First and foremost, it is essential to turn to Allah, through supplications, remembrance, prayers, and recitation of the Qur'an, particularly Surah al-Baqarah.
Care must be taken not to let fear and anxiety take over, and it is also important to have a ruqyah performed by a qualified person.
Indeed, ruqyah is a medicine that must be used regularly until the affliction disappears.
That said, there are also material remedies such as medications; however, care should be taken to ensure there are no contraindications with these if plants are used as well.
It is therefore recommended to take, in the morning, one capsule of saffron with rhodiola. In the middle of the day, after asr, the sufferer can also take magnesium, vitamin B6, and tryptophan.
In addition, throughout the day they can drink herbal teas of linden, lemon balm, and verbena, instead of drinking coffee and tea. To boost the psyche, ginseng is recommended, to be taken in the morning at a rate of two capsules.
Valerian and passionflower in capsule form will also be a good remedy, and one should try as much as possible to gradually reduce medications in order to make room for natural remedies.
First, depression is not a weakness of faith
We sometimes hear that a believer shouldn't be depressed. The Qur'an says the opposite: Ya'qub (ʿalayhi s-salām) wept for his son until he lost his sight, and the Prophet ﷺ experienced what is known as "the year of sorrow." He himself taught this supplication: "O Allah, I seek refuge in You from worry and sorrow, from incapacity and laziness…" (al-Bukhari). One does not seek refuge from something that doesn't exist. Sadness can touch a believer; what sets them apart is the means by which they fight it.
The remedy of the heart: what ruqyah can do, and what it is not
The professor places return to Allah first: supplications, prayer, the Qur'an, especially Surah al-Baqara, of which the Prophet ﷺ said that Shaytan flees the house where it is recited (Muslim). Then ruqyah, performed by a qualified person, "like a medication, regularly, until the affliction disappears." Three clarifications to avoid mistakes:
- The best ruqyah is the one you perform on yourself: al-Fatiha, Ayat al-Kursi, the last three surahs, morning and evening, with the conviction that only Allah heals. It requires neither money nor an intermediary.
- If you consult a raqi, check their beliefs and practice: anyone who asks for the mother's first name, a piece of clothing, or hands you something to wear, is a sorcerer, and you should stay away.
- Ruqyah does not rule out the doctor. Depression often has physiological causes (thyroid, deficiencies, sleep), psychological ones, or traumatic ones. The professor says so himself: material remedies, including medications, are part of the legislated means.
The professor's plants, tested against clinical trials
| Remedy | What the research found | Precaution |
|---|---|---|
| Saffron | Several meta-analyses of randomized trials: in mild to moderate depression, saffron outperforms placebo and is not inferior to common antidepressants (Planta Med, 2019), (Nutr Rev, 2025) | Never at the same time as an antidepressant without medical advice; not recommended during pregnancy |
| Rhodiola | A randomized trial against sertraline: modest effect, fewer side effects, but the difference was not statistically significant (Phytomedicine, 2015) | Morning only (stimulating); not with psychiatric treatment without advice |
| Magnesium | Randomized trial on 126 adults: 248 mg per day for 6 weeks improves mild to moderate depressive symptoms, effect visible within two weeks (PLoS One, 2017) | Reduce the dose if diarrhea occurs; caution with kidney insufficiency |
| Linden, lemon balm, verbena, valerian, passionflower | Calming plants, better studied for anxiety and sleep than for depression itself; useful as a replacement for coffee and tea, as the professor advises | Drowsiness; avoid valerian with sleeping pills |
| Walking, exercise | Network meta-analysis of 218 trials: walking, running, yoga, and strength training reduce depression, more so at higher intensity (BMJ, 2024) | None; start small, outdoors, in the morning |
A 2026 review on plant-based supplements for mood highlights two things: drug interactions are real, and the quality of products sold varies widely (Pharmaceuticals, 2026). Buy from a pharmacy or a reputable supplier, with a stated dosage.
The rule on medications
The professor advises reducing medications "little by little" to make room for natural remedies. This reduction is always done with the prescribing doctor, never alone: an antidepressant stopped abruptly causes withdrawal syndrome and relapse, sometimes severe. The right order is: plants and movement first, in agreement with the doctor, then, if improvement is confirmed, a gradual decrease decided together. Saffron in particular should not be taken at the same time as an antidepressant without that agreement.
When to act right away
Thoughts of death, the wish to disappear, being unable to get up for several days, no longer eating or sleeping: this is no longer the time for herbal teas. Call your doctor, emergency services, or a suicide prevention hotline, and don't stay alone. Staying alone while telling yourself that a believer shouldn't suffer is exactly what Shaytan is after.
Frequently asked questions
Can ruqyah heal depression?
It is a legislated remedy and the professor recommends it regularly, performed on oneself or by a trustworthy person. It does not exempt one from treating medical causes when they exist: you do both, and healing comes from Allah.
Can you take saffron with an antidepressant?
Not without a doctor's advice: both act on serotonin. Saffron shows good results alone in mild to moderate depression; in combination, it is the prescriber who decides.
Which surah should be read for depression?
The professor cites Surah al-Baqara, whose recitation drives Shaytan from the house. Al-Fatiha, Ayat al-Kursi, and the last three surahs form the basic ruqyah, morning and evening.
Should you stop medications to switch to plants?
No, never alone. Natural remedies are added with the doctor's agreement, and if the condition improves, it is the doctor who arranges a gradual decrease.
What difference does a Muslim psychologist make?
They take faith, prayer, ruqyah, and the family's view into account without opposing them to care. This is often what's missing when one is afraid of being judged, from either side.
