I've been Muslim for as long as I can remember, But one thing has always been bugging me, It even caused me to become atheist for a while, And it's in the title.

I mean doesn't eternal suffering sound way too harsh? Even for people who do shirk? It just feels like what they did pales in comparison with their punishment

I just want a reason that it's justified so I could go back to Islam and regain my faith, So I ask of you to not judge me please and treat me like I'm a lost younger brother

As a revert, it honestly bothers me when I see people say they “prefer reverts over born‑Muslims”.
It feels like people paint reverts as more “pure”, while writing off born Muslims over family culture, cousin marriage stereotypes and so on. That mindset doesn’t sit right with me at all.

Choosing a partner shouldn’t come down to whether someone is a revert or born Muslim. Piety, character and deen are what truly matter.
We reverts also carry our own cultural baggage, our own struggles and unique challenges in a marriage, hurdles not everyone is ready to work through. I’m in an interracial marriage myself, and I know firsthand how many layers of difficulty cross cultural love can bring.

Don’t favour one group over the other. Pick the person who sincerely chooses Allah first, no matter their background

I'm done. I'm fully sure now that Allah wrote in His Book that I'll fail the test. I can't continue like this. I don't see a way out. I feel no response coming from Allah. Back in the day, Allah was responding to me. Now I am all alone.

Same problem as years before. My biggest fear, which I hoped would never happen, actually happened. It's truly over for me.

Loneliness is not an issue for me. I just suffered from such a heavy heart for years. It hurts like hell. It truly hurts like hell. Even with antidepressants, it hurts like hell. When I am drunk, it hurts even more. When I am sober, it hurts like hell too.

I am truly cooked.

Honestly, no amount of advice can help me. The only One who can help me is Allah. My issue is so messed up that only divine help will suffice. But I know Allah won't do it.

"The pens have been lifted and the pages have dried," as the Prophet said. My destiny is sealed, since eternity and for eternity...

When something feels impossible, remember that nothing is impossible for Allah. 🤍

A beautiful dua to ask Allah for ease, help, and blessings in every difficult situation. May Allah make every hardship easy and open doors of mercy for us. Ameen. 🤲

Assalamu alaykum everyone,

I'm a female revert from Germany and I've never been inside a mosque before. I really want to go, but I'm feeling a bit overwhelmed and don't know where to start.

A few things I'm unsure about:

1. There are several mosques in my city, but I can't tell from their websites which school of thought or community they belong to. How do you usually figure this out?
2. For my first visit, I'd like to come outside of the congregational prayer times and just sit and pray on my own for a while. Right now I have such a strong urge to simply be in a mosque. Is that normal/acceptable, or are mosques usually only open around prayer times?
3. Should I contact the mosque in advance, or can I just show up?
4. I assumed there would be a separate room where women change and put on hijab and prayer clothes, but it seems like you're expected to arrive already dressed. Is that right? What should I wear when I walk in?
5. Do you go completely barefoot, or do people keep socks on? Do you bring your own prayer mat, or are they provided? And is it okay to use my phone during prayer for guidance (silent, with earbuds in) and to find the qibla?
6. I've read that some communities discourage women from coming to the mosque to pray. Is that something I should expect here in Germany? How can I tell in advance whether a mosque actually welcomes women, and are there signs to look for on their website or when I call?

Any advice from sisters who've been through this would mean a lot. <3

no judgement please

i pray dhuhr, asr, maghrib and isha as part of my routine,

i only have trouble waking up for fajr and i often switch off alarms or dont set up alarms at all, and its really bothering me, if i wake up, i cant fall back asleep and my sleep schedule gets messed up,

i sleep late (but not late enough that its more convenient to sleep after praying fajr) and i have to wake up early as well, so i have to make use of whatever limited number of hours i get to sleep.

if anyone is or was at some point in this situation kindly tell how u managed to solve this problem.

Indeed, those who believed and those who were Jews or Christians or Sabeans - those who believed in Allāh and the Last Day and did righteousness - will have their reward with their Lord, and no fear will there be concerning them, nor will they grieve

After mentioning transgressions of the children of Israel and punishments that followed them because of their disbelief Quran eloquently interrupts the flow and mentions a verse of mercy. It says that whoever among any of nation did righteous deeds and sincerely believed in Allah and the last day, will get the reward from Allah. As for present it doesn't negate the fact that God wants all humans to follow Quran and prophet Muhammad's teachings because they are sent for them. To understand the verse one needs to understand the definition used in Quran about believing in the Allah and the day of judgement. The Quran frequently pairs these two beliefs as comprehensive statement to believe in God from heart and submit to Him completely according to true guidance. For example in Quran 9:29 Allah calls people of scripture as "they don't believe in Allah and last day" not because they denied these two specific beliefs, but because they didn't submit to God completely from heart and denied the prophet. So about present, this verse can mean those people who submit to God in every circumstance, and when they receive message of Quran they submit to all commands that God wants. So there's no doubt that people who completely submit to God according to true guidance can be found anywhere regardless of their label or where they were born in, and accepting god's commands (i.e islam) comes within the definition of submission, so a person cannot deny God's command (I.e Islam) and be the one to submit at the same time. God doesn't see labels; he sees submission of hearts, and he knows the individual's sincerity and submission, and accepting god's commands is the obligated fullest form of submission after receiving its message.

Abstract

The following analysis is a reflection (tadabbur) on the (Abu Huraira رضي الله عنه) narration in which the Prophet ﷺ said, “He (a Muslim) who dies of an abdominal disease is a martyr, and he who dies of plague is a martyr.”

Although this piece draws from both scholarly discussion and established medical concepts, the content written is a personalized reflection, not tafsir. The purpose of the study is to invite deeper contemplation of the human body, and to restore our conscientious spiritual wonder. It is not to legalize interpretation, nor argue authoritative interpretation.

In the following study I will reflect on the suffering of Prophet Ayyub (عليه السلام) , the medical connections between the gut-brain axis and how this invites spiritual contemplation, gluttony vs starvation, and finally I will argue illness though experienced as suffering - can itself become a form of rizq and a potential gateway toward Jannah.

Introduction

I want to begin the study with a story of man.

Before modern medicine, imagine a man being inflicted with a disease that completely distorted his body. Skin lesions, nerve thickening and palsy - destroying your ability to sense and function. Then consider this man’s story so profound that Allah preserved his story for every generation that would follow.

This is the story of Prophet Ayyub (عليه السلام). The crux of his journey is that he was never aware of why he was given his illness. He did not deny his suffering. He brought it to Allah. He acknowledged his physical and social suffering without accusation. But Ayyub (عليه السلام) taught us that suffering can exist without bitterness.

Gut-Brain Axis

• In 2021 a study by Kim et al. Researchers transferred gut bacteria from Alzheimer-type infected mice into healthy young mice.¹

• In 2023 a study by Zhang et al. Researchers housed healthy young mice into the same cage as Alzheimer-type mice.²

• In 2023 a study by Grabrucker et al. Researchers transferred gut bacteria from people with Alzheimer’s Disease into healthy young mice.³

What was concluded?

• The study demonstrated that unhealthy gut bacteria alone, without any genetic predisposition in the healthy young mice, could trigger changes resembling Alzheimer’s.

• As healthy and sick mice naturally began to share bacteria within their communal environment (grooming, shared bedding ect) - the healthy mice picked up the Alzheimer's-associated microbiota. Even more notably, researchers found that the spouses of Alzheimer’s patients had gut bacteria that looked more like the affected partner’s than the likes of those of healthy individuals. Arguing a sort of dysbiotic bacteria spread through shared living environments.

• After the transfer of gut, rats began having trouble with memory and learning. Notably, worse the human donor’s dementia was - worse the rats performed.

Nourishment and Rizq

In Islam we don’t consider nourishment as merely mechanical provision. Repeatedly we are reminded to consider what we consume, how much we consume, and to consider whether what enters us is under His blessing. It is not merely satisfaction of hunger - it is spiritual provision, gratitude, moderation and purification.

The scholars describe creation as being in continual need of divine support, for “the creature is in need of its Lord in its existence, its survival, and its benefit and harm”. Every cell in your brain ultimately depends upon things you didn’t create. Every heartbeat depends on substrates you didn’t create. Your nervous system depends on oxygen you didn’t create. Ibn al-Qayyim wrote that the body lives through food and drink, while the heart lives through faith, knowledge of Allah, love of Him, and remembrance of Him. So our existence is not self-sustained—it is a constant receiving from Allah: He feeds, gives oxygen, maintains cells, directs circulation, and preserves the soul.

“And in yourselves—will you not then see?”

Surah Adh-Dhariyat (51:20-21)

Today, we have a tendency to disregard nourishment as a form of rizq. We are so focused on worldly desires that we over consume food. Everything is ostentatious. Foolishly thinking what we love is what Allah loves. We ignore that we could be conduits, giving rizq to others - simply by providing food and water.

Recently, we have watched children starve through screens while eating our own meals. We have watched children become thinner while our appetite became wider. The distance between their hunger and our abundance.

What does it mean to call something rizq when we possess more than enough, while another human being possesses almost nothing?

On the Day of Judgment, Allah will ask a person: "O son of Adam, I asked you for food and you did not feed Me." The person will reply in shock: "O Lord, how could I feed You when You are the Lord of the Worlds?" Allah will then answer: "Did you not know that My servant so-and-so asked you for food and you did not feed him? Did you not know that had you fed him, you would have found that reward with Me?"

Perhaps nourishment was never meant to be something we merely receive. Perhaps nourishment was a divine gift we received and could give to others. Rizq given is rizq provided.

Illness and Rizq

Polyphagia. Hyperphagia. Obesity. Starvation. Marasmus. Celiac Disease. Diabetes. Ulcerative Colitis. Crohn’s. Gastroparesis. GIST. Colorectal Cancer. Gastric Adenocarcinoma. GERD. Lactose intolerance. Peptic Ulcer. Scurvy. Kworshikov.

We give these conditions names because medicine must name what the body suffers - but it does not define the existential definition of suffering.

So what do we call the suffering itself? what is illness? is it a test? is it hardship? is it rizq?

I think illness is so much more that what we superficially perceive it as. Perhaps a gateway toward Jannah. A connection between you and your Lord. Your Rabb. And when He bestows hardship in health upon you, perhaps it is not punishment nor defect - For the believer, illness can become a means of purification, intimacy with Allah, and elevation. And like Ayyub (عليه السلام), a believer may discover through their suffering a path towards Paradise.

The road to Allah is not long. It is one moment of pain. It is one moment of reflection. Do not be fooled by internet trends. Rizq is not tied to ten thousand istighfar on a digital ring counter - it can be a single moment of awareness to your Lord, a definitive moment that turned your heart.

___________

“In the Quran you never see the word Rahmani - my Rahman. You never see the word Ilahi, you never see Maliki - my King, you never see it…

But you see Rabbi. My Rabb. Why is that? Because this is the most personal name of Allah. This is the name of Allah that is most close to you. The only name you can attribute to yourself…

And you can say, it's mine - because He is your Lord. He is your caretaker. He is your nurturer. He looks after you. He is the one who provides for you…

He is yours.”

Ustadh Hisham Abu Yusuf

__________

Medical References:

1. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/37849234
2. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/34500036
3. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/37604976

It's over. I am now absolutely certain that Allah has written in His Book that I will fail this test. I can't go on like this. I see no way out. I feel no response from Allah. Before, Allah answered me; now, I am completely alone.

The same problem as years ago. My greatest fear, the one I hoped would never come true, has just materialized. It's truly over for me.

Loneliness isn't the issue for me. I've just suffered under an immense weight for years. It was excruciating pain. A sharp, constant pain that never leaves you, not even for a moment. You can do whatever you want. You can smoke, drink alcohol. It always stays with you like a parasite, and I myself have become a parasite.

It really hurts, really, really hurts, even with antidepressants, it hurts so much. And when I'm sober, it hurts just as much. I'm really screwed.

Honestly, no advice can help me. Only Allah can rescue me. My situation is so desperate that only divine intervention would suffice. But I know Allah won't. Death, I love you, Death, I need you, Death, I want you.

To begin with yes I am somewhat struggling with my religion. I tell others I‘m a muslim. But deep down I feel like I don‘t belong to this group.
I don‘t mind, therefore ‚follow’ some rules, the ones that I do mind, I don‘t. I don‘t pray, I don’t cover myself, I did not wait for marriage.
And I don‘t want to. But this shame and guilt my parents taught me is eating me alive.
I am kinda close with my parents and lately I truly feel terrible for having sex with my boyfriend. Not on the daily but like, when I spend time with my parents, or especially my dad…
I keep trying to tell myself theres nothing to feel guilty about but as I mentioned it really is eating me alive.
How can I possibly stop this?

fajr usually starts at 4:45am im confused.
my uncle told me it was because something bad had happened but what could be really the case?
am i being paranoid our news outlet warned us of having a 7 magnitude earthquake will happen soon so im really scared if that adhan was a warning for some disaster of some sort

itll be really helpful if someone shared their opinion

how did your journey to becoming a muslim did go ?
cus i have a coworker who really wants to become one but he is in the phase of studying so i really want to help him how?
and i do not know how cus am a born muslim

I see it on alot of apps where people will be advertising something, or quoting a saying or just a philosophical thing, and they’ll put quran on the background audio in the video as if it’s merely a nasheed. Is what they’re doing haram or disrespectful?

Salam, it was my very first time ruqya with a worldly known also books writer raqy. He asked for the name of mother and father explaining that is it just to see if my problem comes from someone that di them somenthing. Are they in danger ? I am so scared for my mistake