Answering the Call for Help

[*charisma*]

Assalamu Alaikum


What do you do when your iman is low?

Give brothers and sisters some practical ideas beyond "dhikr" and "salaah"...how do YOU revive your iman or make it stronger when you feel so hopeless or distant? What actions do you take?

What's the best advice that was given to you that made it "click" in your head?

What experiences have you had that changed your outlook on life and made you never go back to that "dark place?"

What do you wish someone could have told you during your difficult time?

How did you as a "born Muslim" or "Muslim by name" actually become "Muslim by choice" ..what led you to this path?

Alternatively, what do you do on a regular basis (eg.habits, actions, services) to maintain your relationship with Allah?

This is a NO JUDGEMENT zone. This thread is strictly made with the intentions of being sort of a directory for helping brothers and sisters experiencing difficult times...sort of a "quick fix" if you will, a place where brothers and sisters know no matter what they are going through, they are NOT alone.


Lastly..feel free to pour your heart out :)

[*charisma*]

*BUMP*

[drac16]

Wa alaykum salam

When my faith is low, it's typically coupled with anxiety and overwhelming sadness. I'm a fan of aromatherapy; I burn incense in my room and it helps me calm myself down. Aside from that, I like to read books about Sufism. I'm finishing one right now and, insha Allah, I will go back to reading the Mathnawi, which is a collection of spiritual poems written by the famous poet, Rumi [may Allah have mercy on him]. Rumi's poetry has changed my life for the better and I believe that it'll work for other people as well. I also like to make dua in my room, with all the lights turned off. I sometimes make a dua in which I mention literally everything that's on my mind. Whenever I have a problem, not matter how little, I try to remember to bring it up when I talk to the Lord. I ask Allah azza wa jal to guide me in all areas of life.

Sometimes I feel like leaving Islam altogether. What prevents me from doing it is my belief that there is no other refuge. No other path can satisfy me because they are paths that are largely external, that is to say, they are worldly and so much focus is placed on fitting in with the rest of the world. I sometimes feel like having a baconator at Wendy's, but the reason I avoid it is because I know that there is no peace in chasing the dunya. I lived that lifestyle for the first twenty one years of my life, so I'm well aware of the emptiness that goes along with unbelief. There's no refuge other than Allah.

I wish that I had had a spiritual mentor in my early days as a muslim. It would've made me learn a lot quicker. I didn't have a mentor, though, I learned Islam on my own, mainly from watching Youtube videos. Learning how to make salah was difficult for me. It took me a month to memorize what I have to say and what to do. Nowadays, I tend to read books to increase my faith. I'm a sufi, so I like esoteric books, like the Mathnawi and a few books by Abdul-Qadir Jilani [may Allah have mercy on him].