“Just make more du’a.”

That is the common answer many Muslims hear when they’re quietly breaking inside. For someone struggling with depression, anxiety, or trauma, this response can feel like dismissal rather than compassion. While du’a is powerful and healing, reducing mental health struggles to a “lack of faith” overlooks a deep truth: Islam calls us to seek help, and therapy is one of the means Allah ﷻ has provided.

The Stigma Around Mental Health in Muslim Communities

In many Muslim families and communities, mental illness is often shrouded in stigma. Talking about depression or anxiety is sometimes seen as weakness, a lack of Iman, or even something shameful to keep hidden. This leads many to suffer in silence, afraid to seek help for fear of judgment. Parents may discourage therapy, believing prayer alone is the answer, while youth quietly spiral deeper into despair.

This silence has a cost. Untreated mental illness can affect faith, relationships, and even physical health. Islam, however, teaches us not to ignore suffering but to seek healing through all permissible means.

Faith and Therapy Are Not Mutually Exclusive

The key question is: can you be a faithful Muslim and still need therapy? The answer is a resounding yes. Therapy does not replace faith, nor does faith negate therapy. They work hand in hand. Faith gives meaning, resilience, and spiritual grounding. Therapy provides tools, support, and professional guidance to manage the complexities of the mind.

Just as we would visit a doctor for a broken bone, we are encouraged to seek help for the wounds we cannot see. The Prophet Muhammad ﷺ said: “Make use of medical treatment, for Allah has not made a disease without appointing a remedy for it.” (Sunan Abu Dawud). This includes illnesses of the mind.

Mental health struggles do not make anyone a “bad Muslim.” They make us human. Islam is a faith of balance—spiritual, physical, and emotional well-being are all part of our trust from Allah. Therapy is not a contradiction to faith but an extension of it.

So the next time someone whispers, “I’m struggling”, the answer should not be “just make more du’a”. The answer should be: “Let’s make du’a, and let’s also find the help you deserve.”

Why the Taboo Needs to End

When Muslims are told “just pray more” instead of being encouraged to seek therapy, it not only dismisses their pain but also misrepresents Islam. True Islamic teaching emphasizes mercy, healing, and using the means Allah ﷻ has placed in this world. Therapy, counseling, and mental health support are not acts of disbelief, they are acts of responsibility and self-care.