Assalaamu alaykum. I recently messaged you regarding my 15-year-struggle with acne and the psychological trauma that it has caused me. You recommended that I stay patient and mentioned the benefts of patience. I have tried to do so, but I find myself losing faith. I do not see a way out of my problem as I have consulted multiple doctors, and I cannot bear the thought of continuing to live with this for the remainder of my life. I know the supplication which you suggested for distress very well, as I have been reciting it in prayer and whenever I feel depressed for a couple of years now. I feel like a prisoner in my body and this life. My skin problem prevents me from fully interacting with people. My hijab emphasizes my acne, whereas particular hairstyles can somewhat conceal it. After 15 years and no luck in finding a cure, how do I remain patient? I will never marry, as I am farr to insecure about my acne, and I will not have children because I cannot risk passing on this skin disease. I am too insecure to interact with people, as I can see the pity in their eyes and see them scanning my skin. There is nothing for me in this world. Is there someway to speed up death or have Allaah answer my supplication for a cure? I have a book with His Names, and I have tried calling on them when supplicating, but it has not worked.

All perfect praise be to Allah, The Lord of the worlds. I testify that there is none worthy of worship except Allah and that Muhammad, sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, is His slave and Messenger.

We advise you to have more patience. If you are not patient, what would you do? We assure you that if the answer to your prayers is delayed, it is for a wisdom that you are not aware of. We remind you of the hadeeth cited by Imaam Ahmad in his Musnad: Anas narrated that the Prophet, sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, said, "I am amazed at the believer. Verily, Allah does not decree anything except that it is good for him."

So be patient, do not despair, and make use of every lawful means available that would help you attain recovery, one of which is Ruqyah (healing through Quranic recitation and supplication). Verily, Ruqyah is beneficial for both physical and psychological problems such as jinn possession, the evil eye, and the like. Please refer to fatwas 88660 and 82918 about Ruqyah.

Your condition is not considered a religious impediment to marriage and having healthy children according to the Sharia or social customs. Therefore, you should not turn down suitors. It is also allowed for the woman to propose to a man for marriage and seek the help of others in searching for suitable suitors, as we have previously underlined in fatwa 82471.

You said, "My hijaab emphasizes my acne." Our comment is that the hijaab might not be the cause of your acne problem; it might be the type of fabric that you wear or the like. Assuming that the hijaab actually causes the acne according to trustworthy and skillful doctors, it is impermissible for you to expose any part of your body except what the necessity may require, and in this case it is impermissible for you to go outdoors except for a need; the necessity is measured in accordance with its true proportions and must only be answered proportionately.

The Islamic Sharia forbids the Muslim from wishing for death because of the harms and adversities that afflict them. Rather, it guides to the suitable alternative, which is invoking Allah, entrusting all affairs to Him, and relying on Him in all matters. Anas reported that the Prophet, sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, said, "None of you should wish for death because of some harm that befalls him. If he must wish for death, let him say: Allahumma ahyini ma kaanat al-hayaatu khayran li wa tawaffani itha kaanat al-wafaatu khayran li (which means: O Allah, keep me alive so long as life is good for me, and cause me to die when death is good for me)." [Al-Bukhaari and Muslim]

Allah knows best.