Is a person who suffers from sorcery or possession and speaks words of disbelief without their own intention held accountable for that?
Machine translationRead the Arabic original
The questioner:
I have been afflicted with possession or sorcery for about four months. My condition at that time was obsessive doubt (waswas), and words would come out of my mouth to the extent that I thought I was the one speaking them. Sometimes I feel that I am saying words of disbelief, may Allah protect me from that, without my intention. I then sought treatment from some of the people of the Sunnah, and they told me that I am not held accountable for this speech, but rather it is from possession or sorcery. May Allah bless you, am I held accountable for this or not?
The Shaykh:
You are not held accountable for this. You are not held accountable for obsessive doubt (waswas) if you do not speak. The Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) said: If you speak intentionally, then you are held accountable. But if you are not intentional, and you spoke without your choice due to obsessive doubt and distraction, you are not held accountable for this. You are not held accountable for this in what you did not intend and did not mean, but rather you spoke it without understanding or comprehension due to the severity of the obsessive doubt. However, you must engage in frequent remembrance of Allah, recitation of the Qur'an, and seeking refuge in Allah from Satan. Increase in seeking refuge in Allah from Satan and holding fast to Allah (Mighty and Majestic), and Allah will help you with that. Yes.
The questioner:
Also, this possession interferes with me regarding the issue of intention, so I cannot bring it to my heart at the time of prayer. It also interferes with me regarding the recitation, and I feel that my ablution has been broken. What do you advise us? May Allah reward you with good.
The Shaykh:
My brother, if you performed ablution, your ablution is valid, and it is not broken except by the known invalidators. As for obsessive doubt (waswas), it does not break the ablution. Likewise, regarding prayer, if you begin the prayer, continue and do not pay attention to the doubts. Continue in your prayer and complete it. If after the prayer it comes to you and says that your prayer is not valid, leave it. Your prayer is valid, if Allah wills. And never pay attention to these doubts. Yes.
I have been afflicted with possession or sorcery for about four months. My condition at that time was obsessive doubt (waswas), and words would come out of my mouth to the extent that I thought I was the one speaking them. Sometimes I feel that I am saying words of disbelief, may Allah protect me from that, without my intention. I then sought treatment from some of the people of the Sunnah, and they told me that I am not held accountable for this speech, but rather it is from possession or sorcery. May Allah bless you, am I held accountable for this or not?
The Shaykh:
You are not held accountable for this. You are not held accountable for obsessive doubt (waswas) if you do not speak. The Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) said:
Forgiveness has been granted to my Ummah for mistakes, forgetfulness, what they were forced to do, and what their souls suggest to them, as long as they do not speak or act upon it.
عفي لأمتي الخطأ والنسيان وما استكرهوا عليه وما حدثت به أنفسها ما لم تتكلم أو تعمل،The questioner:
Also, this possession interferes with me regarding the issue of intention, so I cannot bring it to my heart at the time of prayer. It also interferes with me regarding the recitation, and I feel that my ablution has been broken. What do you advise us? May Allah reward you with good.
The Shaykh:
My brother, if you performed ablution, your ablution is valid, and it is not broken except by the known invalidators. As for obsessive doubt (waswas), it does not break the ablution. Likewise, regarding prayer, if you begin the prayer, continue and do not pay attention to the doubts. Continue in your prayer and complete it. If after the prayer it comes to you and says that your prayer is not valid, leave it. Your prayer is valid, if Allah wills. And never pay attention to these doubts. Yes.
Source
قناة «العلامة الدكتور صالح الفوزان»، هل مَن يعاني من السحر أو المس ويتكلم بالكفر من غير إرادته، هل يُؤاخَذ بذلك؟ #فتاوى الفوزان — youtube.com
The Arabic text is a machine transcription of the audio recording.