What is the ruling on the intrusive thoughts that occur to the heart of a believer regarding the matters of creed?

The questioner : May Allah reward you. This is what she says: I am afflicted with intrusive thoughts or doubts that touch my religion and my creed and undermine their foundation. They are constant intrusive thoughts that do not change; they press upon my mind and scream at me that I am not on the truth.

The Shaykh : I have believed in Allah.

The questioner : And that I am in error, and that I am never a believer, and that I have no religion. I find in this a torment that has exhausted me and spoiled my life.

The Shaykh : Allah is the Greatest!

The questioner : The summary of her long message says: What is the solution for me, O honorable Shaykh? And I ask you to make supplication for me.

The Shaykh : Yes, I tell her that I congratulate her on these intrusive thoughts because they indicate goodness, the soundness of her faith, and the sincerity of her faith. For the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him and his family) described these intrusive thoughts as the pure essence of faith. And the pure essence of anything is its most sincere part. So I tell her: Rejoice, for this is a sign of goodness. Do not dwell on these intrusive thoughts, do not pay attention to them, and do not become ill because of them, for they are a good thing. Satan cannot aim his deadly arrows except at a living heart. As for a dead heart, he cannot. However, living hearts undoubtedly differ. A living heart that has some softness in it, Satan comes to corrupt it. And a living heart that radiates light, Satan does not reach it. Nevertheless, I say to this woman that what happened to her happened to the Companions (may Allah be pleased with them) - meaning a burnt coal - . And we were commanded by him, may the prayers and peace of Allah be upon him, to do two things: to seek refuge in Allah and to cease. We seek refuge in Allah by saying: I seek refuge in Allah from the accursed Satan. We cease, meaning we distract ourselves from these intrusive thoughts, we turn away from them, and we act as if they did not occur. And I say to this woman and to anyone similar to her: Does not one of you perform the ablution, pray, fast, and give charity? Why? Because he believes in Allah and believes that these actions bring him closer to Allah. Therefore, these intrusive thoughts have no effect, so it is not befitting for one to be affected by these intrusive thoughts. But it is obligatory for us to do what the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him and his family) commanded, which is what? Seeking refuge and turning away, and ceasing, meaning distracting oneself from this matter. And we seek refuge in Allah from the whispering of the chest and the scattering of matters. And we ask Allah for this sister that He remove these intrusive thoughts from her, and that He protect us and her from the accursed Satan. And peace be upon you and the mercy of Allah.