DEPRESSION MAY LEAD TO SUICIDE
(And do not kill yourselves.) (Qur’an 4: 29)
(And do not throw yourselves into destruction…) (Quran 2: 195)
Reports were leaked that former President Ronald Reagan fell victim to a state of severe depression. His situation was attributed to his being over seventy years of age while still having to face tremendously stressful problems and to his having undergone periodic operations.
(Wheresoever you may be, death will overtake you even if you are in fortresses built up strong and high!) (Qur’an 4: 78)
Many famous people, and in particular those in the arts, suffer from depression. The main reason, if not the only reason, for poet Saleh Jaaheen’s death was indeed depression. It has also been said that Napoleon Bonaparte, while still in exile, died in a state of depression.
(And that their souls shall depart [die] while they are disbelievers.)
(Qur’an 9: 55)
Not too long ago, a German woman killed three of her children. lt later became clear that her reason for doing this horrible act stemmed from her state of depression. Since she loved her children a great deal, she feared that they would have to go through the pain and hardship that she laid undergone in her life. Thus, she decided to “give them comfort and “to save each one of them” from the difficulties and vicissitudes of life. After murdering them, she took her own life.
The numbers issued by the World Health Organization indicate the severity of the situation. In 1973 it reported that three percent of the world’s population was afflicted with depression. The figures increased dramatically and in 1978 the figure was up to five percent. What might come as a surprise to some is that some studies have shown that one out of every four Americans suffers from depression. During the conference of Mental Disorders that was held in Chicago in 1981, the chairman of the conference announced that one hundred million people in the world suffer from depression. What might come as a surprise to some is that most of them were from developed countries. Other studies have even proclaimed a number of two hundred million.
(See they not that they are tried once or twice every year [with different kinds of calamities, disease, famine, etc.]?) (Qur’an 9: 126)
lt is said that, “The intelligent person is not he who is able to increase his profits, but he who transforms his losses into profits.”
(There did Allah give you one distress after another by way of requital to teach you not to grieve for that which had escaped you.) (Quran 3: I53)
The meaning of ` this verse is that things that are over and finished with should not be dwelt upon, since doing so leads only to anxiety, worry, and wastage of time.
When having no work to do, one can fill his time with many useful activities. These are some such activities—- doing good deeds, helping others, visiting the sick, visiting the graveyard (t0 remember and reflect 0n one’s final destination), volunteering in the Mosque, participating in charitable work, doing physical exercise, visiting loved ones, organizing one’s affairs, and lending aid t0 the old, the poor, and the weak.
Verily you are returning towards your Lord — with your deeds and actions [good or bad], a sure returning…) (Qur’an 84: 6)
An Arab poet said:
“A generous deed is singular in its sweet taste And in its beautiful appearance.”
Look through any history book and you will find among its pages stories of pain, privation, and misery. An Arab poet said:
“Read History as it is filled with morals, A Nation will sink if it knows nothing of its annals.”
(And all that we relate to you of the news of the Messengers is in order that we may make strong and from your heart thereby (Qur’an 11: 120)
(Indeed in their stories, there is a lesson for men of understanding) (Qur’an 12: 111)
(So relate the stories, perhaps that they may reflect.) (Qur’an 7: 176)
‘Umar (may Allah be pleased with him) said, “My goal now remains to find enjoyment in the different things that have been decreed for me,” a statement that indicates his contentment with Allah’s decree for him.
In the span of one year, eight of Abi Thuaib al-Hathali’s sons died during a plague. And what do you suppose he said? He kept faith, was resigned, and submitted to Allah’s decree, saying:
“Patience will I show to those who rejoiced in my pain, I will not shake or tremble with the vicissitudes of time, When death looms and bares its claws, No charm or trinket can ward it off.”
(No calamity befalls. but with the Leave [i.e. decision and Qadar (Divine Pre-ordainments)] of Allah.) (Qur’an 64: 11)
Ibn ‘Abbaas (may Allah be pleased with him) lost his eyesight, and he said to himself these words of solace:
“lf Allah takes from me the light of my eyes, My heart remains illuminated, My heart understands and my mind is not perverse, And my tongue is like a blade of an unsheathed sword.”
He comforted himself by remembering the many favors of Allah that yet remained for him after having lost only one of them.
During the duration of a single day ‘Urwah ibn Zubayr (may Allah be pleased with him) lost one of his legs and was informed that his son had died. This was his reaction:
“O’ Allah, to you belongs all praise. If you have taken away, then you have also given. And if you have tested (me) with hardship, you have also saved me and cared (for me). You have bestowed upon me four limbs and have taken only one away. You have blessed me with four sons and have taken only one away.”
(And their recompense shall be Paradise, and silken garments, because they were patient) (Qur’an 76: 12)
(Peace be upon you for that you persevered in patience) (Qur’an 13: 24)
The following words of consolation have been attributed to Imam Ash-Shafi’ee:
“Let the days bring what they may, And be contented when a decree has come to pass, When the execution of it comes in a land of some nation, Neither earth nor sky can prevent it.”
How many times have we feared death and then nothing came of it? How many times have we felt the end near, yet we then returned stronger than before’? How many times have we found ourselves in difficulties, yet after the passing of a short time were allowed to taste the sweetness of ease and relief?
(Say [O’ Muhammad]: ‘Allah rescues you from it and from all [other] distresses….) (Qur’an 6: 64)
Or how many times have we been sick only to be restored to health?
(And if Allah touches you with harm, none can remove it but He…)
(Qur’an 6: 17)
When one knows with certainty that Allah controls everything, how then can he feel any fear of anyone other than Him? And when one fears Allah, how can he fear others alongside Him, especially considering that Allah, the Exalted, said:
(….so fear them not, but fear Me…) (Qur’an 3: 175)
He is All-Powerful:
(And that our hosts, they verily would be the victors.) (Quran 37: 173)
(Verily, we will indeed make victorious Our Messengers and those who believe in this worlds life and on the Day when the witnesses will stand forth [i.e. Day of Resurrection].) (Qur’an 40: 51)
lbn Taymiyah said that with the phrase, “There is neither might nor power except with Allah,” heavy things are carried, obstacles are overcome, and honor is achieved. So remember this phrase constantly, since it is a treasure from the treasures of Paradise and a pillar of happiness and contentment.
ASKING ALLAH FOR FORGIVENESS OPENS LOCKED DOORS
Ibn Taymiyah said,
“When I am confused in my understanding of an issue in religion, I forthwith beseech Allah to forgive me one thousand times — maybe a little more or maybe a little less. Then Allah opens what was closed for me and I come to understand”
(l said [to them]: ‘Ask forgiveness from your Lord; Verily He is Oft-Forgiving; he will send rain to you in abundance.) (Quran 71: 10-11)
One way of finding inner peace is to constantly seek forgiveness from Allah. Even a sin can be a blessing if it causes the believer to turn to his Lord in repentance. In Al-Musnad the following is related:
“Allah does not make a decree for his slave except that it is better for him.”
In regards to this hadith, Ibn Taymiyah was asked, “Even the sin?” He replied, “Yes, if it is followed by repentance, regret, asking for forgiveness, and a sincere feeling of remorse for having transgressed.
(If they [hypocrites], when they had been unjust to themselves, had come to you [Muhammad] and begged Allah s Forgiveness, and the Messenger had begged forgiveness for them: indeed, they would have found Allah All-Forgiving, Most Merciful) (Quran 4: 64)
(And so are the days [good and not so good], we give to men by turns) (Qur’an 3: 140)
(The day they see it, [it will be] as if they had not tarried [in this world] except an afternoon or a morning.) (Qur’an 79: 46)
I always feel wonder when reflecting on some famous historical figures. Even though they faced hardships, it seems as if to them their hardships were as gentle as drops of water. In the forefront of this elite group is the leader of the creation, Muhammad (bpuh). He was in the cave with Abu Bakr (may Allah be pleased with him), with his enemies near them, and he said to his Companion:
(‘Be not sad (or afraid), surely Allah is with us.) (Qur’an 9: 40)
“Glad tidings from the unseen at the mouth of the cave:
Revelation that led to happiness for the world.”
Just before the battle of Badr, the Prophet (bpuh) eagerly put on his armor while saying:
(Their multitude will be put to flight, and they will show their backs.)
(Qur’an 54: 45)
And in the battle of Uhud, after some of his Companions were martyred and others were injured, the Prophet (bpuh) said to his Companions:
“Line up behind me so that I can praise my Lord.”
It was the determination and will power of a Prophet that could even, by the will of Allah, shake mountains.
Qays ibn ‘Aasim al-Manqari, famous among the Arabs for his patience, was once narrating a story to some of his companions, when a man came and told Qays, “Your son has been murdered. The son of so-and-so was the culprit.” Qays didn’t cut his story short, but instead continued relating it in a calm demeanor until he finished.
Then he said, “Wash my son, shroud him, and allow me to pray over him!”
(And those who are patient in extreme poverty and ailment [disease] and at the time of fighting [during the battles].) (Qur’an 2: 177)
lkrimah ibn Abi Jahl (may Allah be pleased with him) was offered water on his deathbed, and he said, “Offer it to so and so.”
There were a number of them, all on the verge of dying, and each preferred the person beside him to his own self, and with this wonderful display of brotherhood they all died.
PEOPLE SHOULD DEPEND ON YOU, AND NOT YOU ON THEM
The noble hearted one works for people and does not allow them to serve him. Therefore he doesn’t embark on a project that will require him to rely upon others.
In helping others. people have a limit or point, up to which they are willing to strive and sacrifice for others. And this limit is seldom exceeded.
Consider Husain ibn ‘Ali, the grandson of the Prophet (bpuh).
He was murdered, and the nation did not stir. Instead, his murderers danced in the streets, chanting praises to Allah for their victory — may Allah be pleased with Husain. An Arab poet wrote:
“They came with your head, O’ grandson of Muhammad,
Rejoicing at its dripping blood with joy and mirth,
Praising Allah for having killed you, but
They only killed their praises and their religion.”
Imam Ahmad was tortured by being severely beaten with a whip. He was on the verge of dying and nobody moved a ringer to help him.
(So invoke not with Allah another ilah [god]…) (Qur’an 26: 213)
Ibn Taymiyah was captured and was made to mount a mule, to be paraded on it and humiliated. Throngs of people who later attended his funeral did nothing while that happened, simply because people, with the rare exception, have a certain limit they will not go beyond in helping others.
(And they possess neither hurt nor benefit for themselves, and possess no power [of causing] death, nor [of giving] lute, nor of raising the dead.)
(Qur ‘an 25: 3)
(O’ Prophet [Muhammad]! Allah is Sufficient for you and for the believers who follow you) (Qur’an 8: 64)
(And put your trust [O’ Muhammad] in the Ever Living One Who dies not…) (Quran 25: 58)
(Verily they can avail you nothing against Allah [if He wants to punish you].) (Quran 45: 19)
PRUDENCE
No one spends prudently except that he is saved from having to depend on others. A poet said:
“Save your money, for with wealth comes respect, And you can do without asking uncle or cousin.”
The philosophy that promotes extravagance in spending is false and is detrimental to one’s well being. The roots of such ideas are found in India, or originate from the ignorant among the Sutis.
Indeed, Islam promotes earning money honestly and spending it in a proper way. Applying these two principles is what makes one honorable through his wealth. The following saying of the Prophet (Blessings and Peace be upon him) is proof of this:
“Blessed is good wealth (that which is earned honestly) in the hands of a righteous man.”
In contrast to him is one who is inundated in debt or one who is indigent. The former is always troubled and worried that all of his possessions will be taken away from him, and the latter is continuously struggling just to find the means of staying alive.
The Prophet (Blessings and Peace be upon him) said:
“O’ Allah, I seek refuge in You from disbelief and from poverty.”
He (_bpuh) also said:
“Poverty is almost disbelief.”
There is no contradiction between the previous hadith and the hadith in Ibn Maajah:
“Seek to have little in this world, and Allah will love you; do not seek what others have, and people will love you. “
This hadith has a defect in terms of its authenticity. Yet suppose it to be other than weak, and the meaning is that you should be content with having the bare necessities, and you should be satisfied with that amount of provision which saves you from having to beg or ask for people’s help. At the same time, you should be noble and self- dependent and have sufficient means to prevent you from asking others for help.
“Whoever wishes to be free from dependence on others, Allah will make him so.”
An Arab poet said:
“I never had my hands outstretched except to the Creator, And I never sought a dollar from one who reminds others of his favors.”
In an authentic hadith, the Prophet (bpuh) said:
“For you to leave rich those who inherit from you is better than leaving them poor, (in which case) they will have to ask of people.”
In another authentic hadith, the Prophet (bpuh) said:
“The upper hand is better than the lower one.”
The meaning of this hadith is that the giver is better than the receiver.
(The one who knows them not, thinks that they are rich because of their modesty.) (Qur’an 2: 273)
The following verse indicates that one should not be fulsome in praising people in order to receive financial assistance from them, since Allah has guaranteed our sustenance:
(Do they seek honor; power and glory with them? Verily then to Allah belongs all honor power and glory.) (Qur’an 4: l39)
An Arab poet said:
“I have no intention of kissing someone’s hand.
For me, cutting it off is better than that kiss, When one gives me a favor he enslaves me, Or if not, at least I feel ashamed.”
DO NOT CLING TO OTHER THAN ALLAH
lf Allah, the Exalted, is the One Who brings to life, causes death, and if He alone provides for all creation, why fear people or be distressed by their actions? I think that in our society much grief and anxiety is caused by our attachment to people — in seeking to please them, trying to gain their favor, striving to praise the important ones among them, and feeling wounded by their disparaging treatment.
And all of this indicates a weakness in one’s belief in Allah.
An Arab poet said:
“Would that you were pleased when life is bitter, And would that you were contented when people are angry, If your love for Allah is true, then all else is insignificant, And all above the dirt is dirt.”
DOING THOSE THINGS THAT BRING YOU PEACE
Ibn al-Qayyim enumerated some of the factors that bring about tranquility:
Islamic Monotheism, or worshipping Allah exclusively without associating any partners with him (in worship), and without associating any partners with Him in all qualities that belong to Him alone. The disbeliever and the one who associates partners with Allah, the Almighty, are, for all effective purposes, dead and not alive.
(But whosoever turns away from My Reminder [i.e. neither believes in this Qur’an nor acts on its orders, etc.] verily, for him is a lye of hardship, and We shall raise him up blind on the Day of Resurrection.) (Quran 20: 124)
(And whosoever Allah wills to guide, He opens his breast to Islam…) (Quran 6: 125)
(ls he whose breast Allah has opened to lslam, so that he is in light from His Lord [as he who is non-Muslim]?) (Quran 39: 22)
Allah, the Exalted, warned His enemies with the following verse:
(We shall cast terror into the hearts of those who disbelieve, because they joined others in worship with Allah, for which He had sent no authority…) (Quran 3: 151)
So, woe to those whose hearts are hardened against remembrance of Allah!
(Quran 39: 22)
(And whosoever He wills to send astray He makes his breast closed and constricted, as if he is climbing up to the sky.) (Quran 6: 125)
Useful knowledge, because the most happy, easy-going, and contented kind of person is the scholar. Why should scholars not be, for they are the inheritors of Muhammad (bpuh)?
(And [Allah] taught you that which you knew not.) (Quran 4: 113)
(So know [O’ Muhammad] that none has the right to be worshipped but Allah…) (Qur’an 47: 19)
Good deeds. A good deed brings light both to the heart and to the face. Doing good deeds results in being blessed in one’s sustenance, and the hearts of people are naturally attracted to the doer of good.
(We should surely have bestowed on them water [rain], in abundance)
(Qur’an 72: 16)
Bravery, for the courageous person is firm and strong and fears Allah alone. Difficulties and hardship neither shake nor disturb him.
Avoiding sins. Sinning ruins 0ne’s peace of mind and makes one feel lonely and in the dark:
“l saw that sins cause the heart to die And addiction brings disgrace to the addicted.”
Not being extravagant in that which is lawful. In other words, one should be moderate in speaking, sleeping, and mixing with people, and likewise one should be abstemious in one’s eating habits.
(And those who turn away from Al-Laghw [dirty, evil vain talk, falsehood and all that Allah has forbidden].) (Qur’an 23: 3)
(Not a word does he [or she] utter: but there is a watcher by him ready (to record it) (Qur’an 50: 18)
(And eat and drink but waste not by extravagance”) (Qur’an 7: 31)
An Arab poet said:
“O’ companion of the bed, you have slept excessively, don’t you know that after death is a long sleep.”
PREORDAINMENT
A man who had a mental disorder and an extreme anxiety problem sought advice from a Muslim doctor, who advised him, saying, “Know that no matter what the plans are that someone has for the future, there is no movement, not so much as a whisper, in this world but that it occurs by the permission of Allah.”
The following is related in a hadith:
“Verily, Allah wrote the Maqaadeer (everything that will happen) of the creation fifty thousand years before He created them.”
Al-Mutanabbi wrote:
“Small things are greatly magnified in the eyes of the small one, And great things are diminished in size in the eyes of the great one.”
THE SWEET TASTE OF FREEDOM
Ar-Raashid wrote in Al-Masaar:
“Whoever possesses three hundred sixty loaves, a canister of oil, and one thousand six hundred dates (i.e., enough provision for one year), then none can enslave him.”
One of our pious predecessors once said:
“The one who is satisfied with dry bread and water will be free from slavery except the slavery to Allah.
(And have in his mind no favor from anyone for which a reward is expected in return) (Qur’an 92: 19)
“My aspirations and desires enslaved me since I obeyed them, lf I had only been contented, I would have been free.”
Those who seek to make wealth or status a means to happiness will come to know in the end how futile and fruitless their efforts were.
(And truly you have come unto Us alone [without wealth, companions or anything else] as We created you the first time. You have left behind all that which we had bestowed on you.) (Quran 6: 94)
(Nay you prefer the life of this world; although the Hereafter is better and more lasting) (Qur’an 87: 16-17)
Dirt was the pillow of Sufyan ath-Thawri
The lives of eminent scholars of the past are filled with lessons in humility. During the pilgrimage season, Sufyan ath-Thawri wanted to rest for the night, so he placed his cheek on a tiny mound of dirt. The people said to him, “You rest your head on dirt, yet you are the greatest scholar of hadith in the world.” He answered, “This pillow of mine is indeed better than that of the Caliph.”
(Say: Nothing shall ever happen to us except what Allah has ordained for us.) (Quran 9: 51)
DO NOT PAY ATTENTION TO THE TELL-TALE
Predictions of calamity (which rarely come to pass) and evil premonitions (which are most often false) instill fear into the hearts of many:
([Satan] threatens you with poverty and orders you to commit Fahsha [evil deeds, illegal sexual intercourse, sins etc.]; whereas Allah promises you forgiveness from Himself and Bounty and Allah is All-Sufficient for his creatures ‘needs, All-Knower ( Qur’an 2: 268)
Anxiety, sleeplessness, and ulcers are the ill consequences of hopelessness and worry.
An Arab poet said:
“Don’t punish us for we have already been tortured, By anxiety that keeps us awake long through the night.”
THE CURSES OF THE FOOLISH ARE OF NO CONSEQUENCE TO YOU
Abraham Lincoln, America’s 16th President, said:
“I never read malicious, hostile letters that are sent to me. I never open the envelopes and never bother responding to them. If I were to become busy in dealing with such matters, I would have no time left to do things for my people.”
(So turn aside nom them [do not punish them ]…) (Qur’an 4: 63)
(So overlook their faults with gracious forgiveness.) (Qur’an 15: 85)
(So turn away from them [O’ Muhammad], and say: Salaam [peace]. (Qur’an 43: 89)
The commander of the American Navy during World War II was a brilliant leader and tactician, and he earned a considerable amount of fame as a result. However, he had to deal with those under his command — inferiors who harbored jealousy towards him and subordinates who constantly attacked him behind his back with curses and criticism.
And as is usually the case in such instances, he was well aware of what they said about him. He commented on this, saying, “I now have an immunity from criticism. I have become old and am now cognizant of the fact that words cannot destroy greatness, nor can they bring down a sturdy fence.”
An Arab poet said:
“What do the poets want from me (through attacking me verbally) And I have past in age the limit of forty.”
It has been claimed that ‘Eesa (Jesus) (may peace be upon him) said:
“Love your enemy.”
The meaning of this saying is that you should give a general pardon to your enemies. This way, you will be free from feelings of revenge, and free from hatred and rancor.
(And those who pardon men; verily Allah loves the good doers.)
(Qur’an 3: 134)
After gaining control of Makkah, the Messenger of Allah (bpuh) said to those who had previously inflicted much harm against him:
“Go forth, for you are the freed ones.”
(No reproach on you this days….) (Qur’an 12: 92)
(Allah has forgiven what is past…) (Qur’an 5: 95)
Source: Islam Basics By Aaidh ibn Abdullah Al-Qarnee
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