Why Am I Losing Spirituality? I Went for Umrah and Felt Nothing Unlike Before

Question: For the last 1.5 years, I feel that i am losing spirituality. I perform my salah and recite Quran, do charity work and read hadith in my free time. But I have a strange emptiness in me. I feel very empty and like my days go on and I don’t develop spiritually. The problem why I am approaching you is something that has been on my mind. Last two times that I went for umrah – I felt nothing when I was in Madinah. I felt no spirituality and it was like a normal holiday for me. I didn’t feel anything. This has never happened before. When I see videos of masjid Nabawi – I feel nothing. When I hear of medina- I feel nothing. This is not me. I used to cry when I heard of Madinah. I used to eagerly want to see photos. What has happened to me? And when I went to Makkah- I just couldn’t wait for Saee to finish. I felt nothing as I walked in masjid ul Haram. Please help me get my spirituality back. Why is this happening? Why do I feel so empty???? Am i losing spirituality?

 

Summary of Answer: This is not losing spirituality. Faith increases by doing acts of worship and righteous deeds, and it decreases by committing sins. Turn often to Allah in repentance, seek His forgiveness, and beg Him to grant you steadfastness until death. Keep away from sinful matters, for they darken the heart.

 

Answer: Praise be to Allah.

All these are among the common tactics by which Shaiṭan deceives the servants of Allah — especially those who display signs of righteousness and sincerity. He strives to discourage them and weaken their resolve, causing them to feel as if they are losing spirituality, even when they are trying to remain steadfast. We seek refuge in Allah from his whispers and plots.

Strengthen your hope and trust in Allah, the One Who forgives every sin and accepts anyone who seeks His mercy and protection. Indeed, He is the Most Merciful, the Oft-Forgiving, and the Most Loving.

Increase your good deeds — such as reciting the Qur’an, giving in charity, engaging in the remembrance of Allah (dhikr), and maintaining family ties. Attend gatherings of knowledge and reminders, for they soften the heart and revive faith.

The weakness you experience is something that happens to others as well; it is a natural phase of human life. Many people once full of zeal and motivation later lose their strength for a time — yet Allah, by His grace, restores it to them, even when they feel they are losing spirituality.

Reflect on the saying of the Prophet (ﷺ): “Everybody has his time of energy, and every time of energy is followed by a time of lethargy. But if a person tries to follow a moderate path, then I have hope for him, but if he becomes one who is pointed out (in the street), then do not think anything of him.” (Narrated by At-Tirmidhi, 2453; classed as sound by Al-Albani in Sahih At-Tirmidhi, 1995)

The Prophet’s words “Everybody has his time of energy” refer to enthusiasm, motivation, and eagerness to perform good deeds. “Every time of energy is followed by a time of lethargy” means that periods of fatigue, weakness, or inactivity naturally follow.

As for “if a person tries to follow a moderate path”, it refers to maintaining balance — avoiding excess when motivated and avoiding negligence when feeling weak.

The statement “then I have hope for him” means that such a person is likely to succeed, as consistency in moderation is beloved to Allah.

And “if he becomes one who is pointed out (in the street)” refers to someone who exaggerates in acts of worship merely to gain reputation and fame for his devotion and asceticism.

Thus, “do not think anything of him” means — do not assume he is among the righteous, for he acts out of ostentation. The Prophet (ﷺ) did not say “do not have hope for him,” implying that his showiness has already caused him to fall short and lose what he had gained. (Tuhfat Al-Ahwadhi)

Contemplate this ḥadith carefully and compare it to your situation and that of others — you will find it strikingly relevant. It teaches that a believer may experience a phase of strong enthusiasm, deep focus, and lofty ambition, which may later give way to weakness and lack of motivation.

When this occurs, one must hold firmly to the obligatory duties and guard against the forbidden acts, even during times when he feels he is losing spirituality.

If a person remains steadfast upon this balance — performing the obligations and avoiding sin — there is hope that he will regain his zeal and continue progressing. But if he abandons the obligations and falls into prohibitions, he risks spiritual ruin.

Therefore, turn often to Allah in repentance, seek His forgiveness, and beg Him to grant you steadfastness until death. Keep away from sinful matters, for they darken the heart.

May Allah forgive your sins, strengthen your faith, and make your affairs easy for you. May your feeling of losing spirituality go away and get replaced with renewed Imaan. Ameen!

Wallahualam (And Allah knows best)