Losing faith when you are at a low point in your life is a common struggle almost everyone goes through at one point in life. As mentioned,
“Do people think that they will be left alone because they say: “We believe,” and will not be tested.”
Qur’an 29:2
As mentioned from the verse above, life will certainly come with its trials and tribulations, even for those who believe – weren’t the best of people (the Prophets, May Allah bless them) also tested in all different manners? Whether that be in terms of relations with parents, spouses, children, or even the community they were afflicted and conflicted.
This highlights that it isn’t necessarily low Imaan (faith) that ‘invites trouble’ because regardless of one’s level of Imaan (bear in mind Imaan will most definitely decrease and increase, thus we need to renew it most often so we don’t completely wear out of our Imaan) there will be struggle.
Struggling for the sake of Allah (jihad) can be in the sense of the self in that we push our nafs (soul) to continue being motivated through all the hardships, not letting it push us down by viewing it all as forms of punishment but as a means of bettering oneself and returning to rely upon Allah,
“Of mankind are some who say: “We believe in Allah,” but if they are made to suffer for the sake of Allah, they consider the trial of mankind as Allah’s punishment, and if victory comes from your Lord, (the hypocrites) will say: “Verily! We were with you (helping you).” Is not Allah Best Aware of what is in the breast of the ‘Alamin (mankind and jinns).”
Qur’an 29:10
It can be immensely difficult to take a moment to reflect when even when unwell physically or mentally or watching loved ones suffer, because the problem overwhelms but that’s the real test; continuing to have hope and faith when it all seems hopeless.
Say: “Nothing shall ever happen to us except what Allah has ordained for us. He is our Maula (Lord, Helper and Protector).” And in Allah let the believers put their trust.
Qur’an 9:51
It may not seem like it but even through the ‘bad’ times there can be a good divine reason even if it may not seem like it; it may be that it prevents and protects you from a further unfortunate circumstance Allahu a’alam (Allah knows best).
The beautiful but often forgotten piece of knowledge when going through ‘unfortunate circumstances’ is that all our capabilities are different so our struggles will also be different. Additionally we are not given more than we can bare as mentioned in Qur’an 2:286 that we are not burdened beyond our capacity; yet we compare ourselves to others when we are down in the dumps as if their lives are better – how do we judge this? People may seem better off physically, financially, mentally yet we do not know what is really going on with others, nor should we compare.
We each have our own internal wars that we can battle – equip ourselves with better coping strategies (include more positive reinforcement in daily life), eating and sleeping better, du’aa (supplication), dhikr (remembrance of Allah) and following the Qur’an and authentic Sunnah to give yourself a good fight against whatever may come. It may be that some battles are lost, but that’s ok, it is part of learning but try not to be envious or hopeless as everything is decreed by He who Knows best:
Qadr-Allahu wa mashaa fa’al: ‘Allah has decreed (it) and what He willed, He has done,’
