How Can I Overcome My Current Situation of Low Spirituality and Productivity?
Answered by Ustadha Shazia Ahmad
Question
When I was a teenager, I was good with my prayers except for Fajr. I am 23 now, and since age 20, I have missed many prayers due to laziness and several reasons. Last year, my number of qadas was high. Until about two years ago, I was so excited about Sufism. I usually listen to Islamic speeches and read Islamic books. But it’s been a year that I haven’t done any of this.
I always feel something missing in my heart. I am alone most of the time, so I frequently commit PMO (porn masturbation orgasm). I have only prayed a few fajrs (dawn prayers) on time in my life. I try hard, but I can’t. I am also failing to execute my study plan and my personal and spiritual improvement. I really want to change and fulfill my spiritual void and improve myself in all aspects.
Answer
Thank you for your question. I empathize with your frustration and low energy, and I pray that you overcome this and become the best you can be, for the pleasure of your Lord and for the strength of this umma.
PMO
The reason for your feelings of laziness and missed prayers is, first and foremost, the PMO. You must battle this addiction, overcome it, repent, and never return to it again. Thereupon, you will find many blessings enter your life, as taking one step toward Allah results in Him running toward you.
Abu Dharr (Allah be pleased with him) reported: The Messenger of Allah (Allah bless him and give him peace) said, “Allah Almighty says: Whoever comes with a good deed will have the reward of ten like it and even more. Whoever comes with an evil deed will be recompensed for one evil deed like it, or he will be forgiven. Whoever draws close to Me by the length of a hand, I will draw close to him by the length of an arm.
Whoever draws close to Me by the length of an arm, I will draw close to him by the length of a fathom. Whoever comes to Me walking, I will come to him running. Whoever meets Me with enough sins to fill the earth, not associating any partners with Me, I will meet him with as much forgiveness.” [Muslim]
Plan
I advise you to sit down in the dark hours before dawn and pray the Prayer of Need. Sincerely supplicate to your Lord to help you gain closeness, productivity, energy, zeal, and success in this world and the next. Nothing is easy if sought through yourself, and nothing is hard if sought through Allah Most High. Your Lord is eager to answer you:
The Messenger of Allah (Allah bless him and give him peace) said, “Our Lord, who is blessed and exalted, descends every night to the lowest heaven when the last one-third of the night remains and says: Who supplicated Me so that I may answer him? Who asks of Me so that I may give to him? Who asks My forgiveness so that I may forgive him?” [Tirmidhi]
Tips
- Do your utmost to eliminate the haram and makruh from your life. This might require that you take a course with us about the halals and harams of daily life.
- Make sure your food and income are halal and that you don’t engage in usury.
- Remember that many blessings are hidden in trials and tribulations
- Be grateful continuously for what you have. Allah Most High will increase you
- Give to charity or volunteer with disadvantaged communities.
- Perform your adhkar (litanies, daily invocations) morning and evening
- Read the Quran daily with the meaning
- Do your best with your prayers, don’t beat yourself up, your fajrs will happen on time eventually, by His grace.
- Stop spending so much time alone, hang out with good religious friends, go to the gym, sit in the mosque, take walks, help others, volunteer, change your habits
- If you were inclined toward Sufism, you follow that instinct with whatever is available to you.
Please see all the details here:
- Chaos in My Life
- How To Attain Focus, Patience, And Stillness In A Chaotic World
- Problems in My Life
- A Reader on Pornography and Masturbation
- Course: First Principles of Islamic Spirituality
- Pornography Answers Archives
- How Can I Increase My Iman?
[Ustadha] Shazia Ahmad
Checked and Approved by Shaykh Faraz Rabbani
Ustadha Shazia Ahmad lived in Damascus, Syria, for two years, where she studied aqidah, fiqh, tajweed, tafsir, and Arabic. She then attended the University of Texas at Austin and completed her Master’s 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.
