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Fatwa CenterHow to overcome post-traumatic stress disorder
Question
PTSD sufferer after having lost my family 4 years ago, my father had murdered my mother in our family home and shortly had developed this condition prior to having seen things no person should have to live to see. I bought a puppy a year ago and he was truly a blessing to me. My dog, which proved that my mental illness had improved significantly ISNT my pet, he is my bestfriend, my companion, but most importantly my CURE. My partner who I decided to move country for in the coming months does not accept my dog for religious reasons. I have also taken up learning more of my religion myself but is it really still not acceptable when my dog whom is much more behaved then a lot of people out there still not acceptable when it is the only solution proven to help my condition? I can only pray that Allah sees and understands the importance of what many of you call an animal but what I call my true companion who unlike many has loyalty to me I have been unfortunate not to find in people.
Answer
All perfect praise be to Allaah, The Lord of the Worlds. I testify that there is none worthy of worship except Allaah, and that Muhammad, sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, is His slave and Messenger.
Please accept our condolences for the death of your mother, and we ask Allaah to forgive her and have mercy upon her if she had died as a Muslim.
We advise you to be keen on doing what consoles you like reading the stories of the righteous, who were afflicted by the like of what you are afflicted with or worse, and who were patient. You have the best example in the Prophet, sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, who lived without seeing his father at all and whose mother died when he was only a child. In addition to that, you should contemplate the texts about the virtue of patience. You can read about some of them in Fatwa 83577.
We advise you to supplicate Allaah to heal you as He is the One Who heals all illnesses. You should also perform Ruqyah, as it is one of the most useful treatments for all diseases. You may perform Ruqyah on yourself or some righteous person may do so for you. For more benefit, please refer to Fatwa 88660. You should also consult specialist doctors to prescribe for you medication to improve your condition.
Dear sister, we believe that you need a trustworthy person who would stand by your side to console and comfort you, not this dog which you described as a loyal friend. We advise you to search for an honest, religious and trustworthy female friend to keep company with you and comfort you. If you're not married, you should look for a pious husband to be like a father and mother to you. All this is possible, Allaah willing.
Regarding the dog, you already know the ruling on possessing a dog, and that it is not permissible except in certain cases. Please refer to Fataawa 81421 and 86844. Keep in mind that if someone fears Allaah, Allaah will make a way out for him from every difficulty and hardship.
Allaah says (what means): {And whoever fears Allaah – He will make for him a way out, and will provide for him from where he does not expect.} [Quran 65:2-3]
The Prophet, sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, said: "You do not leave anything out of fear of Allaah except that Allaah gives you what is better than it." [Ahmad]
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