Thank you for your question. We are living in a time where our global society is becoming more aware and more accepting of the fact that stress is a reality of life and maintaining our mental health and well-being is an essential component of living. As Muslims, we recognize that Allah has designed us to go through cycles of good and not-so-good mental health. Consider this verse in the Qur’an:

• Verily, human beings have been created in a state of anxiety (Quran 70:9)

So, no, it does not mean you are bad Muslim if you are going through a struggle in life. It means you are Muslim, it means you are fulfilling your destiny as a human being. Okay, but how do we advise one another when going through a period of stress and poor mental well-being? Consider the following:

• Spend 5 to 10 minutes of each day focusing on gratefulness. What do you have in your life that you can be grateful for? What is it that humans have been granted in this life, on this Earth that we can be grateful for? Why? Because gratefulness breeds hope, and hope breeds happiness.
• Read the Qur’an in Arabic, or at least listen to the Qur’an in Arabic. Why? Because Allah tells us that He sent down the Qur’an to humanity in which there is healing and mercy (Quran 17:82), and again Allah refers to the Qur’an when He says, “O Humanity! Good advice has come to you from your Lord and a healing for what disturbs you in your hearts, and guidance and mercy for the believers. (Quran 10:57)
• Speak to Allah, make du’a, and complain to Him about what you are going through. Know that He is near to you and has not abandoned you (Quran 57:4) and that He is the All Hearing and will answer your call (Quran 40:60)

In closing, it’s essential to remember that there is a difference between going through a temporary rough time and experiencing a mental illness. If a person is not sure, then he or she should check with a medical professional to get the appropriate support required. This is particularly important in cases where feelings of unexplained or sudden sadness last unabated for two weeks or longer.