Answered by Ustadha Shazia Ahmad

Question

I’m 18 and burdened by my past mistakes, feeling lost and blocked from reconnecting with Allah despite my desire to pray. Will Allah help me find a way forward despite my regrets?

Answer

Thank you for your question. Allah has not forsaken you, nor does He hate you, nor does He deem you worthless. Allah (Most High) has a sunna of embracing those who desire Him with mercy and love.

Repentance

There is no sin that your Lord cannot forgive, and it is easy for Him. 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]

The Prophet (Allah bless him and give him peace) told us, “Allah, Blessed is He and Most High, said: ‘O son of Adam! Verily as long as you called upon Me and hoped in Me, I forgave you, despite whatever may have occurred from you, and I did not mind. O son of Adam! Were your sins to reach the clouds of the sky, then you sought forgiveness from Me, I would forgive you, and I would not mind. O son of Adam! If you came to Me with sins nearly as great as the earth, and then you met Me not associating anything with Me, I would come to you with forgiveness nearly as great as it.’” [Tirmidhi]

Prayer

I encourage you to sit down and reflect on who you are praying to and why you want to start praying. Raise your hands and make a supplication to Allah (Most High) to help you establish the prayer.  Use your brokenness, impoverishment, and neediness, determination, and courage to stand up and pray to your Lord, and pay heed to no one else. We have many resources at SeekersGuidance on our answers services and free courses to guide you in establishing the prayer correctly. May Allah give you the absolute success.

Dua

Allah (Most High) has told us in the Quran, “And they are those who endure patiently, seeking their Lord’s pleasure, establish prayer, donate from what We have provided for them—secretly and openly—and respond to evil with good. It is they who will have the ultimate abode: the Gardens of Eternity, which they will enter along with the righteous among their parents, spouses, and descendants. And the angels will enter upon them from every gate, saying, “Peace be upon you for your perseverance. How excellent is the ultimate abode!” [Quran, 13:22-24]

Please make this dua from the Quran daily:

رَبِّ ٱجْعَلْنِى مُقِيمَ ٱلصَّلَوٰةِ وَمِن ذُرِّيَّتِى ۚ رَبَّنَا وَتَقَبَّلْ دُعَآءِ

My Lord! Make me and those ˹believers˺ of my descendants keep up prayer. Our Lord! Accept my prayers. [Quran, 14:40]

Please see many excellent tips here:

• How Do I Stop Obsessing With Guilt and Worry about My Past Sins?
• How Do I Overcome My Guilt Over Past Sins?
• Does Sincere Repentance Eradicate Sin?
• How Do I Repent from Having Boyfriends in the Past?
• Will We Be Forgiven for Major Sins Committed in the Past?
• How Can I Move On from My Evil Past and Seek Knowledge?
• Can You Advise Me Now That I Want to Start Praying Again?
• Praying with Presence
• Establishing Prayer
• Praying with Presence: The Virtues of Prayer

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, 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.