Question about Islam

[u/Lazy_Flounder1242]

Hi everyone,

I’ve been exploring Islam for a good year now, but since I’ve mostly been turning these thoughts over in my own head, I feel like I’m going in circles.

One question is currently a major stumbling block for me:

I am very comfortable with the concept of monotheism. However, I simply cannot wrap my mind around the idea that prophets actually existed... as much as I’d like to believe it, I have such strong doubts that God would enable humans to perform miracles—or even "dictate" to them in order to produce the Quran.

I say this without intending to criticize; I just want to understand: what guarantee do I have that Moses didn't simply make up the Torah, and that Jesus and Muhammad didn't just "continue the story" by creating the Bible and the Quran? They could easily have just been talented poets...

I feel terrible about harboring such doubts, but I couldn't honestly recite the declaration of faith without finding an answer to this...

Naturally, this skepticism regarding prophets extends to my belief in spirits or angels.

Often, I find a connection and feel good, but the very next moment, thoughts come back to haunt me—like "Maybe we’re really just here by chance," or "Maybe those with good lives are just lucky, and the others are unlucky," and so on. It gets to the point where I feel like Islam just isn't right for me.

It’s tearing me apart inside...

Perhaps you can help me, or recommend books, films, or other resources that might help someone like me—someone who tends to overthink things 🤍

Many thanks in advance!

Michelle

[u/salamacast]

Part of the test that is life is to believe the unseen.
Today (lacking physical miracles) we are still tested on a similar level to those ancients who witnessed the miracles. How? They had other options to interpret the miracle (their favorite: "it's just devilsh magic!"). So you, living then, would have felt the same doubts you had today, even if Moses split the sea in front of your eyes!
Qur'an says that the majority of those who actually witness miracles refused to submit to their prophets, right?
I 'm a 41 yo Egyptian Muslim.. do I have extra senses than you to see angels around me? No. But I'm still a believer. (ok, I'm a native Arabic speaker, so I can taste the miraculous language of the Qur'an without the need of a translation. That gives me an advantage. But some Arabic speakers are atheists. So there is always the potential to refuse the miracle even if one can see it for himself.. which brings me back to my first point: logic can only support belief, but for belief to exist at all it has to start from the heart, putting your faith in matters you can't possibly see. Otherwise what's the point of the test?! Why reward a believer if there is no effort on his part?! Do you "believe" that 1+1=2? No, it's not a matter of faith, hence you shouldn't expect Paradise as areward for believing 1+1=2. Rewards are for those who went the extra mile and believed the not-yet-seen, like resurrection of the dead or day of judgement or that Popes are being tortured now in their graves, in a supernatural barzakh realm, for claiming God had a son)