Is depression a sign of weak iman?

The four schools agree on this.

Explanation

Prophet Yaqub grieved so deeply for Yusuf that his eyes turned white from sorrow, and he said, "I only complain of my suffering and my grief to Allah." He was a prophet, so grief cannot be a sign of weak faith. When the Prophet's ﷺ infant son Ibrahim was dying, his eyes filled with tears and he said that the eye weeps and the heart grieves, but we say only what pleases our Lord.

The Prophet ﷺ also often made a dua seeking refuge in Allah from worry and grief, from helplessness and laziness. He did not treat these states as shameful. He named them and turned to Allah about them. He also taught that worry and grief, like any illness, wipe away sins from the believer who bears them.

Things that help:

• see a doctor or a qualified therapist; treatment is part of the Sunnah (see is it haram to see a therapist)
• keep your salah, even when it feels empty, and remember Allah, since hearts find rest in His remembrance
• tell someone you trust, and do not stay alone with it
• ignore anyone who says you just need more iman; that is not what the Quran or Sunnah teach

For a longer guide, read depression in Islam, and for duas, dua for depression and sadness. If you have thoughts of harming yourself, please contact a crisis line or emergency services now, and read this page.

The evidence

This answer is pending review by the scholars on our team. Quran translation by Sahih International. Hadith Arabic from the standard editions of the six books and the Muwatta, with gradings as recorded there; the English is our own rendering. Spotted a mistake? Tell us.