Post-partum depression – What does one do?

Question:

I have been blessed with Baby boy two months earlier. After one month of delivery, my wife started to suffer postpartum depression due to which thaughts of suicidal as well as harming the baby started. We know that its a medical problem.But she is adamant that its a curse from Allah ,may be due to some past mistake , She started to think in this order and the vicious cycle started to succumb her. Please advice her.

Answer:

In the Name of Allah, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful.

As-salāmu ‘alaykum wa-rahmatullāhi wa-barakātuh.

Respected brother/ sister,

Allah Ta’ala has blessed both of you with a baby. This is a gift from Allah Ta’ala. There are many women who do not have any children.

لِّلَّهِ مُلۡكُ ٱلسَّمَـٰوَ ٰ⁠تِ وَٱلۡأَرۡضِۚ یَخۡلُقُ مَا یَشَاۤءُۚ یَهَبُ لِمَن یَشَاۤءُ إِنَـٰثࣰا وَیَهَبُ لِمَن یَشَاۤءُ ٱلذُّكُورَ أَوۡ یُزَوِّجُهُمۡ ذُكۡرَانࣰا وَإِنَـٰثࣰاۖ وَیَجۡعَلُ مَن یَشَاۤءُ عَقِیمًاۚ إِنَّهُۥ عَلِیمࣱ قَدِیرࣱ
To Allah belongs the kingdom of the heavens and the earth. He creates what He wills. He grants females to whom He wills, and grants males to whom He wills. Or He combines for them couples, both males and females, and makes whom He wills barren. Surely, He is All-Knowing, Very-Powerful.[Surat Ash-Shura 50]

There is no reason to think that it is a curse, rather it is a blessing and a means of cooling your eyes. Allah Ta’ala mentions in the Quraan Majeed:

وَقَالَتِ ٱمۡرَأَتُ فِرۡعَوۡنَ قُرَّتُ عَیۡنࣲ لِّی وَلَكَۖ
The wife of Firoun Said: “[He will be] a comfort of the eye for me and for you.[Surat Al-Qasas 9]

Everyone makes mistakes, but Allah Ta’ala is All Forgiving. He overlooks and forgives our sins.We advise you to make Shukr to Allah Ta’ala for granting you a child and also make Taubah for any past sins. Also get medical treatment.

And Allah Ta’āla Knows Best

Checked and Approved by,

Mufti Ebrahim Desai