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Shaikh Haytham Tamim

& a Muslim psychoanalyst

Depression

FAQ

Questions put to the late Shaikh S M Darsh and his answers. (Acknowledgement to Ta-Ha Publications Ltd)

Q: I am an isolated, thoroughly depressed young mother who finds it hard to concentrate on prayers with small children to bring up. I have been told that praying with more concentration will help me overcome my depression. But I feel my prayers are bouncing off the ceiling. Please help.

A: You say you are depressed. My guess is that this is due, in part, to your lonely existence and isolation from a community life. Couples and families, when deciding where to set up home, need to give high priority to the need of having a community around them. This is a necessity and not doing it is very wrong. Unfortunately many people don't understand this, but being part of a community is integral to the Islamic way of life. You cannot live an isolated existence. Apart from the innumerable practical benefits of being part of a vibrant, dynamic community, there are also many, many other benefits, spiritual and temporal, that are essential for one's wholesome existence. You seem to lack this and here lies a large part of your problem. This may sound like asking too much, but life would become infinitely more pleasurable if you took the plunge and made a conscious decision to move closer to a place with some kind of Muslim community life.

In the meantime, talking to people will help. Go out and talk. Talk about anything, about the weather, about health, about life. Just talk and share your problems with others. You've heard of the proverb, 'A problem shared is a problem halved.' Believe you me, it works.

And finally, please, never, under any circumstances, abandon your prayers. Prayer is your one regular channel to God. It is the opportunity you have to strengthen and communicate directly with your Creator and Sustainer. Don't let it go and don't lose it.

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Internet Links and Other Resources

Depression: The Islamic way to overcome it
www.islamicity.org/dialogue/Q150.htm

When supplication is not answered
www.islamicity.org/dialogue/Q631.htm

How to overcome Depression
www.isna.net/iq/deprssn.htm