Ramadan: An Opportune Time to Resolve Your Psychological Problems

Dear Dr. Sadiq, I am married and have 5 kids. All over the past years I have been going through a lot of depression due to the daily pressures and poor family circumstances. I have tried lots to forget my problems, but I am always met with failure. I want to start a new life this Ramadan, but I need some suggestions from you.

I have a Question, but I really feel sorrow writing it online, but I didn't want to miss your suggestions as a certified counselor who can help me through the way. I committed zina a month ago, and I am absolutely depressed and don't know what to do in Ramadan. I don't feel like fasting. I feel like killing myself. Please help …help….help.

In Ramadan in iftar or suhur times when we switch on to televsion to see the Adhan or ending time of sehri or iftar . I am talking of places where mosques are far the Adhan is hard to hear. While watching the Adhan on television they show advertisments with music and women .Does this thing affect our roza (fast)?

How can family resolve problems in Ramadan? I don't think if there is a real problem it could be solved in any time. Can you clarify how people can resolve their problems?

Dr. Sadiq, as-Salamu'alaykum! I have suffered from depression for most of my life (since I was three years old) and it has gotten to the point that it is just how I expect to be, even though I've begun hurting myself. My depression has negatively affected not only my life, but has hurt those around me. I am on medicine to treat my condition, but it does not seem to help. What advice or help can you give me? Thanks.

last year i paid zakah for $2000. this year i 've $4000 ie last year $2000 plus this year $2000. for how much amount i should pay zakah.

As-Salamu `Alaykum, I am 36 years old and have been trying to get married for a long time. So far no luck. This has resulted in feelings of depression, low self esteem and lots of other psychological issues. I have met someone really nice online – he's quite decent and we're trying to get to know each other better. My problem is that I feel scared that it won't work, he'll choose someone else who lives closer to him, he'll leave me. I know all of these problems aren't logical but I can't help feeling this way. I would like to know if there are any du`as I can recite this Ramadan or do anything to strengthen my faith and sort these psychosomatic issues out. Thank you for your help and anyone reading this, pray for me!!!

As-Salamu`alaykum, I have a problem which might sound silly to some people. I have always dreamed of joining the mujahideen and hopefully dying as a martyr, but I cannot obtain my parents permission so I cannot do so. The point is that my parents want me to get married, and I think I should as well, but I am reluctant to do so as I feel that after marriage, due to the responsibilities with looking after and loving a wife, my zeal for Jihad and helping my opressed brothers & sisters might diminish. I would be most grateful if you could give me some advice on this matter.

Assalamu Alaykum Warahamatulah, Please if i have a brother who died and he has not got marrige. He has his father and mother a live who will inheried his proparties, and how it will be distributed. Ma'asalam

As-Salamu`alykum, Iam married for 28 years, alhamdulillah after a lot of ups and downs,we found our way to Islam. Now it was a big change for the children(4) getting involved a lot with Islam I understand many things a lot different than before. My problem are my children they are not as convinced as I am and think that I am afraid of their father and blame their father for everything. Whenever I try to make them understand they say that I am defending him. I find myself in a position to having to explain myself to them all the time, as if they would educate me and not me them.What should I do?

As-Salamu`alaykum Dr. Muhammad,I wanted to ask you how can I get rid of waswasa. I pray and read Adhkar every day but it sticks to me whenever I pray to ask Allah for something I need! It starts to whisper to me that I don't deserve from Allah to help me or fulfill my hopes and it makes me always feel guilty ,and sometimes it makes me feel as if I prayed a bad du`a' for example (for some people whom I love very much to die)! I can't concentrate each time I pray or ask Allah His forgiveness or any thing else. Thank you so much,jazakum Allah khairab.

Please, I need your help. I have a problem with my parents because I married a committed Muslim girl who is not my relative, while my parents wanted me to marry my relative. Every Ramadan, I invite them over on Iftar but they always refuse. My wife buys them gifts on Eid and they return them back. I really don't enjoy Ramadan when I have this kind of treatment from my parents. Can you give me some tips on how to solve this problem?

As-Salamu `alykum, My Question is that someone I know suffers from a phobia of thunder and lightning and gets really scared even when it gets slightly cloudy. I was wondering if there are any du`a or procedures she can do to cure herself. There aren't any counselors or reputable psychologists where we live. Thank you for your help and may you have a prosperous Ramadan.

How can I get more confidence in discussion of religious Questions with my husband. I like to be on a middle-course he is more uncompromising.

Yesterday I had something that had alcohol in it by mistake – I found out half way through the meal and I had something in my mouth so I finished eating it rather than throw it out. Now I feel so guilty and scared that my fasting won't be accepted. Help!

As-Salamu'alaykum, how to finish reading the whole Al-Quran in this Ramadan?

Wow, just yesterday I mentioned that I was going to use Ramadan to help me with my anxiety and depression! I have been suffering from anxiety, panic attacks, and have developed some phobias since stopping my medication (that I was prescribed for "major depression") several years ago. The medication did not help, and I saw tons of physicians and experts and they emphasized medication more than psycho-therapy, and my anxiety was never addressed in any therapy. Now, I still have it, and its getting worse. I know that the Quran is a healing for whatever ails the heart, and I understand Qadr, and all of the Islamic philisophical ideas– I just have a problem connecting my "logical" brain to my "illogical" brain. I have found that cutting out caffiene and exercising daily helps. I'm also trying to incrase my vitaminE intake, and improve my diet all around. However, I still have problems dealing with irrational fears. How can I use Ramadan to help with that?

What does your religion endorse murder? If it does not endorse it, then why isn't a stronger stance taken against those members of your religion that teach CHILDREN to hate and murder?

As-Salamu `Alaykum, don't you think that the day in which we live is reason enough for depression? Shouldn't we be depressed as an acurate indicator to our environment? What do you think? As-Salamu`alaykum.