Answered by: Maulana Javed ibn Nazir Kachhalia
Question:
I’ve been depressed for nearly 4 years now now but I think it’s been longer I’ve disrespected my parents since the age of 15 I’m a liar don’t mean to I’ve lost my job I hate my life I’m a Muslim I have 2 children with English girls didn’t do nikah I’ve done all the bad things I just want to end my life
Answer
بسم الله الرحمن الرحي
In the surface of this earth, there is no one that can claim that they are sinless and are pure. We are all humans and we are surrounded with temptations. Many times we succumbed to them, but it doesn’t mean that we lose hope in the Mercy of Allah.
In many places in The Qura’an and many Hadith we are encouraged to ask for forgiveness from Allah in regards to our mistakes and sins.
Allah says:
قُل يا عِبادِيَ الَّذينَ أَسرَفوا عَلىٰ أَنفُسِهِم لا تَقنَطوا مِن رَحمَةِ اللَّهِ ۚ إِنَّ اللَّهَ يَغفِرُ الذُّنوبَ جَميعًا ۚ إِنَّهُ هُوَ الغَفورُ الرَّحيمُ
Say [that Allah declares,] ‘O My servants who have committed excesses against their own souls, do not despair of the mercy of Allah. Indeed Allah will forgive all sins. Indeed He is the All-forgiving, the All-merciful.(Surah Zumar 39, Verse 53)
In another place Allah says:
وَمَن تابَ وَعَمِلَ صالِحًا فَإِنَّهُ يَتوبُ إِلَى اللَّهِ مَتابًا
And whoever repents and acts righteously indeed turns to Allah with due penitence.(Surah Al-Furqan 25, Verse 71)
From the above verses, we can evaluate and deduce that, no matter how mighty or minute the sins are or how long a person has been violating Allah’s command, Allah will always forgive all the sins when a person turns towards Allah for forgives.
There is a Hadith:
Anas (May Allah be pleased with him) reported:
Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) said, “Allah, the Exalted, has said: ‘O son of Adam, I forgive you as long as you pray to Me and hope for My forgiveness, whatever sins you have committed. O son of ‘Adam, I do not care if your sins reach the height of the heaven, then you ask for my forgiveness, I would forgive you. O son of ‘Adam, if you come to Me with an earth load of sins, and meet Me associating nothing to Me, I would match it with an earth load of forgiveness.”‘ [At- Tirmidhi].
There are many more Ahadith in which we have been encouraged to ask Allah for forgiveness and not to lose hope in Allah.
Dear Brother, committing suicide is not the solution to our problems. Islam has prohibited suicide and even wishing for death.
Abu Hurayrah (may Allah be pleased with him) narrated that the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) said: “Whoever throws himself down from a mountain and kills himself will be in the Fire of Hell, throwing himself down therein for ever and ever. Whoever takes poison and kills himself, his poison will be in his hand and he will be sipping it in the Fire of Hell for ever and ever. Whoever kills himself with a piece of iron, that piece of iron will be in his hand and he will be stabbing himself in the stomach with it in the Fire of Hell, for ever and ever.” (Bukhaari, Muslim)
The first thing you should do my Brother is, perform two rakaats ‘SalaatulTawbah’ and ask Allah for forgiveness. Once you have done that, then hasten towards doing good, specially by vowing to perform the five times daily Salaah and some Dhikr or recitation of the Qura’an daily.
We are currently in month of Rajab and two months away from the month of Ramadhan Insha’Allah. Therefore. Let’s start preparing for the blessed month from now by doing some little good actions and deeds. The month of Ramadhan is a month when Allah’s mercy is infinite to the extent that if a person maximise the time correctly in gaining Allah’s Mercy, Insha’Allah he or she will be granted forgiveness and protection from the fire of Hell.
The best form to combat depression is doing Dhikr and reciting the Qura’an.
Also, would advise you to seek some medical help and try to go and see a spiritual reformer scholar which will Insha’Allah help you overcome your issues.
May Allah give us all the correct understanding and forgive all our sins. Ameen
Only Allah knows best.
Written by Maulana Javed ibn Nazir Kachhalia
Checked and approved by Mufti Mohammed Tosir Miah
Darul Ifta Birmingham