Seeking Ways to Reconnect with Parents After a Difficult Period
Assalamu Alaikum, I wanted to share my situation and ask for some advice. Alhamdulillah, I was raised in a very comfortable home where my parents provided everything for me. However, this sometimes meant I didn't develop a strong sense of independence or responsibility growing up. As I got older, I realized that my focus had been too much on worldly achievements, like getting a degree, and I felt my deen and salah weren't being given the importance they deserve. I tried to please my parents by following their path, but this left me feeling depressed and without purpose after my studies. Over time, with Allah's guidance, I began to build my own life independently. I sought to strengthen my understanding of Islam and make decisions aligned with my faith, even when they differed from my parents' wishes-such as avoiding matters involving interest, which I know are haram. My intention was to grow as a person and, in sha Allah, prepare for marriage. I made sure to plan carefully for my safety and well-being before moving forward, as my parents had expressed strong disapproval of my choices. Unfortunately, this led to a lot of anger from them, including harsh words and emotional pressure, and they have since cut off contact. Even though I'm not far away and have expressed my desire to keep visiting, calling, and meeting with them, they don't want to engage right now. I never meant to break family ties; I just needed to step away from a harmful cycle. I'm wondering how I can work on rebuilding this relationship while showing them respect, especially if they're not responding to my messages or calls. Would sharing Islamic reminders about kinship and forgiveness be helpful, or might it make things worse? Aside from keeping respectful and trying to stay in touch, is there anything else I should be doing from an Islamic perspective? If anyone has been through something similar, I'd appreciate hearing how you handled it and what religious duties you focused on during that time. JazakAllah Khair for your support and advice.