Depression and Qur'an

By Sahir Farid

• 18 years old JEE aspirant dies by suicide in Rajasthan's Kota. (India Today, 29 Jan 2024)     

 • Rising depression and anxiety in kids: Dedicated clinic kicks off at BMHRC. (Times of India, 23 Jan 2024)

• Are smartphones a major cause for depression in teens? (Times of India, 20 Jan 2024) 

• MP shocker: Family of 3 dies by suicide in Gwalior. (Indian news express, 29 Jan 2024)

Depression is a constant feeling of sadness and loss of interest, which stops you doing your normal activities. Different types of depression exist with symptoms ranging from relatively minor to severe. Generally, depression does not result from a single event but from a mixture of events and factors. It is a common mental disorder or a mood disorder.

Non clinical depression occurs when you are not where you want to be in life, you have lost any hope to ever be and can't accept it. This might happen after a tragic event in your life or more progressively as some aspects of your life slowly fall apart. Depression results from feeling hopeless in one or several areas of your life. Just like,

 1. You lost your job and have no hope of finding a new one to match your expectations. 

2. You are sick and have no hope to recover as well as you would like to

3. You suffered a bereavement.

Sometimes one can has depression due to 'ordinary' events also. For example, some people may spend too much time dwelling in the past or worrying about the future and eventually they get depressed. This may happen even though no significant events have occurred in their lives. Depression is a sign you have lost touch with reality. It is a sign that you need to move away from your mind ~ by letting go of your worries about the past / future or your interpretations of your present life ~ and reconnect to the present moment.

Causes of depression are stressful life events, medical conditions like chronic pain or diabetes, medications, genetics, brain chemistry like imbalance of neurotransmitters such as serotonin and dopamine, hormonal changes due to pregnancy, postpartum, thyroid or menopause.

The symptoms of depression vary from mild to severe depending upon the type and severity of depression. In general, symptoms include low energy, feeling very sad or hopeless, thoughts of self-harm or suicide, irritability, changes in eating behaviour, sleep changes, loss of interest in hobbies and activities, difficulty in concentration or decision making.

Depression not only affects mental health but also physical health. It has a great impact on heart, kidney, nervous system, immune system, digestive system and overall health.

The American Psychiatric Association's Diagnostic Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, 5th edition classifies depressive disorder as: -

1. Clinical depression (major depressive disorder) 

 2. Persistent Depressive Disorder (PDD)

 3. Disruptive Mood Dysregulation Disorder (DMDD) 4. Pre-Menstrual Dysphoric Disorder (PMDD)

5. Seasonal Affective Disorder (Seasonal Depression)

6. Prenatal Depression and Postpartum Depression.

7. Atypical depression

 8. Depressive Disorder due to another medical condition.

The good news is that because you have the power to 'create' depression, you also have the power to 'climb out' of it. The main thing is to let off the ego and reconnect with reality. For this one can do regular exercise, meditation, or inculcate some hobby to be busy and avoid over thinking. Apart from these advanced medical sciences provide various treatments like,

1. Psychotherapy: Cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT)

2.Medication: Antidepressants.

3. Complementary medicine:  Therapies such as acupuncture, massage, hypnosis and bio feedback. 

4. Brain stimulation Therapy: Electroconvulsive therapy (ECT), Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation (TMS), Vagus Nerve Stimulation (VNS)

Depression is rapidly increasing all over the world. There's a news of suicide or depression daily in some or other newspaper.

• In 2023, 29% of Americans report have been diagnosed with depression in their lifetime and 17.8% currently have depression.

• Epidemiological data shows higher rates of depression in the Middle East, North Africa, South Asia and the United States than in other regions and countries.

• In India, the National Mental Health Survey 2015-16 revealed that one in 20 Indians suffers from depression. In 2012, India had over 2,58,000 suicides with the age group of 15-49 years being most affected.

• The highest depression is diagnosed in young adults aged 18-24 years.

• According to World Health Organisation, in 2023, the highest suicide rate was in Lesotho with 75.6 suicides per 1,00,000 people and in India it was 12.4 suicides per 1,00,000 people.

• The risk of suicide in people with major depression is 20 times more than that of the general population. About 7 out of 100 men and 1 out of 100 women will go on the complete suicide in depressed people.

 • The World Health Organisation estimates that 7,00,000 people die by suicide every year.

• The suicide rates in the Arab world are low (3.9 to 4.8 per 1,00,000) compared to average global rates (9.0 per 1,00,000)

Have you ever wondered the least suicidal rates are among Muslims. A Muslim hardly ever gets depression. This is due to the Islamic teachings. The basic faith (Iman) of a Muslim says that whatever the conditions arise in his life are from Allah. 

"I believe in Allah, His Angels, His books, His messengers, the last day and in Taqdeer, that all good and bad is from Allah, the Highest and I believe in the resurrection after death."(Iman e Mufassal)

The prophet Muhammad (Peace Be Upon Him) said, "no fatigue, nor disease, nor sorrow, nor sadness, nor hurt, nor distress befalls a Muslim. Even if they were just pricked with a thorn except that Allah expiates some of their sins." This beautiful hadees makes a Muslim happily accept the problems and not let him depressed even in hardships.

Whenever a Muslim faces problem he asks for help from Allah who is always there for his slaves.

" And your Lord said, call upon me and I will surely most definitely respond to you." (Surah Ghafir, Ayat 60)

When a Muslim is sad, he remembers that Allah says in Surah Tauba, Ayat 51,

"Never will anything afflict us except what Allah has prescribed for us. He is our Supreme Patroniser and on Allah let the believers then put their trust."

Allah does not put extra burden on humans and the bad days are a trial to a Muslim from Allah.

"Allah does not charge a soul except (with that within) its capacity." (Surah Baqarah, Ayat 286)

On feeling unlucky a Muslim boost himself up by Ayat 34 of Surah Ibrahim,

"And He gave you of all that you asked for and if you count the blessings of Allah, never will you be able to count them. Verily! Man is indeed an extreme wrong doer; a disbeliever."

A true Muslim cannot lose hope as Allah said in Surah Yusuf, Ayat 87,

"My sons! Go and try to find out about Joseph and his brother and do not despair of Allah's mercy. Verily only the unbelievers’ despair of Allah's mercy."

Surah Ra'ad, Ayat 28 heals a Muslim when distressed saying,

"Those who believe and whose hearts find satisfaction in the remembrance of Allah. For without doubt in the remembrance of Allah do hearts find satisfaction."

Surah Zuha is the best healer and treatment for depression.

A true Muslim is always grateful for the blessings of Allah and the beauties in life. He remembers his God in every condition, prays to Allah in bad circumstances and has patience to get rid of depression. Whenever anxious or depressed, a Muslim reads Quran to relax his heart and mind. The holy Quran is full of beautiful, soothing verses, hope and motivation.

By Sahir Farid