Feeling Afraid of Death and What Comes After
Assalamu alaikum. I've been a Muslim my entire life, and I've made mistakes, but almost every time I felt guilty afterwards. I would sin, then repent, then do the same sin again, then repent again, over and over. I've missed many prayers too. I still ask for forgiveness and guidance. Lately, I've seen so many people dying-celebrities, family of friends, relatives of acquaintances-and I became scared that I or someone close to me could be next. This fear made me start learning about death and the afterlife, about the punishment in the grave and also the peace it can bring. It sparked a fear in me like never before, but it also strengthened my faith in a way I didn't think possible. Still, I can't stop thinking about death every second. It makes everything around me feel less important, I feel less happy, I don't enjoy things as much, and I don't feel like myself anymore. I feel like death is coming for me next and it's driving me crazy. Because of this, I've been praying more, repenting more, and trying to learn more about Islam. I'm also trying to learn how to enjoy life while still knowing it will end soon. I have a history of anxiety and maybe depression or OCD. Even though I'm trying to be more religious and repent, I sometimes get intrusive thoughts that are wrong and scary, and I'm afraid they make my faith less sincere. I'm sharing this to see if anyone can offer advice, guidance, or relate to what I'm going through. Jazakum Allahu khairan.