Millions of people worldwide suffer from depression and anxiety. Many times anxiety and depression go hand in hand. It can effect your mental, physical, and emotional well-being. In fact, the more righteous you are, the more likely you are to be tested. Sa’d ibn Abi Waqqas, (ra), once asked the Prophet (saw), “O Messenger of Allah, which of the people are most sorely tested?”
The Prophet (saw) said: “The Prophets, then the next best and the next best. A man will be tested in accordance with his level of religious commitment. If his religious commitment is strong, he will be tested more severely, and if his religious commitment is weak, he will be tested in accordance with his religious commitment. Calamity will keep befalling a person until he walks on the earth with no sin on him.”
If you find that your facing depression and you fight it with the help of Allah (swt) and all the means that are available to you, it is a test and you have passed it even if you never actually fully defeat depression. The key is to always keep your faith high and stay patient. Allah (swt) will decrease your sins, and the test you are facing in this life act as a tradeoff for reward in the Hereafter.
As you start to grow and grow closer to Allah (swt), your perception changes of the world. If there is one thing anyone should know, it’s that you are never alone. Allah (swt) is always with you. Allah (swt) calls the Qur’an the healer of hearts.
O mankind, there has to come to you instructions from your Lord and healing for what is in the breasts and guidance and mercy for the believers.
-Surah Yunus, Ayah 57
You can truly only be happy by turning to Allah (swt). Surah Ad-Duhaa is an amazing guide for one in depression. It had been six months and Prophet Muhammad (saw) hadn’t gotten any revelation. He started thinking that Allah (swt) was displeased with him which made him very negative and depressed. As a result of this, Allah (swt) revealed Surah Ad-Duhaa to the Prophet (saw). We could relate to our beloved Prophet (saw) in this sense because he felt exactly what we as humans feel today. When your iman is low and you start looking at things negatively, always remember this surah.
“Your Lord has not taken leave of you, (O Muhammad), nor has He detested you.”
–Surah Ad-Duhaa, Ayah 3
We often feel like because Allah (swt) isn’t answering our duah, he isn’t listening to us, and on top of that, Shaytaan makes us feel as if Allah (swt) doesn’t love or care about us.
“Wad-Duhaa” means by the morning brightness. Look outside, it’s bright and sunny. Don’t be so gloomy, be grateful. The next line is “Wa layli itha sajaa” meaning “And [by] the night when it covers with darkness.” Typically when your depressed, you may sleep more than usual which actually worsens your well-being in every way. The night should be used as a comfort to ease your distress. Allah always tests the people he loves the most with different things and you may not even know. Everything happens for a reason and only Allah (swt) knows the hidden wisdom.
Click here to hear a brief tafseer of Surah Ad-Duhaa!
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