Guilt

[alf2]

Assalamu alaykum everyone

I dont want to unload some emotional baggage on you all, but I've been dealing with a serious problem latley. Guilt.

I reflect on my home, my clothes, my family, the food I eat, the money I earn from my job....And then I think of those who have had major injustice in their life. Palestinians, the various nationalities of Muslims who are slaughtered in the war, and lately, Guantanamo detainees who are unjustly there. (I've read some heartbreaking stories from people who were there working with detainees)

In the past couple of weeks it's been worse than usual, I'll just start to cry out of nowhere and just weep for them, make dua, and want to do more (like impact their lives directly) Its hard for me to enjoy my life anymore because I know they're suffering.

Does anyone else experience this? What can I do?
​

 

[a_stranger]

:salam2:
I think that this is a good sign that your heart is still alive , when our hearts are dead then we don`t care .....try to make these emotions postive try to help those in need when you can .....Allah sobhanahu wa taala will not ask you to do what is out of your ability. Do the things you can ........don`t waste your times on sorrow ......we muslems should be postive and active ......Read how the prophets and Sahaba suffered ......This life is a short test ...May Allah help all those are suffering and give them patient and a great rewards.

 

[ahmed_indian]

,

you are not alone in this experience sister, you are not alone. you should thank Allah for having such a heart mashallah.

Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) said, "The believers in their mutual kindness, compassion and sympathy are just like one body. When one of the limbs suffers, the whole body responds to it with wakefulness and fever".

[Al-Bukhari and Muslim].

what you can do? you can try helping out your needy and poor brothers and sisters. this will calm your heart and bring Allah's tremendous blessings upon you inshallah!

 

[JenGiove]

Assalamu alaykum everyone

I dont want to unload some emotional baggage on you all, but I've been dealing with a serious problem latley. Guilt.

I reflect on my home, my clothes, my family, the food I eat, the money I earn from my job....And then I think of those who have had major injustice in their life. Palestinians, the various nationalities of Muslims who are slaughtered in the war, and lately, Guantanamo detainees who are unjustly there. (I've read some heartbreaking stories from people who were there working with detainees)

In the past couple of weeks it's been worse than usual, I'll just start to cry out of nowhere and just weep for them, make dua, and want to do more (like impact their lives directly) Its hard for me to enjoy my life anymore because I know they're suffering.

Does anyone else experience this? What can I do?
​

:salam2: Sister.....

What you are feeling is not guilt, but empathy.

Empathy is the capacity to share the sadness or happiness of another sentient being through consciousness rather than physically. Empathy develops the ability to have compassion towards other beings.

Distress

Empathic distress is feeling the perceived pain of another person, which feeling can be transformed into the empathic anger, feeling of injustice, and guilt. These emotions can be perceived as pro-social, and some say they can be seen as motives for moral behavior.[50]


http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Empathy

May Creator remember your for being a decent, loving, EMPATHETIC human being.....congratulations for following the example set down by Mohammad and his Women Companions....

 

[Aapa]

Assalaam walaikum,

This is not hearty nor productive. You are not helping anyone including yourself.

First you need to develop Trust in Allah subhana talla. He knows. He is in total control.

Second, downsize. You say you have too much. Share it with the locals. Give to the Goodwill. Are you helping with the homeless, do you do volunteer work for the poor and the elderly.

It is safe to hurt for those we can not do anything about. Help those close to you. You are still doing good deeds.

 

[Aapa]

Assalaam walaikum,

I forgot to add...when you give with such love from the bottom of your heart everything multiplies.

Sister... I have been going to food pantries and helping out...they are giving baby food to grown men. There is a shortage of food as the holidays come around. Homelessness is everywhere. I have talked to people who have lived on the streets for months on end.

Families come and are given food we would throw out. If you can not afford to give food..give time.

We, as Muslims, are told that a smile is charity. Trust me..when you smile at a person who has nothing they light up..you give them the world. You give them dignity.

Start a coat drive at your masjid. Take it to the local mission. You be the connection between the masjid and the community.

As others have stated you are blessed now share your blessings with those you can help immediately.

 

[arzafar]

Does anyone else experience this?
yes

What can I do?
dua and patience maybe

but since im a practical man, the answer is basically nothing!!! and that's what the guilt is all about, personally.

 

[eminbey]

Selam Alikom
Sister, First of all I do appreciate what you've wrote up there,and I congratulate you for having in your chest a living heart feeling other muslims' pain, take care of your heart make him stay alive , because the silence of some muslims in this World is due to Hearts death
sometimes I have that feeling, exactly what u said, but u may consider Hadiths of the Prophet peace be upon him which increases hope in our life,
as the Prophet mentioned in the hadith,
“Surely, this religion will reach the boundaries of the day and night and Allah will not spare a rural or an urban dwelling except that he would cause Islam to enter it by elevating some and degrading others. A glory with which Allah elevates Islam and a humiliation with which Allah degrade Kufr (disbelief).”
(Ahmad and Ibn Hibban, saheeh)

The Prophet has many Hadeeth (his sayings) which give glad news of victory and plant hope in the hearts, especially the following Hadeeth:
“This religion will reach as far as the day and night reach. Allah will make Islam enter every house and tent in a manner that will dignify and honor Islam and humiliate the unbelievers”.

 

[allah is with me]

salam..ur right brother..
they really suffer so much in thier life....
children see thier dea parents in front of them..
ya allah, ya allah..i cannot even imagine..i will pray for themmm.....
ya allah!..give hidayah to those who have no heart for thier brothers and sisters, and help those who are suffering in this world..ameeeen