I am a Muslim who's starting to doubt islam

To start off I've always had strong faith that God exists. but due to certain events doubts have started creeping into my mind this year. I pray 5 times a day and I don't feel anything. I read Quran and same thing. I feel despair. I'm going through a lot of stuff and it never gets better. don't answer with god tests you because that answer never satisfies me. and even when I ask God to help me I don't feel anything and don't get a reply. why is that? how can god be compassionate and at the same time let all these people suffer. I never thought I'd say this but I am this close to renouncing Islam

and people don't say pm me because I'm not fussed about that. I want answers

Reply 1

marrimerro

8

Wow.

Sounds like me.

Old me.

I started questioning my faith and Islam like five years ago. Became atheist in 2014.

I felt better. As if i wasn't constantly under this invisible pressure that would constantly tell me i had to be a "perfect young Muslimah". I was able to slowly eat properly. Sleep better.

Then **** happened. I started questioning if I was atheist.

This year, particular from September up to now, I've gone through a lot of pain and emotion like ****.

Two weeks ago I put a headscarf on and went to the Local (my childhood) Mosque.

It had been eight years since I had done the above.

And it was a surreal, nostalgic, nerve wracking experience. I don't plan to do it ever again.

Although I am glad I challenge my atheism. I realised i still don't believe in Allah. I hate the idea of God being good.

Why?

Because of all the **** I've gone through. I wouldn't wish it for my enemy.

Anyways you wanted an answer?

It's normal to question your faith. As it is normal for a child to question why the sun rises every morning. It is human nature to be curious and question.

How else would we have developed as a race if we didn't question?

Now perhaps the medias negative portray of Islam has influenced you to feel bad. I hope not. But islamaphoiba is real.

I had a grown man threaten me on the 20th of September in McDonald's and no one stopped him. I ended up having such a bad panic attack I passed out 😅.

No I wasn't wearing a headscarf. I'm a smallish 18 year old girl who happens to "look Muslim/Arab/Syrian".

Anyways I don't know if the above input was of any use.

I would say to take a breather from Islam. From religion really. Until you feel like you can pray without anxiety.

Maybe look into other religions.

But don't keep "being a good dutiful" Muslim if it affects your life negatively.

Remember it's your life.

YOU are in control.

(edited 8 years ago)

Reply 2

TheProphetsPath

17

Original post by marrimerro

,

I could not disagree with your advice more. one of the times we need Allah the most is when we are stricken with grief. There is no reason to suggest you aren't in control of your life when you are using your free will to follow a religion.

Original post by Anonymous

To start

Hey anon, would you mind posting this into I-soc because otherwise there will be so many sidetracks and etc. going on without dealing with you directly please :smile:

Reply 3

Plantagenet Crown

21

Original post by Anonymous

To start off I've always had strong faith that God exists. but due to certain events doubts have started creeping into my mind this year. I pray 5 times a day and I don't feel anything. I read Quran and same thing. I feel despair. I'm going through a lot of stuff and it never gets better. don't answer with god tests you because that answer never satisfies me. and even when I ask God to help me I don't feel anything and don't get a reply. why is that? how can god be compassionate and at the same time let all these people suffer. I never thought I'd say this but I am this close to renouncing Islam

and people don't say pm me because I'm not fussed about that. I want answers

It's good that you're critically looking at this and not just accepting the usual nonsense excuses like "this is a test" etc, as you said. That particular excuse doesn't even make sense because if God is all-knowing then it is impossible to test anyone as a test can only exist when the examiner does not know the outcome.

It seems to me that you're trying to cling to a belief when deep down your imaan is dead and it appears to be making you miserable. What is it you're looking for? The only advice I can see Muslims giving is to read more Quran and pray more, but if you've already said that you feel nothing when doing these things then I'm not sure of what use this kind of advice is.

Have you contemplated fully leaving Islam, even just temporarily to see what life is like without it? Needless to say, you don't require Islam to live a happy, fulfilling life and you can still believe in God without being a Muslim.

Lastly, it's up to you of course, but I'd beware of members telling you to post this on the ISOC as firstly, you can't post there anonymously and secondly, they have a vested interest in keeping you Muslim and you will thus get a very one-sided discussion. At least on an open thread like this you will see all points of view.

(edited 8 years ago)

Reply 4

Anonymous #2

Question what you have been taught. Look at science. Religion is merely a means of mass control through fear and shame. Why do you think the penalty in Islam for apostatacy is death? Islam doesn't want usurpers or people to think critically for themselves.

Reply 5

Mistletoe

2

If God responded to you, then that's called psychosis, I had it. God is just Santa for grown ups, and whether he exists or not is up to you. I recommend that you don't try to speak to him in your head though, because that is without doubt a manifestation of psychotic delusion. Maybe reciting a prayer isn't so bad, but to think that he's actually listening, that's beyond the pale. I have no doubt that our ancestors knew that what they were doing when they were reciting prayers was not meant to be a conversation, but more of a mantra, something to guide your intent toward goodness. So yes, forget all that stuff, and don't be too dramatic about it, just decide what path you want to take in life, live it, then die. There's nothing special about anyone.

Reply 6

TheProphetsPath

17

If you ask this in isoc you will get answers depending on peoples own experience.A lot of Answers on here will only be interested in trying to pull you away from Islam, people love to separate you from islam.
There is no compulsion in religion and thus we can not force you to stay in islam so you will get honest answers without any corrupted incentives.
Also someone mentioned that the idea that is a test is false because god knows everything but if that were the case then on judgement day if god puts us in to hell and we ask why he would say oh because you are a bad person but then you will say "what have i done to make me bad?" you will have nothing to be punished for as you have done nothing bad so we are given the opportunity to prove ourself.

Reply 7

Ed's Balls

11

Don't rely on others to help you. You have to help yourself.

Reply 8

UnderstandItAll

3

The answer kindly starts in your first few words. I am Muslim and I pray 5 times, I don't do much more than that. But I know that you know that God exists. God is there. Even if you were to for example renounce islam, without disrespecting other religions because Islam teaches us to love them, what other 'religion' would you enter? Christianity and Judaism are 'weaker' and contain more 'errors' than Islam (Quran has no errors, just to put it out there). To be honest, I have been in a similar situation like you and I studied all religions. I came to figure out, Islam made the biggest sense. Overall, i'm sorry you feel like this but life is not easy. Allah has not forgotten someone he created. You pray and read Quran like you said. You are better than 90% of muslims so I am sure Allah is watching you. I understand that maybe your prayers have not been answered but they will be do not worry. My knowledge of Islam is really high at this moment and I can help if you have ANY question. I can provide videos and I can personally explain anything you would like about our religion or any other religion. Ask for my email and we can have a conversation regarding all your questions. I promise I will make you understand everything and calm you down.

A reason not to leave Islam: If you had to travel to Norway and someone told you there was a nuclear bomb and you could still get affected from everything in the air and they tell you that if you wear this 'suit and helmet' and go there, nothing will happen to you. Any logical person would wear it and go on to their journey. But what if you arrive and story you heard on the news was wrong? You would just take off the suit. Point of the story IS when we die, if we were wrong about Islam, we wouldn't lost anything. But if others die and we were right, they lost everything.

(edited 8 years ago)

Reply 9

Anonymous #4

ditch Islam , the reason allah dont reply is cos he ain't real. i used to be muslim and just go to sick of all the dumb rules I was expected to follow when I didn't feel there any sky godting watching or giving a ****. I've left and now I'm a million times happier

Reply 10

username1894983

2

Original post by Anonymous

To start off I've always had strong faith that God exists. but due to certain events doubts have started creeping into my mind this year. I pray 5 times a day and I don't feel anything. I read Quran and same thing. I feel despair. I'm going through a lot of stuff and it never gets better. don't answer with god tests you because that answer never satisfies me. and even when I ask God to help me I don't feel anything and don't get a reply. why is that? how can god be compassionate and at the same time let all these people suffer. I never thought I'd say this but I am this close to renouncing Islam

and people don't say pm me because I'm not fussed about that. I want answers

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tgOqFBwWwX8

By posting on tsr, it wont help you at all, Scholars have dealt with your doubts. Go to them.

Reply 11

tamil fever

20

Original post by Mistletoe

If God responded to you, then that's called psychosis, I had it. God is just Santa for grown ups, and whether he exists or not is up to you. I recommend that you don't try to speak to him in your head though, because that is without doubt a manifestation of psychotic delusion. Maybe reciting a prayer isn't so bad, but to think that he's actually listening, that's beyond the pale. I have no doubt that our ancestors knew that what they were doing when they were reciting prayers was not meant to be a conversation, but more of a mantra, something to guide your intent toward goodness. So yes, forget all that stuff, and don't be too dramatic about it, just decide what path you want to take in life, live it, then die. There's nothing special about anyone.

I love this comment so much :biggrin:

Reply 12

Plantagenet Crown

21

Original post by TheProphetsPath

If you ask this in isoc you will get answers depending on peoples own experience.A lot of Answers on here will only be interested in trying to pull you away from Islam, people love to separate you from islam.
There is no compulsion in religion and thus we can not force you to stay in islam so you will get honest answers without any corrupted incentives.

There's no getting away from the fact that on the ISOC OP will only get one point of view whereas this thread will provide many. OP has posted here and not on the ISOC so why don't you respond here out in the open instead of trying to get him/her away to an echo chamber?

Also someone mentioned that the idea that is a test is false because god knows everything but if that were the case then on judgement day if god puts us in to hell and we ask why he would say oh because you are a bad person but then you will say "what have i done to make me bad?" you will have nothing to be punished for as you have done nothing bad so we are given the opportunity to prove ourself.

So one unproven point to another. There is no evidence for Judgement Day, heaven or hell whatsoever and these concepts themselves make little to no sense where an all-knowing god is concerned. The very concept of "proving one's self" is rendered null and void when the judge is all-knowing. If God knows every action you will ever do he cannot be surprised in any way and thus you cannot prove yourself to him because the very concept of proving one's self is dependent on doubt.

Reply 13

username1022139

20

Original post by UnderstandItAll

The answer kindly starts in your first few words. I am Muslim and I pray 5 times, I don't do much more than that. But I know that you know that God exists. God is there. Even if you were to for example renounce islam, without disrespecting other religions because Islam teaches us to love them, what other 'religion' would you enter? Christianity and Judaism are 'weaker' and contain more 'errors' than Islam (Quran has no errors, just to put it out there). To be honest, I have been in a similar situation like you and I studied all religions. I came to figure out, Islam made the biggest sense. Overall, i'm sorry you feel like this but life is not easy. Allah has not forgotten someone he created. You pray and read Quran like you said. You are better than 90% of muslims so I am sure Allah is watching you. I understand that maybe your prayers have not been answered but they will be do not worry. My knowledge of Islam is really high at this moment and I can help if you have ANY question. I can provide videos and I can personally explain anything you would like about our religion or any other religion. Ask for my email and we can have a conversation regarding all your questions. I promise I will make you understand everything and calm you down.

A reason not to leave Islam: If you had to travel to Norway and someone told you there was a nuclear bomb and you could still get affected from everything in the air and they tell you that if you wear this 'suit and helmet' and go there, nothing will happen to you. Any logical person would wear it and go on to their journey. But what if you arrive and story you heard on the news was wrong? You would just take off the suit. Point of the story IS when we die, if we were wrong about Islam, we wouldn't lost anything. But if others die and we were right, they lost everything.

As of present, there has yet to be any systemic evidence to the prove the existence of a higher power, so your saying "God exists" is nothing but a meaningless pretext.

A God who expects you to pray to him five times a day sounds like someone who's a self-obsessed narcissist. Given he's responsible for the allowing of so much disease, famine and suffering which plagues our planet, I'd rather not get on my hands and knees and worship a capricious psychopath who knowingly allows so much pain and violence.

Reply 14

Plantagenet Crown

21

Original post by UnderstandItAll

The answer kindly starts in your first few words. I am Muslim and I pray 5 times, I don't do much more than that. But I know that you know that God exists. God is there. Even if you were to for example renounce islam, without disrespecting other religions because Islam teaches us to love them, what other 'religion' would you enter? Christianity and Judaism are 'weaker'

"Weaker" in what sense? If you're talking about evidence then I'm afraid Islam is just as weak as Christianity and Judaism as there is not a shred of evidence for any of them being "the truth".

and contain more 'errors' than Islam (Quran has no errors, just to put it out there).

Oh, please. The Quran is chock-full of errors and contradictions, just like the Bible and Torah. A quick Google search will highlight many of them.

Besides, an error-free book isn't evidence of divinity in the first place.

To be honest, I have been in a similar situation like you and I studied all religions.

Given that there are estimated to be around 4,300 current religions and God knows how many (pardon the pun) in human history, I find this very hard to believe.

I came to figure out, Islam made the biggest sense.

Probably because you were raised Muslim. Likewise I've heard Christians say they researched many religions and still came to the conclusion that Christianity made the most sense. Rinse and repeat for a member of any other religion.

A reason not to leave Islam: If you had to travel to Norway and someone told you there was a nuclear bomb and you could still get affected from everything in the air and they tell you that if you wear this 'suit and helmet' and go there, nothing will happen to you. Any logical person would wear it and go on to their journey. But what if you arrive and story you heard on the news was wrong?

I'm sorry, what?! If a random person told me to wear a special suit before going to Norway because of a nuclear bomb without giving me any evidence that their story was true, I would probably think they're a drunken loony. Only a really stupid person would obey without asking questions or checking to see if such an event had actually occurred.

You would just take off the suit. Point of the story IS when we die, if we were wrong about Islam, we wouldn't lost anything. But if others die and we were right, they lost everything.

This is Pascal's Wager which has been thoroughly debunked and shown to have more holes in it than Swiss cheese. You appear to be the under the illusion that only Islam exists, but it doesn't. If you're wrong, but another religion is right, then you are just as likely to go to that religion's hell!

(edited 8 years ago)

Original post by Anonymous

To start off I've always had strong faith that God exists. but due to certain events doubts have started creeping into my mind this year. I pray 5 times a day and I don't feel anything. I read Quran and same thing. I feel despair. I'm going through a lot of stuff and it never gets better. don't answer with god tests you because that answer never satisfies me. and even when I ask God to help me I don't feel anything and don't get a reply. why is that? how can god be compassionate and at the same time let all these people suffer. I never thought I'd say this but I am this close to renouncing Islam

and people don't say pm me because I'm not fussed about that. I want answers

Hi Anonymous 1,

This thread will probably get confusing, with so many opinions. But, you've said what you don't believe but what do you believe? why don't you try asking the real God, who ever He is to reveal Himself to you?

Phoebe

Reply 17

h333

16

Original post by Kraixo

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tgOqFBwWwX8

By posting on tsr, it wont help you at all, Scholars have dealt with your doubts. Go to them.

This.

Reply 18

Noura*

10

So you come on TSR? Im getting sick and tired of dumb s**t like this, OP you're not gonna find comfort or reassurance in your deen here. Go speak to a scholar, go address your doubts with the wealth of knowledge online put together by hard-working Muslims to help young Muslims become confident in their faith. Smh no common sense nowadays

Reply 19

Zamestaneh

21

Original post by Anonymous

To start off I've always had strong faith that God exists. but due to certain events doubts have started creeping into my mind this year. I pray 5 times a day and I don't feel anything. I read Quran and same thing. I feel despair. I'm going through a lot of stuff and it never gets better. don't answer with god tests you because that answer never satisfies me. and even when I ask God to help me I don't feel anything and don't get a reply. why is that? how can god be compassionate and at the same time let all these people suffer. I never thought I'd say this but I am this close to renouncing Islam

and people don't say pm me because I'm not fussed about that. I want answers

Faith doesn't have its root in feelings, it comes from knowledge; doubt manifests in feelings but has its root in a lack of knowledge.

Everyone suffers, and it isn't a cop out answer at all to say it is a test - at the end of Surah Baqarah, Allah tells us:

"Then He will forgive whom He wills and punish whom He wills, and Allah is over all things competent." [284]

"Allah does not charge a soul except [with that within] its capacity. It will have [the consequence of] what [good] it has gained, and it will bear [the consequence of] what [evil] it has earned." [286]

In other words people are only held accountable for what is in their control. In other parts of the Quran, Allah says that He is Just and also that He rewards the patient.

Your fundamental problem is that you lack knowledge in/ignore what God says and also tells you about Himself in the Quran - if God says He is the Most just, then let's say you suffered so so so much pain and hardship, who else could compensate you for that other than God - why would you ignore that? Can you not see that it would be nonsensical to suggest that the One who has the power and knowledge to create absolutely everything in balance such that there isn't disorder, and the One who sustains everything cannot compensate you for any pain you suffer in this life? You are only focusing on this temporary life and the trials and pain within a limited scope, so your doubts are coming from a twisted outlook and lack of understanding.

My sincere advice to you is to read about Allah and try to understand His attributes, and then your doubts will go- from knowledge you will have firm faith; from a lack of knowledge you will just think with your emotions which will sway like the wind left and right...

I hope you don't take this post as an attack on you.

The non-Muslims in this thread won't be happy until you leave your faith, so make of that what you will, but naturally I would say ignore them - they are the blind trying to lead the blind.

I am a Muslim who's starting to doubt islam

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