Did I Fail as a Muslim Because Allah Most High Doesn’t Answer Me?
Answered by Ustadha Shazia Ahmad
Question
I feel like I failed as a Muslim because I feel like Allah doesn’t respond to me. Is it making Allah angry? I feel like Allah doesn’t forgive me, and I feel like he is punishing me. I’m so depressed at 16 years old.
Answer
Thank you for your question. I empathize with your feelings of sadness and suffering, and I urge you to completely turn your train of thought around to thinking of Allah Most High with feelings of hope, love, and mercy.
Dunya and Akhira
The Prophet (Allah bless him and give him peace) said, “What is the parable of this worldly life, in comparison to the Hereafter, but one of you dipping his finger in the sea? Let him see what he brings forth.” [Muslim]
Time and time again, we are taught by the prophetic words and the Quran that this world is temporary, short and unimportant. If you don’t feel that your du`as are being answered, it doesn’t mean that Allah Most High is angry with you. Allah Most High answers all supplications in the timing and way which is best for you.
Three ways
Abu Sa`id al-Khudri reported that the Prophet (Allah bless him and give him peace) said, “Any Muslim who makes a supplication containing nothing which is sinful or which involves breaking ties of relationship will be given for it by God one of three things: He will give him a speedy answer, or store it up for him in the next world, or turn away from him an equivalent amount of evil.’ Those who heard it said they would then make many supplications, and he replied, ‘God is more ready to answer than they were to ask.’” [Ahmad]
Depression
Please know that you are a believer and beloved by Allah Most High. I urge you to get professional help, or at least approach your doctor or teacher at school to help you with the depression. You have everything you need to be close to your Lord, faith and a living heart. Please know that Allah is the All-Merciful and never despair because of your sins. Allah Most High has told us in the Quran: “Say: My servants who have wronged yourselves, never despair of God’s mercy. God forgives all sins: He is truly the Most Forgiving, the Most Merciful.” [Quran, 39:53]
Please see many more tips here:
How to Get Rid of Suicidal Thoughts and Depression?
Dua
اللَّهُمَّ إِنِّي أَعُوذُ بِكَ مِنَ الْهَمِّ وَالْحَزَنِ، وَالْعَجْزِ وَالْكَسَلِ، وَالْجُبْنِ وَالْبُخْلِ، وَضَلَعِ الدَّيْنِ، وَغَلَبَةِ الرِّجَالِ
The Prophet (Allah bless him and give him peace) used to say, “O Allah! I seek refuge with You from worry and grief, from incapacity and laziness, from cowardice and miserliness, from being heavily in debt and from being overpowered by (other) men.” [Bukhari]
Please see these links as well:
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 aqida, fiqh, tajweed, tafsir, and Arabic. She then attended the University of Texas at Austin, where she completed her Masters 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.
