In the Name of Allah, Most Merciful, Most Compassionate
Assalaamu alaykum
Dear Friends
I pray that you are well.
Sometimes when we are depressed, we seek out for sympathetic people who will listen to us. Most often, we are disappointed, because most people would not understand, or cannot give you enough time, or will have cares of their own. But Allah is Al Haleem (The Forbearing), so why not share with Him? He is always there, waiting for you to talk to Him. Moreover, He understands you better than yourself. Pour your heart to Him.
We can turn our messes into golden opportunities. The formula for doing that has been provided to us by His beloved Messenger (Allah bless him and grant him peace):
How wonderful is the case of a believer; there is good for him in everything and this applies only to a believer. If prosperity attends him, he expresses gratitude to Allah and that is good for him; and if adversity befalls him, he endures it patiently and that is better for him.[Muslim]
Depression is a disease, just like malaria or the common cold. If you have it, it does not mean you are a weak person, it does not mean you have a weak iman (faith), and it in no way means that you are somehow to blame for it. The Qur'an even records a Prophet being so powerfully aggrieved that he loses his eyesight.
وَتَوَلَّىٰ عَنْهُمْ وَقَالَ يَـٰٓأَسَفَىٰ عَلَىٰ يُوسُفَ وَٱبْيَضَّتْ عَيْنَاهُ مِنَ ٱلْحُزْنِ فَهُوَ كَظِيمٌ ﴿٨٤[Qur'an, Yusuf 12:84]
And he [Ya'qub] turned away from them and said, "Oh, my sorrow over Joseph," and his eyes became white from grief, for he was [of that] a suppressor. (84)
Stop blaming yourself for something out of your control, and half your problem is solved inshaAllah.
As much as possible, cut down your obligations, tasks, chores etc. Remove as much stress as you can without actually shunning from your core responsibilities. Give yourself a break.
Remind yourself that you’re not in control of your life anyway. Whatever has happened, happened by the will of Allah.
Strive to seek that which will benefit you and do not feel helpless. If something overwhelms you, then say: Qaddarallah, wa ma sha’a fa’al (It is the decree of Allah and what He wills He does). And beware of (saying) ‘If only,’ for ‘If only’ opens the door to Satan. [ibn Majah]
So when you think of the ever-increasing pile of chores, say: Qaddarallah, wa ma sha’a fa’al. When you’re feeling too much burden, when you’re in a situation where every attempt of yours is failing to make a way out, rely on Allah. It was Allah’s will that you came in such a state, and all the preceding events that led to it were from His Decree too.
He has given this as a test for you, to see whether you let yourself become crushed under the load of self-blame, or whether you throw that load away and lean on Him for support and relax. Having tawakkul (reliance on Allah) really feels very like leaning on an extremely comfortable couch and just relaxing, your heart filling with Allah’s love, for Allah Almighty says:
إِنَّ ٱللَّهَ يُحِبُّ ٱلْمُتَوَكِّلِينَ ﴿١٥٩...[Qur'an AleImran 3:159]
... Indeed, Allah loves those who rely [upon Him]. (109)
Allah Almighty also says:
... وَمَن يَتَوَكَّلْ عَلَى ٱللَّهِ فَهُوَ حَسْبُهُۥٓ ...[Qur'an, At-Talaq 65:3]
... And whoever relies upon Allah – then He is sufficient for him...(3)
So let go of all feelings of worry and self-blame, and rely completely on Allah. Let Him take care of the situation.
إِن يَنصُرْكُمُ ٱللَّهُ فَلَا غَالِبَ لَكُمْ ۖ وَإِن يَخْذُلْكُمْ فَمَن ذَا ٱلَّذِى يَنصُرُكُم مِّنۢ بَعْدِهِۦ ۗ وَعَلَى ٱللَّهِ فَلْيَتَوَكَّلِ ٱلْمُؤْمِنُونَ ﴿١٦٠[Qur'an, AleImran 3:160]
If Allah should aid you, no one can overcome you; but if He should forsake you, who is there that can aid you after Him? And upon Allah let the believers rely. (160)
There are such amazing duas for depression in the Sunnah of the Prophet that it’s almost worth it to fall into depression just to know these duas. Learn and memorize them and recite them at any time you want while standing, sitting, lying, crying... Soon you’ll find that you are experiencing an amazing situation – an awareness of Allah, a sense of connection with Him. You’ll start feeling His presence [by His knowledge]. Ibn al Qayyim describes this building of relationship with Allah:
It is possible that a person has a need of something, so he earnestly prays and requests Allah for it until the sweetness of asking and imploring Allah is opened for him. So he enjoys being humbled before Him and trying to draw closer to Him, and he cuts off any relationship or hope for good from anyone else – all of which would never have happened had it not been for his need -- to such an extent that he wishes to continue in this state, and prefers it over the actual fulfillment of his need.
Some of those that have recognized have stated: ‘Sometimes, I have a need [from] Allah, so I ask Him earnestly. Then I find that the door of dialogue opens up for me, and I recognize Allah more, and feel humbled before Him, due to which I prefer that the answer to my prayer be delayed, so that this state may continue!’ [from the book Dua the Weapon of the Believer]
Du'as for Depression (even if you are not depressed, there is no stopping you to learn, memorize and recite them)
اللّهُـمَّ إِنِّي عَبْـدُكَ ابْنُ عَبْـدِكَ ابْنُ أَمَتِـكَ نَاصِيَتِي بِيَـدِكَ، مَاضٍ فِيَّ حُكْمُكَ، عَدْلٌ فِيَّ قَضَاؤكَ أَسْأَلُـكَ بِكُلِّ اسْمٍ هُوَ لَكَ سَمَّـيْتَ بِهِ نَفْسَكَ أِوْ أَنْزَلْتَـهُ فِي كِتَابِكَ، أَوْ عَلَّمْـتَهُ أَحَداً مِنْ خَلْقِـكَ أَوِ اسْتَـأْثَرْتَ بِهِ فِي عِلْمِ الغَيْـبِ عِنْـدَكَ أَنْ تَجْـعَلَ القُرْآنَ رَبِيـعَ قَلْبِـي، وَنورَ صَـدْرِي وجَلَاءَ حُـزْنِي وذَهَابَ هَمِّـي
O Allah, I am Your servant, son of Your servant, son of Your maidservant, 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.
اللّهُـمَّ إِنِّي أَعْوذُ بِكَ مِنَ الهَـمِّ وَ الْحُـزْنِ، والعًجْـزِ والكَسَلِ والبُخْـلِ والجُـبْنِ، وضَلْـعِ الـدَّيْنِ وغَلَبَـةِ الرِّجال
O Allah, I take refuge in You from anxiety and sorrow, weakness and laziness, miserliness and cowardice, the burden of debts and from being over powered by men.
اللّهُـمَّ لا سَـهْلَ إِلاّ ما جَعَلـتَهُ سَهـلاً، وَأَنْتَ تَجْـعَلُ الْحَـزَنَ إِذا شِـئْتَ سَهـْلاً
O Allah, there is no ease except in that which You have made easy, and You make the difficulty, if You wish, easy.
لَا إلَهَ إِلَّا اللَّهُ الْعَظـيمُ الْحَلِـيمْ، لَا إِلَهَ إِلَّا اللَّهُ رَبُّ العَـرْشِ العَظِيـمِ، لَا إِلَـهَ إِلَّا اللَّهْ رَبُّ السَّمَـوّاتِ ورّبُّ الأَرْضِ ورَبُّ العَرْشِ الكَـريم
None has the right to be worshiped except Allah Forbearing. None has the right to be worshiped except Allah, Lord of the magnificent throne. None has the right to be worshiped except Allah, Lord of the heavens, Lord of the Earth and Lord of the noble throne.
اللّهُـمَّ رَحْمَتَـكَ أَرْجـوفَلا تَكِلـني إِلى نَفْـسي طَـرْفَةَ عَـيْن، وَأَصْلِـحْ لي شَأْنـي كُلَّـه لَا إِلَهَ إِلَّا أنْـت
O Allah, it is Your mercy that I hope for, so do not leave me in charge of my affairs even for a blink of an eye and rectify for me all of my affairs. None has the right to be worshiped except You.
لَا إِلَهَ إِلَّا أنْـت سُـبْحانَكَ إِنِّي كُنْـتُ مِنَ الظّـالِميـن
None has the right to be worshiped except You. How perfect You are, verily I was among the wrong-doers. [Qur'an, Al-Anbiya' 21:87]
اللهُ اللهُ رَبِّ لا أُشْـرِكُ بِهِ شَيْـئاً
Allah, Allah is my Lord, I do not associate anything with Him.
رَبَّنَا وَلاَ تُحَمِّلْنَا مَا لاَ طَاقَةَ لَنَا بِهِ وَاعْفُ عَنَّا وَاغْفِرْ لَنَا وَارْحَمْنَا أَنتَ مَوْلاَنَا فَانصُرْنَا عَلَى الْقَوْمِ الْكَافِرِينَ
Our Lord! Lay not on us a burden greater than we have strength to bear. Blot out our sins, and grant us forgiveness. Have mercy on us. Thou art our Protector; Help us against those who stand against faith. [Qur'an, Al-Baqarah 2:286]
اللَّهُمَّ إِنِّي أَعُوذُ بِكَ مِنْ عِلْمٍ لاَ يَنْفَعُ وَقَلْبٍ لاَ يَخْشَعُ وَدُعَاءٍ لاَ يُسْمَعُ وَنَفْسٍ لاَ تَشْبَعُ
O Allah, I seek refuge with You from knowledge that is of no benefit, a heart that is not humble, a supplication that is not heard and a soul that is not satisfied. [an Nasaii]
اللَّهُمَّ إِنِّي أَعُوذُ بِكَ مِنْ شَرِّ مَا عَمِلْتُ وَمِنْ شَرِّ مَا لَمْ أَعْمَلْ
O Allah, I seek refuge in You from the evil of what I have done, and from the evil of what I have not done. [Abu Dawud]
رَبَّنَا أَفْرِغْ عَلَيْنَا صَبْرًا وَتَوَفَّنَا مُسْلِمِينَ
Our Lord, pour upon us patience and let us die as Muslims [in submission to You]. [Qur'an, Al'Araf 7:126]
اللَّهُمَّ أَصْلِحْ لِي دِينِي الَّذِي هُوَ عِصْمَةُ أَمْرِي، وأَصْلِحْ لِي دُنْيَايَ الَّتِي فِيها مَعَاشِي، وَأَصْلِحْ لِي آخِرَتِي الَّتِي فِيها مَعَادِي، واجْعَلِ الْحَيَاةَ زِيَادَةً لِي فِي كُلِّ خَيْرِ، وَاجْعَلِ الْمَوْتَ رَاحَةً لِي مِنْ كُلِّ شَرِّ.
O Allah, make my religion easy for me by virtue of which my affairs are protected, set right for me my world where my life exists, make good for me my Hereafter which is my resort to which I have to return, and make my life prone to perform all types of good, and make death a comfort for me from every evil. [Muslim]
اللهمَّ إنِّي أَعوذُ بِكَ مِن جَهْدِ الْبَلَاءِ، وَدَرْكِ الشَّقَاءِ، وَسُوءِ الْقَضَاءِ، وَشَمَاتَةِ الْأعْدَاءِ
Oh Allah, I seek refuge in You from the distress of trial, from the lowest level of misery, from the perversity of fate, and from the malicious rejoicing of enemies. [Bukhari and Muslim]
رَبَّنَا آتِنَا مِن لَّدُنكَ رَحْمَةً وَهَيِّئْ لَنَا مِنْ أَمْرِنَا رَشَدًا
Our Lord, grant us from Yourself mercy and prepare for us from our affair right guidance. [Qur'an, Al-Kahf 18:10]
رَّبَّنَا عَلَيْكَ تَوَكَّلْنَا وَإِلَيْكَ أَنَبْنَا وَإِلَيْكَ الْمَصِيرُ
Our Lord, upon You we have relied, and to You we have returned, and to You is the destination. [Qur'an, Al-Mumtahina 60:4]
May Allah grant us well being and bring us closer to Him. Ameen.
Allahumma salli 'ala Muhammad wa 'ala aalihi wa sahbihi wassallam.
Please don't forget us in your night prayers. Jazakallahu khairan.
And Allah knows best.
Wassalaam
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