Depression (2/2)

7- In Sunan Al-Tirmidhi it is narrated that Sa'd ibn Abi Waqqaas said: The Messenger of Allah (Peace be upon him) said:

"The prayer of Dhu'l-Noon which he said when he was in the belly of the fish: 'Laa ilaaha illa Anta, subhaanaka inni kuntu min Al-zaalimeen (none has the right to be worshipped but You (O Allah), Glorified (and Exalted) be You [above all that (evil) they associate with You]! Truly, I have been of the wrongdoers' (Surah Al-Anbiya' 21:87). No Muslim man calls upon Allah with these words concerning any matter but Allah will answer him.”

According to another report:

"I do not know of any words that a person says in distress but Allah will relieve him of it, except the words of my brother Yoonus.”

8- In Sunan Abi Dawood it is narrated that Abu Sa'eed Al-Khudri (may Alah be pleased with him) said: The Messenger of Allah (Peace be upon him) entered the mosque one day and saw a man from among the Ansaar who was called Abu Umaamah. He (Peace be upon him) said:

"O Abu Umaamah, why do I see you in the mosque when it is not the time for prayer?"

He said: "Worries and debts that are burdening me.”

He (Peace be upon him) said:

"Shall I not teach you some words which, if you say them, Allah will take away your worries and pay off your debt?"

He said: "Yes, O Messenger of Allah."

He (Peace be upon him) said: "Say:

"Allahumma inni a'oodhu bika min Al-hammi wa'l-hazani wa a'oodhu bika min al’ajzi wa'l-kasali wa a'oodhu bika min al-jubni wal-bukhli wa a'oodhu bika min ghalbat il-dayn wa qahr il-rijaal,

(O Allah, I seek refuge with You from worry and grief, and I seek refuge with You from incapacity and laziness, and I seek refuge with You from cowardice and miserliness, and I seek refuge with You from being heavily in debt and from being overcome by men).”

He said: I said it and Allah took away my worries and paid off my debt for me.

9- In Sunan Abi Dawood it is narrated that Ibn ' Abbaas (may Allah be pleased with him) said: The Messenger of Allah (Peace be upon him) said:

"Whoever persists in praying for forgiveness, Allah will give him a way out from every worry and distress, and will provide for him from (sources) he never could imagine.”

10- Ibn 'Abbaas narrated that the Prophet (Peace be upon him) said:

"Whoever has many worries and concerns, let him frequently recite: Laa hawla wa laa quwwata ilia Billaah (there is no power and no strength except with Allah)."

It is proven in Al-Saheehayn that this is one of the treasures of Paradise. In Al-Tirmidhi it says that it is one of the gates of Paradise.

There to follow fourteen reminders for the one who is suffering from worry, distress, sorrow and depression:

1- Tawheed Al-Ruboobiyyah (Unity of Divine Lordship)

2- Tawheed Al-Uloohiyyah (Unity of Divinity)

3- To declare that Allah is far above mistreating His slave or punishing him without any cause on the part of the slave himself.

4- Admission on the part of the slave that he is the wrongdoer.

5- Beseeching Allah by the most beloved of names to Him, which are His Names and Attributes. Among the most comprehensive in meaning of His Names and Attributes are the Names Al-Hayyu (the Ever-Living), Al-Qayoom (the Eternal).

6- Seeking the help of Allah Alone.

7- Affirming one's hope in Allah.

8- Putting one's trust in Allah in a real sense and handing over all one's affairs to Him, recognizing that one's forelock is in His hand, that Allah runs all one's affairs as He wills, that His command is ever executed and that His decree is just.

9- Letting his heart graze, as it were, in the garden of the Qur’an, seeking its light in order to dispel the darkness of doubts, whims and desires.

10- Seeking the forgiveness of Allah.

11- Repentance

12- Jihaad (striving for the sake of Allah).

13- Salaat (prayer)

14- Admitting that one has no power or strength at all, and attributing them to the One Who holds them in His hand.

With regard to depression whose causes are internal, its treatment is to be sought from psychologists, especially if medical tests and equipment detect the presence of a defect in the brain cells or a hormone deficiency. If there is no clear medical cause, there is no harm in performing Ruqyah be reciting the Qur’an, especially since depression is one of the symptoms of jinn possession. There is no conflict between the Qur’anic remedies and psychology.