- Category: Islamic Advice
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Feeling Worthless or Unsatisfied in Life
Do you feel worthless, hopeless, or unsatisfied with life?
Rejection and criticism by others, or failures we experience can lead us to feel this way if we are not careful. You are left feeling if your life has meaning, you begin to doubt yourself, and maybe even feel you are not worthy of love or respect.
Every person has a purpose, and Allah didn’t make a mistake by creating you. You simply don’t realize your self-worth.
“Indeed, in the creation of the heavens and the earth and the alternation of the night and the day are signs for those of understanding. Who remember Allah while standing or sitting or on their sides and give thought to the creation of the heavens and the earth, [saying], “Our Lord, You did not create this in vain; exalted are You [above such a thing]…” (Qur’an 3:190-191)
Nothing, including you, is made in vain, or made worthless. Everything that exists has a purpose, even if it is something small and seeming invisible.
You are your own responsibility, so don’t allow others to devalue you.
Control your thought processes
Whatever you choose to focus on will be your reality. If you focus on the negative traits of your spouse, kids, income, etc. you will feel frustrated and angry with/about them. If you focus on them being a source of blessing and comfort you will feel content with them.
If your focus is on hate, bigotry and negativity you will feel paralyzed, but if you choose to focus on hope, goodness and solidarity you will feel empowered & strong. Focus your attention on all that is positive in order to live a productive, hopeful life! It is that simple!
Feeling unsatisfied with your situation?
This is a video of a man that has no arms, and no legs. He is a great inspirational speaker that will humble you, and make you grateful for what you are blessed with. It is an amazing video, check it out.
Accept the Qadr of Allah
You should believe that all matters are in the Hand of Allah. They go on as he predetermines, no one could change His predestination and no one can comment on His Judgments.
Whoever believes in Him and submits himself to His decision he becomes successful in this life and in The Hereafter. Whoever follows another way harms himself only, and could not harm Allah nor change Allah's predestination.
Allah tests His slaves on the strength of their religion and according to their position in His eyes.
"When the Prophet ((pbuh)) was asked which people suffered the greatest affliction, he replied, "The prophets, then those who come next to them, then those who come next to them. A man is afflicted in keeping his religion. If he is firm in his religion his trial is severe, but if there is weakness in his religion it is made light for him, and it continues like that till he walks on the earth having no sin." Be sure that which you miss, was not to hit you, and what hits you, was never to miss you.
Sincerely worship Allah in all conditions, always Praise Allah, the Lord of the Worlds; and be patient.
This is the case of a Muslim. The Prophet (pbuh) said: "The case of a believer is wonderful; there is good for him in everything and this characteristic is exclusively for him alone. If he experiences something pleasant, he is grateful to Allah and that is good for him, and if he comes across some adversity, he is patient and submissive and that for is good for him." (Sahih Muslim)
Do not think only about the trials you are facing, there are many blessings Allah has poured on you and many trials He has kept away from you without your awareness. Observe the one who is below you and do not observe the one who is above you, perhaps you may despise the blessings of Allah as narrated in a sound hadeeth. Do not look to Haram earning even if they are available. Satan makes sinful acts seem alluring to one, especially in the mentioned situation. Allah is the Oft-nice He does not accept other than nice.
Wait for a near happy ending from Almighty Allah. No doubt, relief is after grief and easiness is after hardship. The days are turns. There is no loss at all for one who enjoys good health with good faith in his heart.[i]
A believer sometimes detests this world and his heart is attached to the Hereafter. Yet despite his dislike for this world, he carries out his duties towards Allah and His slaves, and he strives to do good as much as he can, in accordance with the words of Allah:
“And worship your Lord until there comes unto you the certainty (i.e. death)” (Qur’an 15:99)
And there are some people who detest this world, not because of the Hereafter, but because they think that their share of it is very little, and that others are better off than them. Undoubtedly this is a kind of discontent with the will and decree of Allah, for Allah is the One Who bestows blessings and distributes provisions, as He says (interpretation of the meaning):
“And if Allah were to enlarge the provision for His slaves, they would surely rebel in the earth, but He sends down by measure as He wills. Verily, He is, in respect of His slaves, the Well‑Aware, the All‑Seer (of things that benefit them)” (Qur’an 42:27)
Some people hate this world because they have been faced with a great deal of trial, stress and exhaustion in it. Undoubtedly these people do not understand the true nature of this world. This world is the realm of striving and trial, the realm of stress and exhaustion, especially for the righteous believer, who encounters all kinds of trials by means of which Allah expiates his sins and raises him in status. Allah says:
“Verily, We have created man in toil” (Qur’an 90:4)
“Do people think that they will be left alone because they say: ‘We believe,’ and will not be tested. And We indeed tested those who were before them. And Allah will certainly make (it) known (the truth of) those who are true, and will certainly make (it) known (the falsehood of) those who are liars, (although Allah knows all that before putting them to test)” (Qur’an 29:2-3)
“Allah will not leave the believers in the state in which you are now, until He distinguishes the wicked from the good. Nor will Allah disclose to you the secrets of the Ghayb (Unseen), but Allah chooses of His Messengers whom He wills. So believe in Allah and His Messengers. And if you believe and fear Allah, then for you there is a great reward” (Qur’an 3:179)
“And certainly, We shall test you with something of fear, hunger, loss of wealth, lives and fruits, but give glad tidings to As‑ Saabiroon (the patient). Who, when afflicted with calamity, say: “Truly, to Allah we belong and truly, to Him we shall return.” They are those on whom are the Salawaat (i.e. who are blessed and will be forgiven) from their Lord, and (they are those who) receive His Mercy, and it is they who are the guided ones” (Qur’an 2:155-157)
Remember how the Prophet ((pbuh)) was tested. His people showed enmity towards him, and the closest of people to him resisted him. Some people slandered him, others persecuted him. He was thrown out of his home and was subjected to a harsh boycott. The kuffaar gathered together to kill him, and his wife Khadeejah (may Allah be pleased with her) died at the most difficult time. He would go for a month or two at a time without eating anything but dates and water. All of this happened even though he was the Prophet of Allah, and His Messenger, the one to whom Allah entrusted His Revelation. All of this happened even though he is the owner of the position of praise and glory (al-maqaam al-mahmoud) and the Cistern (al-hawd) to which his ummah will come (on the Day of Resurrection). All of this happened even though his sins, past and future, had been forgiven.
So what about us, with all our sins and shortcomings?
Do the following:
Firstly: make a lot of du’aa’, calling upon Allah, and seek to draw close to Him by different kinds of worship, such as praying, giving zakaah, fasting and so on. Beseech Allah to take away what is in your heart (of sorrow etc) and to grant you relief. Allah says (interpretation of the meaning):
“Those who believed (in the Oneness of Allah — Islamic Monotheism), and whose hearts find rest in the remembrance of Allah verily, in the remembrance of Allah do hearts find rest” (Qur’an 13:28)
“Verily, those who are Al-Muttaqoon (the pious), when an evil thought comes to them from Shaytaan (Satan), they remember (Allah), and (indeed) they then see (aright)” (Qur’an 7:201)
Secondly: Understand that whatever Allah decrees for His believing slave is all good. No matter how difficult your life may become, to Allah belong all things in the heavens and the earth. So set things straight between yourself and Allah, and Allah will suffice you against having any need of people.
Thirdly: Your depression and tiredness may be because of something that you have missed out on and not acquired or achieved. In that case you should know how often a person has pursued something, not realizing that in it lay his doom; and how often has a person grieved for missing out on something he wanted, but he does not know that had he attained it, it would have spelled loss in both his spiritual and worldly affairs. So accept the will and decree of Allah, and seek the help of Allah, and do not feel helpless.
Fourthly: Check your heart and mind, and examine your relationship with Allah thoroughly, because a person may be denied provision because of sins that he commits.
Fifthly: You may have some personal or family problems; the way to solve these problems is by prioritizing them. Seek the help of Allah (first and foremost), then the help of experienced people to solve these problems, and resolve these issues.
Sixthly: Remember that the most sorely tried of all people were the Prophets, then the next best and the next best. It is proven in al-Musnad from the hadeeth of Mus’ab ibn Sa’d that his father said: I said: O Messenger of Allah, which of the people are most sorely tested? He said: “The Prophets, then the righteous, then the next best, then the next best of people. A man will be tested according to his level of religious commitment. If there is some solidness in his religious commitment, he will be more sorely tested, and if there is some weakness in his religious commitment the test will be lightened for him. A man will continue to be tested until he walks upon the face of the earth with no sin on him.” Musnad al-Imam Ahmad, no. 1481. Shaykh Shu’ayb al-Arna’oot said: its isnaad is hasan. And it was classed as saheeh by al-Albaani in Saheeh al-Jaami’, no. 992.
Seventhly: Persist in praying for forgiveness and in worshipping. That is better for you than all the worldly steps you can take, no matter how great and how many they are. This will also relieve your worries. It was narrated in some reports that whoever persists in praying for forgiveness, Allah will grant him a way out from every worry and hardship and will grant him provision from sources he never thought of.
So persist in worshipping Allah, and act in accordance with the words of Allah (interpretation of the meaning):
“And worship your Lord until there comes unto you the certainty (i.e. death)” (Qur’an 15:99)
“And strain not your eyes in longing for the things We have given for enjoyment to various groups of them (polytheists and disbelievers in the Oneness of Allah), the splendour of the life of this world, that We may test them thereby. But the provision (good reward in the Hereafter) of your Lord is better and more lasting” (Qu’ran 20:131)[ii]
Recommended Reading
Islamic Solution to Depression
Advice for Trials and Tribulations We Face
What does the Quran and Sunnah say about Trials and Tribulations
Defeating Depression and Sadness In Islam
