Anas (may Allah be pleased with him) that when the Messenger of Allah (Peace be upon him) was distressed by something, he would say:

"Yaa Hayyu yaa Qayyoom, bi Rahmatika astagheeth,

(O Ever-Living One, O Everlasting One, by Your mercy I seek help.)”  

3- And it is narrated from Abu Hurayrah (may Allah be pleased with him) that when the Messenger of Allah (Peace be upon him) was worried about something, he would lift his gaze towards heaven and say:

"Subhaan Allah il-'Azeem

(Glory be to Allah, the Almighty).”

And when he strove hard in Du'aa' he would say:

"Yaa Hayyu yaa Qayyoom

(O Ever-Living One, O Everlasting One).”

4- In Sunan Abi Dawood it is narrated from Abu Bakr Al-Siddeeq that the Messenger of Allah (Peace be upon him) said: "The prayer of the one who is in distress is:

"Allahumma arju rahmataka fa la takilni ila nafsi tarfata 'aynin, wa aslah li sha'ni kullahu laa ilaaha illa anta.

(O Allah, I hope for Your mercy, do not leave me to my own devices for even the blink of an eye, and set all my affairs straight, there is no god but You)."

5- And it is narrated that Asma' bint 'Umays said:

The Messenger of Allah (Peace be upon him) said to me:

''Shall I not teach you some words to say at times of distress? Allah Allah rabbiy laa ushriku bihi shay'an (Allah Allah is my Lord and I do not associate anything with Him).” According to one report, it should be said seven times.

6- In Musnad Ahmad it is narrated from Ibn Mas'ood that the Prophet (Peace be upon him) said:

"No person suffers any anxiety or grief, and says:        

"Allahumma innee 'abduka wa ibn 'abdika wa ibn amatika, naasiyati bi yadika, maadin fiyya hukmuka, 'adlun fiyya qadaa'uka, as'aluka bi kulli ismin huwa laka sammayta bihi nafsaka aw anzaltahu fi kitaabika aw 'allamtahu ahadan min khalqika aw ista'tharta bihi fi 'ilm il-ghaybi 'indaka an tajala Al-Qur’ana al-Azeema  rabee' qalbi wa noor sadri wa jalaa'a huzni wa dhahaaba hammi, illa azhaba- Allahu huznahu wa hammahu wa abdalahu makanahu farha,

(O Allah, I am Your slave, son of Your slave, son of Your female slave, my forelock is in Your hand, Your command over me is forever executed and Your decree over me is just. I ask You by every Name belonging to You which You named Yourself with, or revealed in Your Book, or You taught to any of Your creation, or You have preserved in the knowledge of the unseen with You, that You make the Qur’an the life of my heart and the light of my breast, and a departure for my sorrow and a release for my anxiety).”

— but Allah will take away his sorrow and grief, and give him in their stead joy.”

(Continued)