In the Name of Allah, Most Merciful, Most Compassionate
Assalaamu alaykum
Sadness and happiness are human emotions that Allah has created in us and placed in us. Allah knows that, and Allah doesn’t expect us to always have one set of emotions for life. It is alright to be happy, and it is alright to be sad. The best of examples for us was the Prophet sallallahu alayhi wasallam and he was sad, and he was happy. It is not the emotion, but rather how we deal with it.
The need for happiness doesn’t allow us to drink wine, party like a madman, and disobey Allah. Similarly sadness doesn’t allow us to break things, shout at other people, or wail and hurt ourselves. We face different circumstances and emotions in life, but it is how we react to it that makes the difference. The Prophet’s reaction to both would be to remember Allah. In good times he thanked Allah, and in difficult times He sought the help of Allah— the best of examples.
What made the Prophet sallallahu alayhi wasallam sad
At one time, the revelation had stopped for nearly six months. The Prophet sallallahu alayhi wasallam was very sad. The Quraysh were saying that Allah had abandoned the Prophet, naudhubillah. Allah then sent Surah Adh-Dhuha and after this, Surah Inshirah, to console the Prophet sallallahu alayhi wasallam.
The Prophet sallallahu alayhi wasallam got sad because he was not getting a communication from Allah. He missed seeing Jibreel (peace be upon him), he missed being given Quran, he missed reciting new verses to his Sahabah and very importantly, he felt he might not be able to save his people from hellfire if he didn’t receive more ayaat from Allah.
The Prophet sallallahu alayhi wasallam got sad because he misses the Speech of Allah, while for most of us, if we don't have to read the Qur'an, if Allah waived away the obligation of the five daily prayers we would jump at that chance like anything! We don't miss talking to Allah. We don't miss the Qur'an. We are not sad that we can't even read the Qur'an (or read the Quran properly).
The Prophet sallallahu alayhi wasallam got sad because he couldn’t give dawah to the Quraysh and save them from the fire of hell. Do we have that love for the people (or even our own family and friends) that we worry that they might not be guided? Allah actually had to console the Prophet sallallahu alayhi wasallam about that as well in Surah al-Kahf,
فَلَعَلَّكَ بَاخِعٌ نَّفْسَكَ عَلَىٰ آثَارِهِمْ إِن لَّمْ يُؤْمِنُوا بِهَـٰذَا الْحَدِيثِ أَسَفًا[Quran, Al-Kahf 18:6]
But [Prophet] are you going to worry yourself to death over them if they do not believe in this message?
The great companion, Umm Aiman Barakah, the woman the Prophet sallallahu alayhi wasallam described as his "mother after my own mother. She is the rest of my family." Her son Aiman, a devoted companion of Rasulullah sallallahu alayhi wasallam was martyred at Hunayn in the eighth year after the Hijrah. Barakah's husband, Zayd ibn Harith, was killed at the Battle of Mutah in Syria after a lifetime of distinguished service to Rasulullah sallallahu alayhi wasallam and Islam. Barakah at this time was about seventy years old and spent much of her time at home. Rasulullah sallallahu alayhi wasallam, accompanied by Abu Bakr and Umar often visited her and asked: "Ya Ummi! Are you well?" and she would reply: "I am well, O Messenger of Allah so long as Islam is."
After the Prophet sallallahu alayhi wasallam had passed away, Umm Aiman Barakah would often be found with tears in her eyes. She was once asked by Abu Bakr and Omar when they visited her, "Why are you crying?" and she replied: "By Allah, I knew that the Messenger of Allah would die but I cry now because the revelation from on high has come to an end for us."
Indeed, we are sad for the wrong reasons.
In bad times remember the good that Allah has bestowed.
Allah reminds the Prophet sallallahu alayhi wasallam of the blessings that Allah had always given upon him. How Allah sheltered the Prophet sallallahu alayhi wasallam when he became an orphan, first through his grandfather and then through his uncle. Allah mentions how the Prophet sallallahu alayhi wasallam was in need and Allah made him self-sufficient through the marriage with Khadijah radi Allahu anha. Allah also mentions how the Prophet sallallahu alayhi wasallam was seeking a way out of the filth of society and Allah guided him, through the Quran.
Psychologists today help patients suffering from depression, low self-esteem and suicidal tendencies by asking them to count their blessings, and Allah is reminding the Prophet sallallahu alayhi wasallam of the blessings that he had been given, and how Allah changed his condition from bad to good, and how Allah can do so again, as He promises,
وَلَلْآخِرَةُ خَيْرٌ لَّكَ مِنَ الْأُولَىٰ[Qur'an, Adh-Dhuha 93:4]
And the Hereafter is better for you than the first [life].
وَلَسَوْفَ يُعْطِيكَ رَبُّكَ فَتَرْضَىٰ[Qur'an, Adh-Dhuha 93:5]
And your Lord is going to give you, and you will be satisfied.
Ways out of the hole of depression— remove other people’s worries
In Surah Adh-Dhuha, Allah ends the Surah by telling the Prophet sallallahu alayhi wasallam to take care of the orphan, the poor and to make mention of the blessings that Allah has bestowed upon us. Another classic activity that is encouraged in depressed individuals is to help other people out. This automatically brings them out of their sadness as they come out of the self-centered approach and suddenly notice that other people are in a worse place off than themselves. So the next time we are sad, affected by something really bad in life, one of the first things we should do is to help someone else. The smile on their face will be a cause for a smile on our own.
Learn the Qur'an and read the Qur'an and you will find your happiness in the midst of your sadness inshaa Allah.
May Allah grant us happiness in this life and the next and remove our worries and sadness. Ameen.
Allahumma salli 'ala Muhammad wa 'ala aalihi wa sahbihi wasallam.
And Allah knows best and is Most Wise, and He alone grants success, and to Him is the final return of all.
Wassalaam
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