Fatwa ID: 08679

 

 

Written by Maulana Mohammed Aabu Saeed Miah

 

Question:

 

I have a somewhat severe (at least every now and then) anxiety/overthinking/waswasa problem.

 

A few days ago on islamqa.org, I came across a question by someone where they were inquiring about their marital status. Lately, due to my anxiety problem, I avoid even directly clicking on any problematic words and click on some other word that by itself does not mean anything like “is”. This time, I was trying to open up the link through clicking the blank white space, and what that did is highlight/select the problematic text. I just want to confirm that this did not affect my nikaah in any way. I’m pretty sure this did not but just want to put my mind at ease. Found a post by Mufti Tosir Miah from August 29 2011 on your website on a similar question but as I said, just want to put my mind at ease.

 

 

This overthinking/anxiety/waswasa problem is something I have had for a few years from before I got married. In 2022, I had some fights with my wife and I spoke to an imam about our marital status. Then I did alot of searching on the internet. Alhumdulillah all is well but just explaining what truly enhanced this overthinking/anxiety/waswasa problem. I get better for a while but then return to the overthinking and severe worrying.

 

 

I keep telling myself that I’ll ignore the anxious thoughts but keep finding myself overthinking and then searching for posts on Islamic websites or YouTube. Lately, I have also developed this phobia of kufr. In the past 3 weeks, I have bothered our local mufti more times that one can easily count. Anyway, thanks for your help in advance. I try to say “La hawla wala quwwata illa billah“ and also will now be seeing a doctor soon because this has started.

 

 

 

 

In the name of Allah, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful

 

 

Answer:

 

Dealing with waswasa is a challenge many face. I understand it must be very distressing. However, I assure you that it can be overcome Insha’Allah.

 

When facing confusion, the best way to decide which decision to make it is to compare doubt between certainty. Many find themselves overwhelmed when facing doubt. When they face a doubt, they lose direction and don’t know what to do in fear of committing sin and/or harming one’s deen.

 

The way to solve this can be understood from this example:

 

“When doubting whether or not you’ve broken your wudhu you act upon your certainty”. This means that your certain that you made wudhu but your doubtful if you still have it. You choose certainty as this is what Allah wants from you. Therefore, even if you did break your wudhu, and you doubtful/you can’t remember for certain if you broke it, then your wudhu is still intact and your salah with it will be valid.

 

 

Regarding your Nikkah, having doubts on its validity will not affect its validity.

 

 

References:

 

القاعدة الثالثة – اليقين لا يزول بالشك – القواعد الفقهية – للشيخ عزت عبيد الدعاس 

 

 

Only Allah knows best.

Written by Maulana Mohammed Aabu Saeed Miah

Checked and approved by Mufti Mohammed Tosir Miah

Darul Ifta Birmingham