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The Phenomenon of Grief and Depression - By Shaykh Ashraf Salah
The Phenomenon of Grief and Depression
By Shaykh Ashraf Salah
Dear Muslims:
We do not need many evidences to
prove that we are suffering from the spread of the phenomenon of grief and
depression. Is is the destructive problem of our time and it is the most
widespread amongst all the psychological diseases in the world. It is
continually on the increase. An accurate International survey affirms that ten
percent of the world's population suffers from it, which means that hundreds of
millions of people are living through this bitter reality.The number of
suicides resulting from grief and depression has exceeded eight hundred
thousand annually, and this is beside the fact that eighty percent of those who
suffer from it do not see doctors in order to report or solve the problem.
This phenomenon is not new and its causes are not
mysterious, rather it is the natural and expected result when people become
obsessed by gathering and collecting worldly belongings and when people’s
concerns become purely materialistic. Therefore, this problem differs from one
country or community to another and is dependent on the weakness of people’s
belief in Allah (SWT), His angels, His Books, His Messengers, The Last Day and
the divine decree. This is in addition to people’s behaviour and the degree of
security, justice and love between them.
Grief is something
natural that humans feel due to their common problems, it is when it increases
and overwhelms a person that it becomes what is known as depression. This is a
condition that is considered to be at the highest level of grief and results in
a person becoming controlled and dominated by their inner misery, the result of
which is despair and loss of happiness. The results of depression include
laziness, loss of energy and hatred of life which makes some people feel that
suicide is the only solution. Imam Ibn Al-Qayyim, may Allah have mercy upon
him, said: "four things destroy the body: anxiety, grief, hunger and
sleeping late."
Dear Muslims:
We shall
concentrate on some of the reasons of depression which have been specifically
addressed by Islam and dispraised and warned against in the Qur’an and the
Snnnah.
In many Qur'anic
verses and Ahadeeth it is mentioned that the heart which is heedless of the
remembrance of Allah (SWT), is an indication of grief and misery. Allah says:
“And whoever turns away from My remembrance – Indeed, he will have a depressed
[i.e., difficult] life, and We will gather [i.e., raise] him on the Day of
Resurrection blind.” (Taha: 124). Also, it is also mentioned in the Sunnah that
sins lead to depression, as stated in the book of Imam Ahmad, may Allah have
mercy upon him, that the Prophet (PBUH) said, “If a slave’s sins increase and
he does not have enough good deeds which would wipe these out, then Allah will
afflict him with grief and sorrow in order to wipe them out”.
Being anxious and
concerned about the future and the lack of belief in divine decree and
pre-destination is another cause of this problem. Some people worry about what
the future holds for them and fear being incapable of dealing with problems,
disasters and calamities, if and when they arrive. Bad dreams caused by Satan,
who instils sorrow in a person, also play an important role as a cause of
depression. The Prophet (PBUH) informed us, as it is narrated by imam Muslim,
that Satan comes to people as they sleep and makes them see things which
results in them feeling grief and sorrow. This is why we see many people who
suffer from depression not being able to sleep properly.
Dear Brothers and Sisters in Islam:
Other reasons that
lead to depression are debts which a person cannot repay, cowardliness at the
time of fear and stinginess whilst aggressively collecting wealth. The Proof
that debts cause grief and anxiety lies in the Hadeeth where the Prophet (PBUH)
went into the mosque one day and found Abu Umamah, (RAA), and said: “O Abu
Umamah! Why do I see you sitting in the mosque when it is not prayer time?” Abu
Umamah, (RAA), replied: "It is due to Anxiety and grief, which resulted
from debts that I owe." So the Prophet (PBUH) said: “Shall I teach you
words which will take away your grief and by which Allah will help you repay
your debts, if you were to say them?” Abu Umamah, (RAA) replied: "Yes! O
Messenger of Allah." Thereupon, the Prophet (PBUH) said: “Every morning
and every evening say, O Allah! I seek refuge in you from anxiety and grief,
weakness and laziness, miserliness and cowardliness, the burden of debts and
from being over powered by men." After this, Abu Umamah, (RAA), commented
that: "I did this and Allah relieved my sorrow and anxiety and helped me
repay my debts."
These were some
reasons behind depression, and through these one can clearly see the connection
between depression and straying away from the guidance and the path of Allah
(SWT), committing that which Islam has prohibited, and being attached to
worldly matters. Allah (SWT) says: “So whoever Allah wants to guide – He
expands his breast to [contain] Islam; and whoever He wants to misguide – He
makes his breast tight and constricted as though he were climbing into the sky.
Thus does Allah place defilement upon those who do not believe.” (Al-An’am:
125).
Dear Muslims:
In order to
address this topic in a comprehensive manner we must briefly point out some of
the best ways of curing this problem, based on the Islamic texts in addition to
the testimony of eminent and specialised medical doctors:
The first and most
important is the correct understanding and belief in divine decree and
pre-destiny. When a person believes that there was no way that he could have
escaped whatever befell him and that all matters are in the Hands of Allah
(SWT), including ones provisions and death, and that no one will die until he
consumes all his decreed provision and until he lives for the whole amount of
time that was given to him, then he will definitely rely on Allah (SWT)
completely without any worry or grief and will face all his problems with
strength and resolution. Also, if people acknowledge that whatever Allah (SWT)
has decreed resulted from His perfect wisdom, then they will be content with
whatever He decrees. One who is discontent will become an easy victim for
grief, disease and following base desires. Al-Hasan, may Allah have mercy upon
him, was asked how he attained his good manners, he replied: "From being
content with the decree of Allah". Abu Hatim, may Allah have mercy upon
him, reported that some of the Salaf said regarding being content: "There
is no rank higher or mightier than being content. It is the peak of loving
Allah". Contentment can only be established when the slave has firmly in
his mind the conviction that whatever Allah (SWT) decrees results from His
wisdom. Allah (SWT) provides and deprives for a wise reason, and this is the
only thing that will make a person feel at ease during times of hardships This
is also evident in the saying of the Prophet (PBUH) when his son Ibraheem died:
“The eyes cry tears, and the heart becomes sad, but we will not say that which
will bring the wrath of our Lord. If it was not a true promise, and that we
will meet in an appointed time, and that the last will eventually follow (die)
after the first, then we would have cried hard for your death (O Ibraheem).
Indeed we are saddened by your departure” (Al-Bayhaqi & Ibn Majah).
Extra prostration,
glorification of Allah (SWT) and worship in general also take away grief and
depression. Allah (SWT) says: “…And We already know that your breast is
constrained by what they say. So exalt [Allah] with praise of your Lord and be
of those who prostrate [to Him]. And worship your Lord until there comes to you
the certainty [i.e., death].” (Al-Hijr: 97-99). Whenever the Prophet (PBUH)
felt grief or worry, he would rush to prayer. Moreover, the Prophet (PBUH)
said: “Whoever continuously asks forgiveness from Allah, then Allah will make a
way out for him from all his worries, and will provide him from means he never
would have expected”. (Abu Dawood and others).
Dear Muslims:
Another cure is
that which the Prophet (PBUH) advised us with when he said: “Allah will relieve
any slave who is afflicted with grief and anxiety and replace his grief with
happiness if he says: '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 chest,
and a departure for my sorrow and a release for my anxiety. The people asked:
"O Prophet of Allah! Should we learn (i.e., memorize) these words’. He
(PBUH) replied: “Yes! Everyone who hears this should memorise it”. (Ahmad)
O Allah! Teach us from the Qur’an that
which we are ignorant of and remind us with it that which we were made to
forget; we ask You by Your mercy, for You are the Most Merciful, to grant us
its recitation during the hours of night and day in the form which pleases You.
May Allah (SWT)
make us from those who listen to the truth and follow it, bless, guide and
forgive us all. (Ameen).
