Living in the ‘grey area’ In part 1, I reflected on how truth unveils itself slowly, over timeframe that cannot be rushed. But how do we cope while we’re in the ‘grey area’ between certainty and confusion? “You will certainly move from stage to stage.” — Qur’an 84:19 Every experience shapes us. We’re in a […]
Author: Shirin Zaid
Doubting Your Faith Part 1: When it’s Hard to Believe
Sometimes one contentious issue or unanswered question can shake the foundations of belief. Religious doubt can feel like pain, shame, guilt, anger, confusion, despair and disconnection. Exploring the roots of doubt There’s a convenient story that non-believers like to tell themselves about religion being a primitive mechanism that developed for societies to function. They say […]
Why don’t good deeds always feel good?
You could be standing in prayer and feel nothing. You might offer to help someone and feel only irritation and stress. At times, ‘being good’ just doesn’t feel good. If Islam teaches that goodness is always rewarded with goodness, why does life sometimes feel heavy and hard. What happens when there’s no instant gratification or […]
How do I bounce back from guilt, regret & self-blame?
How do you weigh accountability against self-compassion? Ok, so, you messed up. And now you feel like crap. You’re stuck reliving your mistakes, weighed down by regret, guilt and shame, struggling to move on. Whether it’s returning to a sin, hurting someone you love, destroying a relationship, or just doing something ‘stupid’, the answer is […]
The link between desire, anxiety & depression- Qur’an 4:32
Having desire is healthy and normal. But when does longing for more become a problem? And how do we find a balance between being satisfied with what we have and our natural inclination to strive for better? What do our desires tell us? Whether it’s making more money, wanting designer clothes, marrying a certain person, […]
Lessons from the Bee About Overthinking – Qur’an 16:90
The bee and Divine inspiration In Surah Nahl – (the chapter of the Qur’an named after the bee) – there is honey for the soul. The Qur’an tells us that Allah inspired the bee to go out and eat from every flower and fruit from the earth, resulting a unique healing for all mankind: “And […]
Standing against genocide – rebuilding Palestine
It’s easy to feel powerless watching a brutal genocide unfold. But there is always something you can do to help. Here are two campaigns you should know about that offer practical solutions to some of the challenges facing Palestinians right now. You, or someone you know, could be uniquely placed to make a real and […]
What helps when depression feels like you’re drowning?
A short meditation on the mercy of water, for anyone who feels like they’re drowning in sadness or depression. “…And We have made from water every living thing…” – Qur’an 21:30 The intricate water cycles of life-giving rains, rivers and oceans are ‘signs’ referenced continually in the Book written by the One who created all […]
Is silence good for your mental health? Seclusion & Surah Maryam
That soul-shaking moment when a prayer is on our lips and we feel like Allah Most High (the only objective reality) is listening, can give way pretty swiftly to feelings of anxiety, doubt, fatigue or distraction:
Letting go of obsession: a spiritual balancing act
We all have obsessions at some point – sport, a TV show, fitting in, looking good, achieving a career goal, love, rejection… But when we’re hung up on something and just can’t seem to let go, it can eventually take a toll on our mental health. Intuitively we know that when something feels stuck and […]