Mental health remains one of the most neglected but necessary conversations in Muslim communities. Shaykh Musleh Khan addresses it head-on by examining the life of Prophet Muhammad ﷺ not as a distant historical figure, but as someone who experienced emotional pain, isolation, and pressure at the highest level.
Using a brief surah from the Qur’an, Shaykh Musleh explains how Allah directly supported the Prophet ﷺ during some of his darkest moments in Mecca. These weren’t just moments of emotional exhaustion, they were periods of deep anxiety, fear, and grief. He was mocked, chased out of his city, cut off from revelation for six months, and told that God had abandoned him. These events took a real psychological toll.
But the Qur’an responded not with silence, but with direct reassurance.
Allah Intervened Before the Prophet Even Asked
The first lesson? Allah didn’t wait for the Prophet ﷺ to ask for help. He intervened first. Shaykh Musleh explains that this teaches Muslims to proactively check in on one another, especially during hard times. Just as Allah reached out first, we’re taught to initiate care, not wait for someone to cry for help.
Step One: Recognize That Struggle Is Part of the Journey
The Prophet ﷺ, the most beloved of Allah, went through extreme trials. That means struggle isn’t a punishment; it’s part of the path. Being Muslim doesn’t guarantee ease. It may make things harder. But as Shaykh Musleh says, “The harder the journey, the greater the reward.”
Step Two: Start Small — Move Your Lips
When someone is depressed, speaking can feel impossible. The Qur’an instructs the Prophet ﷺ: start dhikr. Move your tongue. Why? Because speech sparks action. Saying “SubhanAllah” or “Alhamdulillah” is a beginning. From there, you rise, make wudu, and reconnect.
Step Three: Fall Into Sujood — Get Closer
The Prophet ﷺ is told not just to pray, but to go into sujood, the closest position to Allah. Shaykh Musleh explains this isn’t limited to ritual salah. Even if you’re not in wudu, even if you’re not facing the qiblah, fall into sujood and cry out. When the world fails you, that posture connects you directly to the One who never will.
Step Four: Shift Focus From What’s Missing to What You Have
When the Prophet ﷺ lost Khadijah, Abu Talib, and was expelled from Ta’if — all in the same year — the Qur’an didn’t start by promising more. It reminded him of what he already had: faith, strength, purpose. Shaykh Musleh shares a story of a scholar who asked a man seeking more from Allah: “Would you trade your arm? Your leg? Your eyes?” Gratitude begins by recognizing the value of what we often overlook.
Final Advice: Stay Connected — Until the End
The Qur’an ends its reminder by commanding the Prophet ﷺ to stay in worship “until the certainty (death) comes.” Shaykh Musleh stresses that a disconnection from Allah is almost always part of long-term mental decline in Muslims. Islam doesn’t erase trauma — but it gives you a process, a foundation, and a direction.
Real strength isn’t about never crying. It’s about knowing where to go when you do. Shaykh Musleh reminds us that having Allah in your life gives you the kind of strength no human support system can replace.
If you’re struggling with anxiety, depression, or emotional pain — know that you’re not alone. The Prophet ﷺ struggled too. But Allah gave him tools to rise. Those tools are preserved for us in the Qur’an. It’s time we use them.