Can You Help Me Function Normally in My Life Again?


Answered by Ustada Shazia Ahmad

 

Question

have no motivation, I have lost it, I have no energy, I can’t do anything, I can’t pray, I can’t study, I can’t focus. I get distracted when I read a book or I get sleepy. I can’t recall what I just read, I can’t study for an exam. My teacher gets angry. Is it a punishment from Allah? I am on my phone from morning to evening. I waste my time, I want to pray but I can’t. Help me, I’m lazy, how can I get rid of this? Should I stop studying, and stop trying? Why can’t I do anything? I want to recite Quran, but I can’t.

 

Answer

Thank you for your question. I empathize with your lack of motivation and emptiness, and I pray that you turn to Allah and rely on Him to aid you and take the means to help yourself by seeking out therapy with a psychiatrist or other professional.

Health

Start your day every day with this hadith: The Messenger of Allah (Allah bless him and give him peace) said, “Whoever among you wakes up secure in his property, healthy in his body, and he has his food for the day, it is as if he were given the entire world.” [Tirmidhi]

You may have a health problem that is preventing you from doing what you need to do. I have come across young people in the past who were diagnosed with chronic fatigue syndrome, despite graduating at the top of their classes with honours and scholarships. This condition prevented them from working, and they continued to suffer. Please see a physician and get all of your blood panels done. It may be an easy fix.

Another important point is to exercise and take your supplements, especially vitamin D. Exercise increases one’s energy and causes better sleep, and it completely changes your life and outlook. Make sure you eliminate all junk food from your life, and only eat wholesome foods. I don’t need to tell you that your screen time must be cut to zero in order for you to heal. Replace that with spending time in nature, in fresh air.

Spirituality

The Prophet (Allah bless him and give him peace) said,  “[…] In the body, there is a piece of flesh, and the whole body is sound if it is sound, but the whole body is corrupt if it is corrupt. It is the heart.” [Bukhari & Muslim]

Another possibility is that something haram is happening in your religious life that is sucking the baraka away from you. Are you consuming the haram, in terms of money or food? Are you doing something unlawful online? Are you good to your parents? Do you owe anyone money? Are you battling any addictions? Work towards correcting these first and in sha Allah, the baraka will return, and life will get back to normal.
I encourage you to turn to Allah with sincere supplication and ask Him to help you solve this. Allah has created every problem, and He has every solution. Give charity regularly to put a dent in your problems and by Allah’s grace, the goodness will spread. Please take a free course with us or listen to our many podcasts.

Please see this course and other links for more tips:
The Strong Believer-Healthy Bodies, Minds, and Souls
May Allah give you the best of this world and the next.
[Ustada] Shazia Ahmad
Checked and Approved by Shaykh Faraz Rabbani

Ustadha Shazia Ahmad lived in Damascus, Syria for two years where she studied aqida, fiqh, tajweed, tafsir, and Arabic. She then attended the University of Texas at Austin, where she completed her Masters in Arabic. Afterward, she moved to Amman, Jordan where she studied fiqh, Arabic, and other sciences. She later moved back to Mississauga, Canada, where she lives with her family.