Spiritual Rock Bottom
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Hello Feshari,
Don't worry about it -) Belief and non-belief is a process that we go through in finding God. That's normal part of the spiritual quest. You need to experience this "disconnection" for a while so that you can develop better understanding of Divinity.
Regards,
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Peace Feshari,
It happens from time to time. We're human, not superhuman and at those times I speak to God acknowledging that I'm only human and ask Him for assistance in getting through it.
Life is a struggle, there's no other way of putting it. It can have it's great moments but yes, it can have it's bottoms.
I suggest you might see that even the messenger at times struggled and perhaps even doubted what was occurring to him
1094 If you have any doubt regarding what is revealed to you from your Lord, then ask those who read the previous scripture. Indeed, the truth has come to you from your Lord. Do not be with the doubters.
So even as the messenger God has to reassure him when he is doubting. That says something about our human condition. There are other verses where God assures the messenger he is not crazy etc.
So don't worry about it and don't let it become a negative thing. Know that others experience it too - at least I have and probably will again - but I've come out with better understanding afterwards.
Regards.
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Peace Feshari,
completely disconnected with islam ? Don't know, depends on what you define as islam...
Shortly after discovering free-minds I got disconnected with my practices and needed time to think and reconsider. Am not yet "fixed" BTW and may be so much the better.... But my believe (in one god alone) in itself didn't change.
Cheer up, ups and down are sooo human wink
Elke
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Anyone here hit a spiritual rock bottom and felt almost completely disconnected with Islam?
Peace Feshari
yes, I feel like that from time to time - like my connection to Islam is the thinest possible thread. I find that reading quran helps me at times like this - and keeping away from other muslims.... although curiously it is usually the company of other muslims that helps me a lot when I start to reconnect.
like truth said, its always a struggle - sometimes Allah makes it easy for us and at other times restricts us. God bless sister, be strong and make time for yourself.
salaams
asdfjk
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Salaam Feshari,
So even as the messenger God has to reassure him when he is doubting. That says something about our human condition.
Just to add to that...
Or did you expect that you would enter Paradise, while the example of those who were before you came to you; they were stricken with adversity and hardship, and they were shaken until the messenger and those who believed with him said ?When is God?s victory?? Yes indeed, God?s victory is near.
Peace. )
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PEace,
Like everyone has said, we all go through this...important thing is to perservere and remain persistent through it all...many people end up dropping out of all religion during the periods they are down. Dont forget to repent and speak to God with the intention of reforming yourslef.. A beautiful verse which says it all
If anyone thinks that GOD cannot support him in this life and in the Hereafter, let him turn completely to (his Creator in) heaven, and sever (his dependence on anyone else). He will then see that this plan eliminates anything that bothers him.
I always remind myself of this verse when I feel down and confused..amazingly after leaving the matters that are bothering me aside and just turning to God for help...I get a sense of peace which I often lack. Peace,
Omar
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Peace Feshari, All,
I think spiritual rock-bottom is the wrong phrase to use. It is better described as an opportunity for spiritual awakening. We have to remember that "beliefs" can waver. You may believe in ghosts one day and then get introduced to a new theory that makes you not believe in ghosts. This is the way the mind works. The mind always takes a position, or keeps digging until it finds a safe place to perch- that is, until a safer place to perch emerges. Ask your mind a question and it will instantly provide an answer. Ask a negative question, and you'll get a negatove answer. The mind rarely stops to question the question.
Example
Question Why do bad things always happen to me?
Answer Because God is punishing you, or, because of bad karma, or, because you're just unlucky.This is the job of the mind.
But the mind is not the soul. The soul knows the answer before it is asked. The soul will not even accept this negative question, because there is no truth in it. It is only when the mind and soul are in harmony that one finds peace.
Sounds like gibberish right?
Try this exercise
Think of a loved one, be it brother, sister, wife, husband, parent, friend, anyone you really, truly love or loved.Just meditate on that person for a minute. Think about how dear he/she is to you. Witness the way your heart physically reacts to some good memory you may have. Just sort of soak in that love for a minute or so.
Now try to explain what you're feeling in words. Try to express the reasons you love that person. If you're true to yourself in this exercise, you'll find that you cannot express it appropriately in words. There aren't descript enough adjectives to paint the picture in it's proper light. This is because love stems from the soul.
My point is You are not your mind, you are your soul. A "spiritual rock-bottom" simply means that what you're thinking does not mesh with what you know. This is a great opportunity to dig into the real issue. The trick is stopping your mind from blocking the answers.
Peace,
Tay -
Peace be upon you Feshari,
What is "islam"? Tell us in english the trouble you are having.
That will be the first step back to the PEACEFUL MINDSET that is the goal of peaceful submission to the God.Taj said it well, when we are ANYWHERE but in Peace, it is difficult We must be patient and humble. Never despair.
And rememeber that the tests will Always come, its all abouyt how you recieve them, that is how you will be sorted out from the rest, either for good or bad. D
Sincere advice, sit up straight with a curve in your back, like a cobra and breate deeply from your stomach, not your chest, you should breathe so that you cannot hear your breath. close your eyes and remove all thoughts from your head. That will give you what you need.
Then come on back and lets get to some more studying D
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peace to all,
i'm sure we all go thru down periods from time to time; personally i sometimes feel a need to step away from so much studying and give myself a break. i'll take time away from this forum, break from reading Quran, and maybe look into some other things like "reading or learning to recite prayers used by Native Americans", i may read a biography or 3, write, listen to music for a few weeks or months or whatever.......then at some point i'll feel the desire to reconnect if that makes sense.......during that time i'll hopefully have learned a new prayer or at least grown in some way......i just try to be consistent in making prayers. believe me, sometimes i read the posts on this forum and wish i had the knowledge of many on here but the truth is i'd get burned out quickly if i tried to catch up to them so i just take a moderate pace and learn whenever and whatever i can -
I think that during anger and dispair that this disconnection takes place!
Agreed. That's part of it. I'm going through a heavy depression right now.
A few things that are bothering me that I will address here (maybe other converts are feeling this way too?)
- The profound feeling of loneliness knowing you're surrounded by thousands of crazed Christians who hate you and your religion and having to see every day of your life horrible bumper stickers that say things like , 'Koran, a bloody book for bloody killers," "Allah is a false god, Muhammed is a false prophet," "Muslims have a different god than Jews and Christians" etc. Feeling of isolation and no other muslims to talk to face to face. Yes, we have a mosque here but I don't dare step foot in it because they are all sunnis and I wouldn't feel comfortable going to a place that separates males and females and so forth and makes women cover their hair to step inside. Why be around a bunch of Muslims who act more like Christians and Jews?
I see Muslims in the grocery store and now I do not bother to say hello to them. I cannot relate to them. They all dress like Arabs and speak languages I don't understand. Their culture is ingrained into Islam. - No one I know (friends, family) gives one iota about Islam or asks me about it. I do not want to talk about Islam if no one wants to hear it. It makes me feel more isolated. In fact the other day, my mother said something to me about Jesus Christ. She said, "I thought Muslims didn't believe in Jesus Christ."
I said of course we believe in Jesus as a prophet of God. I told her that Jesus Christ is written about in the Quran and as well as the details of his birth etc.
She replied, "So you don't believe he died on the cross," as she put her hands on her hips. (I grew up Catholic--she still is.)
I said "No, I don't."
She asked, "Well then who was it?"
I wanted to say, "Where is your proof anyone was hung on any cross to die in the first place?" I had to let it go. I did not want to argue. I felt like I was being put on an examination table again. Once again, on my own with no one to back me up. It's gotten to the point where I cannot hold myself up anymore. I think it's probably better just to keep my mouth shut.
In my area, Pensacola, FL, is an extremist form of Christianity that has sprung up over the past few years which I call Christian Zionism. These are the nutcases who drive around with big Israeli flag magnets on their cars and anti Muslim bumper magnets. They hate every inch of Islam. In my county alone there are hundreds of churches and many are extreme in their views, as I have spoken to some of their members. These people scare me. As you may well know, Pensacola is also home to several bombings of abortion clinics and 2 doctors were murdered here a few years ago. This place is a time bomb and I'm just waiting for the next bomb to go off. It's not the Muslims who scare me, it's these crazed Christians. Their potential for more violence is growing. No, this is not paranoia. You just have to live here for as long as I have.
I guess for me it is just lack of support where I live, whether it's from my friends or family, and not being around like minded people that is starting to get to me after over 3 years of being so called Muslim.
Please do not suggest to me to move. I have no money to do that. I'm not rich. Far from it. I realise I need a change to a better, more open minded place but I cannot do that at this time.
Please also don't suggest just to ignore the bumper stickers, the flags and so on. It's very painful to see these things and they are everywhere. As much as I try not to let it bother me, it really does. Islam is a part of me and my life and when they show that deep hatred, they are hurting a piece of me. Ignoring them is like ignoring a slap in the face. I would never stoop so low as to insult Christianity and put horrible things about it on my car as I proudly wave my "I'm saved so I'm better than you" attitude.
I just wish I had people who believed as I who lived in the same city where we could get together and discuss Quran and Islam the way it was intended to be used as a soundtrack to our lives.
I guess I'm just sort of stuck right now. I'm sure it happens to a lot of people. I just need support, but I need it in my face, not on the internet. Without seeing a comforting face to show me it's okay, I don't feel any real sense of well-being.There, I've said it. It goes a little deeper than that, but spilling my guts on a forum for all to read is quite scary enough, so I'll just leave it at that.
Thank you to all for the kind words you've offered me. I really liked muslim1118's (sorry hope I got your nick correct) answer and found it to be most helpful. I feel I need to take a break, but then I go back to reading about Islam and talking about it online to the people I know.
I'm glad to have a place to discuss Quran without being accused of being a kafir. lol
God bless you all and peace be with you.
- The profound feeling of loneliness knowing you're surrounded by thousands of crazed Christians who hate you and your religion and having to see every day of your life horrible bumper stickers that say things like , 'Koran, a bloody book for bloody killers," "Allah is a false god, Muhammed is a false prophet," "Muslims have a different god than Jews and Christians" etc. Feeling of isolation and no other muslims to talk to face to face. Yes, we have a mosque here but I don't dare step foot in it because they are all sunnis and I wouldn't feel comfortable going to a place that separates males and females and so forth and makes women cover their hair to step inside. Why be around a bunch of Muslims who act more like Christians and Jews?
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peace Feshari,
wow, you sure have a lot going on......i'll see if i can be of some help........i am located in SC so i know the feeling of isolation, the extreme X-tian views, the bumper stickers, comments etc........the biggest source of strength has been in turning to the Quran. Free-Minds has also been a big help to me in that i feel like i am surrounded by like-minded muslims and i've been comfortable here since day 1. I haven't been in a masjid in like 4+ yrs now.
It can get lonely i know, sometimes i just want to be around other muslims besides the internet but i can't find anyone in my area either. also i try to talk with x-tians about the differences in beliefs regarding Jesus and sometimes the person will listen and sometimes i sense they just feel Islam is wrong no matter what. as for those people i just leave them alone. I've also let my temper get the best of me at one time or another (definitely not suggesting you do any such thing), but i went off on a few people and i guess word got around that i'm not one to approach with the idea of converting me to Christianity. Also something that has helped recently is that in my area we have Air America radio......i've been hearing about the abortion clinic bombings on the Randi Rhodes show.....i'm sure she broadcasts in your area........if you're not familiar with her try listening sometime.........she helps keep me calm since she expresses a more progressive view of the world. Another thing to remember is that some people are just ignorant........plain and simple............i'll let others give ayats on the points you made since some have a better grasp of Quran than i do. just try and stay commited to God Alone and insha'Allah you'll find peace within. May Allah Bless you and keep you strong. May He guide your heart/mind towards peace. May He protect your health. May He protect your from evil. May He grant you wisdom. Ameen -
Salaams Feshari,
I thank you very much for venting out some the steam. Your situation is not good and my heart is with you but you know what, I think that the solution is in your hand and within your budget too but will you follow through? Can you forget all about religion, what you believe in and what others believe in and just focus on your physical self? Can you join a health club or do a sport that would take all your energy so that you won?t have any left to waste on others? Others can be hell, absolutely. I can describe the situation here, in the Middles East around me, as such! But where can I go? How can I escape? No escape that is my fate! And that is why I keep myself really busy from others because they almost kill me with what they do and say, etc?And when I really have to be with them, I would pretend like I am enjoying every second! This pretending is hard work but being with them teaches me things which then balances out the accumulating stress from such gatherings. And I would reassure myself that these gatherings do not happen every day, thankfully.
If you believe that what people do or say has nothing to do with you, you will surely feel much better. The Quran was not intended to make those who believe in it feel miserable. You are in charge of your feelings, not others. What your Mom believes is her personal choice and not only should you not argue with her rather you should support her in her choice and understanding. You don?t want to maximize the friction between you and others, especially your Mom.