Overwhelmed by Doubts – Need Urgent Advice and Du’as
As-salamu alaykum, everyone. I’m in a really dark place and need to let this out. I’d be so grateful to anyone who reads and responds-may Allah bless you. A bit about me: I’ve always tried to be religious. There was a time I’d pray every sunnah and nafl, but it got so time-consuming I scaled back to just the emphasized sunnahs and fard. Back in my teens, when I started taking deen more seriously, I got hit with severe waswasa. I’d repeat a rakat ten times just to be sure, and once I spent hours on Isha alone. It pushed me to breakdowns where I’d curse and hit my prayer mat. My parents complain I take too long in the bathroom because I obsess over every drop for wudu. Eventually, I just started doing the bare minimum-praying only fard, saying the tasbeeh once instead of three times, and washing each limb once in wudu. I’m basically surviving as a ‘bare minimum’ Muslim. But now, for the past two months, I’ve been drowning in insane doubts-stuff so weird I don’t think anyone can answer. I cry alone, terrified I might not even be a Muslim. I wonder if I could ever marry a Muslimah if I’m not one myself. I’m scared to even search for answers because admitting these doubts might make me a kafir. I suffer in silence because I can’t bear my parents thinking their son lost his faith. Alhamdulillah, I still pray all five salah, fear Allah, avoid lying and stealing-but music is a struggle. I just want these thoughts gone. I made heartfelt du’a during Umrah last month for them to disappear, but they haven’t. Who can I turn to? Maybe a therapist, but I don’t want my parents to worry. I emailed a local imam but got no reply. I’m at a breaking point and need your perspective: am I still considered a Muslim? And what can I do to overcome this? JazakAllah khair for reading. I ask you, for the sake of Allah, keep me in your du’as. You’re all in mine.