Fatwa ID: 05465
Answered by: Alimah Sofia Mirza
Question:
I have been affected by wasawis so much that now I have got psychological issues I think. I am seeing a psychologist at the moment too. I got treated by a Sheikh earlier as well.
I get so many bad thoughts and extreme levels of doubt regarding our religion Islam. I fight with these thoughts on a daily basis and there is very little time when my mind is free from them. It also affects my sleep sometimes. It’s like the same thoughts keep moving around in my mind even if I don’t want to think about them. The psychologist said that due to my mind being used to these thoughts they are bothering me in sleep too. She suggested keeping myself busy and think of positive things etc.
Weird kinds of scenarios get made in my mind. If I read something Islamic as I am doing Shariah course. I start to have bad thoughts etc which make me super scared.
My sister got a degree that has a Uni logo with a cross on it. To put it in my room. I respect my religion Islam only. But when I lie on bed I keep getting wasawis not to put feet there etc. Some irritating feeling so I close the cupboard door. I Do not respect any other religion except Islam. It’s just I don’t know what weird feeling I get. I feel like hitting myself for this. To avoid that irritating feeling I close the door of the cupboard.
Then one day I was holding milk it had two crosses (Christians sign) on it. When I talked my saliva fell on it so I wiped the box with my clothes that it may have fallen on it or something. I don’t know why on earth I wiped it and then later I got the wrong feelings. I don’t respect those signs Astagfirullah.
But then what was the reason for wiping even if saliva fell on them. These started getting wasawis that why did I wipe saliva on them. It may have been due to my extreme wasawis nature or just out of habit or maybe to avoid having irritation later I wiled saliva from the box but certainly not respecting those signs. I don’t know why I did that. But when I thought deep later it caused me more doubts regarding my Imaan. I started to cry when I think. I did istighfar and said shahada again.
In the name of Allah, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful
Answer:
May Allah makes your situation easy for you, the Waswasah which u have mentioned is not to be considered and are all baseless thoughts that are from the shaitaan. According to Islamic jurisprudence, these thoughts are not valid, there is a Fiqh principle ‘certainty is not invalidated by doubts’, i.e., after confirmation and assurance, any doubts are not valid enough to discard the assured matter.[1]
It is narrated in another narration by Abu Huraira:
The Prophet (ﷺ) said, “Allah has accepted my invocation to forgive what whispers in the hearts of my followers unless they put it to action or utter it.” [2] It is mentioned in another Hadith “Allah has forgiven my nation for mistakes, forgetfulness and what they have been forced to do”[3] Hence, the thoughts which are not intentional are from Shaitaan and Allah is most forgiving and merciful towards his servants.
The thoughts you have regarding your Iman are a test from Allah and you should endure this by making Istighfaar and Duaa that Allah guide you through these thoughts and remove them from your heart, however, the most important fact to remember is that thoughts that are not acted upon or intended do not have a consequence in Islam and need to be ignored. Hence, in this regard, your marriage will be intact as there is no evidence of you giving up your faith or beliefs or any certainty of this which will not affect your marriage. Therefore, rest assured and keep trying to overcome these thoughts with prayer and supplication and perhaps engage yourself with other matters to avoid overthinking.
Only Allah knows best.
Written by Alimah Sofia Mirza
Checked and approved by Mufti Mohammed Tosir Miah
Darul Ifta Birmingham
[1] Qawaaid Fiqhiyyah, Darul Tirmizi, Pg.15 and 16.
اليقين لا يزول بالشك”
[2] Sahih Al Bukhari, Darul Salaam, Hadith 2528.
حَدَّثَنَا الْحُمَيْدِيُّ، حَدَّثَنَا سُفْيَانُ، حَدَّثَنَا مِسْعَرٌ، عَنْ قَتَادَةَ، عَنْ زُرَارَةَ بْنِ أَوْفَى، عَنْ أَبِي هُرَيْرَةَ ـ رضى الله عنه ـ قَالَ قَالَ النَّبِيُّ صلى الله عليه وسلم “ إِنَّ اللَّهَ تَجَاوَزَ لِي عَنْ أُمَّتِي مَا وَسْوَسَتْ بِهِ صُدُورُهَا، مَا لَمْ تَعْمَلْ أَوْ تَكَلَّمْ ”.
[3] Sunan Ibn Majah, Darul Salaam, Hadith 2123.
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 ”
