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How To Remove Depression And Worries

Introduction
Mankind comes across many afflictions and trials, sometimes in overwhelming sequences.  Removing the darkness of these worries, distresses, depression and grief is a very important matter to which Islam gives serious attention…
Indeed the greatest darkness to envelope mankind and surely his greatest affliction is disbelief in Allah and associating partners with Him in any form (kufr and shirk).

Allah is the Protector of those who have faith He will lead them from the depths of darkness into light. . As for those who disbelieve, their patrons are the devils: from light, they will lead them forth into the depths of darkness. They will be companions of the fire, to dwell therein (forever). AL-BAQARAH 2.257

Whereby Allah guides him who seeks His good pleasure to paths of peace and safety. He brings them out of darkness unto light by His decree and guides them unto a straight path. AL-MAAIDAH 5.016

Those who deny Our revelations are deaf and dumb in darkness. Whoever Allah wills He sends astray, and whom He wills He places on a straight path. AL-AN’AM 6.039

The scholars of Islam have extracted from the Qur’an and the authentic Sunnah many remedies and cures to help us in our daily affairs and remove our problems.

At-Tawheed
Singling out Allah alone, Glory is to Him, for all types of worship and recognizing His Lordship and having faith in the unity of His Lofty Names and Attributes.  There would be anarchy if there was more than one deity.
If there were, in the heavens and the earth, other gods besides Allah, there would have been confusion in both!  But glory to Allah, the Lord of the Throne,  (High is He) above what they attribute to Him! AL-ANBIYA’ 21.022

Allah strikes a comparison between a Muslim and a mushrik (disbeliever). The man with one master (i.e. upon Tawheed) has no worries as to who to obey, so he has no confusion or dilemmas. The second man is confused as to who to obey first, and in whom he must put his trust especially as they are quarreling amongst each other. The mushrik is left to Shaitaan and his desires to direct him out of his confusion. However the Muslim who recognizes his Lord as One, knows that Allah is the One who rescues His slave when he is in grief.

Allah puts forth a parable; a man belonging to many partners quarreling with each other, and a man belonging entirely to one master: are those two equal? Praise be to Allah! But most of them have no knowledge. AZ-ZUMAR 39.029

In the beautiful story of Yusuf (alayhe as-salaam) his fellow prisoners were in distress to know the meaning or interpretation of their dreams.
Now with him, there came into the prison two young men. Said one of them: “I see myself (in a dream) pressing wine.” The other said: “I see myself (in a dream) carrying bread on my head, and birds eating it.”  (They said) “Tell us the meaning  of the dreams, for we see that you are a good doer.” YUSUF 12.036
o what was the first thing that this noble prophet of Allah (alayhe as-salaam)  said to his companions? What was his reply? He called them to that which will provide them with immediate relief – the b lief that there is no deity worthy of worship except Allah – at-Tawheed.
“O my two companions of the prison! (I ask you): are many lords differing among themselves better, or Allah, the Supreme, and Irresistible? ” YUSUF 12.039

Mankind without Tawheed is astray, captured by Shaitaan, and their lives in chaos as explained in Allah’s statement:
Don’t you see that We have set the devils on the disbelievers to confound them with confusion? MARYAM 19.083

So the one upon true Tawheed, Allah helps him and removes grief from him. There are many verses that elude to this but suffice us for the moment the story of Yunus (alayhe as-salaam).  He (alayhe as-salaam) had lost hope in his people who were not responding to his call to Islam.  So he (alayhe as-salaam) left them and eventually Allah caused him (alayhe as-salaam) to be in the belly of a large fish.
So wait with patience for the Command of your Lord, and be not like the Companion of the Fish, when he cried out in deep sorrow. AL-QALAM 68.048

In his sorrow and anguish, Yunus (alayhe as-salaam) cried out, but to whom? He  (alayhe as-salaam) called his Lord.

And remember Dhun-Nun (Yunus), when he went off in anger: He imagined that We had no power over him! But he cried through the depths of darkness, “There is no deity worthy of worship except You, glorified and exalted be You, indeed I was from the wrong-doers! ”  AL-ANBIYA’ 21.087

Darkness upon darkness enveloped him (alayhe as-salaam):
a) the darkness of the depths of the ocean,
b) the darkness of the belly of the fish,
c) the darkness of the night.
He (alayhe as-salaam) called upon Allah, the One who can remove all distresses, he called upon Him with correct at-Tawheed and Allah removed his worries immediately.

Responding and Complying  (Istijaabah)
To accept and answer to the deen of Allah and His Messenger, Muhammad (SAAS) completely as the ayah says:
O you who believe! Respond to Allah (by obeying Him) and (His) Messenger (SAAS) when He calls you to that which will give you life, and know that Allah comes in between a man and his heart and that it is He to Whom you shall (all) be gathered. AL-ANFAL 8.024

The repercussion of rejecting the Call to His deen is grievous and its result is the greatest of sorrows in the Hereafter. The disbeliever will be raised and wail to His Lord (Whom he denied in the world):
He will say: “O my Lord! Why have You raised me up blind, while I had sight (before)? TA-HA 20.125
Allah will reply to him with complete justice:
He (Allah) will say: So (it must be). Our revelations came to you (in the world) but you did reject them. In like manner this Day you are forgotten (rejected).  TA-HA 20.126
Not only will Allah reject the disbeliever but he will also be humiliated by Shaitaan who the mushrik took as his close companion and responded to his (Shaitaan’s) call.
And Shaitaan will say when the matter has been decided, “Verily Allah promised you a promise of truth. I too promised you but I betrayed you. I had no authority over you except that I called you and you responded to me. So blame me not, but blame yourselves. I cannot help you, nor can you help me. I deny your former act in associating me (Shaitaan) as a partner with Allah.”  Verily, there is a painful torment for the transgressors. IBRAHEEM 14.22

So we urge you brothers and sisters to respond to and comply with Allah’s religion and enter it completely.
O you who believe! Enter into Islam whole-heatedly and follow not the footsteps of the Shaitaan, for he is to you an open, avowed enemy. AL-BAQARAH 2.208

Belief in the Divine Decree (Qadr)
Qadr is an established part of the religion and is included in our beliefs. In the famous “Hadeeth of Jibreel” (alaihe-as-salaam) when he asked the Messenger (SAAS) about Islaam, Eemaan and Ihsaan, he (SAAS) replied about Eemaan:
That you affirm your faith in Allah, in His angels, in His Books, in His Apostles, in the Day of Judgement, and you affirm your faith in Qadr, the good and the evil consequences of it… MUSLIM

We must accept and be content with Qadr, knowing that whatever Allah decrees he does so out of His all-encompassing Knowledge and Wisdom.  With this belief in Qadr (the good and the evil of it) firm in our hearts Allah will guide our hearts:

No calamity befalls, but with the leave of Allah, and whoever believes in Allah, He guides his heart, and Allah is the All-Knower of everything. AT-TAGHAABUN 64:11

‘Abdullah Ibn ‘Abbas (radhiyAllahu anhu) related one day he was riding behind Allah’s Messenger (SAAS) who said,
“Young man, if you are mindful of Allah (of His commands and prohibitions), He will be mindful of you, and if you are mindful of Allah you will find Him before you. When you ask for anything ask it from Allah, and if you seek help, seek help from Allah. Know that if the people were to unite to do you some benefit they could benefit you only with what Allah had decreed for you and that if they were to unite to do you some injury they could injure you only with what Allah had recorded for you. The pens have been lifted and the pages are dry.” AHMAD, TIRMIDHI, AN-NAWAWI’S FORTY HADEETH

So with this knowledge that no harm or good can touch a servant of Allah except with the permission of the All-Knower and All-Wise, the hearts find tranquillity and contentment. This, therefore, encourages the Muslim to patient entry persevere during an affliction and motivates him to praise Allah when He bestows some portion of good upon him.  Whatever his situation, if the Muslim acts accordingly he has only rewards to gain and nothing to lose.

Suhaib ibn Sinan al-Romi related that Allah’s Messenger  (SAAS) said:
Strange are the ways of a believer for there is good in every affair of his and this is not the case with anyone else except in the case of a believer for if he has an occasion to feel delighted, he praises (Allah), thus there is a good for him in it, and if he gets into trouble and shown resignation (and endures it patiently), there is a good for him in it. MUSLIM

Sincerity (Ikhlaas)
‘Abdullah Ibn ‘Umar (radhiyAllahu anhu) said that the Prophet (SAAS) said,
“While three people were walking, rain began to fall and they had to enter a cave in a mountain. A big rock rolled over and blocked the mouth of the cave.  They said to one another, `Invoke Allah (sincerely) with the best deed you have performed (so that Allah may remove the rock).’ One of them said, `O Allah! My parents were old and I used to go out to graze (my animals). On my return, I  would milk (the animals) and take the milk in a vessel for my parents to drink. After they had drunk from it, I  would give it to my children, family, and wife. One day I was delayed and on my return I found my parents sleeping, and I did not wish to wake them up. The children were crying at my feet (because of hunger). That state of affairs continued until it was dawn. O, Allah! If You think that I did it for Your sake, then please remove this rock so that we may see the sky.’ So the rock was moved a little. The second said, `O Allah! You know that I was in love with a cousin of mine, the deepest love a man may have for a woman, and she told me that I would not have my desire fulfilled unless I paid her one hundred dinars (gold pieces). So I struggled for it until I gathered the desired amount. When I sat between her legs, she told me to fear Allah and asked me not to deflower her except rightfully (by marriage). So I stood up and left her. O, Allah! If You think that I did it for Your sake, kindly remove this rock.’ So two-thirds of the rock was removed. Then the third man said, `O Allah! No doubt You know that once I employed a worker for one faraq (three sa’s) of millet, and when I wanted to pay him, he refused to take it. So I sowed it and from its yield, I bought cows and hired a herdsman. After a time the man came and demanded his money. I said to him: Go to those cows and the herdsman and take them for they are for you. He asked me whether I was joking with him. I told him that I was not joking with him, and all that belonged to him. O, Allah! If You think that I did it sincerely for Your sake, then please remove the rock.’ So the rock was removed completely from the mouth of the cave.”  BUKHARI

So invoking Allah sincerely, and seeking His Pleasure is one of the ways of removing afflictions from us.
Supplication  (Ad-Duaa)
O Ever Living, O Self-Subsisting and Supporter of all, by Your mercy I seek assistance. Rectify for me all my affairs and do not leave me to myself, even for the blink of an eye. AL-HAAKIM, SAHEEH AT-TARGHEEB WAT-TARHEEB, HISN-UL-MUSLIM (ENG. TRANS. P125)

Seeking refuge in Allah  (Istiaadhah)
Anas ibn Malik (radhiyAllahu anhu) relates that the Prophet (SAAS) said to Abu Talha (radhiyAllahu anhu),
“Choose one of your servant boys to serve me on my expedition to Khaibar.” So Abu Talha took me, letting me ride behind him when I was a boy nearing the age of puberty.  I used to serve Allah’s Messenger when he stopped to rest.  I heard him repeatedly saying, “O Allah! I seek refuge with you from distress and sorrow, from helplessness and laziness, from miserliness and cowardice, from being heavily in debt, and from being overcome by men.” BUKHARI and HISN-UL-MUSLIM (P.157)
Detachment from this world  (Az-Zuhd)
Anas ibn Malik and Zaid ibn Thabit (radhiyAllahu anhum) related that the Prophet  (SAAS) said,
“For the ones whose concern is this world, Allah will scatter his affairs, place poverty between his two eyes and he will not get from the world except what is written for him.  As for the one whose intention is the Hereafter, Allah will gather for him his affairs, place contentment in his heart and the world will come to him willingly” IBN MAJAH, SAHEEH-UL-JAAMI NO. 6386
Shaykh Saleem al-Hilaalee hafidhahullaah

Return To Tawheed: Solution Begins With The Individual

The Kalimah (word) of Tawheed, La ilaha ill-Allah, came to correct belief – not only that of the ancient polytheists but of all men up until the Day of Judgement. It testifies that there is no divinity except Allah none other than Him and none along with Him. None is similar to Him, none creates and sustains except Him, and none has the right to govern creation but Him. The concept of Tawheed necessarily overflows into all aspects of belief and worship into all aspects of life.

Whether he recognizes it or not, man is totally indebted to his Creator for his continuing existence hour by hour, not to mention such blessings as his many possessions and abilities.

Knowing that Allah alone is the Creator – the Sustainer, the Provider, the Controller, the source of all benefit and harm in whose hands is the Judgment and the final destination of men – requires through common sense and reason that He alone be worshipped.

Although the concept of worship (ibadah) has been gradually reduced in common usage to mean little more than the performance of certain religious rites and rituals, the original and true definition is comprehensive.

It encompasses all actions and intentions motivated by a recognition of greatness – that combination of love and fear, producing efforts to please the Lord Alone and to avoid His displeasure.

An object of worship continually occupies the mind of the worshipper and consequently governs his behavior, both consciously and unconsciously.

When applying the correct definition, it becomes clear that despite lip-service to “La ilaha ill-Allah,” one’s object of worship could well be something other than Allah.

“Have you seen him who takes his own lust (vain desires) as his god, and Allah knowing (him as such), left him astray…?” (Qur’an, 45:23)

Pursuers of falsehood like those who embrace political ideologies might assume that by bowing to Allah in prayer, they worship Him alone. But Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) firmly corrected this misconception.

Once, Adiyy Bin Hatim entered while the Prophet was reciting a verse from the Qur’an: “They took their rabbis and their monks as lords besides Allah and (they also took as their Lord) Messiah, Son of Mary, while they were commanded to worship none but One God…” (Qur’an, 9:31)

Adiyy (a former Christian) said, “O Messenger of Allah, they did not worship them.” The Prophet (peace be upon him) replied, “Did they (the priests) not tell them (the people) that the Haraam was Halaal and that the Halaal was Haraam and (the people) followed them in that?” When Adiyy admitted, “Yes,” the Prophet stated, “That was their worship of them.” (Ahmad and Al-Tirmidhi)

Willful obedience to what is disobedience to Allah is impermissible. Worship in the above Hadith was defined as obedience – a fact that becomes evident from even a superficial study of the Qur’an in which Allah orders repeatedly:

“Obey Allah and the Messenger.” (Qur’an, 3:32; 3:132; 4:59; 8:1; 8:64; 24:54; 47:33; 58:13; and 64:12) Many other verses, although worded differently, carry the same meaning.

“The command (or the judgment) is for none but Allah…” (Qur’an, 12:40)

Two types of shirk were common both before and after the commissioning of the prophethood of Muhammad (peace be upon him). The first of these is the dedication of acts of worship (especially du’a) to others besides Allah while still claiming belief in Him. The Qur’an orders:

“And invoke not any other god along with Allah. There is no god but Him.” (Qur’an, 12:40)

The other type of shirk is the willful adherence to laws and rulings other than those of Allah.

“Have you seen those who claim that they believe in that which has been sent down to you, and that which was sent down before you, and they wish to go for judgment (in their disputes) to the Taghut (false judges, etc.) while they have been ordered to reject them…?” (Qur’an, 4:60)

The absence of Tawheed is sadly evident today in the acceptance of foreign philosophies, political oppression, innovations in religion, and countless forms of disobedience. Allah warns:

“Follow what has been sent down unto you from your Lord. And do not follow any patrons besides Him.” (Qur’an, 7:3)

“And if you obey most of those on earth, they will mislead you far away from Allah’s Path.” (Qur’an, 6:116)

Reform will be accomplished only when the majority of Muslims return to the true worship of Allah and do not tolerate Shirk. The Jihad against tyranny and oppression everywhere on earth will neither be accepted by Allah nor aided by Him until the participants are truly dedicated to His cause and free of all other motivations. Jihad against the self and refinement of the soul should be the first step.

“Indeed, Allah will not change the condition of a people until they change what is in themselves…” (Qur’an, 13:11)

The solution begins with the individual… in the soul.

– An excerpt from Realities of Faith, Abul-Qasim Publishing House

Learning Hajj Contemplations For Spirituality

1. This is a journey that was under taken by Prophets and Messengers before you. Those who take the path of the Prophets affirm the Tawheed of Allah. Some come to perform Haj with their hearts attached to other than Allah. They invoke the dead and the righteous, whether present or absent. Such actions are the opposite of Tawheed (which means to worship Allah alone). They are Shirk no matter what people may term them because those deeds amount to setting up partners with Allah. So, free your intention from any devotion to other than Allah. Repent and come with a sincere heart submitting to Allah (alone) remembering what Prophet Ibrahim and his son Isma’il (peace be upon him) said when they were raising the foundations of Allah’s House, the Ka’ba:

“Our Lord! And make us submissive unto You and of our offspring a nation submissive unto You, and show us our Manasik (all the ceremonies of pilgrimage – Haj and Umrah, etc.), and accept our repentance. Truly, You are the One Who accepts repentance, the Most Merciful.” (Qur’an, 2:128)

2. You are set to depart and you may or may not return to your home. Make this journey to Allah’s House as Allah wants it. Think of the next journey that is surely coming, the one that leads to the meeting with Allah, Most High. This raises questions like: What did I prepare for that Day? Am I following Allah’s Commands? Am I a follower of the Sunnah of Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him)? Do I really know Allah?

“And invoke not any other ilah (god) along with Allah, La ilaha illa Huwa (none has the right to be worshiped but He). Everything will perish save His Face. His is the Decision, and to Him you (all) shall be returned.” (Qur’an, 28:88)

3. When you reach the Meeqat, remind yourself that there is another Meeqat that is still to come. It is the Meeqat (appointed meeting) on the Day of Resurrection:

“Say (O Muhammad, peace be upon him): ‘(Yes) verily, those of old, and those of later times. All will surely be gathered together for appointed Meeting of a known Day.’” (Qur’an, 56:49-50)

4. When you start the Talbiyah remember the Command of Allah to Prophet Ibrahim (Peace be upon him):

“And proclaim to mankind the Haj (pilgrimage). They will come to you on foot and on every lean camel, they will come from every deep and distant (wide) mountain highway (to perform Haj).” (Qur’an, 22:27)

The Talbiyah you make is in response to Prophet Ibrahim’s (peace be upon him) proclamation to visit Allah’s house of worship.

5. Upon entering Makkah remember that you are in the Secure Sanctuary:

“Have We not established for them a secure sanctuary (Makkah), to which are brought fruits of all kinds, a provision from Ourselves, but most of them know not.” (Qur’an, 28:57)

Let one devote himself to seeking repentance, having a good view of Allah, hoping that Allah will grant him security from His Punishment.

6. You will enter one of the gates of Al-Masjid Al-Haraam. Then there you are before the magnificent House of Allah, Most High, the Ka’bah. Now you see what you hoped to see for a long time. Thank Allah for making this possible and hope that He will grant you the greatest reward of seeing His Majestic Face on the Day of Resurrection. This thankfulness is not just in saying Alhamdulillah, but by obeying Allah while on Haj and for the rest of your life.

7. You start your Tawaf knowing that it is a great time for glorifying Allah. Remember Him by His Names, Attributes and Actions. Also while in Tawaf try to reflect upon the time when Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) was prevented from doing the same thing you are doing today.

Then think about what he did in clearing out the site from the symbols that were worshiped besides Allah. All idols were demolished. Make lots of du’a. Ask Allah to guide you to hold on to the correct belief till your death. Ask Allah to save you from all forms of Shirk and Bid’ah.