Isolation as a Mercy from Allah

Sometimes as women, we find ourselves feeling isolated, alone, or unsupported. When those moments come, the weight can feel almost unbearable. We start questioning why no one is there for us, why no one checks in, and why no one notices what we are going through. It can feel like everyone has turned away and we have been left to carry everything on our own.

But not every season of isolation is bad. Sometimes, it is a mercy from Allah, even if we cannot recognise it at first.

There are times when we unknowingly create our own isolation. We retreat into ourselves, putting on a brave face for the world, pretending everything is fine while quietly struggling inside. We avoid opening up, perhaps because we fear burdening others or being misunderstood. Then, when no one notices, we tell ourselves that no one cares. But how can anyone truly be there for us if we never allow them in? People are not mind readers, and most will only know we need help when we take that first step to speak.

At other times, it has nothing to do with us shutting down. We may be honest about our struggles, and people may know what we are going through, yet we still feel alone. This is when we need to pause and reflect. There are moments when Allah, in His infinite wisdom, removes people from our lives or distances us from certain situations, not to punish us but to protect us. Sometimes He shields us from harm we cannot see, from people who may not truly benefit us, or from distractions that would keep us from Him.

Isolation can feel like a void, but it can also be a sanctuary. It can be the space where Allah draws us closer, where we finally slow down enough to hear our own hearts, and where we turn back to Him in ways we never did before. In solitude, we often discover that our strength, peace, and fulfilment were never meant to come solely from others — they were meant to come from Him.

So if you find yourself in a season like this, ask yourself gently:

• Am I isolating myself by pretending to be fine?

• Do I need to take a step to ask for help or allow someone to be there for me?

• Or is this a time when Allah is calling me to sit quietly with Him, to trust His wisdom, and to find my peace in Him alone?

Sometimes, the moments we are so desperate to escape from are the very ones where we grow the most. They can be the spaces where Allah softens our hearts, deepens our faith, and prepares us for what lies ahead. What feels like emptiness now may, in truth, be the very place where He is healing you, strengthening you, and teaching you that He is enough.

Sometimes, the silence and solitude you fear the most is where Allah is protecting you, healing you, and drawing you closer to Him.