Given below are letters from depressed families and their answers by Hakim Sahib.
From Mr. Rizwan, Faisalabad
Suffocation in village
As I did not get good marks in matriculation exams, I could not get admission in any good college. I thought to re-appear in exams but my father called me back to village. I have to work with father at our land. My mother lives in the city with my elder brothers. I had many friends who are attending college now. I used to stay with them; it was routine to have fun here and there. I feel suffocated in the village.
ADVICE
Doing work is necessary for survival. When your father knew that you are not interested in your studies and could not get good marks in matric, he attached you with his work. It is good for you to work with your father; you can make good friends here as well. It is useless to recall old friends in city as one meets so many people in life and then leave them.If you continuously remember past friends, it will increase your miseries in life. You can get in contact with good friends over phone. Chaste intentions and high plans can keep you away from hopelessness and frustration. Be committed, devoted and courageous and utilize you potentials in your work effectively and make your time full of satisfaction.
DEATH AND LONELINESS
From Mr. Sultan Ahmed, Sukkur
If I or anyone else at home falls slightly ill, I start thinking about death. Same is the condition upon hearing anyone else’s illness.Disturbing thoughts about death are dominant on me. It is just that I am missing on mental tranquility. I feel happy on arrival of any guest at home or at any event; loneliness kills me. I feel normal from morning to afternoon but feel mental depression as evening approaches.
ADVICE
A famous thinker said: “no other power affects human heart & mind than the power of fear. Love, worries, hopelessness and inferiority complex make you depressed but they are just slight breezes and fear is an intense storm”. Another thinker said that who discovers his spirit, becomes fearless of death which ends all other fears automatically. Although everybody has an experience of fear in life but if he is subdued with fear and he feels difficulty in routine affairs,it would be kind of a disease which needs to be cured. In your case, illness as well as fear of death is imposing on your mind. Have you ever thought that people often become healthy after long ailmentand resume routine life? Such people outnumber those people who died soon after sickness. You know death is to come to every soul; if not disease it may come through accident. Then don’t you put yourself in trouble mere due to fear of death. So pray for life while understanding the reality of death; prayers if accepted by Almighty Allah, can alter the fate. Also keep yourself busy to avoid tension.
ONCE WE WERE CHEERFUL
From Mr. Azhar Butt, Chiniot
No one who sees me or meets me can say how much I was happy and cheerful in past. Now nothing seems interested and important for me. Happiness has become part of my past as the person who was source of my happiness has left the world. We had a love marriage; I was blessed with one son who is with my sister as my wife has died. I could not save her life due to lack of proper medical facilities at my village dispensary.Many people have forced me for second marriage but I have decided not to remarry as I would not keep her happy. My all love shall remain for my deceased wife. People look at me strangely, considering me mad but I am not. The reason of writing this letter is that now I am thinking about my death which, according to me, shall bring happiness for me.
ADVICE
Your mental condition is expressing hopelessness. The deaths of close relatives, accidents or any untoward incidents are the reasons of this condition. According to WHO, 20% of world population is suffering with this problem. According to one survey, depression would dominate other diseases till 2020. Though your condition is hopeless but not fatal as you are aware to correct it and that’s why you have written this letter. Normally, people cannot realize that increase in hopelessness will lead to end of life.Meet your child and play with him and keep yourself relax. Thinking of Allah at the moment of difficulty, tension and hopelessness makes you free of all these problems. He, who remembers Allah with devotion, gets peace of mind. Life and death and everything are from Him as man neither die nor live at his own will. Thinking pessimistically about life is of no use. Or thinking death shall bless you with good fate. This is thanklessness of Allah Almighty.
