How do I regain faith?

Question

The past 9 months in my life have been really tough as I have been battling cancer and I've lost faith. I mean I still believe and everything, but I don't have faith anymore, it's hard to explain. It's most probably because I'm still so angry, I'm 20 and so far in my life never did harm to anyone, always respected my parents, and tried to be a good person, and this is how I'm repaid.

It's not that I don't believe anymore, it's that I've turned my back on religion. My head wants to be strong again, but my heart refuses. What can I do?

Answer 1

Realise that religion isn't the way forward. If you've lost your faith in religion it's probably for the best. Just don't lose you faith in life or in yourself :-)

Answer 2

Sister, it sounds natural that you are suffering from all those emotions considering your condition, it is also good that you recognize your lack of faith and in some ways want to increase it. learning the causes behind the decrease of faith and being aware of the factors that weaken it and of how to safeguard one's self from them is a vital matter.  We all suffer increases and decreases of faith, The Holy Prophet (sallallahu alaiyhi wa sallam) said, Iman wears out in ones heart just as the clothes (one wears) wears out. Therefore, ask Allah to renew iman in your hearts. Unfortunately, iman will not increase by only making dua and asking Allah to increase it, but it also takes effort from the believer. Allah states:

Lo! Allah does not change the condition of a people until they (first) change that which is in their hearts. (Surat ar-Rad 13:11)

"... Indeed, and within the body is a morsel of flesh; if it is sound, then the whole body will be sound and if it is corrupt, then the whole body will be corrupt. Indeed, it is the heart."" [Al-Bukhaaree. (1/127 Fath) and Muslim, 3/1220]

Ibn Rajab ( Jaami' al-'Uloom wa al-Hikam of Ibn Rajab ) says: "...the heart cannot be rectified unless there settles within it knowledge of Allaah, His greatness, love of Him, fear and awe of Him, hope and tawakkul in Him and for it to be overflowing with this. This is the reality of tawheed and the meaning of' none has the right to be worshipped except Allaah.'

To increase faith do the following:

1. Learning the Beneficial Knowledge Derived from the Book of Allaah and the Sunnah of His Messenger - sallallahu alaihe wa-sallam

(i) Reciting the Noble Qur’aan and Contemplating on it

(ii) Knowledge of Allaah’s Most Beautiful Names and Most Exalted Attributes

(iii) To Look Attentively at the Biography of the Noble Prophet - sallallahu alaihe wa-sallam

(iv) Pondering Over the Merits and Qualities of the Religion of lslaam

(v) Reading the Life-Histories of the Salaf of this Ummah

2. Reflecting on the Universal Signs (Aayaat Kawniyyah) of Allaah

3. Exerting Efforts Towards Accomplishing Sincere Righteous Actions

"... Verily, it is in the remembrance of Allaah that the hearts (truly) attain tranquility" [Soorah ar-Ra'd (13):28]

"... and establish the prayer. Verily, the prayer prevents from all obscenities and evil deeds. And the remembrance of Allaah is greater ..." [Soorah al-Ankaboot (29):45]

"Indeed, he succeeds, who purifies it (i.e., his soul). And indeed, he fails, who corrupts it." [Soorah ash-Shams (91): 9-10]

Answer 3

There is practically nothing that Allah loves more than one of His servants having enough energy to pray and have faith in times of need & suffering.

Be strong.

Answer 4

may allah help you, it is said that shaytan likes to play more on peoples faith when it comes to these issues. the only thing i can say is make salah and ask for allah to guide you and read about allahs reward in jannah . to allah we all shall return . my father is a non muslim and i wish to allah that he may guide him. read about what happens when you are buried and the questions you are asked. i cant even imagine your hardship,   read quran and hadith, even rasooll allah lost his daughter very young. have faith and may allah guide you and all of us inshallah

my aunt that is in her early 30 was found to have cervical cancer and it  had to be removed.   be strong

Answer 5

h**l dont ask me. im hindu. unless ur trying 2 regain faith in the hindu religion i cant help

Answer 6

Accept that this was Gods plan for you and rather than brooding on it, try to learn something from it. Bring the positives from the negatives so that maybe you can help others when you share your experience with them. Practice your religion and try to reaffirm you faith through learning and growing with it. :)

Answer 7

yeah i know what you mean 4 of the closest people died in the last year and a half my 18 yr old cousin got crushed by his car falling over him.my 31 year old uncle got killed when his car got bumped and he hit a huge metal pole.my dads best friend since 1st grade got crushed under a huge truck filled with concrete bricks he was 50.and just yesterday morning my dearest friend died of leukimia 4 days after his 25th birthday.i cant belive this has all happened to me and im still 13 but thats life im angry at God i know its haaram they were all good muslims and prayed but why? i wish i had died i just feel useless im tired of life and im just thru with everything but i cant do anything i am starting to pray for them but it wont help bring them back but i have to get thru this life and hope for a better place in heaven.so ive lost my faith and getting it back inshallah bit by bit.this is a test of faith and inshallah u will get thru ur cancer and be better.

Answer 8

u have to practice islam fully in order to find inner peace and satisfaction.  Its like reading a book and understanding its meaning as compared to not reading the book but believing it exists.

Answer 9

when bad things happen to u ur faith become tested but u shud know that every good and bad comes from Allah (swt) .. make sure u pass it ! don't give up on Allah and believe that every bad and good things comes from Allah and for certain purposes !!

u can strengthen ur strength, weaken ur weaknesses and rise urself worth by accomplish what u want !! ... read the noble quran it helps regain faith !

Answer 10

try to enjoy your time here.. and know that GOD has a better plan for you once you  are with him.. im sure it has to be very hard for you.. and no answer is going to be like a light bulb and just click you right over.. but smile. just keep praying to him and asking GOD to help you to be strong.. and keep you in his arms.. and praise him for all the good times he has shown you in your 20 years. may god bless you and your family. *hugs*

Answer 11

Cancer grows faster when you are nourishing poisonous anger within. It kills your immune system. A healthy liver can fight cancer. Do some research about spiritual and natural health approaches to cancer. Fruits, veggies, and lotsa joy.

You may be finding that typical Islam has not much to offer in comfort when faced with a crisis sometimes. You may need a more spiritual approach than rules rules rules and all these judgmental people. Give yourself permission to ask God for what you truly want in life.

To heal, you need to accept yourself, love yourself, flow healing energy to yourself. Ask God for help to find the help you need, even if it's outside the Muslim community. For example, Reiki and Rolfing are types of massage that improve the immune system. I know a Muslim woman who went to a Chinese doctor who helped her heal her cancer through herbs and meditation on positive energy dissolving the cancer.