Feeling sad or down is a natural emotion caused by normal tensions and stresses of life. Failing an exam, not getting a job, minor ailments and pains, arguments with friends or family members and other life events can lead to sadness, frustrations or grief. These feelings are usually temporary and fade away within a short time. Depression however is more serious and involves a strong feeling of sadness, despair or hopelessness that could last for weeks, months or even longer. Depression affects a person’s physical and mental state. When a person is depressed, his ability to undertake normal activities is impaired and his thoughts, outlook and behavior become negative and irrational. He usually feels tired, irritable, angry and anxious and is unable to concentrate, fall asleep, and enjoy things that normally bring pleasure. He could experience aches and pains without apparent reason, lack of energy, significant weight loss or gain, loss of appetite, feelings of guilt or worthlessness and develop a pessimistic and indifferent attitude towards life.

A number of factors are known to cause depression such as genetics, environment, life events, medical conditions, and the way people react to situations and events. Research shows that some people inherit genes that make it more likely for them to get depressed. Life events such as death of a family member, serious illness, divorce or separation, family conflicts and other painful and stressful situations can go beyond normal grief and lead to depression. Even events like changing jobs or moving to a new environment can trigger depression.

For young people, bullying by classmates, unhappy and violent family atmosphere and relationships can affect their self-esteem and lead to depression. Poverty and homelessness and other high-stress living situations also highly contribute to depression. Alcohol and some drugs have some depressant effects which cause chemical changes in the brain and abuse of these substances can lead to serious loneliness and depression. Pre-menopausal stages, hypothyroidism and other medical conditions can affect hormone balance and therefore cause depression in others.

Since depressed people experience severe loneliness and lack of energy, they tend to withdraw from family and friends and pull away from activities they once enjoyed. This however aggravates their feelings of loneliness thus isolating them from society and making their depression and negative thinking worse. Depression can be mild or severe. At its worst, severe depression leads many persons to commit suicide.

In an article posted in the Internet on May 11, 2007 on “Suicide Rates of the World and Why People Kill Themselves”, it was reported based on WHO statistics that one person commits suicide every 40 seconds and that suicide rates all over the world have increased by 5-62% in the last two decades. Hardly any country is immune to this disease and what’s disturbing is that more young people are killing themselves than ever before. In majority of cases, suicide was attributed to hopelessness and despair among people due to financial, economic or personal reasons. Whatever the root cause is however, the ultimate consequence is severe depression leading to suicide.

In Japan, another article reported that according to Japan’s National Police Agency, nearly 100 Japanese killed themselves every day in 2007. That means more than 33,000 people, an increase of 3 per cent from 2006 and the tenth year in a row that the figure has exceeded 30,000. Depression was singled out as the main reason in about 26 per cent of cases, followed by physical illness and debt.

With the current economic crisis and high fuel prices that is affecting all nations in the world; it is very likely that the rates of suicide in the world will increase further due to depression among people. It is therefore ironical that while the world continues to progress technologically, the quality of life is retrogressing with tension and depression becoming the order of the day. In theory, life is easier with modern technology but in practical terms, life has become more challenging because the average man continues to be haunted by fears of losing his means of living, his wealth, property and health. Joy and happiness is something of the past and man can only look at a bleak future ahead of him. So in a fit of frustration and despair he takes his life with his own hands.

There must be a way to deal with this disturbing situation. Treating depression through the help of mental professionals, therapy and medications is definitely helpful and necessary especially in cases where depression is caused by mental or medical reasons. However, preventing depression or dealing effectively with the problem through a change in perception and attitude to life should provide a more sustainable solution.

Islam offers a way of life that provides stability of mind, tranquility and contentment in the face of various conditions and circumstances in one’s life provided a person adheres to its teachings with faith, sincerity and steadfastness.

There is a general perception that wealth and good health bring joy and happiness to a person. We can observe however that depression is very common among those with immense wealth, power and influence. Instead of giving happiness, wealth has ruined many people by allowing them to indulge in their insatiable desires, contributing to moral and spiritual decay in the society. We are living in a society which is becoming so materialistic and immoral. What we consider as noble, pious and righteous now were considered vice and transgression in previous times. And what we consider vice and evil today will be considered noble and pious in the time that is to come. This would continue as we draw closer to the day of Reckoning.

In view of man’s strong desire to acquire a pleasurable life based on material wealth and self-indulgence, he neglects to provide his family with the basic moral and spiritual foundation so vital in providing his spouse and children with faith, strength, courage and tenacity to face the ups and downs of life. When hardships and challenges arise, the family is not prepared to cope. In the absence of a strong moral and spiritual foundation, the children resort to drug or alcohol abuse which further aggravates the problem. The reality now is that, as individuals, families and nations become affluent, joy and inner happiness disappear and anxiety, stress and depression set in. In the midst of luxuries, there is no joy. Money can buy a house but not a home. One may possess a mansion or luxurious house but there’s loneliness and emptiness because the family living in the house is in turmoil. Money can buy a comfortable and luxurious bed but it cannot buy sleep. One may have a very comfortable bed but yet he cannot sleep due to anxiety, tension and stress. And yet we see a beggar sleeping under a tree or in the street with all the noise and dust around him enjoying a deep slumber.

The family is supposed to be a sanctuary where when one comes home there must be joy and end of stress and tension. But when you come home, meet your spouse and there is loneliness and depression, the fundamental foundation of marriage is destroyed even in the midst of comfort and luxury.  If man does not find joy at home, he will not find it anywhere.

In this life, people not only play and amuse themselves and each other but they brag and accumulate riches and power in rivalry with each other. If only they know that all the vanities in this world are but traps set by Satan to deceive man as revealed in the following verses of the Holy Qur’an:

“Know ye (all), that the life of this world is but play and amusement, pomp and mutual boasting and multiplying, (in rivalry) among yourselves, riches and children. …….And what is the life of this world, but goods and chattels of deception?  (Qur’an, 57:20).

The view that wealth and health give happiness and contentment is therefore a deception by Satan to lead man into sin and perdition. The greatest contributor to depression is sin. When man falls into the traps of Satan, he succumbs to evil forces within him. Instead of relying on His Creator, he relies on God’s creatures for solutions to his problems. Satan plans the sin for him and makes it very appealing. Man commits the sin and gets depressed and will feel good only after he sins again. This vicious cycle goes on and on until man is buried in sin and goes into severe depression and Satan whispers to him that the only way out is for him to kill himself.

The only thing real and lasting is the good life lived in obedience to Allah (swt). In Islam, those who obey Allah (swt) will have a good life and those who disobey Him will have a narrowed life. If man is blessed with wealth and good health, he should enjoy all these bounties but this should be done within the framework of virtuous living. His goal of attaining a good life should not be confined to this world but should be focused on the hereafter.  In this world, a person’s life is never constant. It is subject to fluctuations and alternating periods of joys and sorrow, health and sickness, wealth and poverty. A person however who maintains a sound and clear level of faith throughout the fluctuations in worldly life; and continues to praise Allah (swt) and turn to Him in surrender, is the one who will enjoy a life of blessedness that is characterized by peace of mind, tranquility, a sense of well-being, and a serene disposition.

For an unbeliever, hardships and challenges in life are reasons for despair and depression because he relies only on himself and other created beings to help him overcome his hardships. For a believer however, he knows that hardships, trials and calamities can strike anyone but if a tragedy or misfortune befalls him, he is assured of being able to overcome the challenge through patience, perseverance, courage and surrendering himself to Allah (swt). A true believer is therefore not afraid to face hardships, hunger, sickness or other afflictions because he knows that Allah (swt) will rescue him from the adversity and misfortune in ways that He deems best and in His own time.

Every man is in crisis. But we need to relax and place our full trust in Allah (swt). Having Allah (swt) on your side does not mean sailing on an ocean without waves. It means sailing on a ship which cannot sink because Allah (swt) is with you. In essence, good life really means that whatever condition you are in, Allah (swt) gives you the ability to focus on the reward promised in the hereafter of bearing the calamity or challenge with acceptance and patience. When you are faced with any trial or challenge, Allah (swt) enables you, empowers you, and enriches you and gives you power to deal with it. It is divinely provided and Allah (swt) gives you contentment.

The benefits of obedience and surrender to Allah (swt) in a person’s daily life are innumerable, which could be appreciated especially during times of tragedies and calamities. However, one has to encounter such experience personally in order to fully appreciate its value. For me and my family, we have had our own share of trials and tragedies that enabled us to feel Allah’s benevolence, mercy, and compassion by putting our full trust in Him and fully surrendering to His will.

                The tsunami that hit the island of Aceh, Indonesia in December 2004 was one of the deadliest disasters in modern history. We lost 14 relatives in this tragedy. Among these was my father’s younger sister including uncles, cousins, nephews and nieces. Six months after the tsunami, my husband and I visited Aceh and met a number of our relatives who were affected. A niece who survived the tragedy lost her parents, all material possessions and their house that was completed only 4 months before the tsunami. This immense personal and material loss would have been more than enough to put her in despair and hopelessness. Yet she fully accepted Allah’s will, strengthened her faith, implored His help and mercy and moved on with life, graduating two years after the tragedy and now enjoying a good job.

                About ten years ago, a younger sister had a marriage crisis ending in a painful divorce. Without job and a daughter to support, she fell into despair. Our family was around to provide some moral and financial support but the most difficult part was dealing with her emotional pain and grief. Those times were very trying and definitely not easy but instead of losing hope, she humbled herself and turned to Allah (swt) in complete surrender. Slowly she was able to overcome her grief, finally got a good job and while continuing to be a single parent, is now looking forward to a bright future ahead of her and her daughter.

                A cousin contracted a terminal illness that kept him bed-ridden for about a year. Until he peacefully passed away, he was a person who bore his illness with admirable patience and courage and who never missed his daily prayers while in pain and suffering. During my regular visits, I never saw him complain or despair of his sickness. His face was a picture of tranquility and fortitude that was borne out of his deep faith and obedience to Allah (swt).

                My own loss during the death of my beloved son in 2003 could have turned any mother into total anguish and distress. But through full surrender to Allah’s will and in His infinite mercy, He gave me strength, comfort and consolation, cured me of my pain and grief and turned my despair into hope and sweet longing of meeting my son again in the hereafter, Inshaallah (God willing).

                When we are in a financial crisis, we should convince ourselves that Allah (swt) is the Sustainer of all His creatures and will provide for our needs as He provides for the birds and other animals which seem helpless to sustain their full life. Prophet Muhammad [(saw), peace and blessings be upon him)  said: “If you place full trust in Allah (swt), then He will provide for you as He provides for the birds which fly out of the nest hungry early in the morning and return bellyful later in the day.” 

                In the face of any trial or tragedy that afflicts us, we should not succumb to Satan’s ploy of leading us into depression. We should instead accept the trial and suffering as part of Allah’s will for us, turn to Him for help and mercy and Inshaallah, He will remove our pain, grief and suffering and grant our prayers when He said:

“And He provides for him from (sources) he never could imagine. And if any one puts his trust in Allah, sufficient is (Allah) for him. For Allah will surely accomplish His purpose: verily, for all things has Allah appointed a due proportion.” (Qur’an, 65:3).

Joy and happiness does not come from wealth and material riches but from contentment in whatever Allah (swt) has provided for us regardless of the condition or circumstances we are in. It is therefore a change of perception and attitude that brings joy to life, not necessarily a change of condition. This feeling of contentment can be achieved only through obedience to Allah (swt) and surrender to His will wherein a person derives pleasure in performing his obligations to his Creator. The joys of those who obey Allah (swt) enjoy pleasure which cannot be expressed in words. The Holy Qur’an states:

 “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. For those who believe and work righteousness, is (every) blessedness, and a beautiful place of (final) return.” (Qur’an, 13:28-29).

Prophet Muhammad (saw) also said: “True enrichment does not come through possessing a lot of wealth, but true enrichment is the enrichment of the soul.”

No calamity in this world will depress a person who has contentment in his heart because he has achieved a state of blessedness which Dr. Yusuf Ali in his translation and commentary of the Holy Qur’an defined as: “an internal state of satisfaction, an inward joy which is difficult to describe in words, but which reflects itself in the life of the good man, through good and ill fortune, through good report and evil. And then, there is always the final goal to which his eyes are turned, the beautiful Home of rest in the Hereafter, after this life’s struggles are over. That goal is Allah (swt) Himself.” 

                May Allah grant us divine contentment and endow us with stability of mind, true serenity and tranquility in the face of the various trials and calamities that may come our way (amen).