A Hundred Thousand Desires/Major Depressive Disorder

Question: t has been 27 years since my marriage, and it would not be an exaggeration to say that not a single day has passed in peace. My husband is highly educated and holds a respectable position. By the grace of God, we are financially stable and live in comfort. However, mental tranquility remains absent. None of us is truly healthy. My husband suffers from chronic illness and remains engulfed in fear and melancholy. We have four sons, each with persistent health concerns. I myself suffer from nervous tension and clinical depression. I am a regular reader of your Monthly Roohani Digest. Your command over metaphysical sciences and insight into life’s deeper problems never ceases to amaze me. Please help me find a resolution to my sufferings.”

Answer: From a spiritual perspective, human nature is inclined to form expectations of others—often of such magnitude that no individual, regardless of capacity or goodwill, can fulfill them. When such expectations inevitably go unmet, a recurring cycle of disappointment sets in, eventually culminating in chronic depression. The solution, thus, lies not in relinquishing the act of hoping, but in redirecting one’s expectations toward the Absolute—the Divine Being, whose authority and mercy are boundless. Should one direct even a hundred thousand desires to Him daily, He possesses the power to fulfill them without constraint.

Human beings tend to seek tranquility in the external world, yet authentic peace is not contingent upon outward conditions. True peace is a sustained and intrinsic state of being, not an outcome of material acquisition or circumstantial comfort. When individuals attempt to find serenity through fictional or illusory means, a conflict arises between the conscious self and the subconscious mind. This internal discord provokes a subtle yet persistent protest from the subconscious, manifesting clinically as psychological distress, anxiety, and depressive symptoms.

At the core of the human constitution operates a non-physical agency—a constantly active spiritual faculty that functions beyond the scope of intellect or emotion. When an individual reestablishes a conscious and sustained connection with this inner agency, the conditions of grief, existential uncertainty, and inner turmoil gradually dissipate. This agency is the soul (rūḥ), and according to revealed metaphysics, the soul remains perpetually linked to Allah the Almighty.

It is for this reason that individuals who cultivate proximity to Allah—are more likely to experience enduring tranquility. Their psychological and somatic burdens are eased, and the dominance of anxiety and illness over their lives is significantly reduced.

One of the most effective pathways to fostering this proximity of Allah is the practice of Muraqabah (Meditation).

You should also engage regularly in Muraqabah. by the will of Allah, it shall lead to deliverance from all afflictions. Before sleep, close the eyes and contemplate that they are in the Divine gaze—“Allah is watching me.”