Are You Sad & Depressed?

Ya'kub alaihissalam, we know that he was suffering in distressed because Yusuf (Joseph), his beloved son alaihissalam, Joseph (upon whom be peace), Binyamin, his other little son was also missing. And he was in distress, what he says in Chapter 12 verse 86, 'I only complain of my suffering and grief to Allah, and I know from Allah that which you do not know.' So, from a perspective of a state of being, say we are depress sometime in life and we are really upset, or we don't know where we are going. And we have this kind of existential crisis. Who are we? Whose are we? What are we? Why are we? All these questions we can't really answer properly. We haven't really reflected upon those questions properly. Because we all need reminders. So we can be in a state of suffering and grief. So Yusuf alaihissalam, rather Ya'kub alaihissalam the father of Yusuf alaihissalam and Binyamin. He's saying he is suffering and he is in grief. But look at his solution or look at what he does. And he says, 'I only complain of my suffering and my grief to Allah.' That number one.

Now go to next verse, verse 87. He now advises his sons, cuz he had another 10 sons, to go and find out about Joseph and Binyamin (his brother). And look what Ya'kub alaihissalam says. He says, 'And despair not of the life giving mercy (roohillah, the life giving mercy of God) of Allah for indeed the one who despairs of the life giving mercy of God is the one who actively rejects the truth.'

So there are some lessons here. He's teaching us how to deal with grief and distress and depression. Because Ya'kub alaihissalam, Jocob (upon whom be peace), he was the one in genuine distress and grief because he loves Joseph so much, he loved Binyamin so much, and he was really really really distressed. But look what he does. He says, 'I complain only to Allah.' So that's the first point of calling when you are distressed and when you arein grief. Complain to Allah. The second piece of advice which is quite significant is in the advice he give to his sons. And he says, 'and despair not of the life giving mercy of Allah, for whoever despair of His mercy is the one who is in a active state of disbelief, (who rejects the truth).'

So it means the one who is in grief and distress and depressed, a solution out of this grief and depression is to sincerely advice others and remind others of the mercy of Allah. Ya'kub alaihissalam was the one in distress and grief. But he adviced his sons sincerely and he told them about Allah's mercy, His compassion, His love. So the way to get out of this grief and distress is actually to do that. Advice others sincerely and remind them of the mercy of Allah. And it is no wonder many of the counselors or psychotherapists, they were actually depressed and they got into the job just to help themselves because advising others actually helps you.

So keep on reflecting upon the Quran, brothers and sisters. I hope this example were a good example that would affect your lives in some way. And if you do feel a little bit distressed, a bit in grief, rely on Allah, refer to Allah, complain to Allah alone. Because He is the only one who can change the situation. No.2, sincerely advice others. No. 3, remind others sincerely of the life giving mercy of your Lord, Allah Subhanallah Taala.

- by Ustadh Hamza Tzortzis