Intermittent Dark Nights of the Soul
روى مسلم عَنْ أَبِي هُرَيْرَةَ (أَنَّ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ قَالَ بَادِرُوا بِالْأَعْمَالِ فِتَنًا كَقِطَعِ اللَّيْلِ الْمُظْلِمِ يُصْبِحُ الرَّجُلُ مُؤْمِنًا وَيُمْسِي كَافِرًا أَوْ يُمْسِي مُؤْمِنًا وَيُصْبِحُ كَافِرًا يَبِيعُ دِينَهُ بِعَرَضٍ مِنْ الدُّنْيَا).[Muslim narrated on the authority of Abu Hurayra that the Prophet (p) said: "Hasten to good works before being tested with intermittent dark nights; a person may have faith in the morning and reject it in the evening, or have faith in the evening and reject it in the morning, selling his religion for mundane worldly goods.]
It is a common misconception that the "dark night of the soul" -- being gripped by existential uncertainty and anxiety -- is a phase that the faithful overcome only once in their lifetimes, as soon as they find light. This is not an accurate description of the human condition, which goes through several such episodes.
Two parallel examples help to shed some light on intermittent dark nights of the soul: one is the story of Ibrahim (p) in the sixth chapter of the Qur'an (Cattle 75--82) and the other from the life story of the Prophet (p).
1. First Darkness and Dim Light
They both begin in seemingly total darkness (6:75--76):
{وَكَذَلِكَ نُرِيۤ إِبْرَاهِيمَ مَلَكُوتَ ٱلسَّمَٰوَٰتِ وَٱلأَرْضِ وَلِيَكُونَ مِنَ ٱلْمُوقِنِينَ}
[Thus we show Ibrahim the invisible realm of the heavens of the earth, so that he may attain certainty.]
{فَلَمَّا جَنَّ عَلَيْهِ ٱلْلَّيْلُ رَأَى كَوْكَباً قَالَ هَـٰذَا رَبِّي فَلَمَّآ أَفَلَ قَالَ لاۤ أُحِبُّ ٱلآفِلِينَ}
[When dark night enveloped him, he saw a planet, and said: "this is (a symbol of) my Lord", but the planet set, and he said: "I dislike objects that set"].
He returned home in terror of this vision. To allay his fears, his wife Khadijah's (r) took him to her cousin Waraqa ibn Nawfal, who assured him that this was a divine revelation through the angelic form of Gabriel.
Seeking more illumination, the Prophet (p) returned to the cave, several times, but nothing came. Night after night, he found nothing but darkness, just like the story of Ibrahim where we left it: the luminous planet had set.
2. Second Darkness and Brighter Light
The story of Ibrahim continues (6:77):
[Then he saw the moon shining, and said: "this is (a symbol of) my Lord", but when the moon also set, he said: "unless my Lord guides me, I will surely be among the misguided"].
The light of the moon is also reflected light, just like the light of Venus, but the moon is close enough to earth to reflect sufficient light that allows us to see other objects (whereas the light reflected from Venus allowed us to see the planet and not much else).
Likewise, the revelations that came to the Prophet (p) after the first one, followed by an extended silence, was not intended for him alone!
During the extended period of silence following the first very brief revelation, the Prophet (p) was approaching despair. Finally, he saw a vision of the archangel Gabriel filling the horizon. The vision shook him so deeply that he could not stop shivering, and his wife Khadijah (r) cloaked him at his request...
Then revelations resumed, somewhat continuously, starting with instructions for a mission (74:1--5):
{يٰأَيُّهَا ٱلْمُدَّثِّرُ} * {قُمْ فَأَنذِرْ} * {وَرَبَّكَ فَكَبِّرْ} * {وَثِيَابَكَ فَطَهِّرْ} * {وَٱلرُّجْزَ فَٱهْجُرْ}[O, cloaked one, rise and warn people, glorify your Lord, cleanse your garments, and avoid all idols.]
[Then he saw the sun shining and said: "This is (a symbol of) my Lord; this is the biggest (source of light)", but then the sun set, and he said: "You see, my people: I denounce all that you associate with God."][I turn my attention exclusively to the creator of the heavens and the earth. I am not a polytheist.]
[By the (light of) day, and the darkness of night, your Lord has not abandoned you.]
[His people continued to debate with him. He said: are you still arguing, even after God has guided me. I do not fear what you associate with him, unless my Lord had wished some harm. My Lord knows all, do you not reflect?][How can I fear what you associate with God while you don't fear that you have associated others with Him that were not endowed with any power over you? Which side of this comparison is more likely to be safe?][Those who have faith and have not polluted their faith with idolatry, they are the ones who have safety and guidance.]