At Sistersindeen, our aim is to create a community group that promotes sisterhood and a safe space for likeminded Muslim women to get together, create memories and support each other whilst adhering to the teachings of the Quran and Sunnah. We strongly value respect, support and love for the sake of Allah and we do hope you feel and embrace these values throughout your time with us.
Whilst upholding our values and trying our best to create a warm, welcoming environment for everyone who joins, we also understand the turbulence of life and how this may impact how you engage with us at different stages. Often, if you are going through trials and hardships or simply transitioning to a different stage in your life, you may not have it in you to engage in a group chat discussion or attend a social gathering- we get it sis and you are certainly not alone!
You may have been super excited to join at the beginning but may now be feeling overwhelmed and anxious about being part of such a large group chat. Many people experience group chat anxiety when faced with large amounts of messages to catch up on and engage with, in fact we have spoken to quite a few of you about this which has actually been the inspiration behind this blog post (so thank you for opening up and being honest with us). This, in addition to the fear of missing out or not knowing what's going on can be daunting, but there are ways to manage these feelings and make the most out of your online/and in-person community experience.
We’ll explore a few of these ways below and bring in some Islamic reminders from both the Quran and Authentic Sunnah as our deen really is our roadmap in this dunya!
1. Embracing Your Role in the Group Chat
It's important to remember that being part of a group chat is voluntary, and you have the power to control your level of engagement. If you feel overwhelmed by the number of messages, it's okay to take a step back and only check in when you feel comfortable. Remember, you're part of the group to benefit from the community in your own way, so don't feel pressured to participate in every conversation.
2. Utilising Alternative Communication Channels
If you find it challenging to engage in the group chat, there are other ways to connect with the community. For example, you can reach out to the admin privately if you have any concerns or questions. Additionally, consider exploring other platforms like the exclusive SID blog page and sharing your comments there or tuning in to the Sister to Sister Online Chat for a more one-on-one interaction. We want your voice to be heard, so please do not be afraid to get in touch! You can also email us on sistersindeen5@gmail.com for any suggestions, comments or feedback you may have for us, we are always keen to hear your thoughts!
3. Finding Your Comfort Zone
It's essential to prioritise your mental health and well-being in online communities. If group chats trigger feelings of anxiety, it's okay to set boundaries and find what works best for you. Whether that means only reading messages here and there or engaging in smaller, more focused conversations, do what feels right for your comfort level and ask Allah to aid you and remove any feelings of anxiety that you may have and replace them with comfort. Allah tells us… “O you who have believed, seek help through patience and prayer. Indeed, Allah is with the patient.” (Al Baqarah, Ayah 153). So Allah is telling us, he is there for us, all we have to do is seek help through patience and prayer..
4. Seeking Support and Guidance
Whenever in need of support and guidance, firstly we advise that you turn to Allah with full sincerity and ask him for his aid as he is the one who can provide the ultimate relief. There is a beautiful duaa from the sunnah of the prophet that you can say in times of distress and anxiety:
اللّهُـمَّ إِنِّي عَبْـدُكَ ابْنُ عَبْـدِكَ ابْنُ أَمَتِـكَ نَاصِيَتِي بِيَـدِكَ مَاضٍ فِيَّ حُكْمُكَ عَدْلٌ فِيَّ قَضَاؤكَ أَسْأَلُـكَ بِكُلِّ اسْمٍ هُوَ لَكَ سَمَّـيْتَ بِهِ نَفْسَكَ أِوْ أَنْزَلْتَـهُ فِي كِتَابِكَ أَوْ عَلَّمْـتَهُ أَحَداً مِنْ خَلْقِـكَ أَوِ اسْتَـأْثَرْتَ بِهِ فِي عِلْمِ الغَيْـبِ عِنْـدَكَ أَنْ تَجْـعَلَ القُرْآنَ رَبِيـعَ قَلْبِـي وَنورَ صَـدْرِي وجَلَاءَ حُـزْنِي وذَهَابَ هَمِّـي
Allāhumma innī `abduk, ibnu `abdik, ibnu amatik, nāsiyatī biyadik, māḍin fiyya ḥukmuk, `adlun fiyya qaḍā'uk, as'aluka bikullis’min huwa lak, sammayta bihi nafsak, aw anzaltahu fī kitābik, aw `allamtahu aḥadan min khalqik, aw‘ista'tharta bihi fī `ilmil-ghaybi `indak, an taj`ala ‘l-Qur'āna rabī`a qalbī, wa nūra ṣadrī, wa jalā'a ḥuznī, wa dhahāba hammī.
“O Allah, I am Your slave, and the son of Your male slave, and the son of your female slave. My forehead is in Your Hand (i.e. you have control over me). Your Judgment upon me is assured, and Your Decree concerning me is just. I ask You by every Name that You have named Yourself with, revealed in Your Book, taught any one of Your creation, or kept unto Yourself in the knowledge of the unseen that is with You, to make the Qur'an the spring of my heart, and the light of my chest, the banisher of my sadness, and the reliever of my distress”. Reference: Ahmad 1/391, and Al-Albani graded it authentic
In addition, remember that the admin are here to support you and ensure that you feel welcomed and valued in the community. If you ever feel overwhelmed or anxious, don't hesitate to reach out for assistance. Whether through private messages, email, or other communication channels, know that you have a support system in place to help you navigate through any challenges as best as we can.
Lastly, we want to remind you that group chat anxiety is a common experience for many individuals, but it's essential to remember that you have control over your level of engagement and can set boundaries that work for you. By utilising alternative communication channels, seeking Allahs aid and counsel, accessing support from admin, and finding your comfort zone, you can overcome feelings of overwhelm and anxiety in group chats. Remember, your mental well-being should always come first in any online and in-person community setting and always remember there are more people feeling the way that you are than you probably think!
A beautiful reminder we would like to finish off with, which really does encompass the essence of sisterhood and supporting one another:
Abd Allah b. Umar reported the prophet (May peace be upon him) as saying :
A Muslim is a Muslim’s brother: he does not wrong him or abandon him. If anyone cares for his brother’s need, Allah will care for his need ; if anyone removes a Muslim’s anxiety, Allah will remove from him, on account of it, one of the anxieties of the Day of resurrection ; and if anyone conceals a Muslim’s fault, Allah will conceal his fault on the Day of resurrection.
Grade: Sahih (Al-Albani Reference: Sunan Abi Dawud 4893
May Allah make it easy for all of those going through it with their mental health and wellbeing- May Allah grant them sabr, relief and may they find comfort in the words of Allah and his Messenger. Aameen!
We would love to understand your preferred method to communicate so would really appreciate if you took a couple of seconds to answer the poll below (all anonymous)
What is your preferred method of communication?
SID Group Chat
Private messaging on WhatsApp
Anonymous Online Live Chat (Sister to Sister Hours)
Email
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