Explaining that whoever seeks strictness in worship will be subjected to strictness, and the danger of intrusive thoughts in worship and how to treat them.

The Shaykh : And what the Shaykh mentioned is correct, meaning that whoever seeks strictness will be subjected to strictness. If this is during the time of legislation, he may be subjected to strictness by the Shari'ah. If it is after that, he is subjected to strictness by divine decree. You will find that the one afflicted with intrusive thoughts, may Allah protect us from that, in ritual purity is subjected to strictness by Allah. Then he performs wudu' several times and remains in the bathroom for two or three hours. Likewise, the one afflicted with intrusive thoughts in prayer is found to be subjected to strictness and is unable to pronounce the takbir or the tasbih or the like. Perhaps he prays, and then when he has prayed, he says he did not pray, so he repeats it. And when he is told not to repeat it, his chest becomes very tight; he is on the verge of fainting, and his soul is not at ease until he repeats it. And even after repeating it, boredom and anxiety overtake him until he prays several times, may Allah protect us from that. Some of them reach a point where the intrusive thoughts lead them to abandoning prayer, we ask Allah for safety, because they are exhausted and tired. Therefore, it is obligatory for a person to cut off the root of intrusive thoughts from the very beginning and to leave them alone. Even if his chest becomes tight the first time, he should be patient, and Allah will remove that from him. For this reason, I hope that Allah will protect me and you from such a thing. But perhaps you will be asked about this. If the questioner asks you, tell him: Be patient. Even if you cry, even if you shout, even if your chest becomes tight, even if you leave off food, and you say, "By Allah, I have not performed a valid prayer, or I have not performed a valid wudu'," do not let it concern you. And after that, O Mas'ud, pay attention. After that, Allah will protect him from it. But the matter requires strong resolve and sincere intention, otherwise he will be afflicted by divine decree with shackles and chains. Also, those who are strict in prohibitions: everything is haram, everything is najis. If a child touches it, he says, "That's it, I am now impure." If food is presented, he says, "Perhaps the one who slaughtered it did not mention the name of Allah over it, or perhaps the slaughtered animal is not from the People of the Book," and the like. This person is also afflicted with restricting himself and others. As the Shaykh (may Allah have mercy on him) said, the matter is shackles and chains. The one who is strict in what is commanded is overtaken by what? Shackles. And the one who is strict in what is prohibited is overtaken by chains. You will find that he never expands in what Allah has made permissible, then he argues with doubtful matters, saying: We say this is not a shubhah. This is a shubhah in your view, because your temperament is defective, otherwise it is not a shubhah in the view of others. In any case, what the Shaykh (may Allah have mercy on him) mentioned, a person should be alert to it in himself, and he should guide his Muslim brothers to the like of it, and say to them: Be patient, be patient. Even if you cry, even if your chests become tight, it is like a wound that a doctor cuts open and then it heals. Be patient with this, and it will disappear. And indeed, praise be to Allah, many people experienced such a thing, and they were commanded to be patient, even if their souls were tight and even if they cried, and Allah removed that from them. So the important thing is that whoever wants to be strict with himself, Allah will be strict with him. And keep in mind always Yes.