Be A GOOD MUSLIM

Sadness & Depression

Effective Ways to Deal & Cope with Sadness & Depression from Islamic Perspective Based on the Holy Quran & Hadith

Salam, Dear Readers and followers, welcome back to my new article, I hope all’s well. Today’s topic will be about dealing and coping with sadness and stress from an Islamic perspective based on Holy Quran and Hadith as you read in the title. I will try to cover everything which helps you to know what is Islamic perspective and how can we deal with and cope with this difficult time.

Today I want to share healthy, proven ways to calm ourselves in stressful situations. The aim of this article is to discuss depression in general and its Islamic perspective in specific as research has shown that an Islamically oriented-approach and intervention works better with the Muslim population in general.

Quran as a Remedy:

Every person afflicted by life’s trials may find themselves slipping into states of sadness and pain. The time spent in these states is longer for some than others, and sometimes manifest into clinical depression. To feel supported by a compassionate God who is All-Knowing and known to grant ease after hardship can facilitate the healing process effectively.

As described in the Quran, surah 65, Allah will prepare a way out and provide from sources one cannot even imagine if one places trust in Him. This is in line with the lessons gleaned from the verses about depression above, in which faith and reliance in God, as well as perseverance, can equip one with tranquility and, ultimately, success in overcoming tough times. Teachings provided in the Quran can help ease the pain, providing a spiritual sanctuary and hope for a positive outcome.

Reading the Quran and remembering Allah has a calming effect on the body, mind, and soul, reducing negative mental states and emotions. Furthermore, supplications or duas can be a powerful tool to overcome grief, depression, and anxiety.

Seeking inspiration from stories in the Quran can indeed facilitate the path to overcoming depression, as ultimately the cure lies with God. Still, it is important to get professional advice as the Quran instructs one to “ask those who know” (Quran 21:7, 16:43).

Therefore, the significance of the Quran in overcoming depression should not stop one from seeking assistance from a qualified therapist, if needed.

Stick around for future posts addressing which surahs or chapters in the Quran can be used as remedies!

Tips for Mental Health from Quran and Sunnah

1. Acknowledge mental health and understand that with hardship comes ease

The Prophet ﷺ acknowledged and addressed psychological challenges for the Muslim Ummah to learn from. The prophets experienced grief, sorrow, and anxiety in their lifetimes. Prophet ﷺ himself experienced grief so intense after the passing of his beloved wife Khadijah (رضي الله عنها‎) and his uncle, Abu Talib, paired with the social and economic boycott of Muslims in Makkah, that the entire year was called “The Year of Sorrow” (aam-ul-huzn).

Prophet Yaqub (السلام‎ عليه) suffered a prolonged period of grief as mentioned in the Quran:

“And he turned away from them and said: “Alas, my grief for Yusuf (Joseph)!” And he lost his sight because of the sorrow that he was suppressing.” [Quran; 12:84]

The Prophet ﷺ experienced a decline in his health as he was affected by concern for those who opposed Islam in Makkah and so, Allah revealed the ayah: