Ustadh Nouman Ali Khan discusses how the Qur'an is the most appropriate remedy for the sadness due to the trials and tribulations we face on a daily basis.
The Qur'an addresses every single dilemma that we may encounter in our lives. We all go through various physical, moral, spiritual, and psychological crises and Allah (SWT) has revealed this Book to us and given us the example of the beautiful Sunnah of His Messenger ﷺ to actually help us navigate these crises because He is the One who created us with these emotions.
Sadness is one of those emotions and the reality of life. Having good Iman, having strong faith, does not mean one is guaranteed happiness. This is a world of difficulty, challenges, and of trial. For instance, Ibrahim (AS) as a young man experienced the trial of being expelled from his own house. Then there is the example of Yusuf (AS) who is betrayed by his older brothers.
The prophetic situations of sadness and grief all turn into Dua’s. Musa (AS), for example, punched a man who then died and he was overwhelmed with guilt. But Allah inspired him with a beautiful Du’a:
“O my Sustainer! Verily, I am in dire need any good which You may bestow upon me!”
(Qur’an 28:24)
The Remedy in The Names of Allah should also be sought to overcome sadness. One of Allah’s most beautiful names is Ar-Rahman, which is usually translated as “mercy.” So Ar-Rahman is the first remedy in the Qur’an. Remembering and reflecting on the Names of Allah, and of them, Ar-Rahman, the One we invoke all the time, is a special remedy for sadness.
The remedy in cultivating gratitude promises us increase in every good aspect of our lives as promised by Allah in the Qur'an. Some He will increase in children, some in patience, some in strength, in knowledge, in wisdom, in material provisions, in happiness — in whatever each one needs to have increased. Muslims must exhibit happiness and optimism and allow for themselves to be healed by the remedies for the sadness that Allah (SWT) offers in His Book.