It is the blessing of Allah swt that He has revealed His last book on Holy prophet salal laho aliehi wasalam .This book and commands of Rasool salal laho aliehi wasalam have solution to every problem faced by humanity. When we read Quran and Hadith thoroughly we come to know that there are many important tips to overcome depression.Some of these tips are going to be discussed in upcoming discussion
Firm Belief in Allah
Allah swt has made it easy for believers to overcome their depressions and anxieties.With the increase in faith a stage comes when these depressions and anxieties cannot do any harm to a true believer .Allah swt had made it clear in Holy Quran:
No doubt! Verily, the Auliyâ' of Allâh no fear shall come upon them nor shall they grieve, Those who believed (in the Oneness of Allâh - Islâmic Monotheism), and used to fear Allâh much . (Yunus 10:62,63)
On another instance Allah swt says:
Allâh is the Walî (Protector or Guardian) of those who believe. He brings them out from darkness into light. (Al-Baqarah 2:257)
When a person is facing depression or some psychological problem he feels as he is engulfed in darkness.. It is indeed very difficult to overcome dark patches of life but the above mentioned verse makes it clear that if a person has firm belief in Allah swt .Allah swt takes him out of that darkness.
Piety i.e abstaining from sins:
Piety or abstaining from sins is indeed a great deed.Those who abstain from sins are indeed blessed by Allah swt
.Allah swt says in Holy Quran:
And fear Allâh that you may be successful. (Al-Baqarah 2:189)
One part of this success is to get rid of depressions.This portion of is also achieved if we fear Allah swt.Allah swt says:
And whosoever fears Allâh and keeps his duty to Him, He will make a way for him to get out (from every difficulty). (At-Talaq 65:2-3)
Trust in Allah swt:
When someone has trust in some trustworthy being .The trust worthy person or being never leaves that person alone. No one can be more trustworthy than Allah swt . So when someone trusts in Allah swt .Allah swt takes away his depressions and worries
This has been mentioned in Holy Quran in following way:
And whosoever puts his trust in Allâh, then He will suffice him. Verily, Allâh will accomplish his purpose. Indeed Allâh has set a measure for all things (At-Talaq 65:3)
Recitation of Holy Quran:
Holy Quran is the last book of Allah swt revealed on prophet Muhammad salal laho aliehi wasalam and it is the greatest source of guidance at this moment.Its recitation is source of great rewards from Allah swt and it has also been revealed as cure of all diseases .Allah swt says in holy Quran:
And We send down from the Qur'ân that which is a healing and a mercy to those who believe (Al-Isra 17:82)
On another instance Allah swt says :
O mankind! There has come to you a good advice from your Lord (i.e. the Qur'an, ordering all that is good and forbidding all that is evil), and a healing for that in your breasts, - a guidance and a mercy for the believers. (Yunus 10:57)
So any one who recites holy Quran his spiritual ,psychological and physical diseases will be cured with the grace of Allah swt. Indeed each and every verse of Holy Quran is cure for diseases but some specific surahs and verses have significant affect .These surahs and verses are as follows:
Surah Fatihah
Surah Baqarah
Surah Ikhlas
Surah Falaq
Surah Nas
Ayatul kursee
Last two verses of Surah Baqarah
Remembrance/Zikar of Allah swt.
There are many ways to worship Allah swt .One of them is remembrance of Allah swt.This is a very simple way of worshipping.Only a slight movement of tongue results in getting great blessings of Allah swt.
Allah swt says in Holy Quran:
O you who believe! Remember Allâh with much remembrance. And glorify His Praises morning and afternoon [the early morning (Fajr) and 'Asr prayers]. He it is Who sends Salât (His blessings) on you, and His angels too (ask Allâh to bless and forgive you), that He may bring you out from darkness (of disbelief and polytheism) into light (of Belief and Islâmic Monotheism). And He is Ever Most Merciful to the believers. (Al-Ahzab 33:41-43)
On another instance Allah swt says:
Those who believe , and their hearts find rest in the remembrance of Allâh, Verily, in the remembrance of Allâh do hearts find rest. (Ra'd 13:28)
So it is clear from above mentioned verse of Holy Quran that hearts of human beings get peace from remembrance of Allah swt.So any one who does zikar frequently Allah swt takes away all his depressions and brings him to light from darkness
Reciting Lahowla wala qowwat illa billah:
It has been discussed above that hearts get peace in remembrance of Allah swt but there is a distinguished and unique zikar which is cure of depressions.Rasool salal laho aliehi wasalam has told many attributes of this great zikar.
Rasool salal laho aliehi wasalam told :
“ la howla wala qowwata illa billah is from the treasures of Jannah”
Similarly there is another hadith which says:
“Lahowla wala qowwata illa billah is cure of Ninety nine diseases least of them is depression."
So advantages of reciting lahowla wala qowwata illa billah are beyond comprehension and it is cure of many diseases and depression is least among them.
Sending Salat on Prophet Muhammad salal laho aliehi wasalam:
Prophet Muhammad salal laho aliehi wasalam is the leader of humanity who delivered message of Allah swt with dedicated heart and faced all kinds of crisis and difficulties in his life to uplift flag of Tauheed .It is command of Allah swt that we should send salat on him to express our love for him .Allah swt says:
Allâh sends His Salât (Graces, Honours, Blessings, Mercy, etc.) on the Prophet (Muhammad SAW) and also His angels too (ask Allâh to bless and forgive him). O you who believe! Send your Salât on (ask Allâh to bless) him (Muhammad SAW), and (you should) greet (salute) him with the Islâmic way of greeting (salutation i.e. As¬Salâmu 'Alaikum). (Al-Ahzab 33:56)
According to authentic hadiths of Rasool salal laho aliehi wasalam one who sends salat on him Allah sends 10 salat on him and who soever keeps on sending salat Allah swt forgives all his sins and takes away all his depression
Dedicated duas:
According to saying of prophet Muhammad salal laho aliehi wasalam dua is the weapon of believer And when ever a believer faces a problem or depression he turns towards Allah swt.Allah swt says in Holy Quran:
And when My slaves ask you (O Muhammad) concerning Me, then (answer them), I am indeed near (to them by My Knowledge). I respond to the invocations of the supplicant when he calls on Me (without any mediator or intercessor). So let them obey Me and believe in Me, so that they may be led aright. (Al-Baqarah 2:186)
On another instance Allah swt says:
Is not He (better than your gods) Who responds to the distressed one, when he calls Him, and Who removes the evil, and makes you inheritors of the earth, generations after generations. Is there any ilâh (god) with Allâh? Little is that you remember! (An-Naml 27:62)
So when Allah swt listens and responds to the dua of distressed one when the depressed or anxious person invokes Him Why we are not turning towards Him to resolve our problems.Indeed if we will turn towards Him our depressions and worries will be resolved
Dua of Jonah(Younis) aliehis salam:
It is very clear from above discussion that Allah swt listens to the dua of distressed and depressed people when they invoke Him .So it is the duty of believers to invoke Him .Allah swt has however mentioned a particular dua in Holy Quran .This dua is actually supplication of Younis aliehis salam .When he was caught in the abdomen of fish and there was no apparent chance to get rid of that problem,he invoked Allah swt with sincere heart and Alah swt rescued him from that problem and declared it in Holy Quran that whosoever will invoke Allah swt in the same way Allah swt will remove his depressions also.
Allah swt says:
And (remember) Dhan-Nûn (Jonah), when he went off in anger, and imagined that We shall not punish him (i.e. the calamites which had befallen him)! But he cried through the darkness (saying): Lâ ilâha illa Anta [none has the right to be worshipped but You (O Allâh)], Glorified (and Exalted) are You [above all that (evil) they associate with You]. Truly, I have been of the wrong-doers." (Al-Anbiya 21:87) So We answered his call, and delivered him from the distress. And thus We do deliver the believers (who believe in the Oneness of Allâh, abstain from evil and work righteousness). (Al-Anbiya 21:88)
Seeking Forgiveness of Allah swt:
When a person commits sin or disobeys Allah swt he invites anger of Allah swt and problems start coming in his life.Allah swt says in Holy Quran:
And whatever of misfortune befalls you, it is because of what your hands have earned. And He pardons much. (See the Qur'ân Verse 35:45). (Ash-Shura 42:30)
When societies are disobedient to Allah swt what is the result ?The result has been mentioned in Holy Quran:
Evil (sins and disobedience of Allâh, etc.) has appeared on land and sea because of what the hands of men have earned (by oppression and evil deeds, etc.), that Allâh may make them taste a part of that which they have done, in order that they may return (by repenting to Allâh, and begging His Pardon). (Ar-Rum 30:41)
But when human beings turn towards Allah swt and seek forgiveness.Allah swt resolves the depression of the people.
There is hadith of Rasool salal laho aliehi wasalam that whosoever sticks to Istighfar Allah takes him out of every problems and removes all his depression and provides him from where he cannot even imagine.
This hadith also tells us that if we are consistent in seeking forgiveness Allah swt will resolve all our depressions.
Spending in Way of Allah swt:
Wealth and provisions of human being is in Hands of Allah swt .No one can be wealthy with his hard work and struggle alone .Allah swt has made it clear that those people who think that they have earned money due to their talent are victims of misconceptions.Allah swt says:
When harm touches man, he calls to Us (for help), then when We have (rescued him from that harm and) changed it into a favour from Us, he says: "Only because of knowledge (that I possess) I obtained it." Nay, it is only a trial, but most of them know not! (Az-Zumar 39:49)
The provision of every living being is in Hands of Allah swt and Allah swt says:
And no (moving) living creature is there on earth but its provision is due from Allâh. And He knows its dwelling place and its deposit (in the uterous, grave, etc.). all is in a Clear Book (Al-Lauh Al-Mahfûz - the Book of Decrees with Allâh). (Hud 11:6)
Many people think that their provisions and income are in the hands of their boss and customers where as Allah swt says in Holy Quran:
And in the heaven is your provision, and that which you are promised. (Adh-Dhariyat 51:22).
So when every thing given to us is with the grace of Allah swt than we should not be reluctant to spend our money in His way .We will indeed be favoured and blessed by Allah swt if we will spend in His way provided that our intention is to please Him and we are not seeking fame and other worldly benefit out of this righteous act .There are many advantages of spending money in way of Allah swt and one of them is elimination of Depression:
Allah swt has made it clear in Holy Quran that He will take away depression of those who spend frequently in ways of Allah swt.Allah swt says in Holy Quran:
Those who spend their wealth (in Allâh's Cause) by night and day, in secret and in public, they shall have their reward with their Lord. On them shall be no fear, nor shall they grieve. (Al-Baqarah 2:274)
So it is obvious from above mentioned discussion that Quran and Sunnah have mentioned many ways to cure depressions and we need to take benefits from these ways.May Allah make it easy for us to follow Quran and Hadith of Rasool salal laho aliehi wasalam and take away depression of all Muslims ameen