Darul Uloom Trinidad & Tobago

Q. I need some help! My life right now is going nowhere, everything I do is just becoming a failure. Nothing is going my way. I feel so defeated and like an ultimate loser. I have lost contact with my Allah and I feel like this is my punishment. I have had enough of this. I don’t want to live my life as a waste. Dear mufti, I feel so low and horrible but yet still in my heart there is hope that I can come out of this feeling and get back connection with my Allah. I don’t want to do this for a show but because my heart cries out for this relief of this heavy burden of darkness in my heart. Please help me please give me some advice as to what I should do. Please I want to become better. I need Allah because without Allah we are nothing. Please help me. In my heart I want to do Qurbani so that this can work as a new start for me, will this work? Ya mufti please help me please I need this please I knew every time I have a question I know you always reply me Masha Allah and Jazaak Allah for that but please give me some advice and some things I should do to repel Shaitaan right now I feel as if I am helpless and hopeless please help me show me some ways to become better… your reply is eagerly awaited thank you for everything you have done for me till date may Allah bless you and guide you in the right path and shower his infinite mercy and Rahmah on you ameen.

A. Allah places trials upon His servants in many ways. When we look at the lives of the Prophets, we would see that they had to go through a tremendous amount of trials and sufferings. However, these did not mean that Allah had forsaken them or is angry with them. These were meant to be a test so that they can gain nearness to Allah. In a like manner, trials will continue to come to the believers. While they come in different forms, a great weapon that Satan uses against the believers, is that of ‘temptations’ and ‘evil promptings’. On account of these, the believer begins to become hopeless of himself, and he starts to despair in the mercy and forgiveness of Allah. This hopelessness creates a feeling in the believer that prevents him from becoming a better Muslim, and it makes him look insignificantly to what he is presently doing. Therefore, my first advice to you is that you should not despair of Allah’s mercy. Allah Himself Has given us a beautiful advice in His Holy book when He said,

Say: “O my Servants who have transgressed against their souls! Despair not of the Mercy of God: for God forgives all sins: for He is Oft-Forgiving, Most Merciful. (39:53)

“Turn ye to our Lord (in repentance) and bow to His (Will), before the Penalty comes on you: after that ye shall not be helped. (39:54)

“And follow the best of (the courses) revealed to you from your Lord, before the Penalty comes on you – of a sudden while ye perceive not!’-(39:55)

The first teaching of these verses is that, no matter what state a person may be in, and no matter what he has done, he must never give up hope in Allah. He must never despair of Allah’s mercy, for it is Allah alone who forgives all sins and He is the most Merciful of those who show mercy. The second teaching is that in order to gain Allah’s forgiveness and mercy, one is required to do three things. First of all, one must turn to Allah in sincere repentance and beg for His forgiveness. He should cry before Allah and repent for all acts of sins, wrongdoings or disobedience, and must make a promise to Allah that he would not return to those sins again.

Secondly, one is required to be obedient to Allah, and fulfill the laws and orders which He Has given. The individual should not break the commands of Allah and be disobedient to Him. Instead, he should be very obedient to Him in all matters.

Thirdly, one must be fully submissive to Allah. He must render to Allah full submission from the depths of his heart, and must not find within himself hesitation or resistance in submitting to Allah.

Fourthly, Allah tells us that we must follow the Holy Quran which is the best of that which He Has sent to us.

These are general guidelines which Allah Has given to the believers which Insha Allah, if practiced, would bring a tremendous amount of good to the believers.

In your case, I advice you to first of all turn to Allah in repentance and beg Him to forgive you for whatever wrongs you have done in the past. Beg Him for strength, firm Imaan and determination to be fully obedient to Him. Make amends for whatever wrongs you may have done in the past, and promise to Allah that you will not return to these sins again.

Further to this, build the courage within yourself to do that which is good in accordance to the teachings of Islam. Ensure that you are fulfilling all your compulsory duties as a Muslim, and along with this, you can begin to do some optional (Nafl) acts.

Everyday you should try to recite a portion of the Quran and also make the dhikr (remembrance) of Allah. Find some time everyday to reflect on your day’s actions. As for that which you have done which is good, thank and praise Allah for giving you the ability to do them. As for that which is wrong, make a firm resolution within yourself that you would not commit those wrongs again. In this way you can continue to better yourself everyday with Allah’s help and guidance. With all of these, dedicate some time everyday or night for supplication to Allah earnestly.

Insha Allah, I hope that Allah will bring His help, love and blessings to you through these guidelines.

And Allah knows best.

Mufti Waseem Khan