As-salaamu alaikum!
You watched the video (https://youtu.be/-Wgc_ovsjBQ). Or maybe you didn’t yet — but you’re here, and that tells me something.
Tonight, I want to go somewhere the video didn’t have time for. This is possibly one of the most important topics, and so I am giving you a little extra tonight. It’s longer than the usual email, but I promise, it’s worth it.
Reflecting More on Ibrahim’s Request
This is important: doubt about Islam is classified by Muslim scholars as a disease of the heart that can only be removed through knowledge. At the same time, every believer will experience doubt at some point, because even the Prophets were afflicted by doubts from time to time.
Abu Huraira reported: The Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him, said:
نَحْنُ أَحَقُّ بِالشَّكِّ مِنْ إِبْرَاهِيمَ إِذْ قَالَ رَبِّ أَرِنِي كَيْفَ تُحْيِي الْمَوْتَى قَالَ أَوَلَمْ تُؤْمِنْ قَالَ بَلَى وَلَكِنْ لِيَطْمَئِنَّ قَلْبِي
We are more likely to doubt than Abraham, when he said: O Lord, show me how You give life to the dead. Allah said: Do you not have faith? Abraham said: Of course, but rather to put my heart at rest. [2:260] (Muttafaqun Alaiyh)
The doubt of Abraham was not a doubt that Allah couldn’t resurrect the dead. He confirmed his faith, but he wanted to know more about Allah’s power to settle his heart on the matter. This is considered a simple doubt removed by asking those with knowledge.
Al-Qurtubi commented on this ayah in his tafsir, writing:
The majority say that Abraham, upon him be peace, never doubted that Allah could give life to the dead, but rather he requested to see it with his own eyes. That is because souls seek light to see what they are told about.
In Islam, it’s normal that people want to see more proof of the Divine revelation. These are simple doubts that are cured by learning more about Islam and experiencing more of Allah’s wondrous signs. Experiencing these simple doubts is not a sign that you’re a bad Muslim or that you have weak faith.
Doubts that are rooted in arrogance, though, are the doubts that are problematic and deeply unhealthy for the soul.
The Knowledge that Dispels Doubts
Knowledge of the revelation in Islam, the Quran and the Sunnah, is essential for every Muslim and highly effective at removing doubt. But, those who don’t study or take their religion by following those around them, are those who are often most affected by doubts, trials, or threats to their faith.
The certainty in Islam that you will get from Divine revelation is next reinforced by observing the signs of Allah in creation. Remember that it is the habit of the believer to observe the amazing things in the natural world, reflecting upon these universal signs, and then connecting them to what is gained through the Divine revelation.
Allah said:
إِنَّ فِي خَلْقِ السَّمَاوَاتِ وَالْأَرْضِ وَاخْتِلَافِ اللَّيْلِ وَالنَّهَارِ لَآيَاتٍ لِّأُولِي الْأَلْبَابِ الَّذِينَ يَذْكُرُونَ اللَّهَ قِيَامًا وَقُعُودًا وَعَلَىٰ جُنُوبِهِمْ وَيَتَفَكَّرُونَ فِي خَلْقِ السَّمَاوَاتِ وَالْأَرْضِ رَبَّنَا مَا خَلَقْتَ هَٰذَا بَاطِلًا سُبْحَانَكَ فَقِنَا عَذَابَ النَّارِ
Verily, in the creation of the heavens and the earth and the alternation of the night and the day are signs for those of understanding, who remember Allah while standing or sitting or lying on their sides and give thought to the creation of the heavens and the earth, saying: Our Lord, You did not create this aimlessly, exalted are You above such a thing, so protect us from the punishment of the Fire. [3:190-191]
Moreover, on this topic, Al-Ghazali writes:
Hence, when you have understood the meaning of prophecy and you have abundantly examined the Qur’an and Sunnah, you will inevitably arrive at the knowledge that the Prophet ﷺ embodied the highest levels of prophecy, and that is reinforced by experiencing his teachings in regards to worship and its effects on purifying the heart… Thus, when you experience that one thousand, two thousand, and many thousands of times over, you will necessarily attain knowledge in which there is no doubt. (al-Munqidh min al-Ḍalāl)
You Will Certainly Hear That Which Will Distress You
We have to expect that unfortunately some non-Muslims, but not all or even most of them, will attack Islam and say many hurtful things to the Muslims about Allah and His Messenger ﷺ. This is among the trials of life, for Allah to test us in our faith.
Allah said:
لَتُبْلَوُنَّ فِي أَمْوَالِكُمْ وَأَنفُسِكُمْ وَلَتَسْمَعُنَّ مِنَ الَّذِينَ أُوتُوا الْكِتَابَ مِن قَبْلِكُمْ وَمِنَ الَّذِينَ أَشْرَكُوا أَذًى كَثِيرًا ۚ وَإِن تَصْبِرُوا وَتَتَّقُوا فَإِنَّ ذَٰلِكَ مِنْ عَزْمِ الْأُمُورِ
You will surely be put to trial in your property and your lives, and you will hear many harmful things from those given the Book before you and those who commit idolatry, but if you are patient and your fear Allah, that is among the matters requiring resolve. [3:186]
Their efforts are seen today in the many distortions about Islam that can be found on the internet and even in “academia”. You will also see mockery as part of this effort.
And Allah said:
وَمَا يَأْتِيهِم مِّن رَّسُولٍ إِلَّا كَانُوا بِهِ يَسْتَهْزِئُونَ
There never came a Messenger to them but that they mocked him. [15:11]
But, you should realize that mocking something is not an intellectual argument. It is a sign of weakness because they can’t give proof against it, so they resort to making fun. It is a logical fallacy named as “appeal to ridicule” or ab absurdo.
Practical Steps
As I said, you will feel these attacks—it is sadly inevitable. So, when you do, the first thing you should do is ask knowledgeable people about wahtever doubt has been presented to you, so that it can be removed. Remember that there is no shame about having these kinds of doubts and, in fact, it is something good to ask knowledgeable people about them in order for them to be resolved.
Allah said:
فَاسْأَلُوا أَهْلَ الذِّكْرِ إِن كُنتُمْ لَا تَعْلَمُونَ
So ask the people of the Message if you do not know. [16:43]
Ignorance that produces doubts about Islam is a essentially a disease of the heart, and the only cure is knowledge, that often comes from more knowledgeable people, who likely have experienced your doubts before and worked through them.
Jabir reported: The Messenger of Allah ﷺ said:
إِنَّمَا شِفَاءُ الْعِيِّ السُّؤَالُ
Verily, the only cure for ignorance is to ask questions. (Abu Dawood)
Doubt in something causes pain in the doubter’s heart until he acquires knowledge and certainty. It is said to the scholar who answered with what clarified the truth: You have healed me with the answer. (Amrāḍ al-Qulūb wa Shifāʼuhā)
The Psychology of Religious Doubt (what the research actually shows)
Here’s something worth knowing: studies on religious development consistently show that adolescents who go through a period of questioning their inherited faith — and come out the other side — tend to have stronger and more personally owned religious identities than those who never questioned at all.
The psychologist James Fowler called this “Stage 4” faith — individuative-reflective faith. It’s when you stop believing because your parents believe, and start believing because you believe. It’s hard. It feels like loss. But it’s actually maturation.
The teens I worry about aren’t the ones asking hard questions. They’re the ones who learned that asking is dangerous, so they went underground — practicing outwardly while emptying out inwardly.
That’s the real crisis.
A journaling exercise for tonight
Find five minutes. Somewhere quiet.
Write down the doubt you’ve never said out loud. Not to share with anyone — just to acknowledge that it exists.
Then write: “Ibrahim asked Allah to show him. I’m asking too.”
See what comes up.
Resources if you want to go deeper
The Purification of the Heart by Hamza Yusuf — accessible translation of classical Islamic psychology; the section on waswas (whispering doubts) is directly relevant
Surah Al-Baqarah 2:260 — read the full context, then read tafsir al-Tabari or Ibn Kathir on this ayah
Coming soon, insha Allah: Hard Questions, Honest Answers: Addressing the Doubts that Shake Young Muslims—I recently completed this book and hope to release it either during Ramadan, or shortly after, bi ithnillah. I wrote this book to help address the specific doubts that I have noticed plaguing so many young Muslims today. Don’t hesitate to email me for a PDF copy.
One more thing
If you’re in a place where the doubt has become really heavy — where it’s not a question anymore but a kind of darkness — please don’t carry that alone. That’s what tomorrow night and Night 17 are going to address more directly, with Allah’s Mercy and Help.
And my inbox is always open. Just reply to this email.
Night 15 of 30. You’re halfway there, alhamdulillah.
— Dr. Ali