A young man who prays and suffers from a psychological condition, which is the disease of arrogance (pride), tried to treat himself with the Qur'an and with a doctor, but without benefit
Machine translationRead the Arabic original
The questioner : A twenty-two-year-old young man. I pray, and praise be to Allah for that. However, recently I have been afflicted with a psychological condition, which is the disease of arrogance, i.e., pride. It is the nature of one afflicted with this disease to have hypocrisy and showing off in worship, and many of these things. I tried to treat myself with a doctor and with the Qur'an, but without benefit. The question is: will my prayer and fasting be accepted while I am in this state? Knowing that I hate these blameworthy traits, but I have not been able to get rid of them because they are without my will. May Allah reward you with good?
The Shaykh : Praise be to Allah, Lord of the worlds, and may peace and blessings be upon our Prophet Muhammad, and upon his family and his Companions, and those who follow them in excellence until the Day of Judgment:
It is obligatory for one who is afflicted with a psychological illness, such as obsessive thoughts or otherwise, to turn to his Lord, Mighty and Majestic, and to ask Him frequently with persistence, hope for a response, and good opinion of Allah, Mighty and Majestic. If this matter overcomes him and he is unable to resist it, then he owes nothing for that, due to the saying of Allah, Blessed and Exalted is He:[Al-Baqarah 2:286] and His saying, Blessed and Exalted is He: [At-Taghabun 64:16].
And because the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) was asked about such matters and said:, and the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) ordered one who is afflicted with obsessive thoughts regarding matters greater than what the questioner mentioned to seek refuge in Allah and to stop. To seek refuge in Allah means to take hold of Him, Exalted and Majestic is He, and to stop means to turn away and ignore what occurs in his heart of such intrusive thoughts. So, let this man, the questioner, seek refuge in Allah, Mighty and Majestic, from the accursed Shaytan, and let him stop regarding what afflicts him of these obsessive thoughts, and turn away and distract himself, for by the permission of Allah, they will disappear.
And even if their disappearance is delayed, let him not despair, for despair of the mercy of Allah the Exalted is among the major sins. No one should despair of the mercy of Allah while he maintains a good opinion of Him forever. Rather, despair of the mercy of Allah is a bad opinion of Allah, Mighty and Majestic. I ask Allah for this questioner to protect him from trials and to shield him from the accursed Shaytan.
The questioner : O Allah, amen. May Allah bless you.
The Shaykh : Praise be to Allah, Lord of the worlds, and may peace and blessings be upon our Prophet Muhammad, and upon his family and his Companions, and those who follow them in excellence until the Day of Judgment:
It is obligatory for one who is afflicted with a psychological illness, such as obsessive thoughts or otherwise, to turn to his Lord, Mighty and Majestic, and to ask Him frequently with persistence, hope for a response, and good opinion of Allah, Mighty and Majestic. If this matter overcomes him and he is unable to resist it, then he owes nothing for that, due to the saying of Allah, Blessed and Exalted is He:
Allah does not charge a soul except [with that within] its capacity
لا يُكَلِّفُ اللَّهُ نَفْسًا إِلَّا وُسْعَهَاSo fear Allah as much as you are able
فَاتَّقُوا اللَّهَ مَا اسْتَطَعْتُمْAnd because the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) was asked about such matters and said:
That is the clarity of faith
ذلك صريح الإيمانAnd even if their disappearance is delayed, let him not despair, for despair of the mercy of Allah the Exalted is among the major sins. No one should despair of the mercy of Allah while he maintains a good opinion of Him forever. Rather, despair of the mercy of Allah is a bad opinion of Allah, Mighty and Majestic. I ask Allah for this questioner to protect him from trials and to shield him from the accursed Shaytan.
The questioner : O Allah, amen. May Allah bless you.