Finding Solace in Allah After a Difficult Separation
Assalamu alaikum everyone, I'm a bit nervous sharing this here for the first time. I don't feel entirely comfortable calling myself a good Muslim, because my upbringing wasn't very religious, and most of what I know about Islam came from a dear friend. What she taught me really touched my heart, and Allah guided me through a tough phase years ago. Since then, I've been meaning to deepen my faith and get closer to Him, but I've sadly let that slide. Right now, I'm hurting after the end of a long marriage that lasted two and a half years. Before I met my ex-husband, my mental health was at a low point—I didn't want to be alive, felt like I had no purpose, and just escaped into video games day and night. I couldn't sleep properly, my studies suffered, and I had no motivation. My financial situation and family issues made things worse. I was drowning in hopelessness. When we got married, my life turned around completely. I had never been that happy; it felt surreal. I finally felt loved and valued, but our marriage was also toxic. He struggled with depression even more than I did, and we ended up hurting each other deeply. Toward the end, I tried so hard to fix things, to change and communicate better, but it still fell apart. He's in a dark place and doesn't want to work on it, and I can't force him if his heart isn't in it. It aches because I don't know how to carry on without him. I truly believed he was my soulmate, and the thought of a future without him—knowing he might never return—shatters me. I feel like I have nothing left to live for. I've been turning to Allah, asking for guidance, but I'm still lost. I don't really have friends or hobbies, which makes this even harder. He was my entire world, and now that he's gone, I'm back to being that depressed, lonely woman I was before. I know Allah tests us only with what we can bear, but I feel too weak for this. I don't want to forget him. I'm just not strong enough. I'm sorry if anything I said goes against Islamic teachings; I have nowhere else to go. But honestly, Allah has always been there for me, even when I didn't believe. He drew me closer to Him and helped me through past struggles. This is the hardest trial I've ever faced, and I need advice. Please, any guidance would mean the world.