A sincere search for certainty in Islam

Assalamu alaykum, everyone. I’m looking for some guidance, and I hope you’ll hear me out with an open heart. I grew up in a Muslim family, but honestly, since I was young, I’ve had a hard time connecting with the idea of Allah, the Hereafter, or a big cosmic plan. It wasn’t like I set out to disprove anything-I just couldn’t wrap my head around believing in something I can’t see or touch. Something that keeps me up at night is how people all over the world are so convinced their religion is the right one. We as Muslims hold Islam close, Christians are firm in their faith, Hindus have their path, and so on. And most just stick with what they were raised in, right? I study science, so I’ve seen how strong the placebo effect can be. When friends talk about feeling Allah’s presence, seeing signs, or having du’as answered, I wonder: is that truly from our Creator, or could it be their own minds shaping things to match what they already expect? Like, how do we separate real divine connection from wishful thinking? I guess that’s my biggest hang-up: what makes you so sure Islam is the absolute truth, and not just one religion among many that feels right because of how you were raised, your community, or how our brains work? I’m in my mid-30s now, and I truly want to give Islam a real, honest chance. I’m not here to debate or be disrespectful-may Allah forgive me if anything came across wrong. I just want to know: what gives a Muslim yaqeen that Islam is the truth, when followers of other faiths feel just as certain about theirs?