:bism:
:sl:
You're most welcome, brother.
In-sha-Allah, it will get easier for you and don't be concerned; Islam is easy, and we just kinda need practice to attain perfection (
ihsan).
One of the best ways you can learn to feel closeness to Allah SWT and feel the Creator is real is when you see your
duas are being answered. For example, my
sheikh (Islamic teacher) taught that there is an etiquette and everything in Islam is built on the foundation of cultivating the best etiquette. Best etiquette is with
all creation and most importantly our Creator.
Etiquette of
dua we can adopt wheneverwe wish to sincerely ask the Creator:
1) Preferably make fresh
wudu as you'll be supplicating the Creator. (This prepares the mind and heart to meet and speak with Allah.)
2) Praising Allah or calling Him by His Most Beautiful Names, 99 of which are mostly common known. (This is like knocking on the door and calling.)
3) Sending salutations upon God's Last and Most Beloved Prophet :saws:
sallalahu alayhi wasallam (peace and blessings be upon him). (This is like opening the door and entering the meeting.)
3) Asking what you need at least three times as that is the
sunnah (tradition); so, for example, "O Allah, please bless me with guidance and great income. O Allah, please bless me with guidance and great income. O Allah, please bless me with guidance and great income." (This is for emphasis and also a means of being clear what you want.)
4) Having certainty that Allah is going to answer the prayer. (This is to recognize that Allah is merciful.)
5) Trusting Allah and leaving the matter entirely in the hands of Allah. (This is to know that Allah has all the power and we're powerless and dependent on His infinite mercy.)
6) Sending salutations upon God's Last and Most Beloved Prophet :saws:
sallalahu alayhi wasallam (peace and blessings be upon him). (This is like politely exiting a meeting.)
Also, there is something that's called
waswas (whispers that come from
shaitaan), which is also what you might be experiencing, and different Muslims experience this to different degrees. So, one extremely helpful and awesome free PDF book made available online is called
Combating the Whisperings of Shaytaan by
Mawlana Yunus Patel, which I think would be
In-sha-Allah (God-willing) a beneficial read for you which I've linked and which you may read at your convenience
In-sha-Allah (God-willing).
BarakAllahu feek (May Allah bless you).
Wishing you health and happiness,
:wa:
format_quote Originally Posted by
sla25
Thank you for your words, Sister. It's a comfort to hear your story, and a reminder that submitting to Allah isn't always an easy task.
I used to talk to God a lot when I was younger, and started recently again, and now when I do it, it's always under the assumption that I'm grateful "if he's there", instead of truly feeling like Allah is real. This is something that I will make dua for and hopefully find an answer, InshAllah.