Certainty and Inner Peace in Light of Belief in God's Decree"*

At times, we may find ourselves overwhelmed by feelings of suffocation and distress, with a sense of despair and fatigue creeping into our hearts without an apparent reason. But have you ever wondered if these feelings could be a message from God, a call for you to draw closer to Him, to seek forgiveness, to pray, and to find comfort in His worship? In such moments, believing in God's decree becomes the key to inner peace, and surrendering to His wisdom is the path out of distress.

Life is full of challenges and trials that may make us feel overwhelmed and constricted. However, we must always remember that everything that befalls us is part of God’s decree, written for us long before the universe was created. These trials may be a test of our patience and faith, and an opportunity to draw closer to God through repentance and prayer. As the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) said: "God wrote the destinies of all creatures fifty thousand years before He created the heavens and the earth." This profound teaching reminds us that everything we go through in life is preordained by God, and we should bear it with patience and trust in Him.

The feeling of suffocation or distress may not be just a passing emotion, but perhaps a signal from God Almighty for us to review our actions and draw nearer to Him through repentance and seeking forgiveness. In such moments, we find in prayer a source of psychological comfort and tranquility. When you lay out your prayer mat in a quiet place and begin to pray, you feel as if you have cast your burdens upon God, finding in prostration and tears a relief that cannot be found elsewhere. Crying in the presence of God is a release of burdens and an opening to divine mercy.

God says in the Holy Quran: *"Whatever misfortune befalls you, it is because of what your hands have earned, and He pardons much"* (Quran 42:30), reminding us that we should always turn to God in times of distress, for He alone is capable of removing difficulties and bringing relief.

We must never lose hope, for God Almighty forbids despair and urges us to hold on to hope. In the Quran, God says: *"Do not despair of God's mercy. Indeed, no one despairs of relief from God except the disbelieving people"* (Quran 12:87). Despair is a weapon used by Satan to distance us from God, and so we must combat this feeling with remembrance of God, prayer, and reflection on His vast mercy.

We may feel suffocated when life’s burdens press upon us, but we must remember that relief is near and that God Almighty has promised that with every hardship comes ease. God says: *"For indeed, with hardship comes ease; indeed, with hardship comes ease"* (Quran 94:5-6), and this divine promise fills our hearts with hope and optimism.

In the end, we must entrust all our affairs to God, knowing that everything that happens to us is part of His wise plan. Every hardship we face is temporary, and it will be followed by relief, God willing. We ask God to grant us patience and certainty, and to guide us to the path of righteousness and inner peace. To our Christian brethren, we invite you to contemplate these truths and believe in the One God who is capable of everything, so that you may find in Islam a religion of comfort, tranquility, and certainty in God.