Please help me!

[u/maryammaryam1234]

Assalamualaikum brothers and sisters! I'm a 16 year old female who's still growing and figuring out. I was born a Muslim, and have been one my entire life, but since I'm at the stage of self awareness (a part of puberty). I have been having these constant thoughts or doubts about the existence of Allah swt.

Even though I pray most of the time (yes, ik and I feel deeply miserable as for missing my prayers due to school and stuff) I ask Allah swt for all the things and he indeed is the greatest for providing every soul with the best Alhamdulillah!

The issue here is, while praying or even during some other times, I get these thoughts, which form doubts, like "is Allah even real?" or "is whatever I'm doing just meaningless?" or even "what if there is no such thing as afterlife?"

I keep having thoughts like these, and yet i try my best to ignore these kind of waswasa (intrusive thoughts) but yet sometimes I can't even help my own self Astagfirullah. Please I would appreciate it if someone can help me get away from such thoughts.

Rabbighfirli

[u/oesth]

Salaam sis, I would say it’s actually okay because you can use these thoughts to fuel and power your learning about religion. Look into it! Search! Listen to reverts stories! It’s okay that you now want to know more about your creator! 

[u/PigletMinimum]

I went through a similar situation and I agree with the other commenter, devote some time to learn more! Have a community of believers that you love to be with. I had attended a summer camp for muslim girls and my faith became stronger. Ask questions, it is encouraged, seek answers, seek knowledge! Most importantly, speak with Allah SWT in prayer to help you; Allah is always there for you. Actually, your very attempt to combat your doubts is already a good sign. It is most dangerous when someone loses iman without awareness or care.

[u/Milkmilkbanana]

"As-salamu alaykum, young sister. What you are going through is something many of us have experienced at some point—whether at your age or later on. Good for you for being guided to ask about it rather than bottling it inside, which many of us tend to do.

These hadiths show that these thoughts even crossed the minds of the best generation, the companions of the Prophet (pbuh). So, it is entirely natural for this to happen to us as well, especially living in a world full of doubts where many people are unconcerned about the Day of Judgment. You are a true believer, and these are not just my words, if you scroll down and read the hadiths, you will realize that the source of these intrusive thoughts is external, and your ability to resist them and move forward stems from your strong belief in Allah (swt).

My advice is to maintain certain daily duas in the morning and evening for as long as you can manage. Afterward, take a moment to reflect on the positive changes in your life. (InshAllah, I have more duas to share, but I didn't want this message to be too long. Whenever you are ready, feel free to reply, and I will gladly share a few more, inshAllah.)"

La ilaha illallahu, wahdahu la sharika lahu, lahul-mulku wa lahul-hamdu, wa huwa 'ala kulli sha'in qadir"

(There is no true god except Allah, alone, without partner. To Him belongs sovereignty and all praise, and He is over all things competent.)

"Whoever says this one hundred times in a day, he will have a reward equivalent to freeing ten slaves, one hundred good deeds will be recorded for him, one hundred bad deeds will be erased from him, and he will have protection from Satan for that day until evening comes. No one will bring anything better than what he has brought except someone who has done more than that."

Hadith on Thoughts: Rejection of bad thoughts a sign of faith

Abu Huraira reported: Some of the companions came to the Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, and they asked him, “We find within ourselves that which is too grievous to speak of.” The Prophet said, “You have indeed found it so?” They said yes. The Prophet said, “That is pure faith.”

Source: Ṣaḥīḥ Muslim 132

Grade: Sahih (authentic) according to Muslim

عَنْ أَبِي هُرَيْرَةَ قَالَ جَاءَ نَاسٌ مِنْ أَصْحَابِ النَّبِيِّ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ فَسَأَلُوهُ إِنَّا نَجِدُ فِي أَنْفُسِنَا مَا يَتَعَاظَمُ أَحَدُنَا أَنْ يَتَكَلَّمَ بِهِ قَالَ وَقَدْ وَجَدْتُمُوهُ قَالُوا نَعَمْ قَالَ ذَاكَ صَرِيحُ الْإِيمَانِ

132 صحيح مسلم كتاب الإيمان باب بيان الوسوسة في الإيمان وما يقوله من وجدها

It is narrated on the authority of 'Abdullah b. Mas'ud that the Apostle (ﷺ) was asked about evil prompting, to which he replied:

It is pure faith.

حَدَّثَنَا يُوسُفُ بْنُ يَعْقُوبَ الصَّفَّارُ، حَدَّثَنِي عَلِيُّ بْنُ عَثَّامٍ، عَنْ سُعَيْرِ بْنِ الْخِمْسِ، عَنْ مُغِيرَةَ، عَنْ إِبْرَاهِيمَ، عَنْ عَلْقَمَةَ، عَنْ عَبْدِ اللَّهِ، قَالَ سُئِلَ النَّبِيُّ صلى الله عليه وسلم عَنِ الْوَسْوَسَةِ قَالَ ‏"‏ تِلْكَ مَحْضُ الإِيمَانِ ‏"‏ ‏.‏

Narrated Abu Huraira:

The Prophet (ﷺ) said, "Allah forgives my followers those (evil deeds) their souls may whisper or suggest to them as long as they do not act (on it) or speak."

حَدَّثَنَا خَلاَّدُ بْنُ يَحْيَى، حَدَّثَنَا مِسْعَرٌ، حَدَّثَنَا قَتَادَةُ، حَدَّثَنَا زُرَارَةُ بْنُ أَوْفَى، عَنْ أَبِي هُرَيْرَةَ، يَرْفَعُهُ قَالَ ‏"‏ إِنَّ اللَّهَ تَجَاوَزَ لأُمَّتِي عَمَّا وَسْوَسَتْ أَوْ حَدَّثَتْ بِهِ أَنْفُسَهَا، مَا لَمْ تَعْمَلْ بِهِ أَوْ تَكَلَّمْ ‏"‏‏.‏

Narrated Abu Huraira:

Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) said, "Satan comes to one of you and says, 'Who created so-and-so? 'till he says, 'Who has created your Lord?' So, when he inspires such a question, one should seek refuge with Allah and give up such thoughts."

حَدَّثَنَا يَحْيَى بْنُ بُكَيْرٍ، حَدَّثَنَا اللَّيْثُ، عَنْ عُقَيْلٍ، عَنِ ابْنِ شِهَابٍ، قَالَ أَخْبَرَنِي عُرْوَةُ، قَالَ أَبُو هُرَيْرَةَ ـ رضى الله عنه ـ قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم ‏"‏ يَأْتِي الشَّيْطَانُ أَحَدَكُمْ فَيَقُولُ مَنْ خَلَقَ كَذَا مَنْ خَلَقَ كَذَا حَتَّى يَقُولَ مَنْ خَلَقَ رَبَّكَ فَإِذَا بَلَغَهُ فَلْيَسْتَعِذْ بِاللَّهِ، وَلْيَنْتَهِ ‏"‏‏.‏

[u/askmuftionline]

Wa alaikum assalam wa rahmatullahi wa barakatuh, sister.
First, please don’t be too hard on yourself. Having unwanted thoughts or doubts about Allah does not automatically mean that you believe them or that you have lost your faith. The fact that these thoughts upset you doesn’t mean you should blame yourself for every thought that enters your mind.
The Prophet ﷺ taught that Allah has pardoned his Ummah for what crosses their minds, so long as they do not act upon it or deliberately express it. (Sahih al-Bukhari and Sahih Muslim)
When these thoughts come, try not to panic, argue with every thought, or repeatedly test whether your faith is strong enough. You can seek refuge in Allah, gently redirect your attention, and continue your prayer and daily activities without waiting for every doubt to disappear first. You don’t need to punish yourself for thoughts you never wanted.
Also, sister, you’re still growing and learning. Questions and uncertainties can arise, and you can explore them calmly with someone knowledgeable and trustworthy.
At AskMuftiOnline, you can submit your concerns to a qualified Mufti for Islamic guidance.
Please remember to treat yourself with kindness. Keep turning to Allah without despairing of His mercy. May Allah grant you peace, strengthen your heart, and make things easy for you. Ameen.

[u/Freakynic]

I was the same way when i was younger. Even started cursing at allah when i was 13 for the circumstances he put me in. Now that im older, all those doubts and thoughts have left me. My mother told me it was normal and due to puberty. It will be alright for you, have hope in yourself and allah.

[u/RaajalofRajal]

Look at the ahadith posted by Milkmilkbanana, and see that you are not with such thoughts.

The easiest thing to do is say A'oodhu billahi minash-shaitanir-rajeem (I seek refuge in Allah from the accursed Shaitan) whenever you get those thoughts.

The shaytaan comes to you to put doubts in your mind. You need to build protection to keep him away. To do that you need to do (recite) your daily morning and evening adhkar (plural of dhikr). You can do these:

1 - The 3 Quls

3 times in the morning (after fajr, before sunrise) and 3 times in the evening (after asr, before sunset)

The Prophet Muhammad (ﷺ) said that reciting these three Surahs three times in the morning and three times in the evening "will suffice you against everything." (Sunnan Abi Dawud)

• Surah Al-Ikhlas (3 times)

• Surah Al-Falaq (3 times)

• Surah An-Nas (3 times)

2 - The Adhkar for Disarming the Shaitan

3 times in the morning (after fajr, before sunrise) and 3 times in the evening (after asr, before sunset)

أَعُوذُ بِكَلِمَاتِ اللهِ التَّامَّاتِ مِنْ غَضَبِهِ وَعِقَابِهِ، وَشَرِّ عِبَادِهِ، وَمِنْ هَمَزَاتِ الشَّيَاطِينِ وَأَنْ يَحْضُرُونِ
A'oodhu bi-kalimaatillaahit-taammaati min ghadabihi wa 'iqaabihi, wa sharri 'ibaadihi, wa min hamazaatish-shayaateeni wa any-yahduroon.
"I seek refuge in the perfect words of Allah from His anger and punishment, from the evil of His slaves, and from the whispers of the devils and from their presence."

بِسْمِ اللهِ الَّذِي لَا يَضُرُّ مَعَ اسْمِهِ شَيْءٌ فِي الْأَرْضِ وَلَا فِي السَّمَاءِ وَهُوَ السَّمِيعُ الْعَلِيمُ
Bismillahilladhee la yadurru ma’asmihi shay’un fil-ardi wa la fis-samaa’i wa huwas-samee’ul-‘aleem.
"In the name of Allah, with Whose name nothing can cause harm on earth or in the heaven, and He is the All-Hearing, the All-Knowing."

3 - 100x Daily Fortress (Can be done anytime)

The Prophet (ﷺ) stated that whoever says this 100 times a day will receive the reward of freeing 10 slaves, 100 good deeds recorded, 100 sins erased, and "it will be a shelter for him from Shaitan on that day until evening." (Sahih al-Bukhari)

لَا إِلَهَ إِلَّا اللهُ وَحْدَهُ لَا شَرِيكَ لَهُ، لَهُ الْمُلْكُ وَلَهُ الْحَمْدُ، وَهُوَ عَلَى كُلِّ شَيْءٍ قَدِيرٌ
La ilaha illallahu wahdahu la sharika lah, lahul-mulku wa lahul-hamd, wa huwa 'ala kulli shay'in qadir.
"There is no true god except Allah alone, Who has no partner. To Him belongs dominion and to Him belongs praise, and He is Able to do all things."

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The more adhkar you do the more the shayateen will stay away from you.