Monday 11 June 2012

Fasting through depression


This photo was taken just a few minutes walk from my house, I have found for me to stay uplifted then there is nothing better for me than walking, and I find to be near water particularly helpful as it helps me to be more reflective.

It scares me to think of living in a country with no bodies of water.....

I have made it no secret in the past that my whole life before converting to Islam I suffered from very bad depression, in fact a few months before becoming a Muslim I had a complete mental breakdown where I could no longer eat, shower or sleep for that matter. The day I said my shahadah was the day I stopped taking my anti depressants and sleeping medication.

I have had many times since then where I have felt down or sad but not the kind where I can't stop crying, can't get out of bed or want to end my life alhamdulillah and I plan on keeping it that way.

Mental illness is not shameful, it is not about trusting in Allah more, it is not something the person suffering from it can control anymore than say having cancer or a broken leg. I see a lot of stigma about mental illness and I think people fear what they don't understand but that is no excuse for ridicule.

I want to share something I found last year from Dr Bilal Philip's website, I will post it here but will provide the link anyway. I use this as a prevention is better than cure but I myself in my extensive searching have not managed to find anything that works as well as this.

FAST CURE FOR DEPRESSION

The steps for a “Fast” cure for depression.
 1. Do a complete focused fast on Mondays and Thursdays.
a) Get up Read in Arabic and English – Inna fee Khalqis samaawati wal Ard (Aali Imraan, 3:191-end) and crying.
b) Make a focused wudoo and Tahajjud followed by
c) a very light Suhoor (brown bread, olives and extra virgin olive oil + 2 table spoons full of canned tuna or one egg) followed by
d) a day of focused sunnah and Fard prayers
e) Utilize throughout the day any of the prophetic du’aas requesting ease like: “Allahumma laa sahla illaa maa ja’altahu sahlaa (O Allah, nothing is easy except what you make easy) wa anta taj’alus sa’ba in shi’ta sahlaa (And You can make what is difficult easy if You wish)
f) as well as the other du’aas for depression like: Allaahumma rahmataka arjoo falaa takilnee ilaa nafsee tarfata ‘ayn. wa aslih lee sha’nee kullah. Laa ilaaha illaa Ant.  (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. See  Hisnul Muslim – the Muslim Fortress for more).
g) Then break the fast with 3 dates and a glass of water and pray maghrib,
h) Have a light Iftaar followed by a focused Ishaa,
The depression should begin to lift, if not go altogether from the very first day of the Fast cure. It will work if you do it believing with all your heart, strongly that this prophetic formula WORKS and the degree to which it does work depends on how seriously you take it and apply it.

Have a beautiful and blessed week xxx

11 comments:

  1. Assalamu Alaykum Bonnie, God bless you sister. May Allah ease your task. Wonderful list of things to do to make us closer to Allah (subhana wa ta'ala)... Alhamdulillah, all praises are for Allah...There is nothing like Salah especially night prayers, it gives you tranquility..
    Take care Bonnie

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  2. Bonnie I forgot to mention that I plan to make my blog private due to a certain issue. So, If you wish I would love if you send me your email, so I can invite you when I make my blog private :) Thank you for understanding. May you have a wonderful day xxx
    [danamuslimah@hotmail.com]

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    1. Thank you sweetie for asking me, I feel very special :) emailing you now xx

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  3. in times of depression prayers and standing still in our faith is the best and oftentimes the only thing we can hold on to..thank you for this post sis Bonnie..visiting you *hugs* ;)

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    1. Thank you for visiting me my dear Sie, without my faith I would have nothing. Lots of love and hugs xxx

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  4. Allah Knows Best.

    Masha-Allah, thank you for sharing those advice. People, I think, who learn from their mistakes and share their life lessons and advice with others are among those who are worth admiring, especially if they are true God-fearing Muslims.

    It's better to be among those who face trials in this world yet are loved by Allah and are guaranteed to be welcome in Jannah/Heaven because of their good deeds and Islam, THAN to be among those who live so-called ultimate happy lives and are destined to be inhabitants of Hell.

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    1. We must be happy with trials because Allah tests those who he loves and isn't that such a comfort, if our lives are ever easy with no burdens we should indeed ask ourselves why!

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  5. by the way, sister-in-Islam, is your real name 'Bonnie'? Do you have a Muslim Name? :)

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    1. Yes my real name is Bonnie :) I believe a Muslim name is one that means a good meaning which mine does so I kept it. Also it's very good for dawah as people realize that I wasn't born into Islam and they ask me why I converted etc xxx

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  6. Masha'Allah this is such good advice for dealing with depression, thank you for sharing it.

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  7. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MJHPam-pjaI <-- a dua for depression

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