Treating Anxiety, Sorrow and Depression

Depression and anxiety are two closely related conditions afflicting most of us at one time or another. A little depression and anxiety is a normal part of life which can be cured with prayer and positive thinking.

However, sometimes we unwittingly nurture these negative feelings to the point of developing an anxiety disorder or clinical depression.

For those of us who experience abnormal and unhealthy levels of depression and anxiety, there is hope in Islam to cure us from these debilitating symptoms without resorting to medication that may have harmful side effects.

Many of us become depressed because our bodies are not receiving enough
nutrients and such an imbalance affects our whole being. Hence, Allah (S.W.T)
commands us to eat wholesome foods (Tayyibat) produced naturally from the earth.

Talbinah (Barley) is actually a broth made from barley (Sha`eer). The broth is called Talbinah because it is thin and white, similar to milk. Talbinah porridge is a nutritious breakfast and consuming it has benefit in alleviating depression and sorrow.

It is narrated that Hazrate Aisha (R.A) used to recommend at-Talbinah for the sick and for such a person as grieved over a dead person. She used to say, "I heard Allah's Apostle (S.A.W) saying, 'at-Talbinah gives rest to the heart of the patient and makes it active and relieves some of his sorrow and grief.'" (Sahih al Bukhari)

Often people become depressed when they do not get what they want, but true
believers who are unattached to such concerns are always happy even in dire
circumstances. The Prophet (S.A.W) suffered for the cause of Islam more than any of us, losing his loved ones and enduring pain and hunger, yet the companions reported that they never saw anyone smile as often as Him. Even when death and destruction seemed so close, the Prophet (S.A.W) would continue to smile and spread his positive thinking.

One of the most destructive ways of thinking is to nurture hatred, envy, and malice towards others. Many times our hatred of others harms ourselves more than anyone else. We have to force ourselves to forgive others, to let go of grudges, and to calm pent-up feelings of anger. The Prophetic way is to cleanse our mind of hateful thoughts every morning and evening through prayer and supplication.

Hazrat Anas Ibn Malik (R.A) reported: The Messenger of Allah (S.A.W), said to me:
“O boy, if you are able every morning and evening to remove any rancour from your heart towards anyone, then do so”.

Then the beloved Prophet (S.A.W) said to me: “O boy, that is my tradition and whoever revives my tradition has loved me, and whoever loves me will be with me in Paradise”. (Sunan At-Tirmidhi)