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 […]
Tag: Crisis of faith
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 […]
Earthquakes and disaster: making sense of “natural evil”
Making sense of “natural evil” Below is an extract from a thought-provoking khutbah delivered by Shaykh Khaled Abou El Fadl, in the wake of a devastating earthquake in Turkey in 2023. Many Muslims found themselves questioning why God allowed this to happen and others insisted the event must be some kind of Divine punishment on […]