#if we don't we'll lose ourselves and drown in negativity

[honnojis]

Random thought maybe, but I will always think and advocate for that culture and life should be celebrated no matter what. There's so many awful things happening all the time and so many reports about people being terrible that it's easy to lose sight of the positives and how beautiful our world and its people can be, and most importantly; how it's worth trying to preserve it.

"But this terrible thing is happening over there! Why would you be throwing a party now?!" Of course it's terrible that these things are happening, and I never said we should be dismissing those things! But world news can get overwhelming very quickly, and if we keep submerging ourselves in a constant stream of negativity, in the end everyone will just be utterly miserable. I genuinely do think it's good to turn to your direct environment instead of an internet bubble from time to time and simply focus on the environment and people you have in front of you. Or seek it out elsewhere if your environment can't provide it in some way; it's never truly far away.

Not only does celebrating culture help with bringing people together, it also helps bringing other people joy and sometimes a much-needed break from the aforementioned stream of negativity. With almost every news outlet and social media it's discourse and negative happenings that garner engagement; and that's what they'll almost always be reporting on. Drowning yourself in that stuff all the time just straight up isn't healthy! Sometimes you just need to have a day where you can forget about all of that and find a moment or reason to celebrate what we love to continue powering through everything life may throw at us otherwise.

And no, I don't wanna hear anything about "oh but this culture is bad for [THING] :/", that's not what this post is about. This is a post for the appreciation of the cultures that make the world so wonderfully diverse and happy in their own way. Culture in so many ways is a celebration of life and the world around us, and we need to have something that's worth keeping around, right?

[bintturaab]

My father said there’s no point me praying because Allah doesn’t listen to the duaas of a disbeliever, or someone who doesn’t agree with their parents’ choices, is disrespectful to them.

I’ve always obeyed my parents, my whole life. I still try and treat them with respect because this is what we’ve been taught, right? But recently, I feel like I’m losing my deen. I feel lazy to pray, I have no more motivation left.

Please keep me in your duaas, I truly don’t know what’s happening anymore. I am willing to lose everything in my life but not Allah. I need Allah more than I need anything else. But I’m worried He’s angry at me now, that’s why I’m maybe losing my connection with Him? I don’t know, but I feel very unproductive.

قُلْ يَٰعِبَادِىَ ٱلَّذِينَ أَسْرَفُوا۟ عَلَىٰٓ أَنفُسِهِمْ لَا تَقْنَطُوا۟ مِن رَّحْمَةِ ٱللَّهِۚ إِنَّ ٱللَّهَ يَغْفِرُ ٱلذُّنُوبَ جَمِيعًاۚ إِنَّهُۥ هُوَ ٱلْغَفُورُ ٱلرَّحِيمُ

Say, "O My servants who have transgressed against themselves [by sinning], do not despair of the mercy of Allah. Indeed, Allah forgives all sins. Indeed, it is He who is the Forgiving, the Merciful." [Az-Zumar 39:53]

It is the belief of Ahlus Sunnah wal Jama'ah that the imaan of a person increases and decreases. Sometimes we'll be very productive and a very good Muslim who always feels connected to Allah. Sometimes we'll fall into a dark pit and become lazy and disconnected to the deen, and not be productive. It happens, and I'm sure every Muslim experiences highs and lows in their journey towards Allah عز وجل. The fact that you're feeling bad about it and want to do something to get better and fear losing Allah, is a sign that your heart is still alive and hasn't completely drowned in darkness.

Don't let the words of your father mess with your head and in turn negatively affect your relationship with Allah. Parents can often be insensitive to our state and needs and say things that may be hurtful and harmful to us. Know that Allah's door is always open for you to go back to Him, even if you go crawling. Allah never asked us to be perfect, all we have to do is just try, and He is the Most Appreciative of all our efforts whether big or small. So please don't lose hope in Allah, or in yourself.

No matter how unproductive you feel, strive to pray your obligatory prayers 5 times a day, and read the Qur'an (focus on trying to understand the meaning). Read a little even if it's a verse or 2, with tafseer. Listen to a lecture that'll help boost your iman, or read a book. Whatever you're capable of. Take small steps, little progress is still progress. But hold tightly to your salah and Qur'an, and dua. Ask Allah to renew the imaan in your heart:

(اللهم جدِّد الإيمان في قلبي)

Laziness in prayer is a real problem, and we need to constantly remind ourselves that there is nothing more important in our lives or more therapeutic or more worthy of performing than our salah. We need to incorporate mindfulness of the heart and humility in our prayer, and not rush it, so that it becomes something we look forward to and not a chore. We need to start thinking of salah as something that brings us peace, and not just a duty we need to get over with. Salah is where we can talk to Allah, where we can calm ourselves in His Presence, where we can be free from the worries of this world for a while, or choose to vent about our worries in sujood. Salah needs to be our place of refuge, and we need to cultivate our minds like that. Learn the meaning of the duas during salah, and it will help increase your focus and awe, in sha Allah.

May Allah make salah the coolness of our hearts, ameen. Really sorry for the late reply.