The Cure for Anxiety and Depression in Islam
Wise people concede a spiritual void and various pressures of society everyday life are the key behind the psychological disorders, prevalent today, especially anxiety and depression. These psychological problems have been addressed by the Prophet (PBUH) by promoting strong faithful belief in the Allah Almighty
Allah says in the Quran:
..those who believe and whose hearts find comfort in the remembrance of Allah. Surely in the remembrance of Allah do hearts find comfort. [Quran 13:28]
A believer who extends bridges of communication with his Creator will surely have a contended heart and peaceful mind and conscience. Prophet (PBUH) said: “How wonderful the affair of the believer is! Indeed, all of his affairs are good for him. This is for no one but the believer. If something good happens to him, he is grateful to Allah, which is good for him. And if something bad happens to him, he has patience, which is good for him.” [Sahih Muslim]
Anxiety and depression may result from fear, poverty, illness or potential calamities. Yet, a believer, who knows that everything is pre-destined by Allah Almighty, would stick to patience and seek divine reward for any problem befalling him. Thus, such problems and calamities turn into rewards from Allah Almighty as the Quran reads:
We will certainly test you with a touch of fear and famine and loss of property, life, and crops. Give good news to those who patiently endure who, when faced with a disaster, say, “Surely to Allah we belong and to Him we will all return.” They are the ones who will receive Allah’s blessings and mercy. And it is they who are rightly guided. [Quran 2:155-157]
The same holds true for imminent threats and harms; a believer would receive any such threats and harms with more contentment, sought for recovery.
Allah Almighty says:
Those who were warned, “Your enemies have mobilized their forces against you, so fear them,” the warning only made them grow stronger in faith and they replied, “Allah alone is sufficient as an aid for us and He is the best Protector.” So they returned with Allah’s favours and grace, suffering no harm. For they sought to please Allah. And surely Allah is the Lord of infinite bounty. [Quran 3:173-174]
THE BEST SOLUTION: PRAYER / REMEMBRANCE OF ALLAH
When the things went wrong, the Prophet (PBUH) would rush to prayer. He used to say: “O Bilal, call for prayer. Relieve us thereby.” Accordingly, prayer is one of the key ways to achieve inner peace and get rid of worries, anxiety, concern and grief.
The Prophet (PBUH) also advised us regarding some supplications and words of remembrance in times of grief and anxiety. These include:
SOURCE: HISN AL-MUSLIM 120
grief anxiety dua
Allāhumma innī `abduk, ibnu `abdik, ibnu amatik, nāsiyatī biyadik, māḍin fiyya ḥukmuk, `adlun fiyya qaḍā’uk, as’aluka bikullis’min huwa lak, sammayta bihi nafsak, aw anzaltahu fī kitābik, aw `allamtahu aḥadan min khalqik, aw‘ista’tharta bihi fī `ilmil-ghaybi `indak, an taj`ala ‘l-Qur’āna rabī`a qalbī, wa nūra ṣadrī, wa jalā’a ḥuznī, wa dhahāba hammī.
O Allah, I am Your slave, and the son of Your male slave, and the son of your female slave. My forehead is in Your Hand. Your Judgment upon me is assured, and Your Decree concerning me is just. I ask You by every Name that You have named Yourself with, revealed in Your Book, taught any one of Your creation, or kept unto Yourself in the knowledge of the unseen that is with You, to make the Quran the spring of my heart, and the light of my chest, the banisher of my sadness, and the reliever of my distress.
SOURCE: SUNAN IBN MAJAH 3882
distress dua
It was narrated that Asma’ bint ‘Umais said: “The Messenger of Allah (PBUH) taught me some words to say at times of distress: ‘Allah! Allahu Rabbi la ushriku bihi shay’an’ (Allah, Allah is my Lord, I do not associate anything with Him).”
SOURCE: TIRMIDHI 3524
distress dua 2
Anas bin Malik said: “Whenever a matter would distress him, the Prophet (PBUH) would say: ‘Yā Ḥayyu yā Qayyūm, bi-raḥmatika astaghīth’ (O Living, O Self-Sustaining Sustainer! In Your Mercy do I seek relief).”
Therefore remembering Allah, exalted by He, seeking His help and performing prayer are among the best for psychological problems, hence the verse of Quran:
We certainly know that your heart is truly distressed by what they say. So glorify the praises of your Lord and be one of those who always pray, and worship your Lord until the inevitable comes your way. [Quran 15:97-99]