As the days get shorter and the cold sets in, I’ve noticed one thing: getting out of bed becomes harder and my motivation fades as quickly as the sunlight. Every winter, I find my faith tested by the trials of a spiritual rut, or Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD). Suddenly, showing up for my faith seems like rolling a boulder up a hill. All I want is to shut my blinds, wrap myself in a blanket, and avoid everything, even the spiritual practices that normally bring me peace.
Once this stationary lifestyle takes hold, it triggers a vicious cycle – disrupting my Salat, straining my mental health, and ultimately weakening my relationship with the Deen.
What is a spiritual rut?
Defined as a period of stagnancy in one’s religious journey, a spiritual rut manifests differently for everyone. Its defining feature, though, is the diminished sense of intimacy and closeness with God.
In Islam, a spiritual rut can look like skipping prayers, delaying Ghusl long after your menses ended, and overall not feeling motivated to show up for religious duties.
In Islam, a spiritual rut can look like skipping prayers, delaying Ghusl long after your menses ended, and overall not feeling motivated to show up for religious duties. Anyone can find themselves in a spiritual rut. But as Muslims, it is important to renew our intentions and overcome the tests our Iman faces, even the hardest ones. As a woman with ADHD who has faced numerous spiritual ruts, I have learned strategies to help me overcome them and reconnect with my faith.
Here’s how to come out of a spiritual rut.
1. Clean your space
As cited in Sahih Muslim 223, Book 2, Hadith 1, The Messenger of Allah (صلى الله عليه وسلم) said: “Cleanliness is half of faith.” Indeed, cleaning is a powerful act of belief that allows us to not only declutter our space but to clear out our minds. A physical environment is said to be the reflection of our mind.
That said, if your space is currently in a mess, it may be a reflection of your internal state. Perhaps you are overwhelmed, grieving, or simply defeated by the chaotic state of our world. That’s okay – it happens to the best of us. With this in mind, cleaning could give you the necessary push to break free.
To come out of a spiritual rut, clear out any clutter attached to the rut you were just in — the takeout boxes, the plates on your desk, the laundry pile, and the crumpled paper tissues. Soon, you will feel more clarity – an indispensable quality when reclaiming one’s life.
2. Seek support from the community
If you struggle with coming out of a rut, you don’t need to go at it alone. Reach out to a roommate, a family member, or even a friend to help you overcome it. This is especially relevant if you live in a Western country where hyper-independence is normalized.
Succeeding without any help or assistance is perceived as a badge of honor. Yet, our religion upholds solidarity as a major Islamic value. Come to think of it, the most beautiful moments in my Deen were those shared with the community – like standing shoulder to shoulder with friends
during Taraweeh prayers, our hearts united in worship. To come out of a rut, don’t be afraid to open up to someone you trust. Have them listen to you and accompany you through this journey back to Allah, and ultimately, back to yourself.
Allah’s Messenger (صلى الله عليه وسلم) said: “A Muslim is a brother of another Muslim, so he should not oppress him, nor should he hand him over to an oppressor. Whoever fulfilled the needs of his brother, Allah will fulfill his needs; whoever brought his (Muslim) brother out of discomfort, Allah will bring him out of the discomforts of the Day of Resurrection, and whoever screened a Muslim, Allah will screen him on the Day of Resurrection.” (Sahih al-Bukhari 2442, Book 46, Hadith 3)
3. Forgive yourself
Coming out of a spiritual rut rarely follows a straight path. Most of the time, progress is not linear and you may encounter obstacles and triggers that will set you back. That’s normal. If you fall back into an old pattern, take a deep breath and forgive yourself. What you can focus on are your present actions.
Guilt-tripping yourself will foster more stress and negative feelings that impair your confidence, which will, in turn, halt progress. The next thing you know, you’re crumbling back into your comfort zone, ending up in the same rut.
On the other hand, having the grace and compassion to understand why you slipped can allow you to learn your triggers. As a result, you can move forward equipped with the lessons learned along the way.
4. Make Ghusl
Ghusl, known as the purification shower, is a good ritual for starting anew. One of the many benefits of performing Ghusl is the renewal of our intention towards Allah (SWT).
Performing Ghusl does not have to be solely tied to your menstrual cycle. You can make Ghusl any time you want to reclaim your intention towards Allah and place your heart in the right place again.
5. Take one step at a time
As our feeds become submerged in productivity content, it can be easy to approach our own journeys with unrealistic expectations. Be it the 4 am morning routine vlogs or the self-development craze, social media has a great way of making you feel behind. As a result, you may feel pressured to tackle every single issue all at once. Be it your salat, your Quran recitation, or your modesty, it can be tempting to perceive those as boxes to urgently tick off.
But here’s the thing: you are not a project to be completed. You are a human going through the unpredictable motions of life. To come out of a spiritual rut, try establishing one healthy habit by setting an attainable goal for yourself. Insha’Allah, you’ll have a lifetime to become a better Muslim. There is no such thing as overnight progress. Work towards establishing the habit that seems most accessible to you at the moment. And please, be kind to yourself.
