Seeking Peace from Waswas: Struggling with Doubts
As-salamu alaykum, brothers and sisters. For about a month now, I've been wrestling with waswas-those whispers of doubt about Islam influenced by what atheists say. I tried learning more about Islam, and to me, it makes more sense than atheism. The main atheist argument I hear is about human evolution, which Islam rejects. They say scientific theory isn’t the same as regular theory, but when I looked up what a scientific theory really means, it’s basically a regular theory with some evidence but still can be wrong. People believed for ages that the universe was eternal, and that turned out to be false. So yeah, I’m scared if Darwin’s theory and evolution are actually true. Sometimes I catch myself listening to these doubts, like watching debates or reading comments where people say things like "so-and-so exposed Islam" or "this person made me leave Islam," and it feels like everyone is biased. Yet, my heart says Islam is true, but then the waswas sneaks in telling me the opposite and pushes me toward atheism. I really don’t want to become an atheist because it feels depressing and often linked to people who have no strong faith or just want freedom without boundaries. Some atheists have arguments that sound reasonable, and that scares me. Even people like Neil deGrasse Tyson make me question sometimes. It feels like a cycle: I believe in Islam, doubts come, then I feel okay again. I hate how atheist arguments plant seeds of doubt in my mind. I’m also afraid to talk to an imam or scholar because maybe I’ll be judged. What worries me most is the idea of nothingness after death. My gut says it makes sense since when we sleep or are unconscious, we don't remember or sense time, so maybe death is like that. But then I think about the mystery of consciousness, and it gets confusing. I love our Muslim community-I just prayed Jummah and saw people from many races, countries, and languages united in prayer. It’s beautiful. I also appreciate that things like alcohol are prohibited in Islam because of their harm. I don’t get when people say religion is just a way to cope with death or a delusion because our Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) was calm and fearless facing death. I really want to get rid of this waswas and stop being afraid of what atheists say. Please make dua for me, and if anyone has advice on how to deal with these doubts, I’d be grateful. Jazakum Allahu khairan.