Life feels meaningless, what do you suggest?

- Sometimes I think I have been studying in vain; I perform prayers from time to time. I grew up, developed, and died; what did I get from all this? My childhood memories keep coming back to me, and I find it very difficult to communicate... Oh
- What do you suggest?

Dear Brother / Sister,

A person can hold on to life in proportion to the meaning he ascribes to it and his ability to cope with all that it entails because all actions, thoughts, and feelings, such as the pains we experience, the simple, ordinary rituals of life that seem meaningless, difficult human relationships, and our responsibilities, become bearable only through the positive meaning we ascribe to them, and they transform into gains, successes, and beauty.

For example, for a student, studying for difficult exams becomes meaningful when he considers what he will gain from them; a long, arduous educational journey becomes meaningful when he thinks of what it will provide after graduation; and for a patient, surgery and other intensive medical treatments become meaningful and bearable when he views them as necessary interventions for his recovery.

In short, to the extent that the meanings we ascribe to our experiences are important to us, we can endure, enjoy life, work, and hold on to life because nothing that is aimless, meaningless, or fruitless motivates us; on the contrary, they drive us toward laziness, boredom, and unhappiness, making life unbearable.

On the other hand, even for those who desire happiness and peace, the meanings they attribute to worldly life and their experiences eventually fail to satisfy them after a certain point. Upon deeper reflection, one often realizes that no reward in this world can compensate for the suffering, hardships, separations, and deaths they endure because all the beauties of worldly life fail to satisfy a person with boundless capacity for emotions and thoughts; they fall short.

Furthermore, no matter how lofty a person’s goals or how great his opportunities may be, they ultimately suffer great anguish because they are helpless and weak; they are unable to prevent events such as death, illness, natural disasters, accidents, and separations. Therefore, nothing satisfies them. Everything seems meaningless to them.

Therefore, life, which is a manifestation of Allah’s name “Hayy” (the Living), has been given not for a fleeting and temporary world, but for an eternal and infinite existence. Considering this, everything that happens in life gains meaning and acquires value, making both living and enduring it worthwhile.

Just as our spirit breathes life into our physical world, so too does faith, residing within that spirit, and living a life in accordance with that faith, breathes life into our physical world.

As for the answer to your question, our advice to you can be summarized as follows:

- Have expectations and goals that will add meaning to your life and that are important to you.

The greater these goals are, the more meaningful life will seem to you.

Furthermore, people with grand and meaningful goals are not bothered by trivial matters; in fact, such things do not even catch their attention. If your goal is important to you, your will to persevere grows stronger, which in turn makes you more dynamic.

- In addition to your expectations from life, make life’s expectations of you your goal as well. Thus, your sense of responsibility will strengthen and give you a stronger grip on life.

For example, a person whose only concern is his own comfort, pleasure, and enjoyment can eventually fall into a void. However, a person who views life by considering others, such as their family, relatives, nation, Muslim community, and all of humanity, will not remain idle; driven by a sense of responsibility, he will remain constantly active.

Badiuzzaman Said Nursi summarizes this issue with the following concise statement:

“He whose concern is his nation is a small nation in himself.” (Hutbe-i Şamiye, RNK Yay., p. 60)

- Don’t sever your faith in the future and your spiritual ties.

Hope and the future are among the strongest bonds that connect a person to life. Those who lose their resilience and faith once find it difficult to regain the will to live.

- Improve yourself both materially and spiritually.

As you increase your strengths and develop your abilities, you will love life even more.

- Plan to get married, start a family, and have children.

One of the factors that connects people to life and makes work and business meaningful is family. Even if it is not for yourself, everything you do for your children will be meaningful.

- Look at your surroundings and life with an understanding of the meaning of our existence.

Purposes, goals, and interpretations related to the world are definitely very important. However, there is also an inherent search for meaning that comes from the very existence of humanity. When a person cannot find this meaning, cannot satisfy this aspect of himself, he experiences a state of anxiety and emptiness.

When one finds the spiritual meaning of his existence, he attains eternal peace. Besides, all worldly meanings become more significant, and worldly goals bind him to life more.

For example, for a person who performs his acts of worship, all his worldly work is considered an act of worship.

As it can be seen, a working, productive person will work with enthusiasm because he will earn his living, and he will also derive spiritual pleasure from the thought that he is worshipping. Even if all his efforts are lost or destroyed, this person will not say, “I worked in vain,” and the work will not seem meaningless to him.

Man has been sent to this world to know Allah, to worship Him, and to perfect his life through knowledge. Everything else that exists or is experienced is merely a means or tool serving this purpose.

For example, all the boundless feelings and organs that allow us to experience the beauties of the world, as well as values like intellect, heart, and spirit, are for the purpose of knowing Allah. All the blessings a person receives are for gratitude, and all misfortunes and difficulties are spiritual gains for the perfection of worldly life and for the hereafter. Eating, drinking, and marriage are means of sustaining life, and they are also opportunities to know Allah by observing His blessings.

As it can be seen, for a person who believes in Allah and the Day of Judgment, the meaning of everything increases from one to thousands, reaching infinity.

When you look at life from this perspective, you will see that even simple, ordinary things have a meaningful purpose that satisfies a person, and that nothing is unnecessary because you will imbue your experiences with spiritual meaning.

For example, when you help the poor, those in distress, orphans, and the needy, to the best of your ability and within your means, for the sake of Allah, even a simple smile will mean a great deal to you.

When you consider that even the smallest act of kindness pleases Allah, even removing a stone from the road will feel meaningful to you. As you walk by, when you look at an apple at a fruit stand and see Allah’s bounty, or when you look at a flower and see Allah’s name Jamal (the Beautiful), you will realize just how meaningful it is to simply observe.

Likewise, when you look at life through the lens of faith, everything in the universe, from the tiniest fly or insect to the largest planets, will take on meaning.

Questions on Islam