Did the Prophet ever feel sad?

He wept when his son died

When his infant son Ibrahim was dying, tears ran from the Prophet's ﷺ eyes. A companion was surprised to see him cry, and he explained that this was mercy. Then he said: "The eyes are shedding tears and the heart is grieved, and we will not say except what pleases our Lord" (Sahih al-Bukhari 1303).

That one sentence is a whole model for grief: let yourself feel it, let yourself cry, and keep your words in line with faith. See What do I say when I hear bad news as a Muslim?

The Year of Sorrow

A few years before the migration to Madinah, he lost Khadijah, his wife of about 25 years and the first person to believe in him, and soon after Abu Talib, the uncle who had protected him. Muslims later called that year the Year of Sorrow ('Am al-Huzn). He kept speaking of Khadijah with love for the rest of his life.

Hurt by rejection

Around that time he went to Ta'if to invite its people to Islam and was turned away harshly. He later told Aisha that this was one of the hardest days of his life. He said he walked away "overwhelmed with excessive sorrow" and only came to himself when he reached a place called Qarn ath-Tha'alib (Sahih al-Bukhari 3231). Even then, when offered the chance to have the town destroyed, he chose to hope for its future generations instead. See Can I make dua against someone who hurt me?

Allah Himself acknowledged how the insults of his people weighed on him:

The next verses tell him to glorify Allah and keep worshipping. Allah didn't say "don't feel this." He named the feeling and gave him a way through it.

What this means for you

• Sadness isn't a sin: the best of creation felt it.
• Crying is mercy: that's what he called his own tears.
• Words matter: grief is allowed; blaming Allah is what he avoided.
• Feeling low doesn't make you a bad Muslim: see Is depression a sign of weak faith in Islam?

If you're carrying sadness that won't lift, the Prophet's ﷺ example also includes seeking help and leaning on the people around you. Talking to a friend, an imam or a doctor follows that example.