What did the classical scholars say about sadness and depression?
The Prophets grieved. Yaʿqūb lost his sight from weeping for Yūsuf; the Prophet ﷺ wept for his son Ibrāhīm. The scholars refused to treat sadness as sin — but they also wrote carefully on what keeps it from crushing the soul.
10 passages from 6 books in the library
The classical scholars refused to treat sorrow as sinful, pointing to the Prophets themselves: al-Ghazali and Ibn Kathir recall Yaqub crying "O my sorrow for Joseph," his new grief reviving the old. Al-Ghazali distinguishes natural grief, which is permitted, from the wailing and despair that harm the soul. He counsels that belief in Allah's reward "can lessen grief and sorrow," since a great reward is promised to the patient, and records the prophetic refuge sought "from the pit of sorrow." The gravest danger he names is despair — despairing of Allah's mercy, "much like disbelievers despair of those in the graves."
Drawn from the classical sources below — in the scholars' own words.
The classical approach.
These passages are drawn from 6 books by Ibn Kathir and Imam al-Ghazali — part of the classical Sunni tradition that carries over a thousand years of reflection on the Qurʾān, the authentic Sunnah, and the consensus of the early community. Nothing below is a paraphrase. The words are the scholars' own, translated from the original Arabic manuscripts.
14th century · Bosra, Syria
Monumental history Al-Bidāyah wa al-Nihāyah, the world's most widely read Qurʾanic commentary, and the classical Stories of the Prophets.
More on Ibn Kathir →
· Provenance →
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"and said, O my sorrow for Joseph, as his new grief reminded him of the old sorrow."
11th–12th century · Ṭūs, Khurāsān
Reviving the inner life of Islam through the Iḥyāʾ ʿUlūm al-Dīn — one of the most influential works ever written in any religious tradition.
More on Imam al-Ghazali →
· Provenance →
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"mourning and weeping and engender persistent sorrow and grief. These fall into two categories,"
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"took a pledge not to wail. Sorrow and simulating sorrow for such reasons are commendable,"
11th–12th century · Ṭūs, Khurāsān
Reviving the inner life of Islam through the Iḥyāʾ ʿUlūm al-Dīn — one of the most influential works ever written in any religious tradition.
More on Imam al-Ghazali →
· Provenance →
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"Holding this belief can lessen grief and sorrow, especially since a great reward is promised"
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"refuge in Allah from the pit of sorrow or the valley of sorrow was narrated by Ibn Adi who"
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"As Bilal faced death, his wife exclaimed in sorrow, O my grief! to which he replied, O"
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"the grave and said, O Durr, our sorrow for you has distracted us from sorrow over you."
11th–12th century · Ṭūs, Khurāsān
Reviving the inner life of Islam through the Iḥyāʾ ʿUlūm al-Dīn — one of the most influential works ever written in any religious tradition.
More on Imam al-Ghazali →
· Provenance →
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"with sorrow, so when you recite it, be sorrowful. To cultivate this sadness, reflect on the"
11th–12th century · Ṭūs, Khurāsān
Reviving the inner life of Islam through the Iḥyāʾ ʿUlūm al-Dīn — one of the most influential works ever written in any religious tradition.
More on Imam al-Ghazali →
· Provenance →
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"If there's no more room for admonishment within, despair of yourself, although despair"
11th–12th century · Ṭūs, Khurāsān
Reviving the inner life of Islam through the Iḥyāʾ ʿUlūm al-Dīn — one of the most influential works ever written in any religious tradition.
More on Imam al-Ghazali →
· Provenance →
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"They despair of the Hereafter, much like disbelievers despair of those in the graves."
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