DON'T BE SAD Episode 132

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*DON'T BE SAD*

Episode 132

*DEPRESSION MAY LEAD TO SUICIDE*

Surah An-Nisa, Verse 29:

يَا أَيُّهَا الَّذِينَ آمَنُوا لَا تَأْكُلُوا أَمْوَالَكُم بَيْنَكُم بِالْبَاطِلِ إِلَّا أَن تَكُونَ تِجَارَةً عَن تَرَاضٍ مِّنكُمْ وَلَا تَقْتُلُوا أَنفُسَكُمْ إِنَّ اللَّهَ كَانَ بِكُمْ رَحِيمًا

O you who believe! Eat not up your property among yourselves unjustly except it be a trade amongst you, by mutual consent. And do not kill yourselves (nor kill one another). Surely, Allah is Most Merciful to you.

Surah Al-Baqara, Verse 195:

وَأَنفِقُوا فِي سَبِيلِ اللَّهِ وَلَا تُلْقُوا بِأَيْدِيكُمْ إِلَى التَّهْلُكَةِ وَأَحْسِنُوا إِنَّ اللَّهَ يُحِبُّ الْمُحْسِنِينَ

And spend in the Cause of Allah (i.e. Jihad of all kinds, etc.) and do not throw yourselves into destruction (by not spending your wealth in the Cause of Allah), and do good. Truly, Allah loves Al-Muhsinun (the good-doers).

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.

Surah An-Nisa, Verse 78:

أَيْنَمَا تَكُونُوا يُدْرِككُّمُ الْمَوْتُ وَلَوْ كُنتُمْ فِي بُرُوجٍ مُّشَيَّدَةٍ وَإِن تُصِبْهُمْ حَسَنَةٌ يَقُولُوا هَٰذِهِ مِنْ عِندِ اللَّهِ وَإِن تُصِبْهُمْ سَيِّئَةٌ يَقُولُوا هَٰذِهِ مِنْ عِندِكَ قُلْ كُلٌّ مِّنْ عِندِ اللَّهِ فَمَالِ هَٰؤُلَاءِ الْقَوْمِ لَا يَكَادُونَ يَفْقَهُونَ حَدِيثًا

"Wheresoever you may be, death will overtake you even if you are in fortresses built up strong and high!" And if some good reaches them, they say, "This is from Allah," but if some evil befalls them, they say, "This is from you (O Muhammad SAW)." Say: "All things are from Allah," so what is wrong with these people that they fail to understand any word?

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.

Surah At-Taubah, Verse 55:

فَلَا تُعْجِبْكَ أَمْوَالُهُمْ وَلَا أَوْلَادُهُمْ إِنَّمَا يُرِيدُ اللَّهُ لِيُعَذِّبَهُم بِهَا فِي الْحَيَاةِ الدُّنْيَا وَتَزْهَقَ أَنفُسُهُمْ وَهُمْ كَافِرُونَ

So let not their wealth or their children amaze you (O Muhammad SAW); in reality Allah's Plan is to punish them with these things in the life of the this world, and that their souls shall depart (die) while they are disbelievers.

Not too long ago, a German woman killed three of her children. It 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 had 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 Organisation (WHO) 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 Disorder 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 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.

Surah At-Taubah, Verse 126:

أَوَلَا يَرَوْنَ أَنَّهُمْ يُفْتَنُونَ فِي كُلِّ عَامٍ مَّرَّةً أَوْ مَرَّتَيْنِ ثُمَّ لَا يَتُوبُونَ وَلَا هُمْ يَذَّكَّرُونَ

See they not that they are tried once or twice every year (with different kinds of calamities, disease, famine, etc.)? Yet, they turn not in repentance, nor do they learn a lesson (from it).

It is said that, "The intelligent person is not he who is able to increase his profits, but he who transforms his losses into profits."

Surah Aal-e-Imran, Verse 153:

إِذْ تُصْعِدُونَ وَلَا تَلْوُونَ عَلَىٰ أَحَدٍ وَالرَّسُولُ يَدْعُوكُمْ فِي أُخْرَاكُمْ فَأَثَابَكُمْ غَمًّا بِغَمٍّ لِّكَيْلَا تَحْزَنُوا عَلَىٰ مَا فَاتَكُمْ وَلَا مَا أَصَابَكُمْ وَاللَّهُ خَبِيرٌ بِمَا تَعْمَلُونَ

(And remember) when you ran away (dreadfully) without even casting a side glance at anyone, and the Messenger (Muhammad SAW) was in your rear calling you back. 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, nor for that which had befallen you. And Allah is Well-Aware of all that you do.

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 of such activities --- doing good deeds, helping others, visiting the sick, visiting the graveyard (to remember and reflect on one's final destination), volunteering in the Mosque, participating in charitable work, doing physical exercise, visiting loved ones, organising one's affairs, and lending aid to the old, the poor, and the weak.

Surah Al-Inshiqaq, Verse 6:

يَا أَيُّهَا الْإِنسَانُ إِنَّكَ كَادِحٌ إِلَىٰ رَبِّكَ كَدْحًا فَمُلَاقِيهِ

O man! Verily, you are returning towards your Lord with your deeds and actions (good or bad), a sure returning, so you will meet (i.e. the results of your deeds which you did).

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."

Surah Hud, Verse 120:

وَكُلًّا نَّقُصُّ عَلَيْكَ مِنْ أَنبَاءِ الرُّسُلِ مَا نُثَبِّتُ بِهِ فُؤَادَكَ وَجَاءَكَ فِي هَٰذِهِ الْحَقُّ وَمَوْعِظَةٌ وَذِكْرَىٰ لِلْمُؤْمِنِينَ

And all that We relate to you (O Muhammad SAW) of the news of the Messengers is in order that We may make strong and firm your heart thereby. And in this (chapter of the Quran) has come to you the truth, as well as an admonition and a reminder for the believers.

Surah Yusuf, Verse 111:

لَقَدْ كَانَ فِي قَصَصِهِمْ عِبْرَةٌ لِّأُولِي الْأَلْبَابِ مَا كَانَ حَدِيثًا يُفْتَرَىٰ وَلَٰكِن تَصْدِيقَ الَّذِي بَيْنَ يَدَيْهِ وَتَفْصِيلَ كُلِّ شَيْءٍ وَهُدًى وَرَحْمَةً لِّقَوْمٍ يُؤْمِنُونَ

Indeed in their stories, there is a lesson for men of understanding. It (the Quran) is not a forged statement but a confirmation of the Allah's existing Books [the Taurat (Torah), the Injeel (Gospel) and other Scriptures of Allah] and a detailed explanation of everything and a guide and a Mercy for the people who believe.

Surah Al-Araf, Verse 176:

وَلَوْ شِئْنَا لَرَفَعْنَاهُ بِهَا وَلَٰكِنَّهُ أَخْلَدَ إِلَى الْأَرْضِ وَاتَّبَعَ هَوَاهُ فَمَثَلُهُ كَمَثَلِ الْكَلْبِ إِن تَحْمِلْ عَلَيْهِ يَلْهَثْ أَوْ تَتْرُكْهُ يَلْهَث ذَّٰلِكَ مَثَلُ الْقَوْمِ الَّذِينَ كَذَّبُوا بِآيَاتِنَا فَاقْصُصِ الْقَصَصَ لَعَلَّهُمْ يَتَفَكَّرُونَ

And had We willed, We would surely have elevated him therewith but he clung to the earth and followed his own vain desire. So his description is the description of a dog: if you drive him away, he lolls his tongue out, or if you leave him alone, he (still) lolls his tongue out. Such is the description of the people who reject Our Ayat (proofs, evidences, verses, lessons, signs, revelations, etc.). So relate the stories, perhaps they may reflect.

'Umar (may ALLĀH be pleased with him) said, "My have goal now remains to find enjoyment in the different things that have been decreed for me", a statement that indicates his contentment with ALLĀH's decree for him.

In the span of one year, eight of Abi Thu'aib al-Hathali's sons died during a plague. And what do you suppose he said? He kept faith, was resigned, and submitted to ALLĀH'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."

Surah At-Taghabun, Verse 11:

مَا أَصَابَ مِن مُّصِيبَةٍ إِلَّا بِإِذْنِ اللَّهِ وَمَن يُؤْمِن بِاللَّهِ يَهْدِ قَلْبَهُ وَاللَّهُ بِكُلِّ شَيْءٍ عَلِيمٌ

No calamity befalls, but with the Leave [i.e. decision and Qadar (Divine Preordainments)] of Allah, and whosoever believes in Allah, He guides his heart [to the true Faith with certainty, i.e. what has befallen him was already written for him by Allah from the Qadar (Divine Preordainments)], and Allah is the All-Knower of everything.

Ibn 'Abbās (may ALLĀH be pleased with him) lost his eyesight, and he said to himself these words of solace:

"If ALLĀH takes from me the light of my eye,

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 favours of ALLĀH that yet remained for him after having lost only one of them.

During the duration of a single day 'Urwah Ibn Zubayr (may ALLĀH be pleased with him) lost one of his legs and was informed that his son had died. This was his reaction:

"O' ALLĀH, 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."

Surah Al-Insan, Verse 12:

وَجَزَاهُم بِمَا صَبَرُوا جَنَّةً وَحَرِيرًا

And their recompense shall be Paradise, and silken garments, because they were patient.

Surah Ar-Rad, Verse 24:

سَلَامٌ عَلَيْكُم بِمَا صَبَرْتُمْ فَنِعْمَ عُقْبَى الدَّارِ

"Salamun 'Alaikum (peace be upon you) for that you persevered in patience! Excellent indeed is the final home!"

The following words of consolation have been attributed to Imām Ash-Shāfi'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?

Surah Al-Anaam, Verse 64:

قُلِ اللَّهُ يُنَجِّيكُم مِّنْهَا وَمِن كُلِّ كَرْبٍ ثُمَّ أَنتُمْ تُشْرِكُونَ

Say (O Muhammad SAW): "Allah rescues you from it and from all (other) distresses, and yet you worship others besides Allah."

Or how many times have we been sick only to be restored to health?

Surah Al-Anaam, Verse 17:

وَإِن يَمْسَسْكَ اللَّهُ بِضُرٍّ فَلَا كَاشِفَ لَهُ إِلَّا هُوَ وَإِن يَمْسَسْكَ بِخَيْرٍ فَهُوَ عَلَىٰ كُلِّ شَيْءٍ قَدِيرٌ

And if Allah touches you with harm, none can remove it but He, and if He touches you with good, then He is Able to do all things.

When one knows with certainty that ALLĀH controls everything, how then can he feel any fear of anyone other than Him? And when one fears ALLĀH, how can he fear others alongside Him, especially considering that ALLĀH, the Exalted, said:

Surah Aal-e-Imran, Verse 175:

إِنَّمَا ذَٰلِكُمُ الشَّيْطَانُ يُخَوِّفُ أَوْلِيَاءَهُ فَلَا تَخَافُوهُمْ وَخَافُونِ إِن كُنتُم مُّؤْمِنِينَ

It is only Shaitan (Satan) that suggests to you the fear of his Auliya' [supporters and friends (polytheists, disbelievers in the Oneness of Allah and in His Messenger, Muhammad SAW)], so fear them not, but fear Me, if you are (true) believers.

He is All-Powerful:

Surah As-Saaffat, Verse 173:

وَإِنَّ جُندَنَا لَهُمُ الْغَالِبُونَ

And that Our hosts, they verily would be the victors.

Surah Ghafir, Verse 51:

إِنَّا لَنَنصُرُ رُسُلَنَا وَالَّذِينَ آمَنُوا فِي الْحَيَاةِ الدُّنْيَا وَيَوْمَ يَقُومُ الْأَشْهَادُ

Verily, We will indeed make victorious Our Messengers and those who believe (in the Oneness of Allah Islamic Monotheism) in this world's life and on the Day when the witnesses will stand forth, (i.e. Day of Resurrection),

Ibn Taymiyah said that with the phrase, "There is neither might nor power except with ALLĀH", heavy things are carried, obstacles are overcome, and honour is achieved. So remember this phrase constantly, since it is a treasure from the treasures of Paradise and a pillar of happiness and contentment.