I am currently feeling lost in life and lacking direction.
Question
I am currently feeling lost in life and lacking direction. I spend most of my days lying in bed and being lazy, to the extent that I even miss my prayers. This makes me feel very guilty and has started to affect my schoolwork as well. I am always tired and find it difficult to engage in physical activity. Despite my efforts to quit bad habits, my mind is scattered, and I feel weak and insecure about my life. I am struggling to return to Islam and find my way back.
Answer:
In the Name of Allah, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful.
As-salāmu ʿalaykum wa-rahmatullāhi wa-barakātuh.
First of all, it is important to realize that Allah has bestowed upon you the greatest gift of all, which is Islam and Iman. Remember to never lose faith, for as long as you have Islam and Iman, Allah’s door of mercy will always remain open for you.
Allah Ta’ala says,
قُلْ يَا عِبَادِيَ الَّذِينَ أَسْرَفُوا عَلَىٰ أَنفُسِهِمْ لَا تَقْنَطُوا مِن رَّحْمَةِ اللَّهِ ۚ إِنَّ اللَّهَ يَغْفِرُ الذُّنُوبَ جَمِيعًا ۚ إِنَّهُ هُوَ الْغَفُورُ الرَّحِيمُ﴾ الزمر: 53
Say, “O My servants who have transgressed against themselves [by sinning], do not despair of the mercy of Allah. Indeed, Allah forgives all sins. Indeed, it is He who is the Forgiving, the Merciful.” (Sura Zumar: 53)
In another verse He reminds us,
وَلَا تَيْأَسُوا مِن رَّوْحِ اللَّهِ يوسف: 87
…and despair not of the mercy of Allah…[Sura Yusuf: 87]
As believers, we all experience moments of laziness, depression, and hardship from time to time. However, these moments can also be a source of blessing and reward for us.
The Messenger of Allah said,
عَنْ صُهَيْبٍ، قَالَ قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم عَجَبًا لأَمْرِ الْمُؤْمِنِ إِنَّ أَمْرَهُ كُلَّهُ خَيْرٌ وَلَيْسَ ذَاكَ لأَحَدٍ إِلاَّ لِلْمُؤْمِنِ إِنْ أَصَابَتْهُ سَرَّاءُ شَكَرَ فَكَانَ خَيْرًا لَهُ وَإِنْ أَصَابَتْهُ ضَرَّاءُ صَبَرَ فَكَانَ خَيْرًا لَهُ (رواه مسلم)
Suhaib rd reported that Allah’s Messenger (ﷺ) said:
“The situation of a believer is truly amazing, as there is good to be found in every aspect of their life. This is not the case for anyone else, except for believers. When a believer experiences happiness, they express gratitude to Allah [recognizing that there is a reward in it for them]. Similarly, when they encounter difficulties and remain patient, there is good in it for them as well.” (Muslim)[1]
In another hadith narrated by Abu Hurayra rd the Messenger of Allah said,
عَنْ أَبِي هُرَيْرَةَ، عَنِ النَّبِيِّ صلى الله عليه وسلم قَالَ “ مَا يُصِيبُ الْمُسْلِمَ مِنْ نَصَبٍ وَلاَ وَصَبٍ وَلاَ هَمٍّ وَلاَ حُزْنٍ وَلاَ أَذًى وَلاَ غَمٍّ حَتَّى الشَّوْكَةِ يُشَاكُهَا، إِلاَّ كَفَّرَ اللَّهُ بِهَا مِنْ خَطَايَاهُ ”.
“Never is a believer afflicted by any fatigue or sickness or worry or hardship or pain or sadness even if it might be a thorn that pricks him except that Allah atones for his sins through it.” (Bukhārī).[2]
This gives us the glad tidings that no matter what hardship, difficulty, or affliction a person may experience, for a believer, it is a source of the atonement of sins. What else can we ask for?
With that being said, it’s important to remember that experiencing these feelings doesn’t mean that we are losing our faith or our connection to Islam. It could be due to physical, psychological, or emotional factors that are unrelated to religion.
If you feel physically exhausted, you should focus on activities that will help you become physically rejuvenated, such as exercising, breathing fresh air, and going for a daily walk.
When we feel exhausted or mentally drained, it’s important to prioritize actions that will strengthen our emotional and mental well-being. Many of the physical, mental, and psychological conditions people experience today are due to spending too much time indoors and on electronic devices.
To combat this, it’s crucial to seek the company of caring family members, righteous people, and uplifting friends. We should also stay busy with outdoor and non-electronic activities to refresh our souls, minds, and bodies. This will help us maintain a healthy balance and improve our overall well-being.
It’s important to understand that experiencing emotional, mental, or psychological strain doesn’t mean that we are weak in our faith, and we should never give up on our prayers because of this.
Ammi A’yesha rd narrates that the Messenger of Allah ﷺ said,
عن عائشة رضي الله عنها قال قال رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم قال: ما على أحدِكم إذا لَجَّ به همُّه أن يتقلدَ قوسَه فينفيَ به همَّه (مجمع الزوائد)
“Why is it not that when one of you is overwhelmed with grief that he takes up his bow (to shoot some arrows) and remove from himself his grief?” (Majma’ al-Zawa’id)
In this beautiful hadith, we learn that the Messenger of Allah ﷺ advises us that when we feel sad or upset, we should take action, no matter how small it may be. Even shooting a bow and arrow can serve as a remedy for lethargy and negative feelings. The more we sit and dwell on our laziness, the more we will sink into a state of despair. The only solution to this is to stay active and keep ourselves busy.
Lastly, in our estimation, there is no problem with your faith or your Islam; you need to find good activities and company. Here’s a simple regimen you can start with:
1.) Attend the gatherings or classes of the righteous scholars in your locality,
2.) It is crucial to perform your five daily prayers, preferably at your local mosque. If you cannot perform all five, then at least perform the fajr and isha prayers. If this is not possible, do not deprive yourself of attending the mosque at least once a day. This can be a great motivation and help cure many ailments of the heart.
3.) Make a daily routine and schedule and stick to it. Recite some Quran, read the morning and evening du’as, and have a regimen of dhikr, study deeni books. [For more information about this—reach out to your local scholars.]
4.) and do some daily exercise and get fresh air, even if it might be a daily walk.
In Sha Allah, your situation will drastically improve. May Allah Ta’ala grant you complete healing in your body, mind, and soul. Amin Ya Rabb al-Alamin
And Allah Ta’āla Knows Best
Maulana Tameem Ahmadi
Union City, CA.
U.S.A
Checked and Approved by:
Mufti Faisal bin Abdul Hamīd al-Mahmudi
www.fatwa.ca
[1] Sahih Muslim #2999
[2] Sahih Bukhari #5641
