Obsessions in Worship and Their Treatment

Question:
A pious woman says that she has been afflicted with obsessive thoughts (waswas) for years and has not been able to get rid of them. What is your opinion, Honorable Shaykh, regarding her prayer and her worship? And is she rewarded for what has befallen her during these long years?

Answer:
The truth is that being overly strict in acts of worship, being overly strict in religion, often leads to obsessive thoughts (waswas). This is from Shaytan. When he sees a person being strict in his religion, he introduces waswas and doubts into him. For this reason, people are forbidden from being overly strict, from exaggeration and affectation in religion, and they are commanded to be moderate and take the middle path, because this is more conducive to conforming to the Shari'ah and keeps Shaytan further away from the Muslim. So, if a person is afflicted with waswas, he treats it by seeking refuge in Allah from Shaytan and frequently seeking refuge from Shaytan. He also increases his morning and evening recitations with verses, hadiths, and prescribed adhkar. He increases his remembrance of Allah and increases his recitation of the Qur'an. Yes.