Why Didn’t I Feel Relief Despite Praying, Dhikr, and Reading Qur’an? Understanding Allah’s Promise of Ease
Question
Salam aleykom,
I have a question regarding Allah promising ease for the people who pray and constantly seek forgiveness. I have been dealing with anxiety and insomnia problems for a very long time. Everybody told me to just read Surah al Baqarah for healing, do dhikr, increase prayers and so on. I did do all of it. And I was sincere. Allah does promise ease in the Quran. He does talk about mental health and how to deal with it.
I just dont understand why I did not feel any better. Why did not Allah heal me like he said he would. This really tested my belief in Allahs existence.
Baraku Allah feekum
Answer
Alhamdulillah, wassalatu wassalamu ala rasulillah, wa ala alihi wa sahbihi ajmain.
1. The Shari Context
Allah promises ease, but that ease is not always in the exact form or timing we expect.
Allah says:
“Indeed, with hardship comes ease.”
Surat al Sharh 94:6
And He says:
“Allah does not burden a soul beyond its capacity.”
Surat al Baqarah 2:286
At the same time, the Prophet ﷺ taught that trials themselves are part of a believer’s journey:
“No fatigue, illness, anxiety, sorrow, harm, or distress befalls a Muslim, even the prick of a thorn, except that Allah expiates some of his sins because of it.”
Sahih al Bukhari, Sahih Muslim
So hardship is not a sign of abandonment. It is often part of purification, elevation, and testing.
2. Scholarly Discussion
The scholars explain that Allah’s promise of “ease” can manifest in different ways:
- Removal of the hardship itself
- Strength and patience to endure it
- Reward and elevation in the Hereafter
- Protection from a greater unseen harm
They also clarify that acts of worship like dhikr, salah, and Qur’an are:
- Means of spiritual healing
- But they do not always replace practical and medical means
The Prophet ﷺ said:
“Seek treatment, O servants of Allah, for Allah has not created a disease except that He has created for it a cure.”
Sunan Abu Dawud, al Tirmidhi
So Islam does not teach relying on spiritual means alone while ignoring medical and psychological treatment.
3. Application to the Question
Your situation needs to be understood with care and honesty.
1. Your efforts were not wasted
Your الصلاة, dhikr, and recitation were acts of worship that:
- Earn reward
- Bring you closer to Allah
- May be protecting you in ways you cannot see
2. Ease does not always mean immediate healing
The promise of ease is true, but it may come as:
- Gradual improvement
- Inner resilience
- Reduction in harm, even if not complete removal
3. Anxiety and insomnia are real conditions
These are not just spiritual issues. They often involve:
- Physical factors
- Neurological patterns
- Psychological stress
So alongside عبادات, you should also:
- Seek professional medical help
- Consider therapy or counseling
- Address lifestyle factors such as sleep habits and stress
This is not ضعف في الإيمان. It is taking the means that Allah created.
4. Your test is not a sign Allah did not respond
Sometimes the test itself:
- Raises your rank
- Cleanses sins
- Brings you closer to Allah in a deeper way
Even if the relief is not immediate.
5. Your doubt needs to be addressed gently
Feeling shaken does not mean you lost faith. It means:
- You are struggling to reconcile expectation with reality
- You need a more complete understanding, not blind acceptance
4. Relevant Usul Principle
الأخذ بالأسباب لا ينافي التوكل
Taking the means does not contradict reliance upon Allah
This principle means that true tawakkul is not to rely on worship alone while neglecting the means Allah has created in the world. Rather, a believer combines:
- Spiritual means such as du‘a, dhikr, and Qur’an
- Material means such as medical treatment and professional help
In your situation, expecting healing from Qur’an and dhikr alone, while not fully utilizing medical and psychological treatment, does not reflect the complete Islamic approach. Allah created both the cure and the means to reach it, and using them is part of faith, not a contradiction to it.
Final Ruling
Allah’s promise of ease is true, but it does not always mean immediate removal of hardship. Your عبادات are accepted and beneficial, even if you did not feel immediate relief. You should continue your spiritual practices while also seeking proper medical and psychological treatment. Your struggle does not mean Allah has abandoned you, nor does it invalidate His promise.
And Allah knows best.