#may Allah SWT protect them all and keep their hearts full of life and love

[b-lessings]

Salam!

Hope you’re doing great Insha’Allah tala!

I’m struggling w/ something since long. I got into university in February. I take hijab as well as niqab alhamdulillah. But ever since my university started, I’m facing issues in making friends. Every other girls group has guys in them and it’s very hard for me to hang out w/ guys in the group (which isn’t even permissible). My friends from high school who are in university with me now have changed so much. Their thoughts and opinions have changed. I literally have no sincere friend ever since the university started and it’s actually getting hard for me now cuz I can’t even discuss things related to studies.

I get upset, anxious, stressed out. My heart feels so heavy. I just don’t know why. At times, I think of sitting with the girls in a group despite of the guys being there. But I just don’t know I just can’t do that. I’d want you to please remember me in your khaas dua’as and any advice you’d want give me.

Honestly, this dunya is such a jail for momin. It’s becoming so hard to live with all the fitnas around. My heart cries everytime and I just don’t know I feel like my will to live is ending.

Jazaakillah khair♥️

Wa Alaikum assalamu wa rahmatu Allahi wa barakatuhu sister,

First of all, I just want to say congratulations on getting into university, that's a great accomplishment. And also, congratulations on wearing Hijab and Niqab Ma Sha Allah, Allahuma barik laki 🤍🤍 May Allah swt ease your path and keep you steadfast on his straight path, ameen.

Reading your ask, I remembered a post I saw recently that basically says that it is not easy to choose the path of Allah swt in our modern day world which is full of fitnah and sins tbh. So your feelings are very valid, the situation you are living is really difficult and you have all the right to feel saddened, upset and confused. And especially if you live in an environment where Muslims are not the majority, it gets even harder. (but even if you live in a Muslim majority country, it is still challenging, sübhanallah). I know and understand your need especially at this stage of your life and this age to belong, to relate to someone or a group of people, to be socially active, to be accepted and not marginalized, to enjoy yourself and your youth, to have a 'community' and it is incredibly hard when you don't find people with common principles and shared beliefs. But you CHOSE the path of Allah swt. In the eyes of Allah swt you are in a much higher ranking. And this could be your test. Allah swt could be testing your sincerity and your honesty in the lifestyle you have chosen, He could be testing how much you love Him and want to obey Him. So He is putting these temptations at your display to see which way you will go, are you still going to hold on to Allah's rope or give in to the worldly temptations. And it is well known that Allah swt saves his hardest tests to the best of his people. When you look at these friends of yours hanging out with guys and leading a fun life so simply with no complications, I want you to remind yourself that this life and that pleasure is only temporary, and that at the end of the day, when we stand before Allah swt on judgment day, what YOU ARE DOING right now by staying away from free mixing and respecting your islamic dress code and your faith, that's what matters, that's what is going to save you in shaa Allah. I promise you, these worldly pleasures have shaytan's scam drawn all over them. May Allah swt keep you steadfast on the straight path and protect you from Shaytan. Ameen. And I know free-mixing is one the biggest fitnahs but worst case scenario, if you really had to interact with them, you should still remain respectful and within the limits that Allah swt allows. Kheir in shaa Allah sister.

As for the loneliness, I feel for you, but do not despair my dear. Allah swt says in surat Ta Ha (20:46) Do not fear, indeed, I am with you, all hearing and all seeing. As a matter of fact, you have Allah swt by your side, you CHOSE Allah swt as your companion. Allah's words (the Quran) could be your best friend. Here's a tip, I don't know if you can carry a small book of the Quran in your purse or bag wherever you go but you can download your favorite recitations on your phone, and whenever you are community, going in or back from uni, you can just put your earphones on and listen to them, for it will bring your heart peace and contentment in shaa Allah. And I know as humans we always feel the need for socializing and exchanging stories, you can use Tumblr for that, you can post alllllll the stories you need/ want, talk about your day, interact with sisters who not only will in shaa Allah understand you but also might be going thru the same thing and struggles as you, and thus, could help out bi ithnLlah. You can also read books, listen to podcasts etc. It is definitely beneficial for your knowledge and personel development but also, it will distract you from all the fitnah going on around you, my dear sister.

Finally, I don't want to make this too long for you, but I have one quick tip, when it gets too hard, remind yourself that you are doing this for the sake of Allah swt, the almighty, the wadud (ever loving), the gracious, the most kind, the most gentle, the one who is waiting for us to run to Him,talk to Him, confine in Him, so that He will in shaa Allah please us and comfort us. Please think of this my dear sister. I pray that Allah swt fill your heart with strength and sabr, I pray He enable you to see the truth and the fakeness of the worldly pleasures, and keep you steadfast on his straight path. You are living your own Jihad journey my dear, and you will be in shaa Allah rewarded with the biggest blessings. Ameen 🤍.

[questionsonislam]

Why does Allah (SWT) love His slaves?

When we open the Quran, the first verse that we see is, Bismillahirrahmanirrahim (In the name of Allah, the Beneficent, the Merciful). Our Lord introduces Himself as the Beneficent (ar-Rahman) and the Merciful (ar-Rahim). Both holy names express that Allah has infinite mercy. Doubtlessly, Allah, who has infinite mercy, loves every person that He creates.

Is it possible that He should not love the creature that he takes out of the darkness of the realm of non-existence to the luminous hills of the realm of existence?

When the bounties that are given to man are taken into consideration, man will understand that Allah loves him. Let us explain some of the manifestations of the love of Allah toward His slaves:

1. Creating man out of nothing: Man owned a soul in a very nice form thanks to the mercy of Allah although he was not existent. Allah did not leave man in non-existence; He gave him the bounty of existence. It is the greatest bounty. Allah did not leave him lifeless and gave him the bounty of life. He did not leave man without a spirit and gave him the bounty of spirit. He did not leave man without consciousness and mind and gave him the bounties of the mind and consciousness. He gave man the bounty of humanity. He also gave man the bounties of guidance and belief. They are all the bounties that were given to man. The issue is explained as follows in the Quran:

"Him Who created thee. Fashioned thee in due proportion, and gave thee a just bias; In whatever Form He wills, does He put thee together"(al-Infitar, 82/7-8)

"We have indeed created man in the best of moulds." (at-Tin, 95/4)

2. Giving man numerous bounties: Bounty means giving man all kinds of good things and keeping all kinds of harms away from him. It is the manifestations of the names ar-Rahman and ar-Rahim.

Beneficence and mercy mean to will the good and to grant endless favors and bounties.

The following definition of mercy is very nice:

“Mercy is the feeling of eliminating the pains, disasters, and troubles and replacing them with goodness, joy and happiness.”

The name ar-Rahman means ‘the one that gives the sustenance of every living thing, whether man or animal, whether believer or unbeliever, and that takes care of and protects them’.

The name ar-Rahim means ‘the one that makes His slaves that use their will correctly reach the happiness of belief, worshipping and guidance and that prepares eternal gardens (Paradise) for them’.

The name ar-Rahman looks at the first creation. As a matter of fact, God Almighty gives so many grants and bounties to the beings that He created without their willing.

The name ar-Rahim looks at the second creation and bears the glad tiding that the slaves that use their will in the good and correct way will be given endless blessings, bounties and grants in the second creation.

“It is He Who hath created for you all things that are on earth" (al-Baqara, 2/29).

3. Sending prophets that warn people: Sending prophets is an indication of the mercy of Allah. The right and the wrong were presented to each ummah through a messenger and they were informed about the orders and prohibitions of Allah. Prophets are also guides for worldly affairs. The development of the civilizations took place thanks to the guidance of the prophets.

“Allah did confer a great favor on the Believers when He sent among them an Messenger from among themselves, rehearsing unto them the Signs of Allah, sanctifying them, and instructing them in Scripture and Wisdom, while, before that, they had been in manifest error." (Aal-i-Imran, 3/164)

4. The religion of Islam being a religion of ease: Allah, who created man out of nothing, definitely knows what he needs, what kinds of worshipping he can perform and how he can be healthy, peaceful and happy. Therefore, the religion of Islam provides man with an easy, nice and comfortable life as a grant from Allah.

"... He has chosen you and has imposed no difficulties on you in religion; it is the cult of your father Abraham. It is He Who has named you Muslims, both before and in this (Revelation); that the Messenger may be a witness for you, and ye be witnesses for mankind! So establish regular Prayer give regular Charity, and hold fast to Allah! He is your Protector― the― Best to protect and the Best to help!!" (al-Hajj 22/78)

5. Giving some time for repentance in the life of the world: Allah does not punish His slaves who disobey him at once. He gives them some time so that they will understand their mistakes and repent.

“Mocked were (many) messengers before thee: but I granted respite to the Unbelievers, and finally I punished them; then how (terrible) was My requital!." (ar-Rad 13/32)

6. Rewarding His slaves who believed in Him with Paradise: Paradise is a bounty and grant of Allah.

“Except those who repent and believe, and work Righteousness: for these will enter the Garden and will not be wronged in the least. Gardens of Eternity, those which (Allah) Most Gracious has promised to His servants in the Unseen: for His promise must (necessarily) come to pass. They will not there hear any vain discourse, but only salutations of peace: and they will have therein their sustenance, morning and evening. Such is the Garden which We give as an inheritance to those of Our Servants who guard against evil.." (Maryam, 19/60-63).

7- Answering prayers: Dua (prayer, supplication) is another superior manifestation of the names ar-Rahman and ar-Rahim of our Lord. A believing man asks power and patience from Allah without losing hope even if he is under very difficult conditions. He begs only from Allah with hope knowing that He always creates the best thing. He knows that what he asks from Allah will end up in a good way. This opportunity, which Allah gives to His slaves, is doubtlessly a manifestation of His infinite mercy. Allah owns all the power. Allah, who is ar-Rahman and ar-Rahim, informs people through the following verse that He will make it easy for the people that are in need if they turn toward Him and ask from Him:

“And those who dispense their charity with their hearts full of fear, because they will return to their Lord " (al-Muminun, 23/60).

“When My servants ask thee concerning Me, I am indeed close (to them); I listen to the prayer of every suppliant when he calleth on Me." (al-Baqara, 2/186)

8. Being Happy when His slaves repent: Our Lord expresses clearly that He will accept the repentance of those who repent appropriately, that he will reward them, that they will feel safe regarding their future and that they will obtain their hope again if they do so.

“For such the reward is forgiveness from their Lord and gardens with rivers flowing underneath an eternal dwelling; how excellent a recompense for those who work (and strive) " (Aal-i-Imran, 3/136).

“Allah loves those who turn to Him constantly and He loves those who keep themselves pure and clean” (Bakara, 2/222)

9. Making man superior to all other creatures: Some of the verses regarding the superiority of man are as follows:

“Behold thy Lord said to the angels: "I will create a vicegerent on earth." They said "Wilt thou place therein one who will make mischief therein and shed blood? Whilst we do celebrate Thy praises and glorify Thy holy (name)?" He said: "I know what ye know not." (al-Baqara, 2/30)

" We have honoured the sons of Adam; provided them with transport on land and sea; given them for sustenance things good and pure; and conferred on them special favours, above a great part of Our Creation."(al-Isra, 17/70)

“We have indeed created man in the best of moulds, Then do We abase him (to be) the lowest of the low― Except such as believe and do righteous deeds: for they shall have a reward unfailing.."(at-Tin, 95/4-6)

Allah created man in the best form, made him superior to all beings and made him the vicegerent in the universe. Man must keep this superior quality through belief and worshipping. Otherwise he will fall to the lowest of the low and lose the vicegerency, and, as it is expressed in the Quran, he may become more misguided than animals. While belief takes man to a rank superior to angels, unbelief throws man into the lowest of the low down into the depths of Hell.

As a matter of fact, Allah says “the best of moulds“ for man. That the phrase “the best of moulds“ is used for man means that there is nothing more beautiful than him among the creatures.

[ifnotforbeauty]

i keep waiting for something, anything to show up and spark excitement in me, but i know that’s what instant messages and notifications do; they distract you and ignite the release of endorphins every time you receive a message or hear a notification sound. I have become accustomed to these consistent rushes and now i have to get used to being without them. 

Its funny, because with him i never knew when i would get a reply or notification. With you, we had a pattern, an understanding of each other’s schedules. We had each other figured out well enough to know when we could each other attention and when we would be busy. I valued that about you. I valued this predictability and i realize now how much i need it. i complain about it but when i am thrown into unpredictable situations, i yearn for familiarity again. I really cherished a lot about you. you had every quality i wanted, your character was beautiful, your words, your loyalty, the way we communicated, the way you made me feel and the way you accepted me was everything i wanted. i still want these things. if you come back i will really have to fight myself to abstain from accepting you. but i need to understand something.

i am worth more than that. i learned that the value of everything can be determined in the way that they end. the way you ended this, the decisions you made and the way you handled things may have been right, it may have been best for both of us to just stop. but you really hurt me. i didn’t deserve that and i don’t know how i would have handled that situation, but i know i would do everything in my power to avoid doing that to you. 

now. to end i want to say this. you are so special. you are beautiful and magical in every way, but you hurt me. i forgive you. i hope you can forgive me too. i pray that you are granted a life better than i will ever have, i pray you are granted everything you desire from this life and in the next. i pray you are protected, kept safe, kept happy and healthy. I pray you are granted the one that will make your heart feel full with love and be the coolness of your eyes, will make your family happy and fulfil every dream you have for your future. may we be of those who are reunited in the hereafter, whether you truly wished this or not, it is what I wish because my words remain true. you are special and beautiful and magical in every way and i hope you know that. don’t ever forget that. i miss you and i wish everything between us worked out but Allah swt has other plans. we can plan and He plans, and He is the best of planners. 

What is to come will be better than what has gone by. Don’t forget these promises from your Lord and continue to strive towards Him. He is The Healer of hearts, The Guide, The Most Merciful, All Forgiving, All Hearing, All Knowing. We are loved. We will go on. We can do this.

[hooyoshouse]

5 Ways to Avoid Social Anxiety after Pregnancy

Having a baby can be the happiest time of our lives, but unfortunately for some mums this isn’t always the case. Having anxiety after pregnancy can happen to the best of us. However, for some mums it can be a real problem, and they may need professional help. Here are some of the signs you should look out for, if you or one of your loved ones have not been feeling like themselves lately. Anxiety isn’t just about feeling anxious. It’s feeling like something bad is about to happen with no reason. There is no trigger when feeling anxious and stressed, and the feeling won’t go away. These are some of the signs you should look out for. · A persistent feeling of sadness and low mood · You no longer have interest in things you used to enjoy · Feeling tired all the time · Difficulty sleeping · Loss of appetite · Feeling like you can’t look after your little one · Difficulty bonding with baby · Frightening thoughts If you or someone you know may be experiencing these symptoms, encourage them to speak to their GP or health visitor as soon as possible, so you can get the support you need. Here are some tips I use to avoid social anxiety after birth.

READ QURAN EVERYDAY

Whether you are treating yourself from depression, anxiety or any other mental disease. You need to make sure your reading Qur’anic verses and hadith which are recommended in sharee’ah as a means of ruqya. Ensure you are reading your daily adhkaar, and your reading Quran often. Allah (SWT) says: “Verily, in the remembrance of Allah do hearts find rest.” (13:28) When you come across these verses and you believe and trust that Allah Is in control of your life, and you know Allah will give you what is best, all your fears and anxiety will go away. You know someone is looking after you. Pour out all your problems to Allah and he will never let you down. Finally, remember everything passes and how your feeling now won’t be how you are feeling in a couple months’ time. So, this pain you are feeling won’t last forever - hang in there!

HAVE HONEY

Have honey in the morning. Allah (SWT) says: “Then, eat of all fruits, and follow the says of your Lord made easy (for you). There comes forth from their bellies, a drink of varying colour wherein is healing for men. Verily, in this is indeed a sign for a people who think.” (16:69) Honey is known to relieve anxiety, it’s natural and delicious! You can’t go wrong.

ASK FOR HELP

Ask someone for help with the new baby. Having a new person to look after can be very difficult, especially after giving birth. Your body will be sore and tired and your feet will be swollen. Furthermore, Your human and it’s only natural that you would want to sleep. To keep yourself mentally and physically healthy it’s very important to have plenty of rest. Don’t be afraid to ask for help.

PAMPER YOURSELF

Having a relaxing day to pamper yourself is important. It’s easy for us women to be so busy with baby that we forget about ourselves. Remember you are important too! Do your hair, put some makeup on - whatever makes you feel good about yourself. When you look good, you feel good, and your baby will thank you for it.

READ ESSENTIAL DUAS

It was narrated Ahmad (3528) from ‘Abdullah ibn Mas‘ood, who said: The Messenger of Allah (blessings and peace of Allah be upon him) said: “No person suffers any anxiety or grief, and says: ‘Allaahumma innee ‘abduka wa ibn ‘abdika wa ibn amatika, naasiyati bi yadika, maadin fiyya hukmuka, ‘adlun fiyya qadaa’uka, as’aluka bi kulli ismin huwa laka sammayta bihi nafsaka aw anzaltahu fi kitaabika aw ‘allamtahu ahadan min khalqika aw ista’tharta bihi fi ‘ilm il-ghaybi ‘andak an taj’ala al-Qur’aana rabee’ qalbi wa noor sadri wa jalaa’a huzni wa dhahaaba hammi (O Allah, I am Your slave, son of Your slave, son of Your female slave, my forelock is in Your hand, Your command over me is forever executed and Your decree over me is just. I ask You by every Name belonging to You which You named Yourself with, or revealed in Your Book, or You taught to any of Your creation, or You have preserved in the knowledge of the unseen with You, that You make the Qur’an the life of my heart and the light of my breast, and a departure for my sorrow and a release for my anxiety)’ but Allah will take away his sorrow and grief, and give him in their stead joy.” It was said: O Messenger of Allah, should we not learn them (these words)? He said: Yes indeed; whoever hears them should learn them.”  Classed as saheeh by al-Albaani in as-Silsilah as-Saheehah, 199, Ahmad, 3528. Classed as saheeh by al-Albaani in as-Silsilah as-Saheehah, 199. 

EXERSISE

Regular exercise reduces the symptoms of anxiety as it helps to balance the chemicals the body produces when its feeling anxious. Exercise also improves one’s mood and wellbeing. It is a great way to improve sleep, especially during those first couple months after giving birth. Also, we all know how much we are all deprived of sleep when caring for our little bundles of joy when they are first born. It also helps you to get your prepregnancy body back so you can feel better too.

YOU ARE NOT ALONE

You’re not the only one. A lot of new mums go through post natal anxiety. It can be very beneficial for you to go to mummy classes after giving birth. These classes can help with ways to help you look after your little one as well as hearing other mums’ experiences. Your child will learn social skills quicker and easier. Also, it’s a great way to network with other mums and babies who are going through the exact same thing. We ask Allah to protect us and you from the evils of anxiety and worry, and to open our hearts to faith, guidance and tranquillity. So, what are your personal experiences and how did you overcome them? Please leave me a comment below, I always love and welcome engaging with my followers. Also, if you dont already, follow me on Instragram and tag me with your favourite products. Finally subscribe to join my family and be the first to recieve all the latest gossip, discounts and special offers. Read the full article

[iheartallah]

Salam, Idk if you might understand me but I have this little things running throw my mind telling me I should give up in life & just die. I hate feeling like this but I'm always thinking like My Dua will never be accepted, I'm not good enough, what's the point of all this, & I'm always thinking maybe I should go back to my old ways. I feel like since I repented I'm Having so many problems in my life & people think of me as good person who changed so much, but they don't know I struggle so much.

Alikum Salam

I will try my best to answer yourquestion by referring to the Qur’an and Hadith

Wanting to give up in life and die

“And never give up hope of Allah’sMercy. Certainly, no one despairs of Allah’s Mercy, except the people whodisbelieve.” (12:87)

“Do not give up and do not bedownhearted. You shall be uppermost if you are believers” (3:139)

The Prophet ﷺsaid: “No one of you should wish for death or pray for it before it comes, forwhen one of you dies, his good deeds come to an end and for the believer a longlife will not increase him in anything but good.” (Muslim)

A version narrated by al-Bukhaarisays: “No one of you should wish for death. Either he is a doer of good andwill do more, or he is a doer of evil but perhaps he may stop.”

Al-Nawawi said: This hadeeth clearlyindicates that it is makrooh to wish for death because of some harm that hasbefallen one, such as loss or distress caused by an enemy, or other suchhardships of this world. But if a person fears harm or fitnah with regard tohis religious commitment, it is not makrooh to wish for death, according tothis hadeeth, and several of the salaf did that.

The Prophet ﷺsaid: “The best of people is the one who lives long and does good.” (Ahmad)

Acceptance of Dua

And when My slaves ask you (O Muhammad) concerning Me, then(answer them), I am indeed near (to them). I respond to the invocations of thesupplicant when he calls on Me. So let them respond to Me (by obedience) andbelieve in Me that they may be (rightly) guided. (2:186)

The Prophet ﷺ said: “Nothing canchange the Divine decree except Dua.” (Ahmad)

The Prophet ﷺ said: “Du’aa’ may beof benefit with regard to what has already happened or what has not yethappened, so adhere to Du’aa’, O slaves of Allaah.” (Tirmidhi)

The Prophet ﷺ said: “No precautioncan protect against the decree of Allaah. Du’aa’ is beneficial with regard towhat has been decreed and what has not been decreed. The du’aa’ meets thecalamity that has been decreed and wrestles with it, until the Day ofResurrection.” (al-Tabaraani)

The Prophet ﷺ said: “Ask, and you shall be given it; and you shall begiven it.” (Tirmidhi)

The Prophet ﷺ said: “Let everyone of you ask of His Lord all that Hewants.” (Tirmidhi)

We were informed by our Prophet ﷺ that Allah (subhana wa ta’ala) fulfillseverybody’s wishes so long as a person does not get impatient and say, ‘I askedAllah for so and so and I still haven’t received it’. We are told never todespair of the mercy of Allah (subhan wa ta’ala).The Prophet ﷺinformed us that there are several forms for the acceptance of dua. One is that you are given what you askfor. Another is that you are given better than whatyou asked for. A third is that some calamity that was aboutto befall you has been averted instead. The fourth is that the dua is saved up for you assawaab/reward for the Day of Judgment. In all cases, asking Allah (subhana wata'ala) for things is beneficial. 

Feeling like you are not good enough

He created the heavens and earth intruth and formed you and perfected your forms; and to Him is the (final)destination (64:3)

Indeed, We have created the humanbeing upon the best of forms (95:4)

Allah SWT has created each one of usunique; you will find no two people in the world with the exact samepersonality, physical appearance, strengths, weaknesses, interests, etc. Theway Allah SWT has created you and moulded your personality is for areason – he has made you this way because he wants you to achieve your fullpotential and use your abilities for a bigger cause – do not lose heart if thesituation looks difficult right now – keep striving and doing your best and,most importantly, keep asking Allah SWT to see you through this difficult timeand be by your side – if you have His help, there is no difficult you cannotovercome. Again, remember He has created you the way you are for a reason –Allah SWT makes no mistakes with His creations – you are good enough –you are exactly the way He intended you to be – you only have to work hard tomove from strength to strength now.

What’s the point of all this?

(He) who created death and life totest you (as to) which of you is best in deed (67:2)

And I did not create the jinn and mankind except to worship Me (51:56)

Going back to old ways,

Do people think that they will be leftalone because they say: ‘We believe,’ and will not be tested. And We indeedtested those who were before them. And Allaah will certainly make (it) known(the truth of) those who are true, and will certainly make (it) known (thefalsehood of) those who are liars, (although Allaah knows all that before puttingthem to test)” – (29:2-3)

“And certainly, We shall test you withsomething of fear, hunger, loss of wealth, lives and fruits, but give gladtidings to As-Saabiroon (the patient). Who, when afflicted with calamity, say:‘Truly, to Allaah we belong and truly, to Him we shall return.’ They are thoseon whom are the Salawaat (i.e. who are blessed and will be forgiven) from theirLord, and (they are those who) receive His Mercy, and it is they who are theguided ones” (2:155-157)

And We have certainly revealed to youverses (which are) clear proofs, and no one would deny them except thedefiantly disobedient. (2:99)

The Prophet ﷺ said: “No misfortune or disease befalls a Muslim, no worry or grief or harm or distress – not even a thorn that pricks him – but Allaah will expiate for some of his sins because of that.” (Bukhari)

Facing struggles after having repented

The Prophet ﷺsaid: “If Allah wills good for His slave, He hastens his punishment in thisworld, and if He wills bad for His slave, He withholds from him (the punishmentfor) his sin, until He requites him for it on the Day of Resurrection.”(at-Tirmidhi)

The Prophet ﷺ“If a certain status has previously been decreed by Allaah for a person, and hedoes not attain it by his deeds, Allaah afflicts him in his body or wealth orchildren.” (Abu Dawood)

The Prophet ﷺsaid: “Great reward comes with great trials. When Allah loves a people, Hetests them, and whoever accepts it attains His pleasure, whereas whoever showsdiscontent with it incurs His wrath.” (at-Tirmidhi)

Narrated by Sa‘d ibn Abi Waqqaas (رضي الله عنه)who said: I said: O Messenger of Allah ﷺ,who among the people are most sorely tested? He ﷺsaid: “The Prophets, then the next best and the next best. A man will be testedaccording to his level of religious commitment. If his religious commitment issolid, his test will be more severe, but if there is any weakness in hisreligious commitment, he will be tested according to his level of religiouscommitment. And calamity will continue to befall a person until he walks on theearth with no sin on him.” (at-Tirmidhi)

Al-Hasan al-Basri (رضي الله عنه) said: “Do not resentthe calamities that come and the disasters that occur, for perhaps in somethingthat you dislike will be your salvation, and perhaps in something that youprefer will be your doom.”

Al-Fadl ibn Sahl (رضي الله عنه) said: “There is a blessingin calamity that the wise man should not ignore, for it erases sins, gives onethe opportunity to attain the reward for patience, dispels negligence, remindsone of blessings at the time of health, calls one to repent and encourages oneto give charity.

Finally a word of advice from me: itis very common that, once someone finds their way back to the deen and tries topractice it earnestly, they are faced with hardship. Do not fear thesehardships as they are from Allah SWT and may be intended to either purify youfrom your previous sins, help you learn an important lesson and come out of thedifficult situation a more mature and improved individual or to test whetheryou can withstand challenges you face in life and, having gone through them,still maintain your level of iman in Allah SWT and keep trusting Him to takethe best decision for you. 

Take this difficult time in life as a challenge youwill get through and form an intention that, once this difficulty is over, youwould have come out of it a much stronger individual and a much better Muslimin’Sha’Allah. Remember, every night ends and every difficult situation is eventually taken care of by Allah SWT. You will soon witness good times in’Sha’Allah. 

And, behold, with every hardship comes ease (94:5) 

Read all the above mentioned Quranic verses and Hadithsremembering that each of them are intended specifically for you and are amessage to you from Allah SWT to help you through this difficult time. Wheneveryou are faced with negative thoughts, try to remember the above and find hope –I know it is easier said than done but we must strive in Allah’s path and neverdoubt his decisions and power even for a second. You are strong enough to face this hardship and you will not go back to your old ways - You are strong enough for this! As Allah SWT has stated in the Quran:

Allah does not burden a soul beyondthat it can bear(…) (2:286)

Takecare :)