Prophet Ayub A.S- Remedy for Depression

بِسْمِ اللَّهِ الرَّحْمَٰنِ الرَّحِيمِ

Al-Quran describes an incident of Prophet Ayub (A.S) where it appears that prophet Ayub at some point of his life was inflicted with psychological problem which he described as a touch of Shaitan. Touch of Shaitan affects your psychology as Ayat 2:275 informs us. Shaitan does not have any control over our body, it effects our thoughts.

Allah prescribes to Prophet Ayub (A.S) to do exercise with foot i.e brisk walking or jogging, use cool water for bathing and drinking. Recognize the root cause of your mental anguish and directly strike on that cause.

The word  ضِغْثًا Zigzan in 38:44 means confusion, bogey, a mishmash of things, and represents the confusion and fears in human psyche which causes mental problem and pains. Allah requires to strike this directly and make a covenant to overcome this problem.

38:41  وَاذْكُرْ عَبْدَنَا �£َيُّوبَ إِذْ نَادَىٰ رَبَّهُ �£َنِّي مَسَّنِيَ الشَّيْطَانُ بِنُصْبٍ وَعَذَابٍ

And remember our servant Ayub, When he called to his Lord that "Shaitan/Satan has touched me with a portion and a punishment."

Please note that the touch of Shaitan affects a person psychology, because Shaitan does not have any physical control over you, it only affects your thoughts.

38:42  ارْكُضْ بِرِجْلِكَ ۖ هَٰذَا مُغْتَسَلٌ بَارِدٌ وَشَرَابٌ

Race with your foot/masculine manners, this is the cool bathing room and drink.

Allah gives the remedy for phychological problems;  Exercise/jog and use cool water for shower and for drinking.

38:44  وَخُذْ بِيَدِكَ ضِغْثًا فَاضْرِب بِّهِ وَلَا تَحْنَثْ ۗ إِنَّا وَجَدْنَاهُ صَابِرًا ۚ نِّعْمَ الْعَبْدُ ۖ إِنَّهُ �£َوَّابٌ

"And take the CHIMERA/Bogey with your hand then strike with it, and you do not perjure. Surely We found him patient, blessed is our servant surely he did return.

Hold and recognize the cause of mental anguish/chimera/bogeyman, and strike it directly. Make a covenant of truth with Allah, that you will not be overwhelmed by this chimera again

7:201  إِنَّ الَّذِينَ اتَّقَوْا إِذَا مَسَّهُمْ طَائِفٌ مِّنَ الشَّيْطَانِ تَذَكَّرُوا فَإِذَا هُم مُّبْصِرُونَ

Those who are pious/take guard, when any evil from the satan touches them, they remember (Allah), then they get the insight.

 42:39  وَالَّذِينَ إِذَا �£َصَابَهُمُ الْبَغْيُ هُمْ يَنتَصِرُونَ

 And those who, when a wrong reaches them, they help themselves

With the remembrance of Allah, the hearts get satisfaction. If any believer is wronged and hurt and feeling oppressed,  the believer should help himself with the knowledge of the fact that the oppressor who have oppressed him will meet similar fate (by Allah) and will be fully recompensed by Allah for his wrongful acts. And also that the misfortune which has befallen on him, is test by Allah to see how he performs under the adverse circumstances.

The below portion of Ayat 2:275, tells us the touch of Shaitan affects one's mind.

2:275  الَّذِينَ يَ�£ْكُلُونَ الرِّبَا لَا يَقُومُونَ إِلَّا كَمَا يَقُومُ الَّذِي يَتَخَبَّطُهُ الشَّيْطَانُ مِنَ الْمَسِّ