In the two previous parts of the solutions to depression, we introduced some of the recommendations on how to avoid anxiety and stress in Islam. Those examples included both spiritual and material advice. And they show that Islam considers the existence of human beings as a whole. That is why Islam has forbidden the unlawful (Haram) “temporary solutions” of relieving stress and emotions (like starting a dangerous relationship or spending the time in bars, etc.). Since in those cases, one usually gets nothing for what he\she spends.

Avoid Whatever Damages the Mind and Soul

Many people try to keep up with the newest standards of body hygiene to prevent various diseases. The same should be done for the mental hygiene. Much effort is needed to have a healthy soul and prevent disorders like depression, anxiety, stress in Islam, etc.

Some approaches to reduce depression act like an immediate treatment. The problem with those solutions is that they give a good feeling at the beginning. It normally does not last long and later on results in adverse effects. So, one should avoid whatever undermines the consciousness or causes deeper depression. These are:

All the Intoxicant:

Whatever destroys one’s mind and deprives him of the ability to thinking and reason is a sort of intoxicant, then, must be abandoned [1];

Drinking Alcoholic Beverages

Alcohol is harmful and adversely affects the mind and the body. Imam Reza (AS) said that God has prohibited drinking alcoholic beverages since they contaminate the mind [2];

An Ignorant Companion

 Spending a lot of time with such a person will destroy the wisdom [3] and misleads whoever he/she interacts with;

Overeating

Eating too much will degenerate one’s mind and weaken the thinking power [4,5]. According to Islamic teachings, overeating turns one to a weak-willed, sleepy, stupid person [6];

Idleness and Inaction

 Wasting time and doing nothing in life corrupt the mind [7];

Joking and Laughing Excessively

Making jokes and laughing too much causes one to seem stupid [7].

Moreover, anything that causes one to forget God and weakens one’s faith acts like a poison that darkens one’s soul:

Assuming to Have a Long Life

The one who thinks that will live a long life and forget about his/her death insists on his/her mistakes and cannot catch up. Since he/she supposes that there are still many chances to compensate. This clouds his/her heart and soul [8];

Useless Conversations

Vain conversations and hostility with others will weaken the soul [9];

Owning vast fortune such that the owner becomes too busy with them and forgets about God and his\her religious duties

Having such great wealth can harden the heart [10];

Keep on Doing Sins

Whoever does a sin several times and repents each time but does not stop committing that sin, is known to mock God [11]. It is also said that repeated sins seal and kill the heart [12];

Associating with Those Who Have Gone Astray

To spend time with those who are lost in their lives and oppose the divine guidelines, will mislead one to the wrong path [9]. 

Not Keeping the Gaze Down

Looking freely at any scene and anybody, especially non-Mahrams, causes anxiety and inquietude. Looking at a beautiful flower, for example, might take only some seconds but its smell and beauty stays in our mind longer. The same thing happens when looking at another person; especially due to the emotional impacts that men and women have on each other.

Staring at a non-Mahram will busy one’s mind with different thoughts for some time. It might also stimulate his/her feelings. Repeating these looks will cause one to get distracted and lose control in his/her mind. Also, it disturbs his/her inner peace and causes mental problems [13]. That is why Imam Ali (AS) said: “Whoever keeps the gaze down, relieves” [14].

References:

1. M. al-Kulaynī, “Al-Kafi”, vol. 6, p. 412.
2. S. H. al-Amili, “Wasail al-Shia”, vol. 25, p. 329.
3. Karajaki, “Kanzul Fawaid”, vol. 1, p. 199.
4. H. T. Nuri Ṭabarsi, “Mustadrak al-Wasail”, vol. 16, p. 458.
5. M. B. Majlesi, “Bihar al-Anwar”, vol. 63, p. 72.
6. N. Makarem Shirazi, “Tafsir Nemooneh”, vol. 6, p. 153.
7. “Ghurar al-Hikam wa Durar al-Kalim”, p. 222.
8. Ibn Babawayh, “Man la yahduruhu al-Faqih”, vol.4, p. 366.
9. Ibn Babawayh, “Al-Khisal”, p. 228.
10. M. al-Kulaynī, “Al-Kafi”, vol. 2, p. 300.
11. M. al-Kulaynī, “Al-Kafi”, vol. 4, p. 168.
12. Sheikh al-Mufid, “Al-Amali”, p. 83.
13. stress in islam
14. M. Reyshahri, "Mizan al-Hikma," T. 6141".

It may not be a great deal for Muslims even to check if hanging around in social networks in Islam is Lawful (Halal) or forbidden (Haram) for them. The question may sound very dogmatic when you hear it at first, and you may reply: “What are you saying? We are living in the 21st century. We live in a world of technology. All our communications and a high percentage of our work depend on social networks.”

Okay! Stop answering me before you let me finish my words. I know that we are living in a world of technology and as you see, I am communicating with you via the internet, using social networks. But what I’m talking about is not about the advantages of social networks. We are all aware of how useful cyberspace is in our daily life. But here I want to invite you to think about your habits and behaviors in the cyberspace. 

In this article I would like to go through the pathology of our use of social networks and to see if we are going astray at some point, then we can bold it out, so we can solve it. 

Why Do We Usually Use Social Networks? 

Apart from phone calls and necessary communications that have become easier via social networks, some people run their businesses using these networks. People can sit at home and instead of traveling far distances for work meetings, can stay home and manage their works, or some can even study and graduate via distance learning organizations. 

There are loads and loads of advantages that we can keep counting for social networks, and I am not going to ignore all of them. But I want to make a few points that we may be neglecting in using social networks. 

Social Networks in Islam: Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, etc. 

Let me remind you that Islam is a way of life and Muslims and those who convert to Islam believe that it is the best way of life for one who wants to achieve success in this world and the hereafter. 

Does Islam make any limitations for Muslims’ usage of social networks? 

Believe it or not, YES. Just like any other aspect of life for which Islam tells us how to behave to achieve absolute success, it has recommendations for Muslims’ use of Facebook, Twitter, Google, Instagram, etc. it may not be directly mentioned in the Quran or narrations, but since social networks are types of virtual societies, the Islamic lifestyle and its rulings may apply to our behaviors in social networks. 

Being in any gatherings or societies has its own conditions and requires its special behavior. It is important that we can analyze different situations and find out how we should behave according to our Islamic lifestyle. Social networks are also like a society that requires specific etiquette, and we, as Muslims, should discover these etiquettes. There are a few points that are very important to consider from an Islamic viewpoint, while talking about the etiquette of Muslims, hanging around in social networks in Islam:

 1. Men Vs. Women Communications in Social Networks in Islam

Islam has specific rulings about the relationship between men and women in society. These rulings are presented to dignify and respect the character of both men and women. These may contain the following: 

-    Etiquette of speech and look.
-    Not joking and praising the opposite sex for personal acts that are not common to be praised in real society.
-    Sending heart or kind stickers that are not common to use in real gatherings.
-    Posting photos of either men or women in different places. Muslim men and women do not keep the images of those who are of unmarriageable kin (non-mahram).

Usually, practicing Muslims try to keep these limits in social networks, just like controlling their manners in real society.  

2. Showing off

Another thing that is known to be abhorrent according to Islam is showing off to others. Islam says that Muslims are like sisters and brothers [1]. And therefore they have to make sure that if one sister or brother doesn’t have the ability to have something or to go somewhere for any reason (financial, health-wise, etc.), you should not make them feel sorry for what they don’t have or cannot have at the moment. 

Therefore, from an Islamic viewpoint sharing your moments of having fun with your friends, or eating at a fancy restaurant, or gaining a great opportunity at work or school, is not recommended. 
Considering the above, you can conclude which of your posts on Facebook, Twitter, Google, Instagram, etc. are not liked by God. 

3. Wasting Time

Allah recommends Muslims that when they finish a task, they should start another task [2]. It means that Muslims should not waste any time, and we all have the experience that hanging around on social networks consumes a lot of our time without we even realize it. 

Therefore it might worth that we specify a specific amount of time to our use of social networks per day, and don’t allow the cyberspace to carry us with it wherever it wishes. 

4. Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, etc. Make it Easy to Commit some Forbidden (Haram) Acts

Too much of communication and too much of speech always makes the ground fertile for dangerous words such as wrong judgment of others, the humiliation of other groups or sects or races, insulting people (especially famous people) for no right reason, accusing people of what they haven’t done, etc. These are all forbidden (Haram) according to Islam [3]. But Muslims may sometimes forget to be cautious about these issues in social networks in Islam.

Therefore, I strongly recommend that we specify some time and revise our manner in social networks in Islam. Then, we might realize that much of our use of social networks are useless and is preventing us from attaining our success in this world and the hereafter. Or on the other hand, we may again realize that our use of social networks has no contradictions with Islamic law, and we can keep up the good job!

Let’s be honest guys and not justify the importance of our presence in social networks. If we are wasting time, we need to make a firm decision. And if we don’t live based on an Islamic lifestyle, we shouldn’t expect to be the most successful.

Good Luck

References: 

1.  The Quran: Chapter 49, Verse 10
2. The Quran: Chapter 94, Verse 7
3. The Quran: Chapter 49, Verse 11-12