My family says mental illness is only due to weak faith and that I just need more worship. Is that right?

Worship greatly strengthens the heart, but mental illness is a real illness that also needs treatment, not a sign of weak faith. Islam encourages seeking treatment for every illness, and the mind is included in that. Treating someone as merely ‘lacking faith’ adds to their guilt and pushes them away from help. Explain calmly to your family that prayer and doctors go hand in hand, just as we take treatment for a fever while still trusting in Allah. Keep up your prayers, dhikr and supplication as a source of strength, and at the same time get professional treatment. The two are not a choice of one or the other. See mental health.

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This answer is general reference, not a fatwa. For your situation, consult the religious affairs office, a Syarie lawyer or your state Syariah Court.

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