Decrease in Faith.

Q; assalamualaikum......i want to ask you that now a days i cant concentrate in any relegious thing....eg:namaz, zikr, quraan etc etc and i just dont feel comfortable wuth this condition i want to do all this but it seems like as if someone is stopping me from all this....will u plz guide me...
i mean to say.....lyk not any person or someone....butany power is stopping me.now am 16, when i was 12, i use to make so much zikr, i use to pray tahajjud and evrything...i dnt knw whats happening with me now.

A; All-Praise is due to Allah,
Guidance only comes from Allah The All-High and no other. There are many reasons to one having weak Faith, and amongst the most common and obvious is committing allot of sin and not turning to Allah for Forgiveness and guidance.
If one acts the opposite to this their Faith will increase, and that is by obeying Allah and His Messenger in their commands by enjoining in the good and forbidding and staying away from what is evil. Allah says (interpretation of the meaning):The believers are only those who, when Allah is mentioned, feel a fear in their hearts and when His Verses (this Quran) are recited unto them, they (i.e. the Verses) increase their Faith; and they put their trust in their Lord (Alone). (8:2)

It was stated in a Fatwa: A person may become negligent and that may lead to weakening his faith. The remedy for that is to pray a great deal for forgiveness and to constantly remember Allaah, and to read Qur’aan and focus on and ponder its meanings, for doing that will rid the heart of its carelessness and wake it from its slumber. And it is very important to do a lot of righteous deeds.

There are several reasons for weakness of faith, including the following:

1 – Ignorance of the names and attributes of Allaah leads to weakness of faith because if a person is lacking in knowledge of the names and attributes of Allaah, his faith will be imcomplete.

2 – Neglecting to think of the signs of Allaah in the universe and to ponder His commands and prohibitions. This causes a lack of faith or at the very least it makes faith stagnant and prevents it from growing.

3 – Committing sin, for sin has a far-reaching effect on the heart and on faith. Hence the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) said: “No adulterer is a believer at the moment when he is committing adultery.” (Narrated by al-Bukhaari, 2475; Muslim, 57).

4 – Failing to do acts of worship, for failing to do acts of worship diminishes faith. But if the act of worship is something that is obligatory and it is neglected with no excuse, then this is a shortcoming for which a person is to be blamed and will be punished. If it is an act of worship that is not obligatory or it is obligatory but a person does not do it because he has an excuse, then this is a shortcoming for which he will not be blamed or punished.
Majmoo’ Fataawa wa Rasaa’il Fadeelat al-Shaykh Muhammad ibn Saalih al-‘Uthaymeen, 1/52

We advise you to read Qur’aan a great deal and ponder its verses, for in that there is healing for what is in your heart, if Allaah wills. Allaah says (interpretation of the meaning):
“And We send down of the Qur’aan that which is a healing and a mercy to those who believe”
[al-Isra’ 17:82]

We also advise you to study the stories of the Prophets, for Allaah narrated them in the Qur’aan to make the heart of his Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him), and the believers with him, steadfast. Allaah says (interpretation of the meaning): “And all that We relate to you (O Muhammad) of the news of the Messengers is in order that We may make strong and firm your heart thereby. And in this (chapter of the Qur’aan) has come to you the truth, as well as an admonition and a reminder for the believers” [Hood 11:120] End of Quote.
(See Islam Q&A Fatwa: 20059)

It should be noted that faith increases when one obeys Allah and decreases when one disobeys Him, so continue to do that which Allah has enjoined, such as observing the five daily prayers and paying zakaah willingly, to purify yourself of sin, and as an act of mercy towards the poor and needy.
One of the most beneficial thing that can help a believer maintain their Faith to keep company with good and righteous people so that they can help you to apply Sharia' and guide you towards that which will bring you happiness in this world and in the Hereafter and to be in a clean religious environment not a place where there is allot of sin and fitnah. Keep away from the people of innovation and sin, lest they tempt you and weaken your resolve.
Do a lot of naafil good deeds, and turn to Allah and ask Him for guidance.
If you do these things, Allaah will increase you in faith and help you to catch up with what you have missed of good deeds, and make you more steadfast in adhering to Islam.

Furthermore I advise you that in terms of worship take things step by step, as it has been sighted by myself amongst many we know that have come into the deen full force wanting to try and practice all these virtues at once and eventually come to a complete stop (Stop practicing the recommendable Sunnan acts) some have even stopped deen all together (& we seek refuge in Allah from that.)

The Prophet (pbuh) said, “The dearest of actions to Allah is that which is done regularly, even if it is small portions.”[Bukhari & Muslim]

So in another words one should take things in easy steps and eventually increase there worship acts for verily The Prophet has hinted this in the Hadith which is mentioned above, and Allah does not like one to burden their soul more then what it can handle. Allah the Exalted said, 'Allah does not charge a soul except [with that within] its capacity.' (2:286).

We Ask Allah to guide us to what is good , and to protect us from what is evil, And Allaah is the Source of strength. May peace and blessings be upon our Prophet Muhammad, his family and Companions.
And Allah knows best...