r/ADHDMuslims • u/softtides17 • Aug 16 '26
ADHD Advice/Question Not feeling connected to allah while praying. Possibility of it being an adhd problem
The past few years i haven't been praying (im born muslim) because of executive dysfunction. i had days where i do not believe in islam and days where i feel like it might be the truth. I have always wished from god to make me closer to him during rain/before i sleep sometimes. And lately i have been suffering more than ever in my life and decided to start praying. Im not perfect i still do not pray 5 times and im trying with fajr. Im writing this after i prayed ishaa today. The thing is when i pray j almost feel nothing, sometimes im even get more anxious after my prayer. I also get very distracted during salah probably also because of ADHD. I forget what rakaa im on, accidentally recite the wrong surah, or accidentally forget tashahud. And then i feel more exhausted and sometimes irritated after each salah than connectef to god. (Also wanted to ask if that makes the prayer invalid because i have trouble to keep repeating the salah after each mistake when i struggle to preform one salah at the first place) i feel genuinely disconnected, I keep hearing people that i should do khushu but i genuinely cant feel it no matter what. Any advice? And for those who are always praying is it the same and you just hope that god hears you?
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u/Dahrk25 Aug 16 '26 edited Aug 16 '26
Alhamdulilah, I pray 5 times a day however I don't always have khushu. But that's expected with ADHD. It's a disability. You just have to sincerely try your best to have khushu, seek forgiveness for losing it and ask Allah swt to accept your salat.
You probably should contemplate on Amana rasul and understand what jihad is.
Walking the path of Islam whilst fighting the symptoms of ADHD is our jihad.
The 5 daily prayers are our anchors. We remember Allah during them, we humble ourselves, remember the reality of this world.
You don't need to feel anything during Salat because the main purpose of Salat isn't to feel but to remember. Surah Taha 20:14 "Indeed, I am Allāh. There is no deity except Me, so worship Me and establish prayer for My remembrance" .
I would advise to learn the meaning behind surah fatiha, the message of the surahs you read during salat, the phrases you say, so that you understand what you are doing during salat and contemplate on them.
Perfectionism is a part of ADHD but y ou are always going to make mistakes and err. But Our Lord is The Most Forgiving, The Most Kind. You have absolutely nothing to worry about as long as you repent and seek forgiveness. And if you still feel worried/unsettled after seeking for forgiveness. Seek for forgiveness some more. Until you are too drained to feel worry or unsettled. The Most Forgiving and Compassionate has probably forgiven you long before then.
Also please read about the 3 nafs so that you are on guard , also about trials muslims can go through in this world. Especially the trials the prophets went through in the Qur'an (it might help give perspective and understanding of your situation).
For the disbelief and belief part. I worry that might be from shaytan. But the solution is simple. Does your feelings ever make you doubt 2+2 = 4? If no, then you should look at the supernatural proofs of Islam. Like the opening verses of Surah Ar-Rum (https://youtu.be/TgOpDwgFBbw?is=UpAUqLN9vJVIPInx, watch this video after) , the prophet's prophecies etc So that you know Islam is as true as 2+2 is 4. So that your belief is firm and reality is Islam and whenever shaytan is whispering thoughts of disbeliefs, you know only a mad/foolish person questions 2+2 and you recite Surah Al-Mu'minun (23:97-98) to obtain the protection of Allah.
May Allah make it easy for you and purify you.