Treatment of Obsessions

The Shaykh : So what do you do, I mean, how do you treat the heart when it falls into such a predicament? Praise be to Allah, our Prophet Muhammad (peace and blessings be upon him) informed us what we should do. He said: There are two doses of medicine. The first is seeking refuge in Allah, saying: “I seek refuge in Allah from the accursed Shaytan.” And the second? It is ceasing, meaning turning away from it, not thinking about it, and not being anxious about it, because it is from Shaytan. Beware that you slip and a pitfall appears under your foot. Beware, when this matter falls into your heart, reject it. Say, “I seek refuge in Allah from the accursed Shaytan,” and turn away from it, and it will disappear from you, because the one who informed us of this is the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him and his family). So, if a person’s self speaks to him, does it harm him if he does not incline to it, or does it not harm him? Brother, stand up. If your self speaks to you in your heart about something, does it harm you? No, it does not harm you. No, it does not harm you in any case. Is that right?
The student: If he affirms it, it harms.

The Shaykh : If he affirms it, it harms. And if he leaves it?
The student: It does not harm.

The Shaykh : It does not harm. May Allah bless you. Good.