Answer
Short Answer:
- My assumption is that you haven’t really studied Islam thoroughly. We tend to take our religion for granted. We’re born with it. We’ve memorized some things. We practice, maybe, but without knowledge.
- We don’t embark on a real learning journey to unfold the beauty and majesty of this religion. I have done so and I guarantee that I have found nothing on the surface of the earth as powerful and perfect as Islam –truthfully!
- So, you have to understand, brother, that if you don’t water your plant, it’ll die. Similarly, if you don’t nourish your soul and faith with knowledge the right way, it won’t prosper. It’ll deteriorate or die.
………….
Walaykum Asalam wa Rahmat Allah Brother Abdul Mateen,
Thank you for sending us your question.
I completely understand what you mean. I’d like to remind you, myself and all of us first of all to have beautiful expectations of our Beautiful, Incomparably Merciful Lord: Allah Almighty.
Think Mercy
I’d like to start by reminding us that Allah says:
“What would Allah do with your punishment if you are grateful and believe? And ever is Allah Appreciative and Knowing.” (Qur’an 4: 147)
And the Prophet said:
“Allah is more kind to His servants than this woman is to her child.” [Bukhari]
And he also said right before his death:
“Let none of you die unless he has good expectations from Allah.” [Muslim]
We know very well in our tradition that:
Allah has 100 portions of mercy, because of just one, there is/has been mercy on earth from the beginning of time until the end of time. All the mercy that the earth has witnessed from the beginning of time and until the end of time is just one portion of the mercy of Allah, and 99 double that amount is still reserved with Him for the Day of Judgment. [Muslim]
So, the starting point of this discussion is to remember the Beauty and Mercy of Our Creator. If your heart is sincere, then without a doubt Allah will answer your questions and guide you.
Allah is ever Near and ever Merciful and He never ever lets go of His sincere servants who truthfully search for Him and the right path.
So, the first step to take here, no matter what is going on right now, just pause, raise your hands and from the bottom of your heart make dua: “O Allah, guide me and keep me steadfast and put rest and peace in my heart.”
Allah says:
“And when My servants ask you, [O Muhammad], concerning Me – indeed I am near. I respond to the invocation of the supplicant when he calls upon Me. So let them respond to Me [by obedience] and believe in Me that they may be [rightly] guided.”(Qur’an 2: 186)
Know what you have
Now, I’d like to give you an example. Imagine someone gave you the latest, best and most expensive mobile phone. Strangely, you take the phone and throw it in your drawer without fully exploring it.
Later, someone else comes and tells you “have you heard about that ‘x’ phone! (which is a much cheaper knock-off brand)”.
They keep talking on and on about this knock-off brand. Impressed, you start disliking and doubting the efficiency of your expensive phone. You get confused, sad and you think that maybe it’s not for you; you want this other phone you were told about…
Do you see what the problem is here?
The problem is that you do not fully know what you have! If you don’t know what you have, you cannot really compare it with something else, and you cannot see its real value.
My assumption is that you haven’t really studied Islam thoroughly. We tend to take our religion for granted. We’re born with it. We’ve memorized some things. We practice, maybe, but without knowledge.
We don’t embark on a real learning journey to unfold the beauty and majesty of this religion.
I have done so and I guarantee that I have found nothing on the surface of the earth as powerful and perfect as Islam –truthfully!
So, you have to understand, brother, that if you don’t water your plant, it’ll die. Similarly, if you don’t nourish your soul and faith with knowledge the right way, it won’t prosper. It’ll deteriorate or die.
Maintaining our faith needs regular, consistent effort.
So, what do you do now?
Action Points
1- Definitely enroll in a credible institute to learn aqeeda (creed) which will help you explore tawheed (pure monotheism) further and increase your certainty in Allah Almighty. Studying aqeedah, and seerah (biography of the Prophet) are critical means of keeping one’s faith alive and thriving.
2- You must also engage with the Quran on a deeper level. The Quran is a MAJOR source of increasing faith. Everything about delving with the Quran further will help you; memorizing, understanding, joining halaqahs (circles of learning the Quran) all of this is much needed and will boost your faith. If you cannot find an offline place to join right away, there are plenty of online resources that can help you. For example, Bayyinah TV and also Bayyinah YouTube channel. You will find plenty of free enjoyable videos that beautifully explain verses of the Quran.
3- Having the right companions also is a critical mean of keeping you steadfast. If you don’t have righteous companions, then this might be a major reason why you feel you’re losing faith. You can read my previous article for more on the gravity of this issue.
4- Maintaining your morning and evening adhkar will help keep your heart and mind protected from constant undesirable thoughts/waswasas (whispers). This is our shield if we’re not maintaining it, we’re more prone to undesirable thoughts.
5- Last but not least, we cannot really tell from your short message, but if you do feel that this issue is affecting you on deeper levels, then you need to see a trustworthy Muslim counsellor/psychologist. He/she will help identify why you’re having these thoughts and how to stop them from physically affecting you- if this is the case. I advise you to message our Ask The Counselor page if needed.
And Allah knows best.
I hope this helps.
Salam and please keep in touch.
(From Ask About Islam archives)
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