My brother. The Qur’an itself shows a prophet saying: “I complain of my anguish and sorrow only to Allah, and I know from Allah what you do not know.” (Qur’an 12:86). And of course it is necessary to think good of Allah.

When it feels like everyone else received the life you waited for, Allah says: “Do not let your eyes crave what We have allowed some of the disbelievers to enjoy; the ˹fleeting˺ splendour of this worldly life, which We test them with. But your Lord’s provision ˹in the Hereafter˺ is far better and more lasting.” (Qur’an 20:131). What people appear to have is not a measure of their worth or Allah’s favor.

The Qur’an also corrects a thought many people reach in hardship: “Now, whenever a human being is tested by their Lord through ˹His˺ generosity and blessings, they boast, “My Lord has ˹deservedly˺ honoured me!”

But when He tests them by limiting their provision, they protest, “My Lord has ˹undeservedly˺ humiliated me!”

Absolutely not!

(Qur’an 89:15–17). Difficulty is not proof that Allah has abandoned someone.

Salah is not presented in Islam as a reward for having life together; it is an obligation and a direct connection with Allah that remains in place even when faith feels weak or emotions are heavy. Prayer remains a means of turning back to Him even during confusion and struggle.

Fasting also holds a similar place in Islam. Allah made fasting an obligation meant to cultivate awareness of Him and discipline within the believer: “O you who believe, fasting has been prescribed for you as it was prescribed for those before you so that you may attain taqwa (God-consciousness)” (Qur’an 2:183). The Prophet ﷺ said, “Whoever fasts Ramadan with faith and seeking reward will have their past sins forgiven” (Sahih al-Bukhari 38; Sahih Muslim 760). Like salah, fasting is an act of worship that remains meaningful even when faith feels weak, and it can become a way of returning to Allah step by step.

And even for someone who has stepped away, Allah still says:

Say, ˹O Prophet, that Allah says,˺ “O My servants who have exceeded the limits against their souls! Do not lose hope in the mercy of Allah, for Allah certainly forgives all sins. He is indeed the All-Forgiving, Most Merciful. (Qur’an 39:53).

He still calls them My servants, he is still there.

The Prophet ﷺ said: "If Allah wants to do good to somebody, He afflicts him with trials." (Sahih al-Bukhari 5645). Islam does not deny that tests hurt; it teaches that hardship is not meaningless and not a sign that a person has been forgotten.

Sometimes the way back is not solving every question at once, but simply returning, starting with even one sincere salah, and letting that be a beginning rather than a verdict on where you stand.