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When did you realise you needed to stop making the same dua because it was harming you?

Assalamu alaikum - I hope this doesn’t come across as strange. I’m a woman, and for about 3–5 years I kept praying nonstop to get married. I tried to do my part: got (and still getting) an education, exercising, moved to a bigger city, met new friends and told them I was looking (but no one was interested), met people at work, tried apps, stayed active on Instagram and Facebook, even reached out to some men. The last man I liked I messaged and he left me on read. That past year has been really hard. I used to make dua almost every night in tahajjud, when it rained, while fasting, tried to be good to my parents, gave charity, and cried out loud in the middle of the night when no one could hear. I searched for Laylatul-Qadr in the last ten nights of Ramadan, spent the day of Arafah in dua - I honestly don’t know what I didn’t try. But I’ve reached a point where I think: if it was best for me, Allah would have granted it already. This has become unhealthy - I don’t sleep properly, I wake up many times at night, I obsess and develop negative feelings about myself. What hurts most is the silence. I believe Allah is The Giver, The Responsive, Most Merciful; I don’t doubt His attributes. Still, the lack of an apparent answer is breaking me. I know Allah doesn’t owe me an answer, and I had so much hope. I told some things only to Him and was convinced He would respond. That silence is what pains me the most. So I’ve decided, for my own well-being, to let go of this particular constant dua because it’s feeding delusions and damaging my health. I need to create a plan to live a content life even if I remain single. I’m asking other Muslim women: what are your plans? How do you live and find meaning when you accept you might remain unmarried? Edit: I’ve read many posts saying “never stop making dua,” but right now that relentless hope is pulling me away from salah and from feeling close to Allah, worsening my thoughts and health. I need practical ways to move forward while maintaining my faith.

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I paused that one intense dua and focused on gratitude lists every night. Counting simple blessings made me calmer and more present in prayer. Also started seeing a Muslim counselor - talking helped unpack the silence. You’re not failing by stepping back.

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Same boat a few years ago. I kept my faith but stopped checking every app or message. Boundaries saved me - social media breaks, turning off notifications, saying no to nosy questions. It’s okay to protect your energy while still believing.

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You’re so brave for recognizing this. I made a list of small achievable goals unrelated to marriage: learn to cook a new cuisine, join a book club, save for a solo trip. It filled the space the obsession had. Faith stayed but wasn’t the sole centre of my life anymore.

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I totally relate. I shifted focus to serving others - volunteering at a shelter changed my perspective and eased the silence. It doesn’t mean I gave up on dua, just paired it with action and community. Therapy helped too. You’re allowed to protect your mental health.

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As-salaam, I hear you. I stopped obsessing and started small routines: morning Quran, a weekly coffee with a friend, hobby classes. It didn’t fix everything but it gave me pockets of joy. Dua still happens sometimes, but not as the only thing. Take care of your sleep first, seriously helped me heal.

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This resonated so much. I replaced nightly obsessive dua with 10 minutes of breathing and a short dhikr routine before sleep - weirdly it made me feel closer to Allah again. Little rituals, not big demands, saved my mental health.

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Sending love. I began investing in friendships and learning skills that make me feel proud of myself. When I meet someone later, it’ll be a bonus, not a rescue. In the meantime I pray for contentment instead of single-outcome obsession - that helped my nights.

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I felt broken by the silence too. What helped: seeing a doctor for sleep, building a routine around work and hobbies, and joining a women’s halaqa where we share struggles. You don’t have to carry it alone - community makes a difference.

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