Doubts?

[Starrynight]

sabr, thank you for your quotes and response. Don't worry, I'm spending most of my time studying offline, I only come here and ask questions when I am confused as I have a very limited number of people locally I'm comfortable asking.

 

[Who Am I?]

Same with me. I talk about things here that I don't feel comfortable about talking to the brothers at the masjid. I know sometimes it sounds like I'm seeking attention or sympathy, but that is not what I am trying to do.

Most of the time I post when I have some free time at work. I can't research much when I am at work (internet filters), but when I am at home is when I read and watch videos about Islam.

 

[Perseveranze]

sabr, thank you for your quotes and response. Don't worry, I'm spending most of my time studying offline, I only come here and ask questions when I am confused as I have a very limited number of people locally I'm comfortable asking.

Asalaamu Alaikum,

I would also like to suggest you watch some videos, talks, debates, they can always increase help your faith. Here's a really good channel - http://www.youtube.com/user/khalifahklothing

Alot of people have learned alot thanks to their videos.

 

[Zafran]

Salaam

Doubts Definitely makes a person a stronger believer - One of the greatest scholars of Islam went through a journey of doubt - like Al Ghazzali(ra). - Now hes Hujjat al Islam.

peace

 

[Starrynight]

Hey! I just wanted to give people an update for those who were providing support. I took yesterday off of studying (as I've been doing a lot of heavy reading for the last few weeks) and just relaxed. I think the break was really what I needed. By the time I sat down to eat dinner the doubt was gone. I felt rested and more sure about everything. I feel really happy today. I feel God again, and it seems stronger then ever

 

[Just_A_Girl13]

I feel really happy today. I feel God again, and it seems stronger then ever

Salaam,

Thank you for updating us, I am so glad you are feeling more strong in your faith I hope you continue to pray and grow closer to Allah (s.w.t.)

Peace be with you

 

[Who Am I?]

Yep, sometimes you just need a break. I have found that out myself over the last week or so.

 

[GuestFellow]

Hey! I just wanted to give people an update for those who were providing support. I took yesterday off of studying (as I've been doing a lot of heavy reading for the last few weeks) and just relaxed. I think the break was really what I needed. By the time I sat down to eat dinner the doubt was gone. I felt rested and more sure about everything. I feel really happy today. I feel God again, and it seems stronger then ever

I know what you mean. I just finished 5 exams and had to study all day and night, with little breaks. After the exams, it was such a massive relief and I could relax again.

 

[Starrynight]

Guestfellow, I'm glad you were able to relax and chase away the doubt as well

 

[abjad]

Does doubt ever happen to you?
Thanks

asalaam aleykum.

As per your statement as "doubt"...but i doubt you meant that seriousluy!

but if i may say you meant...to say something very similar to Prophet Ibrahim(aleyhi salaam)

when he asked "Lord show me how you create"
awalaysa tuumin(the reply)
Balaa..bal YATMAIN KALBI

so to me estimating you have NO DOUBT but craving for something as "CONCRETE"

if am write that is Allah rehmat and if am wrong Astaghfir Lilaah, inahu ghafuurun Rahiim

 

[Abu Fatimah]

Hello,

I was wondering if anyone here ever feels doubt when it comes to their religion. I have been studying Islam a lot lately. Usually it feel so right to me. But then sometimes I get this creeping feeling that takes away the joy I usually feel. It's doubt. Doubt that I'm wrong. I pray and ask for guidance but the doubt still comes back.
Yesterday I was sitting outside and I held my palms up to the air and prayed and while I was doing this my palms got so much warmer then the rest of my body. At first, I thought it was God reaching down and touching my palms so I would know he was there for me. But then later I wondered if it was just coincidence, like the sun or something.
I just need some guidance or suggestions from others. Does doubt ever happen to you?
Thanks

may Allah keep you firm. I have experienced doubts but they usually come after i do stuff taht harms my imaan in all honesty

 

[Starrynight]

may Allah keep you firm. I have experienced doubts but they usually come after i do stuff taht harms my imaan in all honesty

I think my problem was that I was allowing the voices of my upbringing and my culture to get in the way of my heart. But I feel stronger now and so proud to be Muslim

 

[Who Am I?]

I think my problem was that I was allowing the voices of my upbringing and my culture to get in the way of my heart. But I feel stronger now and so proud to be Muslim

Sister, I get the same thing. I have 35 years of USA'rican culture to unlearn while I struggle to learn a new religion and a new way of life. Some days it's overwhelming. The other day I really struggled all day to say and do the right things.

But like you, I don't want to give this up. Not now, not after what I went through to get here.

 

[SFatima]

I have something to share with new muslims. I really really appreciate and commend them for the efforts they make to embrace islam and at the fact how much struggle they have to go through to be firm in it. May Allah swt be pleased with their efforts and make it easier for them and bless them with the beauty of eeman and everything that makes them feel at ease with the religion and themselves, ameen. But I think that they dont know this,

We all muslims who were born muslims ALSO struggle the same way ! exact same way mostly, since if you look at the world at large, the culture has really mixed up into this one universal culture where muslim countries have more or less the same aspirations/expectations from muslims that a non-muslim culture has. I, for one, have been in an islamic country, but wasn't raised in a very islamic society. So yes, at this point, We all are struggling with the same kind of social pressures( well nearly, if not exactly, though reverts may be going through more struggle esp if their families leave them which can be quite difficult).

So please do not think that you are alone in this , I live in a muslim country where most things go the un-islamic way, and its really disappointing, and yet I know that I have to keep going on strong with my practice of faith, no matter what. Sometimes your own family has issues with you following something that they call backward, conservative, but its just that they don't know much about Islam since none of the schools/education systems are teaching anything significant about Islam these days, one is pretty much on their own to learn and make that effort (thanks to uncle sam we're not allowed to incorporate religious text into our education system, and thanks to our own selfish greedy leaders, they have no love of Islam ).

And if you happen to be born in a family which lives the modern life, you have very few chances of learning about islam, unless ofcourse Allah swt gives you hidayat (guidance) and you accept it and strive to learn more about it yourself.

So yeah, when you take the firm oath of following the way of religion, all ignorant years behind you sort of fade away like they never existed, even if they mattered to you while they lasted. It is true though that it may be hard to attach ourselves habitually to Islam ,but Alhamdulilah it is a religion which is accepted and followed by young kids as much as old adults, recently i heard that there was this 110 years old british lady who embraced ISlam, and SubhanAllah, imagine, she spent the next 10 years of her old life in the propagation of ISlam, and died at the age of 120! truly amazing courage at such an old age!

For most, i can suggest that it is important to find muslim company to feel supported, because it can get quite difficult to move around without it, so one must find practising muslims, make friends with them, spend time with them, and those of you wish to marry must find a life partner, InshAllah they will, on good time if they start now : D

Recite Sura Fatiha and Ayatal Kursi everyday, they are very very good MashAllah for guidance in everything, and for just about everything.

 

[Starrynight]

SFatima, thank you so much for reaching out. It really does help knowing we are not alone in this struggle.

 

[SFatima]

Ofcorse you are not alone!There is Allah swt with you all the time, along with, 2 angels, 1 satan, and 1.3 billion muslims !: D come on! and well yeah most muslim countries don't have fancy web servers so you may not see them online much, and since they have huge families and responsibilities, you don't get to see most of them online so much, but they're very much there! Infact the Muslim world is over populated : ) poor us we don't get much time to sit on the internet : ( , even i'm a bit free these days so I'm posting around hehe.. And even I feel lonely when i go to western countries(even the birds don't chirp much, the cats don't quarrel, the mosquitoes are rare, no flies, no lizards on the walls, no cockroaches lol ), its just not fun, very few people, no noise, quiet and calm haha. You'll probably be scared at first if you visit a muslim country, but I hope you'll remember your experience , InshAllah it'll be a good one : )

 

[Who Am I?]

Yeah, see, that's part of my struggle. I live across town from the masjid and can't go every day. I have no Muslim friends or family outside of the brothers at masjid, so some days I am alone in a world of non-believers. My own family is all Christians and I haven't told them yet because I'm afraid of their reaction, and I want to learn more about Islam before I do. Most days, this board is my only comfort, the only place where I can come to freely express my doubts and fears, and even then sometimes I find some hostility.

To be honest, some days it really is hard just to motivate myself to pray, because sometimes I have my doubts that anyone even cares. I do pray though, because I have to hope that Allah does hear me and will answer me. Without that hope, I have nothing. I read every day, either the Qu'ran or a book about Islam, and I try to pray on time. Some days are easier than others.

 

[May Ayob]

Salaam

That's just emotions--chemicals at work. Watch something funny. Eat something tasty. Fight fire with fire.

So, if I eat something tasty and watch something funny, My doubts will leave?
just wondering.

Salaam
Starrynight , by doubts do you mean doubts in your head or in your Heart?
Because i think there is a difference.
Salam

 

[Starrynight]

Salaam

So, if I eat something tasty and watch something funny, My doubts will leave?
just wondering.

Salaam
Starrynight , by doubts do you mean doubts in your head or in your Heart?
Because i think there is a difference.
Salam

It was doubt in my head. But I've decided I will follow my heart. Sometimes my head still tries to interfere, but I'm getting better at separating the two

 

[SFatima]

There are very good sura's in the Quran to stay away from Doubts from satan. They say as soon as a person starts coming close to Islam and starts making effort, his lame old satan is replaced with a very clever , learned, master of trickstry kind of a satan who is an expert in whispering weird logical doubts into people's head, trying to confuse them every step of the way. I felt these doubts myself when I started learning more and more about ISlam, I found it strange that there was this awakening in me of some sort which used to argue mad with all the religious thoughts that i wanted to think about and follow, It was really a battle inside, exhaustive one, but Alhamdulilah with the help of Allah swt, I kept praying to be guided to the right way and resolved to myself to not falter in Allah's way. One must preservere in one's actions. Be stead fast.

There is a Hadith -e Qudsi That when Allah was asked which act of the muslim does he admire the most , he answered " the good deed which he maintains constantly ." And subhanAllah that includes all good deeds, the thing is just to strive to keep on doing it, in good or bad times. Sometimes we loose hope or we're disheartened because we see no apparent good coming out of that action, or we expect that things will start straightening up with just one act of kindness or patience, but thats the thing, it is easier to do one good thing at a time, and it can be difficult to do it most of the time, if not all the time. Take small steps, like giving water to someone in the house, giving a small amount of charity to somebody every other day. Charity doesnt have to be big to be counted as worthy in the eyes of Allah swt, it is one's intention of giving it that counts.

Once in the time of war in Makkah at the time of the Prophet Muhmmad saww, the call for charity was made , any thing of use for the soldiers could be given. Many people gave many things, the prophet gave glad tidings of forgiveness, blessings and raised ranks in heaven to those who did. There was this really poor old man who really wanted to contribute his part but did not know how to as he had nothing on him. He went to a jew and asked him if he needed any work to be done in service, he agreed and asked him to pull out water from a well. The old man tried and laboured all day to pull some water out of the well, and received some dates in exchange for his services. I don't remember exactly how many days he worked or just one day, but a handful of dates was all he got. he went to the prophet and when there werent many people around, he apologetically offered his charity by saying that thats all he could provide. Allah swt was so pleased with his efforts that the Prophet Muhammad saww received the message from Allah swt by informing him that Allah swt really liked the man's effort, and his handful of dates were the heaviest in charity as compared to all the charity that was given by people. Such is the glory of Allah swt.

So one must never think less of a small act of kindness , and one must keep on doing it, for who knows that small act maybe Allah swt's favorite and we may be forgiven because of that on the day of judgment. So perform all deeds with happiness and hope in your heart. For Allah swt says That He will never disappoint his men , nor will he waste their efforts, and they will find what they earned for, in good measure in this world and the here after.

And for those who feel they need muslim company around them, worry not, always pray for it, and InshAllah you'll find it. Also pray for your fmily's hearts to be softened towards Islam so that you may not have to go through unpleasantness while telling them about it. Ask like you really need it, ask with a sincere heart, InshAllah Allah swt will help you all. Prayers for you all.