Question
I’m fed up with life because I face constant, crazy, unwanted doubts and thoughts. Some of them are so strong that I cannot tell if it is whisper or not. I simply cannot take it anymore! Can I make this supplication:
“O Allah! Please take me away as a Muslim in a short time, because I cannot take it anymore as I face all sorts of unwanted doubts. Please, my Lord, make an exception for me and take me away“.
Answer
Assalamu alaykum,
Thank you for your question. I am heartbroken at your state of affairs but I have not lost hope in you. Allah loves you and wants you to live and worship Him. I encourage you to dwell on that thought always.
Wishing for death
The very best resources that I can give you are right here:
https://seekersguidance.org/tag/wishing-for-death/
Please read the article and watch the video and bring back your enthusiasm to live. Do what you can with the life that you have ahead of you, you won’t regret it. If you turn to Allah in your neediness, I guarantee you that Allah will not abandon you and that you won’t regret it. Nobody expects perfection from you and the Prophet (Allah bless him and give him peace), told us, “Every son of Adam sins and the best of the sinners are those who repent.“ [Tirmidhi] Focus on the good, for there is much good still ahead of you.
Negative thoughts
Did you know that you are not the only one who has had thoughts that one cannot begin to articulate? The Companions of the Prophet (Allah bless him and give him peace), were in this same position. They came to him and said, ‘We find in ourselves thoughts that are too terrible to speak of.’ He said, ‘Are you really having such thoughts?’ They said, ‘Yes.’ He said, ‘That is a clear sign of faith’ [Muslim].
You are not morally responsible for blasphemous thoughts that come to you and that you discard immediately, rather, you are rewarded for ignoring them. Don’t attack yourself for these thoughts, but instead attack the thoughts themselves with the weapons of knowledge, faith, and certitude. Please read these all of these answers in full take the steps mentioned within:
https://seekersguidance.org/tag/bad-thoughts/
Some du’as
The Messenger of Allah, may Allah bless him and give him peace, used to teach them the following words in the case of alarm, “I seek refuge in Allah’s perfect words from His anger, the evil of His servants, the evil suggestions of the devils and their presence.” `Abdullah ibn `Amr used to teach them to those of his children who had reached puberty, and he wrote them down (on some material) and hung it on the child who had not reached puberty [Abu Dawud].
The Arabic of the above du`a:
أَعُوذُ بِكَلِمَاتِ اللَّهِ التَّامَّةِ مِنْ غَضَبِهِ وَشَرِّ عِبَادِهِ وَمِنْ هَمَزَاتِ الشَّيَاطِين وأن يحضورن.
Seek refuge from the Devil regularly and make dhikr and dua to keep your tongue busy with positive remembrance of Allah. Here are some duas for you to memorize and oft-repeat:
https://seekersguidance.org/articles/general-artices/selected-prophetic-prayers-for-spiritual-physical-and-emotional-wellbeing-by-chaplain-ibrahim-long/
Practical steps from Shaykh Jamir Meah
- Remember that Allah is perfect and free from all deficiencies. Know that anything that comes to your mind as being God is anything but God. Therefore, seek refuge in Him from the devil whenever these thoughts come to your mind.
- Ensure you are not sinning in any way, especially in private
- Unplug from the internet and looking at screens other than when it is absolutely necessary
- If bad thoughts come to you, after seeking refuge in Allah from the devil, and leave the room you are in. Make wudu and pray, or do exercise, go for a walk outside, or get into good company.
- Ensure you are praying regularly and with concentration. Do the sunna dhikr after prayers and supplicate to Allah for help overcome these thoughts
- Do not spend too much time alone, find good company, get a job, find a hobby, spend time with family, do community or volunteer work.
- Say the sunna supplications for daily acts throughout the day
- Say the supplications and the last three chapters of the Quran at night upon sleeping.
- Read a portion of the Qur’an daily with the intention of healing yourself and purifying your thoughts.
- Go to bed early after Isha and do not look at computer screens at night
- Make wudu before sleeping
Given the considerations in such cases, we urge you to please consult reliable local scholars or counselors about the specifics of the situation. Jazakum Allah khayr.
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.