How Allah lifted me through a recent struggle

Assalaamu’alaykum,

I’ve been a little quiet on social media lately.

Something had been weighing heavy on my heart and I couldn’t quite place it.

It felt like a ball of tangled string and I didn't quite know where to begin unravelling the strands. Along with that came worry, hesitation, indecisiveness and a general lack of motivation. 

Why am I sharing this? Because through it, I learned a valuable lesson, subhanAllah.

The work on self never really ends. No matter how much we grow or feel we’ve arrived to that “okaaay I got it,” place, life will always find a way to stretch us again, to test us, pause us and reorient us.

As hard as those moments can be, they are the inevitable tests of life that Allah places on our path but they are also beautiful gifts, wrapped in struggle.

Last week, the pressure I was feeling intensified and I knew I needed to take some action. So I created some quiet space to go inwards and sit with the struggle. I slowed down my work and blocked out some days to observe, recognise and process what I was experiencing.

I booked a session with my coach and also met a dear friend to help me hold space for reflection. I knew two things would happen:

1. I’d hear my thoughts out loud and gain clarity and
2. I’d receive reminders from someone I trust, someone who would shine the light of Islam on my struggle. 

Alhamdulilah, the pressure lifted. The knot untangled and the way forward became clear. All praise is due to Allah.

My dear friend, who was also part of The Travellers programme, reminded me of my own words...the reality of this life, the fact that we are all just travellers passing through this temporary dunya.

We may have our projected path but it's NOT the only path, in fact it may not even be a path at all subhaAllah!

The path has always been and always will be with Allah. We might think we know the route to our destination, but Allah may have laid out many paths to get us there. And His path will always be superior to our own. 

When I surrendered to that truth, when I removed the ticking clock I had placed on myself and remembered that everything, absolutely everything that we do and own belongs to Allah, something lifted.

Nothing belongs to me, it's all on loan. The point was never the destination, but how we use what’s been entrusted to us to draw closer to Him.

From our homes and cars to the clothes on our backs, the people in our lives and the work in our hands, it all belongs to Allah. And each is a vehicle meant to carry us back to Him.

This is the traveller mindset. And to stay in it, we need constant reminders:

“And remind, for indeed, the reminder benefits the believers.” (Qur’an 51:55)

The relief was almost immediate. Nothing around me had changed, yet everything within me did. Alhamdulilah.

Was it the solitude? My coach? My friend’s timely wisdom? Honestly, I believe it was the power of duaa. 

From the very beginning, I kept turning to Allah and Al-Fattah (The Opener) opened the doors one by one... to solitude, to the right people, to clarity. He lifted the weight and granted me the baseerah (insight) I needed. 

I’m sharing this in case you’re also carrying something heavy. Here are four steps that helped me find ease without a single thing or person around me changing:

1. Duaa: all the way, in all the ways. In sujood, tahajjud or throughout the day. Keep pouring your heart out to Allah and surrendering to Him.
2. Solitude: make time for silence. Sit with what’s surfacing, with compassion, curiosity and without judgement.
3. Seek professional help: support accelerates healing and elevates perspectives. 
4. Share with a trusted friend: someone who listens with compassion and reminds you of Allah. And if you don’t have that person yet, keep asking Allah to send them to you. 

We’re all human. It’s not weakness to struggle. Even our beloved Prophets (peace and blessings be upon them), the greatest of all people experienced pain and hardship.

Yet through every trial, they showed courage, sabr and an unshakeable determination to keep seeking Allah. And in that pursuit, they found comfort and victory.

May Allah grant us the same resolve, courage and steadfastness to keep turning to Him, ‘azza wa jal, through it all and be pleased with our efforts. Ameen, ya Rabb.

P.S. Here are a few ways we can stay connected and work together:

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Reflection of the Week

Is there an outcome you’ve been holding on to tightly?
Reflect on how that attachment makes you feel then release it to Allah with tawakkul, trusting that He will grant you what’s best.
Notice what shifts within you.

Dua of the Week

اللَّهُمَّ رَحْمَتَكَ أَرْجُو فَلَا تَكِلْنِي إِلَى نَفْسِي طَرْفَةَ

عَيْنٍ وَأَصْلِحْ لِي شَأْنِي كُلَّهُ لَا إِلَهَ إِلَّا أَنْتَ

O Allah, I hope for Your mercy. Do not leave me to myself even for the blink of an eye, and make all my affairs good for me. There is no deity except You.

(Hadith: Abu Dawood 5090, Ahmad 27841)