Am I a Hypocrite? Seeking Honest Advice, Insha'Allah
Assalamu Alaikum brothers and sisters, Please be respectful and honest. There are two parts to this and sorry if it’s long… Lately I’ve been reflecting a lot. I know I’m not the best Muslim, but I try my best. I try to pray the five daily prayers, though sometimes not exactly on time - I make sure I do all five before I sleep. First part: I keep repeating a sin. After I do it I feel guilty and regretful, I make wudu and pray and ask Allah for forgiveness. But it becomes a cycle: I sin, I repent, I slip again, I repent again. Inside my head I tell myself things like “you’re useless” or “you can’t keep sinning and asking for Allah’s mercy.” How can I tell if this is a sign of hypocrisy? What should I do to stop this cycle? Second part: I live in Florida and I’ve seen people online and nearby being hostile toward Muslims who pray. It really angers me. Hearing some people insult the Prophet (peace be upon him) or speak disrespectfully about Allah makes my blood boil. How do I manage these feelings? Some days I want those who insult the religion to be held accountable, but they seem to spread lies without consequence and that frustrates me. I want to be better. I want to memorize Qur’an, to do Hajj, to be there for my family and my Muslim brothers and sisters - Ameen. But my ongoing struggle with sin makes me fear I’m hypocritical, even though I blush and get upset when I hear slander about Islam. Some days I am so sad and scared about whether Allah will forgive someone like me who keeps falling into sin. I know He is Most Just and Most Merciful, but my inner voice keeps accusing me of being a hypocrite. How do I know if I truly am a hypocrite? How can I improve myself and get past this constant guilt and fear? Jazakum Allahu khairan for any advice and dua.