How Can I Begin Spiritual Work without Being Overwhelmed by Waswaas and Doubts?
Answered by Mawlana Ilyas Patel
Question
I had been struggling to regain my faith a few months ago. Because of my lack of consistency, nothing I try seems to work. When I first began practicing Islam, I had a lot of waswasa and could feel my Iman.
Now that I don’t feel my Iman, I catch glimpses about doing good deeds like nafl, reading more Quran, doing more dhikr, and other good and not evil deeds, but I ignore them because I’m afraid I’ll become obsessed with those thoughts and fall back into waswasa. I’m unsure if I should listen because I’m confused; I want to strive for Allah’s sake, but I’m not sure what’s stopping me.
Answer
In the Name of Allah, the Most Merciful and Compassionate.
I pray you are in good faith and health. Thank you for seeking guidance.
First and foremost, you are a believer and are in good hands (in Allah Most High’s mercy). Have faith in Him, Who has promised paradise to believers with patience and gratitude.
All Is Good for a Believer by Patience and Gratitude
Suhayb (Allah be pleased with him) reported, the Messenger of Allah (Allah bless him and give him peace), peace and blessings be upon him, said, “Wondrous is the affair of a believer, as there is good for him in every matter; this is not the case for anyone but a believer. If he experiences pleasure, he thanks Allah and it is good for him. If he experiences harm, he shows patience and it is good for him.” [Muslim]
Lack of Motivation and Importance of Gradual Life and Spiritual Progress
Lack of motivation is natural to the human temperament and is why the acts of good and worship vary. Allah Most High enjoined upon us certain obligations which we cannot leave. After this, He encouraged us to supererogatory works from which we should take that we can handle, sustain, and remain avid for the good.
Look to the future! You are born into a Muslim family, and with faith, now you need to work on yourself gradually and step by step. Make a plan, and organize yourself. Link up with someone, like a local Imam or righteous friends, and take each day fulfilling your goals and life’s purpose.
Why not begin your search for knowledge by signing up for a course on SeekersGuidance?
May Allah (Most High) give you ease, success, and continuing increase in faith, practice, happiness, and a bright future, amin.
Related:
- A Reader on Calling to Allah, Giving Advice, and Commanding the Good
- Prayer Reader: The Ultimate Guide To Prayer in Islam
- Ritual Purity: A Reader
- A Reader on OCD and Waswasa (Baseless Misgivings)
- Provision and Work: A Reader
- Purification of the Heart for Youth: Diseases of the Heart and Their Cure
- The Path of Muhammad: Birgivi’s Manual of Taqwa Explained [Video]
- Purification of the Heart [Book]
I pray this helps with your question.
Wassalam,
[Mawlana] Ilyas Patel
Checked and Approved by Shaykh Faraz Rabbani
Mawlana Ilyas Patel is a traditionally-trained scholar who has studied in the UK, India, Pakistan, Syria, Jordan, and Turkey. He started his early education in the UK. He went on to complete the hifz of the Quran in India, then enrolled in an Islamic seminary in the UK, where he studied the secular and ‘Aalimiyya sciences. He then traveled to Karachi, Pakistan. He has been an Imam in Rep of Ireland for several years. He has taught hifz of the Quran, Tajwid, Fiqh, and many other Islamic sciences to children and adults onsite and online extensively in the UK and Ireland. He taught at a local Islamic seminary for 12 years in the UK, where he was a librarian and a teacher of Islamic sciences. He currently resides in the UK with his wife. His interest is a love of books and gardening.
