Asalamu alaykum - Struggling with fear of the grave and Hellfire
Asalamu alaykum, Bismillah. I’m not sure where to begin, this might be long, forgive me if I ramble. I’ve been dealing with intense fear and anxiety about the grave and Hellfire for a long time, and it’s gotten worse recently. I have habits and sins I find hard to stop. Over a year ago I started a night shift job, so I can often make Jumuah and have a better chance to pray at home. But because I finish early morning I sleep through the daytime prayers a lot. Sometimes I wake up at 6pm or even 9pm and miss too many salat. Living in a non‑Muslim country is tough - I tried Hijrah once and it didn’t work out, so I’m back and don’t really have another option without income. People raised in Muslim countries don’t always realize the blessing of being able to practice Islam openly. I’ve read and heard that missing salat can bring punishment in the grave. I set lots of alarms and try my best, but lately I can’t manage more than maybe three prayers because I keep falling asleep at the wrong times. The fear and anxiety about this sometimes leads me to awful thoughts - like wondering if I’m destined for Hell. I know those thoughts are wrong, but the worry is overwhelming. I also have long‑standing debt from mistakes I made years ago - a few thousand dollars that I haven’t paid back. Some of it went to collectors, some I can’t track. I keep procrastinating, and it’s been about ten years. Once I had a chance to fix things but bought a car that broke down soon after. I feel guilty and foolish. Alhamdulillah I have a job now, but saving is slow and requires discipline. I’m scared of dying while still owing money - I’ve read hadiths and lectures saying dying in debt is serious, and that even martyrs may have debts that remain. I’m determined now to repay what I can, inshaAllah. I’ve struggled with depression most of my life and for a long time I even wished for death, which I know we’re not supposed to do. I’ve been trying to follow the Prophetic dua: “O Allah, keep me alive as long as life is better for me, and let me die if death is better for me.” Still, sometimes in deep depression I slip and pray for death. I don’t want to live past 40 most days - life feels like failure and disappointment. I hope for happiness in the next life, but I know entry to Jannah is by Allah’s mercy. The thought of any punishment in the grave or a moment in Hellfire terrifies me. I long to enter Jannah without account or punishment, and I ask Allah to grant that to myself and everyone who reads this, ameen. I’m exhausted of this dunya but terrified of a bad afterlife. That’s my biggest fear: to suffer in this life and then again in the next. If you read this, jazakum Allah khair. May Allah make it easy for you to enter Jannah al‑Firdous and bless you in this life and the next, ameen. TLDR: I’ve had long‑term depression, I miss many prayers because of night shift and sleeping, I’m scared of grave punishment and Hellfire, and I owe money I haven’t repaid. I’m asking: what should I do?