Depression is a silent monster that can attack anyone. It causes severe symptoms that affect how you feel, think, and handle daily activities, such as sleeping, eating, or working. There is never a moment when we don’t worry about something in our lives. We could either be scared about our future or sad about our past. However, when these worries begin overconsuming our minds, we could go into a downward spiral of depression and anxiety that can cripple our day-to-day dealings and activities. 

Signs of Depression

If you are wondering whether your child is depressed, look out for the following signs.

•         Persistent sad, anxious, or “empty” mood
•         Feeling hopeless, pessimistic, restless or having trouble sitting still
•         Irritability, worthlessness, or helplessness
•         Loss of interest or pleasure in hobbies and activities
•         Decreased energy or fatigue
•         Difficulty in concentrating, remembering, making decisions, sleeping, early-morning awakening, or oversleeping
•         Appetite and/or weight changes
•         Thoughts of death or suicide, or suicide attempts
•         Aches or pains, headaches, cramps, or digestive problems without a clear physical cause and/or that do not ease even with treatment.

Not everyone who is depressed experiences every symptom.

Today, let us take a look at the Quran and sunnah which  have several examples and duas to help us deal with feelings of depression, sadness, worry and anxiety.

5 DUAS FOR DEPRESSION

Dua #1: For Ease!

When your child finds things getting tough, help them recite this dua as much as they can.

Dua: Allahumma laa sahla illaa maa ja’altahu sahlaa wa anta taj’alus sa’ba in shi’ta sahlaa [Ibn Hibban]

Translation: O Allah, nothing is easy except what you make easy, and You can make what is difficult easy if You wish.

Dua #2 : Take care of your affairs

Is your child too worried about a particular task or issue that’s scaring them? Help them refocus and redirect their difficulty towards Allah. Teach them to remove their burdens off their minds and place them in Allah’s hands. Connect their worries to Allah and teach them that nothing is too big or challenging for Allah to solve. This way, you are helping them remove the worries from their minds and trusting Allah to help them get through. 

Dua: Allaahumma rahmataka arjoo falaa takilnee ilaa nafsee tarfata ‘ayn. wa aslih lee sha’nee kullah. Laa ilaaha illaa Ant. [Al Haakim]

Translation: O Allah, it is Your mercy that I hope for, so don’t leave me in charge of my affairs even for the blinking of an eye. And rectify all of my affairs for me. Nothing has the right to be worshipped except You.

Dua #3: Acknowledge Allah’s might

Sometimes, children can worry about the simplest  of things or get scared about an inexplicable issue. What may seem small for us may be mighty for them. We can be totally unaware of what’s bothering them (whether at home or school, with their friends or peers). No matter what the situation is, teach them to reinforce the belief that Allah’s might and power is over and above every challenge they can ever face. 

It was reported from Ibn ‘Abbaas (RA) that the Messenger of Allah (Peace and Blessings of Allah be upon him) used to say this dua when he felt distressed or depressed and worried.

Dua:  La ilaaha ill-Allaah al-‘Azeem ul-Haleem, Laa ilaaha ill-Allaah Rabb il-‘arsh il-‘azeem, Laa ilaaha ill-Allaah Rabb is-samawaati wa Rabb il-ard wa Rabb il-‘arsh il-kareem (Al-Bukhari 8/154, Muslim 4/2092)

Translation: There is no god except Allah, the All-Mighty, the Forbearing; there is no god except Allah, the Lord of the Mighty Throne; there is no god except Allah, Lord of the heavens, Lord of the earth and Lord of the noble Throne.

Dua #4: When they are upset

If your child is feeling sad or upset, don’t try to dismiss their feelings as unimportant. Rather, teach them to recite this dua:

It was reported from Anas (may Allah be pleased with him) that the Prophet (Peace and Blessings of Allah be upon him) used to say when something upset him:

Dua: Yaa Hayyu yaa Qayyoom, bi Rahmatika astagheeth [At Tirmidhi]

Translation: O Ever-Living One, O Everlasting One, by Your mercy I seek help.

Dua #5: Quran for grief

‘Abd-Allaah ibn Mas’ood (RA) reported that the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) said that no person suffers any anxiety or grief, and says this dua that Allah eases things for them.

Dua: Allaahumma innee ‘abduka wa ibn ‘abdika wa ibn amatika, naasiyati bi yadika, maadin fiyya hukmuka, ‘adlun fiyya qadaa’uka, as’aluka bi kulli ismin huwa laka sammayta bihi nafsaka aw anzaltahu fi kitaabika aw ‘allamtahu ahadan min khalqika aw ista’tharta bihi fi ‘ilm il-ghaybi ‘andak an taj’ala al-Qur’aana rabee’ qalbi wa noor sadri wa jalaa’a huzni wa dhahaaba hammi [Hisn Al Muslim]

Translation: O Allah, I am Your slave, son of Your slave, son of Your female slave, my forelock is in Your hand, Your command over me is forever executed and Your decree over me is just. I ask You by every Name belonging to You which You named Yourself with, or revealed in Your Book, or You taught to any of Your creation, or You have preserved in the knowledge of the unseen with You, that You make the Qur’an the life of my heart and the light of my breast, and a departure for my sorrow and a release for my anxiety.

May Allah protect us and our children from grief, fear, anxiety, sadness and every negative thought that can ever cross our minds, ameen.