How Can I Overcome Anxiety About Asking Difficult Questions on Prayer and Belief?
Answered by Shaykh Faraz Rabbani
Question
When the thought of asking difficult questions about prayer and belief brings on anxiety and avoidance, how should one approach seeking knowledge?
Answer
In the Name of Allah, the Merciful and Compassionate.
I ask Allah Most High to grant you ease and to open for you the doors of beneficial knowledge. Know that this hesitation is common, and our religion guides us in how to address it.
Asking is the way of the prophets, the angels, and the righteous. True shyness is not to hold back from seeking what benefits you in your religion. Our tradition praises those who ask and rewards the seeker. What is gained by asking cannot be gained otherwise.
The Angels and Prophets Asked Allah
Allah Most High preserved in His Book the questions of the noblest of His creation. The angels asked, “Will You place therein one who will spread corruption and shed blood?” [Quran 2:30; Keller, The Quran Beheld].
They were not rebuked. Rather, they were given understanding. This teaches us that asking is a noble act.
The Prophets asked. The Friend of the Most Merciful, Sayyiduna Ibrahim (peace be upon him), said, “My Lord, show me how You give life to the dead.” [Quran 2:260; Keller, The Quran Beheld] He was answered with kindness — and with one of the most beautiful living lessons in revelation.
The Companions of the Prophet Asked
The Companions (Allah be pleased with them) asked the Prophet (Allah bless him and give him peace) about the smallest details of religion.
The Mothers of the Believers and the women of the Ansar asked openly, even about matters of purification. Sayyida ‘Aisha praised the women of the Ansar because their shyness did not stop them from seeking a sound understanding of their religion. Their good manners and eagerness are our example.
The Prophet (Allah bless him and give him peace) said, “The remedy for ignorance is to ask.” [Abu Dawud]
Imam Bukhari (Allah have mercy on him) titled a chapter in his Sahih “On Shyness in Knowledge,” and cited Imam Mujahid (Allah have mercy on him): “The one who is shy and the one who is arrogant do not learn knowledge.” [Bukhari, in the chapter heading]
Allah Most High commands, “Ask the people of remembrance if you do not know.” [Quran 16:43]
Seek Out Trusted Scholars
In practice, choose one or two qualified scholars or teachers whom you trust. Write down your questions as they come to you.
Send your questions together, whether by email, message, during office hours, or when you meet in a calm moment.
Begin with the basics. Once you have a foundation, ask the more difficult questions.
The SeekersGuidance Answers Service, our office hours, and our courses are all open to you. Use whichever is easiest for you.
The Religion of Asking
Our religion was learned by asking, taught by answering, and established through the conversations of the noble.
The one who asks is rewarded as a seeker. The one who does not ask remains where they are.
And Allah knows best.
[Shaykh] Faraz Rabbani
Related
- How Do I Deal with Having Lots of Questions and Asking Lots of Scholars?
- Who Should I Ask My Questions about Islam?
- Differentiating Between Legitimate Questions and Satanic Whispers
- Allah Is Shy, and Loves Shyness — Why?
Shaykh Faraz Rabbani is a recognized specialist scholar in the Islamic sciences, having studied under leading scholars from around the world. He is the Founder and Executive Director of SeekersGuidance.
Shaykh Faraz stands as a distinguished figure in Islamic scholarship. His journey in seeking knowledge is marked by dedication and depth. He spent ten years studying under some of the most revered scholars of our times. His initial studies took place in Damascus. He then continued in Amman, Jordan.
In Damascus, he was privileged to learn from the late Shaykh Adib al-Kallas. Shaykh Adib al-Kallas was renowned as the foremost theologian of his time. Shaykh Faraz also studied under Shaykh Hassan al-Hindi in Damascus. Shaykh Hassan is recognized as one of the leading Hanafi jurists of our era.
Upon completing his studies, Shaykh Faraz returned to Canada in 2007. His return marked a new chapter in his service to the community. He founded SeekersGuidance. The organization reflects his commitment to spreading Islamic knowledge. It aims to be reliable, relevant, inspiring, and accessible. This mission addresses both online and on-the-ground needs.
Shaykh Faraz is also an accomplished author. His notable work includes “Absolute Essentials of Islam: Faith, Prayer, and the Path of Salvation According to the Hanafi School,” published by White Thread Press in 2004, which is a significant contribution to Islamic literature.
His influence extends beyond his immediate community. Since 2011, Shaykh Faraz has been recognized as one of the 500 most influential Muslims. This recognition comes from the Royal Islamic Strategic Studies Center. It underscores his impact on the global Islamic discourse.
Shaykh Faraz Rabbani’s life and work embody a profound commitment to Islamic scholarship. His teachings continue to enlighten and guide seekers of knowledge worldwide.
