Seeking Support Against Waswas to Fortify My Developing Faith
Assalamu alaikum everyone, I'm reaching out today, hoping you can help me gather as much proof as possible about the truth of the Quran and that Islam is indeed the final message from our Creator. I need this to push back against the negative whispers and manufactured doubts that Shaytan is planting in my mind. In my heart, I am completely certain about Islam, but let me explain my situation a bit more. For a long time, I was what you might call a 'cultural Muslim.' Being born in Morocco, culture and religion were completely intertwined. I believed in Allah, but I didn't pray regularly, and my Ramadan fasting was more about going along with everyone else than deep conviction. After some life events, I decided to focus on bettering myself. I started exercising, focusing on building halal income, living by a moral code aligned with Islam, and controlling my desires to improve my life. While strengthening these areas of my life, I realized I was missing the most important pillar: the spiritual one, through Islam and worshipping Al-Mighty Allah, who we owe everything to. That's when I sincerely started praying my five daily salah for the first time. Sadly, without even realizing it, within a few months Shaytan began attacking my faith. I abandoned my duties as a Muslim, became arrogant and materialistic, obsessed only with business and money. I even reached a point of challenging Allah, astaghfirullah, thinking I was untouchable. This went on for about a year until I was tested with an autoimmune illness that brought me lower than ever, even forcing me to leave my studies. At the time, I was still focused on recovering just to get back to work, but now, alhamdulillah, I see it as Allah's mercy calling me back to Him. What recently helped me rediscover my faith was a simple chain of events. It started with curiosity about a type of forbidden magic, which led me to the stories of the prophets, and then to the amazing predictions in the Quran made over 1400 years ago. Through deep reflection-which is one of my strengths and later helped me recognize the waswas-I realized something: the idea of a Creator who doesn't interact with His creation, like some believe, seems impossible to me. It's like a teacher (Allah) giving an exam (life) to students. He wouldn't just give the test and then leave them without rules or guidance on how to pass. Those rules are the Quran, the Sunnah, and the revelations that came before. So, rationally, I am 100% convinced of Allah's existence and the truth of the Quran because of its miracles, subhanAllah. To strengthen my faith, I've been deeply studying the stories in the Quran, and I plan to get books on the hadith and the Sunnah of the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him). To keep moving forward, I've even learned the protective surahs and Ayat al-Kursi to seek Allah's protection from evil. But just hours ago, these artificial doubts (waswas) started again, questioning my faith in Allah and Islam. It got worse after I read some arguments from non-Muslim sources. Rationally, I know many people leave Islam because they find it challenging or because their faith was weakened, like mine feels now. What makes me believe these thoughts aren't truly from me is, first, that I feel ashamed of them-just like in a hadith of the Prophet (peace be upon him)-which is a sign that Shaytan sees my growing faith and wants to ruin it. Second, these constant, obsessive swings between belief and disbelief aren't like me at all. To give an example: when I decided to pursue halal entrepreneurship, even with doubts, I never had these intrusive, obsessive thoughts. My past decisions came from deep thought and inner certainty. I think you understand my main point now. That's why I'm asking those of you with more knowledge in Islam to share solutions to fight this-whether by sharing clear proofs that leave no room for doubt, or by teaching me the spiritual remedies from the Quran and Sunnah. Jazakum Allahu khayran, my dear brothers and sisters.