How Can I Get Motivated to Work?
Answered by Ustadha Shazia Ahmad
Question
I have a really serious question that has bothered me for years. I am currently studying at university, but I lack motivation, although this is what I want to do.
I know that Islam is the true and only religion. I know that Allah and his Messenger are the truth, and I will never change that conviction. But my problem is bothering me so much that I feel depressed. I want to work, but I lack the energy and power to work.
Perhaps I have the wrong understanding of my purpose in life. I know we are created to serve Allah and to be tested. I am not lazy, although everyone tells me I’m lazy.
Answer
Thank you for your question. I empathize with your frustration, and I pray that you can recover from this problem, which may be stemming from a variety of things.
Health
It seems that you have a health problem that is preventing you from working. I have come across other young men in the past who were diagnosed with chronic fatigue syndrome, despite graduating at the top of their classes with honours and scholarships. This condition prevented them from working, and they continue to suffer.
Please see a physician and get all of your blood panels done. It may be an easy fix. Another important point is to exercise and take your supplements. Exercise increases one’s energy and gives better sleep, changing the way you feel completely.
Spiritual Factors
Another possibility is that something is amiss in your religious life. Are you praying on time? Are you doing something unlawful on a daily basis? Are all of your food and financial transactions halal? Are you looking something unlawful or addicted to screens?
I recommend that you cover the basics of your religion to ensure that your worship is valid and that you watch what you eat. The intake of food prepared by irreligious people has an effect on the soul, and it is better avoided. This is what I was taught by my teacher.
I encourage you to turn to Allah with sincere supplication and ask Him to help you solve this problem. Allah has created every problem, and He has every solution.
Please see these links for more tips:
May Allah give you the best of this world and the next.
[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, Tafseer, and Arabic. She then attended the University of Texas at Austin, where she completed her Master’s in Arabic. Afterward, she moved to Amman, Jordan, where she studied Fiqh, Arabic, and other sciences. She recently moved back to Mississauga, Canada, where she lives with her family.
