Fatwa ID: 09254
Answered by Muftiyah Maryam Badshah
Question:
I suffer from waswas, but these past few days it’s been really bad. For several months now, my waswas have been about shirk, kufr, and the fear of no longer being Muslim. Lately, I’ve been feeling a kind of disgust, not because I dislike Ramadan, but because the combination of cooking smells and not eating triggers this feeling. Now, these days, I feel this disgust every time I think about things related to Islam, like the Quran, for example, even though I do NOT hate the Quran. I don’t hate ANYTHING about Islam. This feeling is ruining my life, to the point that I hit my head hard with my hands to avoid feeling it. I hate myself so much. There are times when I feel like I actually agree with it, and it’s terrifying. I know I should ignore waswas… but this is acting on it, isn’t it?
I also have many images from the Quran that appear in my mind, and I blink vigorously to chase them away, sometimes with disdain, and terrified, I repeat the shahada. Am I responsible for these actions? Sometimes I truly feel like it’s not me, other times yes. I’m also afraid because, by hurting myself, I sometimes fear that Satan just wants me to commit suicide.
In the name of Allah, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful
Answer:
“And We burden no soul except [within] its capacity, and with Us is a record which speaks with truth; and they will not be wronged.” Surah al-Mu’minoon (23:62) [1]
Kufr (apostasy) occurs when a person verbally denies or mocks the religion willingly. If a person has thoughts of disbelief that they decide are true, or they decide to become a disbeliever, then this person has committed apostasy. Disbelief is not done by mistake, and neither is Islam removed by doubtful situations or obsessive thoughts (waswasah).[2]
“And if there comes to you from Shaytan an evil suggestion, then seek refuge in Allāh. Indeed, He is the Hearing, the Knowing.” Surah Fussilat (41:36) [3]
When dealing with intrusive thoughts, overthinking or hyperfocusing on matters can lead to one developing unnecessary misconceptions. A person suffering from OCD and waswasah should not entertain any lines of thought that may affect their prayers or daily life. Instead of questioning yourself regarding an action, try to assure yourself of your own belief, that you are a Muslim and that you do not have any negativity towards the religion. Set aside any deep contemplation regarding the meaning of any momentary or involuntary action. When intrusive thoughts occur, try to put them out of mind by distracting yourself and avoiding contemplation, and seek assistance from a qualified medical professional.[4]
Some people from amongst the Companions of the Prophet ﷺ came to him and said: “Verily we perceive in our minds that which every one of us considers it too grave to express.” He ﷺ said: “Do you really perceive it?” They said: “Yes.” Upon this he remarked: “That is the faith manifest.” (Muslim) [5]
Only Allah ﷻ knows best.
Written by Muftiyah Maryam Badshah
Checked and approved by Mufti Mohammed Tosir Miah
Darul Ifta Birmingham
References:
[1]
وَلَا نُكَلِّفُ نَفْسًا إِلَّا وُسْعَهَا ۖ وَلَدَيْنَا كِتَابٌ يَنطِقُ بِالْحَقِّ ۚ وَهُمْ لَا يُظْلَمُونَ
Qur’an (23:62)
[2]
الْمُرْتَدُّ عُرْفًا هُوَ الرَّاجِعُ عَنْ دِينِ الْإِسْلَامِ كَذَا فِي النَّهْرِ الْفَائِقِ وَرُكْنُ الرِّدَّةِ إجْرَاءُ كَلِمَةِ الْكُفْرِ عَلَى اللِّسَانِ بَعْدَ وُجُودِ الْإِيمَانِ وَشَرَائِطُ صِحَّتِهَا الْعَقْلُ … وَمِنْهَا الطَّوْعُ فَلَا تَصِحُّ رِدَّةُ الْمُكْرَهِ عَلَيْهَا…
مَنْ أَصَابَهُ بِرْسَامٌ، أَوْ أُطْعِمَ شَيْئًا فَذَهَبَ عَقْلُهُ فَهَذَى فَارْتَدَّ لَمْ يَكُنْ ذَلِكَ ارْتِدَادًا، وَكَذَا لَوْ كَانَ مَعْتُوهًا، أَوْ مُوَسْوِسًا، أَوْ مَغْلُوبًا عَلَى عَقْلِهِ بِوَجْهٍ مِنْ الْوُجُوهِ، فَهُوَ عَلَى هَذَا…
Al-Fatāwa al-Hindiyyah (Vol.2, pg.253, Dār Al-Fiqr)
قَوْلُهُ وَرُكْنُهَا إجْرَاءُ كَلِمَةِ الْكُفْرِ عَلَى اللِّسَانِ) هَذَا بِالنِّسْبَةِ إلَى الظَّاهِرِ الَّذِي يَحْكُمُ بِهِ الْحَاكِمُ، وَإِلَّا فَقَدْ تَكُونُ بِدُونِهِ كَمَا لَوْ عَرَضَ لَهُ اعْتِقَادٌ بَاطِلٌ أَوْ نَوَى أَنْ يَكْفُرَ بَعْدَ حِينٍ أَفَادَهُ
Raddul Muhtār (Vol.4, pg.221, Dār Al-Fiqr)
وَشَرَائِطُ صِحَّتِهَا الْعَقْلُ) وَالصَّحْوُ (وَالطَّوْعُ) فَلَا تَصِحُّ رِدَّةُ مَجْنُونٍ، وَمَعْتُوهٍ وَمُوَسْوِسٍ…
–
لَا يُخْرِجُ الرَّجُلَ مِنْ الْإِيمَانِ إلَّا جُحُودُ مَا أَدْخَلَهُ فِيهِ ثُمَّ مَا تَيَقَّنَ أَنَّهُ رِدَّةٌ يُحْكَمُ بِهَا وَمَا يَشُكُّ أَنَّهُ رِدَّةٌ لَا يُحْكَمُ بِهَا إذْ الْإِسْلَامُ الثَّابِتُ لَا يَزُولُ بِالشَّكِّ مَعَ أَنَّ الْإِسْلَامَ يَعْلُو…
Raddul Muhtār (Vol.4, pg.224, Dār Al-Fiqr)
[3]
وَإِمَّا يَنزَغَنَّكَ مِنَ الشَّيْطَانِ نَزْغٌ فَاسْتَعِذْ بِاللَّهِ ۖ إِنَّهُ هُوَ السَّمِيعُ الْعَلِيمُ
Qur’an (41:36)
[4]
وَالسَّبِيلُ فِي الْوَسْوَسَةِ قَطْعُهَا؛ لِأَنَّهُ لَوْ اشْتَغَلَ بِذَلِكَ لَأَدَّى إلَى أَنْ يَتَفَرَّعَ لِأَدَاءِ الصَّلَاةِ، وَهَذَا لَا يَجُوزُ
Badā’i’ Al-Ṣanā’i’ (Vol.1, pg.33, Dār Al-Kutub Al-’Ilmiyyah)
[5]
حَدَّثَنِي زُهَيْرُ بْنُ حَرْبٍ، حَدَّثَنَا جَرِيرٌ، عَنْ سُهَيْلٍ، عَنْ أَبِيهِ، عَنْ أَبِي هُرَيْرَةَ، قَالَ 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 132a (Bk.1, ch.60, sunnah.com)