Fatwa ID: 09286
Answered by Muftiyah Humairah Badshah
Question:
Assalamu Alaikum
I have had OCD for 10 years and recently it has turned towards religion.
I was walking. I was trying to prevent my feet from pointing towards Allah in a disrespect manner (Na’u’zubillah). And a flash of frustration/anger came over me and I just let go.
I was confident I had done it intentionally but while writing it down, it seems stupid and I feel like a Muslim who doesn’t have such feelings towards Allah.
I also think I shouldn’t ask these questions as they hinder my recovery but the whispers tell me that what if I really apostated and I am a hypocrite who harbors such hidden feelings for Allah and Islam.7
Please give my an honest ruling even if it is kufr and advise me. May Allah bless you for your help.
In the name of Allah, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful
Answer:
Such intrusive thoughts caused by OCD and related mental health conditions are not kufr. You should not feel worried or guilty regarding them. Make sure to consult a qualified mental health professional for help with managing your condition.
Kufr is not something a believer can do by accident. Kufr is a belief which is expressed or held. Even explicit words of kufr can and should be ignored if it was an accidental utterance caused by a slip of the tongue or uncontrollable impulse due to mental health problems.[1]
The Prophet (ﷺ) said: “Allah has forgiven my nation for mistakes and forgetfulness, and what they are forced to do.” (Sunan Ibn Majah 2045) [2]
You are not held accountable for waswasa or intrusive thoughts. They have no effect on your belief, and are in no way a sign or cause of kufr. Experiencing such waswasa is completely natural to all human beings and, in fact, is a sign of true belief.[3]
Some Sahabah (﵁) once came to the Prophet (ﷺ) and asked him: “Indeed we perceive in our minds that which every one of us considers it too grave to express.” He [the Prophet (ﷺ)] said: “Do you really perceive it?” They said: “Yes.” Upon this he [ﷺ] remarked: “That is the faith manifest.”(Sahih Muslim 132a) [4]
When such thoughts occur, try not dwell on them and let them affect you.[5] Rather, simply affirm your faith and seek refuge in Allah (ﷻ) from evil whispers.[6]
In Surah Fussilaat, Allah (ﷻ) says: “And if there comes to you from Satan an evil whisper, then seek refuge in Allah. Indeed, He is the Hearing, the Knowing.” (41:36) [7]
Note that the dislike regarding feet pointing is regarding intentionally stretching your feet towards the Ka’bah while lying down or in a resting state, and is not regarding walking direction.[8] You should avoid acting on your compulsive thoughts regarding walking direction in the future.[9] If something similar happens again, try to put your mind at ease and trust in the mercy of Allah (ﷻ) and His protection.[10]
The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) said: “Allah divided Mercy into one hundred parts. He kept ninety nine parts with Him and sent down one part to the earth, and because of that, its one single part, His Creations are merciful to each other, so that even the mare lifts up its hoofs away from its baby animal, lest it should trample on it.” (Sahih al-Bukhari 6000) [9]
Only Allah ﷻ knows best.
Written by Muftiyah Humairah Badshah
Checked and approved by Mufti Mohammed Tosir Miah
Darul Ifta Birmingham
References:
[1]
وَشَرَائِطُ صِحَّتِهَا الْعَقْلُ) وَالصَّحْوُ (وَالطَّوْعُ) فَلَا تَصِحُّ رِدَّةُ مَجْنُونٍ، وَمَعْتُوهٍ وَمُوَسْوِسٍ
…
مَنْ تَكَلَّمَ بِهَا مُخْطِئًا أَوْ مُكْرَهًا لَا يَكْفُرُ عِنْدَ الْكُلِّ
Radd Al-Muhtaar (Halabi ed., Daar Al-Fikr, https://shamela.ws) v.4 p.224
الْمُرْتَدُّ عُرْفًا هُوَ الرَّاجِعُ عَنْ دِينِ الْإِسْلَامِ كَذَا فِي النَّهْرِ الْفَائِقِ وَرُكْنُ الرِّدَّةِ إجْرَاءُ كَلِمَةِ الْكُفْرِ عَلَى اللِّسَانِ بَعْدَ وُجُودِ الْإِيمَانِ وَشَرَائِطُ صِحَّتِهَا الْعَقْلُ
Al-Fataawa Al-Hindiyyah (Daar Al-Fikr, https://shamela.ws) v.2 p.253
[2]
حَدَّثَنَا مُحَمَّدُ بْنُ الْمُصَفَّى الْحِمْصِيُّ، حَدَّثَنَا الْوَلِيدُ بْنُ مُسْلِمٍ، حَدَّثَنَا الأَوْزَاعِيُّ، عَنْ عَطَاءٍ، عَنِ ابْنِ عَبَّاسٍ، عَنِ النَّبِيِّ ـ صلى الله عليه وسلم ـ قَالَ “ إِنَّ اللَّهَ وَضَعَ عَنْ أُمَّتِي الْخَطَأَ وَالنِّسْيَانَ وَمَا اسْتُكْرِهُوا عَلَيْهِ ” .
Sunan Ibn Majah (https://sunnah.com) b.10, no.30 (2045)
[3]
قَالَ ” إِنَّ الشَّيْطَانَ يَجْرِي مِنَ الإِنْسَانِ مَجْرَى الدَّمِ، وَإِنِّي خَشِيتُ أَنْ يَقْذِفَ فِي قُلُوبِكُمَا سُوءًا ـ أَوْ قَالَ ـ شَيْئًا
Sahih al-Bukhari (https://sunnah.com) b.59, no.90 (3281)
[4]
جَاءَ نَاسٌ مِنْ أَصْحَابِ النَّبِيِّ صلى الله عليه وسلم فَسَأَلُوهُ إِنَّا نَجِدُ فِي أَنْفُسِنَا مَا يَتَعَاظَمُ أَحَدُنَا أَنْ يَتَكَلَّمَ بِهِ . قَالَ ” وَقَدْ وَجَدْتُمُوهُ ” . قَالُوا نَعَمْ . قَالَ ” ذَاكَ صَرِيحُ الإِيمَانِ
Sahih Muslim (https://sunnah.com) b.1, no.247 (132a)
[5]
وَالسَّبِيلُ فِي الْوَسْوَسَةِ قَطْعُهَا؛ لِأَنَّهُ لَوْ اشْتَغَلَ بِذَلِكَ لَأَدَّى إلَى أَنْ يَتَفَرَّعَ لِأَدَاءِ الصَّلَاةِ، وَهَذَا لَا يَجُوزُ
Badaai’ Al-Sanaai’ (Daar Al-Kutub Al-‘Ilmiyyah, https://shamela.ws) v.1 p.33
[6]
قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم “ يَأْتِي الشَّيْطَانُ أَحَدَكُمْ فَيَقُولُ مَنْ خَلَقَ كَذَا وَكَذَا حَتَّى يَقُولَ لَهُ مَنْ خَلَقَ رَبَّكَ فَإِذَا بَلَغَ ذَلِكَ فَلْيَسْتَعِذْ بِاللَّهِ وَلْيَنْتَهِ
Sahih Muslim (https://sunnah.com) b.1, no.252 (134c)
[7]
وَإِمَّا يَنزَغَنَّكَ مِنَ ٱلشَّيْطَـٰنِ نَزْغٌۭ فَٱسْتَعِذْ بِٱللَّهِ ۖ إِنَّهُۥ هُوَ ٱلسَّمِيعُ ٱلْعَلِيمُ
Surah Fussilaat [41:36]
[8]
وَيُكْرَهُ مَدُّ الرِّجْلَيْنِ إلَى الْكَعْبَةِ فِي النَّوْمِ وَغَيْرِهِ عَمْدًا، وَكَذَلِكَ إلَى كُتُبِ الشَّرِيعَةِ، وَكَذَلِكَ فِي حَالِ مُوَاقَعَةِ الْأَهْلِ، كَذَا فِي مُحِيطِ السَّرَخْسِيِّ
Al-Fataawa Al-Hindiyyah (Daar Al-Fikr, https://shamela.ws) v.5 p.319
[9]
قَالَ النَّبِيُّ صلى الله عليه وسلم “ إِنَّ اللَّهَ تَجَاوَزَ لِي عَنْ أُمَّتِي مَا وَسْوَسَتْ بِهِ صُدُورُهَا، مَا لَمْ تَعْمَلْ أَوْ تَكَلَّمْ
Sahih al-Bukhari (https://sunnah.com) b.49, ch.6, no.12 (2528)
[10]
حَدَّثَنَا الْحَكَمُ بْنُ نَافِعٍ، أَخْبَرَنَا شُعَيْبٌ، عَنِ الزُّهْرِيِّ، أَخْبَرَنَا سَعِيدُ بْنُ الْمُسَيَّبِ، أَنَّ أَبَا هُرَيْرَةَ، قَالَ سَمِعْتُ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم يَقُولُ “ جَعَلَ اللَّهُ الرَّحْمَةَ مِائَةَ جُزْءٍ، فَأَمْسَكَ عِنْدَهُ تِسْعَةً وَتِسْعِينَ جُزْءًا، وَأَنْزَلَ فِي الأَرْضِ جُزْءًا وَاحِدًا، فَمِنْ ذَلِكَ الْجُزْءِ يَتَرَاحَمُ الْخَلْقُ، حَتَّى تَرْفَعَ الْفَرَسُ حَافِرَهَا عَنْ وَلَدِهَا خَشْيَةَ أَنْ تُصِيبَهُ ”.
Sahih al-Bukhari (https://sunnah.com) b.78, no.31 (6000)