What Should I Do if I Feel That Life Is Not Worth Living?

Answered by Ustadha Shazia Ahmad

Question

I feel life is not worth living because of the hardships that are surrounding me. I get suicidal thoughts but I don’t do it because it’s a sin and can affect my akhira badly.

Can you please guide me on what to do? Allah promised us that after every hardship there will be ease. Can that ease be after death and in life the hardship will remain?

Answer

Thank you for your question. I empathize with your feelings of depression and loneliness. I pray that Allah opens your heart to come out of this and see all the good that comes from life.

Capacity

You are going through a low point in your life, but I encourage you to remember that your pain will be rewarded and that Allah has not given you something that you cannot bear. Find solace and certitude that you are strong enough to get through this.

Allah has told us so in His book, “Allah does not require of any soul more than what it can afford. All goodness will be for its own benefit, and all evil will be to its own loss. ˹The believers pray,˺ “Our Lord! Do not punish us if we forget or make a mistake. Our Lord! Do not place a burden on us like the one you placed on those before us. Our Lord! Do not burden us with what we cannot bear. Pardon us, forgive us, and have mercy on us. You are our ˹only˺ Guardian. So grant us victory over the disbelieving people.” [Quran, 2:286]

And the Prophet (Allah bless him and give him peace), told us,  “No fatigue, nor disease, nor sorrow, nor sadness, nor hurt, nor distress befalls a Muslim, even if it were the prick he receives from a thorn, but that Allah expiates some of his sins for that.” [Bukhari]

Ease After Hardship

Allah promises ease after difficulty, to the Prophet, twice, with His words, “So, surely with hardship comes ease. Surely with ˹that˺ hardship comes ˹more˺ ease. [Quran, 94:5-6] Dr. Mustafa Khattab mentions in his explanation that with one hardship, two eases will come. Tafseer al-Jalalayn that this indicates victory that the Prophet enjoyed against the pagans after many years of distress and pain.

So in summary, yes, your ease will definitely come in this world, not just in the hereafter, by His grace.

Be avid to get better, by speaking to a professional, or asking someone who loves you to get you connected to one. Use resources available to you, such as prayer, supplication, giving charity, increasing in knowledge, and surrounding yourself with positive, pious people. Ask someone who cares about you to help you connect with some professionals.

Please use the resources, tips, and supplications below.

Resources

Selected Prophetic Prayers for Spiritual, Physical and Emotional Wellbeing by Chaplain Ibrahim Long
Being Depressed? Or Hoping for the Best?
Prayer For Mental Well-Being
I Have Chronic Depression, and Treatment Is Not Helping. What Can I Do?
Fighting Depression Through The Remembrance Of Allah
Ridding Oneself of Depression and Suicidal Thoughts
What Are Some Prophetic Supplications That Can Help Me Deal With Trials in My Life?

May Allah give you the best of this world and the next.
[Ustadha] Shazia Ahmad
Checked and Approved by Shaykh Faraz Rabbani