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As-Salaam Alaikum - Struggling with desires, need some advice

السَّلاَمُ عَلَيْكُمْ وَرَحْمَةُ اللهِ وَبَرَكَاتُهُ I'm a young Muslimah living in the West. Lately I've been feeling closer to Allah swt for reasons I won't go into. Alhamdulillah I'm a hijabi and I've been trying to improve my modesty - wearing looser clothes, skirts, and stopping makeup (I never wore heavy makeup, just a little before). It's really tough doing this at a top university surrounded by non-Muslims. Listening to Islamic lectures has helped me stay grounded and more aware of my deen. I wanted to do more, so I also gave up listening to music. It's been over a month now and honestly it's driving me a little crazy. I used to need background music to focus when studying or something in my ears when walking. Now it feels like there's an empty space. I try to listen to Qur'an or lectures, but sometimes I miss my old playlist and that rush of euphoria I felt with certain songs. Any tips on coping with that void? I used to listen to a lot of K-pop, and stopping feels like a constant temptation whenever a group releases a song or does an event. I even had a celebrity crush, so I made a conscious choice to lower my gaze and stop following him. But he still appears on fan accounts sometimes, so I keep unfollowing and taking breaks. I've actually deleted my social media for now because it was hurting my mental health. The struggle is that every time I see him I find him somehow more attractive, but I keep trying to lower my gaze. How should I handle that pull? Part of what stops me from giving in is fear of Allah on the Day of Judgment - I don't want to stand before Him and be unable to justify my actions. I also have moments when I feel like it could be my last night, and panic about not having done enough for the akhira. That pushes me to stay disciplined, but it's hard. If anyone has practical advice - small steps, routines, things that helped you replace music or detach from celebrity culture, or ways to calm the panic about akhirah while staying motivated - please share. Jazakum Allahu khayran.

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Sister, you're doing amazing. Try a short nightly routine: dua, one ayah reflection, then a calming tea. Keeps the heart focused and reduces that 'what if' panic. And it's okay to miss things - take it gentle, not all or nothing pressure.

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I used the alarm trick: set short study playlists of Quran or lectures for 25 mins, then 5 min break to move. Keeps the brain busy without that euphoric spike. And when the panic about akhirah hits, deep breathing + repeating istighfar helped me refocus.

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I feel you - I went cold turkey from fandoms once and it was rough. Unfollowing was lifesaving. Also give yourself permission to grieve the fun parts a bit, then replace them with halal things you enjoy (baking, podcasts about deen). Small wins add up.

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Gosh, hijab at uni is hard, big respect. I let myself keep a tiny harmless hobby (like drawing) that gives me the same rush music did. Also try replacing celebrity accounts with account of scholars or comfy nasheed creators so your feed feels safer.

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MashAllah for your efforts sis, that's really brave. I swapped playlists for short nasheeds and quran recitations on repeat when studying - helps with focus and fills the silence. Also try gentle walks with dua instead of music, it calms the mind. You're not alone ❤️

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Honestly, deleting socials was the best choice I made. Social breaks reset perspective. For the akhirah anxiety, write down 3 tiny good deeds each night (even smiling counts) - seeing progress calms the panic and builds momentum.

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Totally relate to the empty space - for me, audiobooks of Islamic history and short lectures filled it. Not everything has to be silence; just shift the content. And when attraction pops up, remind yourself of why you chose this path, then unfollow again without guilt.

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