After the greeting and peace, she says: I am a nineteen-year-old girl from Iraq. I complain of excessive intrusive thoughts and my inability to
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The questioner : After the greeting and peace, she says: I am a nineteen-year-old girl from Iraq. I complain of excessive intrusive thoughts and my inability to control myself due to the amount of thinking and intrusive thoughts, which sometimes reach the level of disbelief, even when I perform the prayer and when I read the Noble Qur'an. I am constantly seeking forgiveness, but it is of no avail. I am suffering from these intrusive thoughts, so guide me. May Allah reward 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 all his Companions. As for what follows, intrusive thoughts generally arise from mental, intellectual, and even physical idleness, for when a person is occupied, he focuses on what occupies him and turns away from bad thoughts and intrusive whispers. However, intrusive thoughts may occur even when there is something to occupy the mind, body, and soul. The way to get rid of them is:
First, do not pay attention to them or give them importance. One should not pay attention to them, not care about them, and not give them any status in his heart. Even if he is tempted, he should resolve in his heart that this matter is not a reality, and then leave thinking about it. This is the method of removal: to empty oneself of it, not to care about it, and not to pay attention to it.
The second way to get rid of it is to use the means of salvation from it, which is to frequently seek refuge in Allah the Exalted from Satan the outcast and from intrusive thoughts. When seeking refuge, one should be aware of two things:
The first is the complete dependence on Allah Blessed and Exalted is He, total dependence in all aspects, such that the person disowns his own power and strength in this state and entrusts the matter to Allah, Glorified and Exalted is He.
The second is that he should feel, or rather be aware, that Allah Blessed and Exalted is He, indeed that Allah the Exalted is capable of removing it, and that[Ya-Sin 36:82] Based on this, on this second matter, rests the strength of hope in Allah, Glorified and Exalted is He, and good opinion of Him, so that he may be cured of this ailment that has afflicted his soul.
The third way to get rid of this matter is to be serious when occupied with the affairs of his religion and his worldly life, meaning that he should be present in heart for the work. When the heart turns away from intrusive thoughts and intellectual lethargy to seriousness in work and looking at matters with a serious eye, the heart moves, acts, and directs itself to these deeds, and thereby he forgets and those intrusive thoughts and bad ideas are removed from him.
The fourth way to get rid of it is to know that this matter, especially intrusive thoughts regarding creed and what concerns Allah Blessed and Exalted is He, and His names and attributes, has occurred to those who are more perfect in faith than us and higher in status than us, and they are the Companions (may Allah be pleased with them). They complained of it to the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him), so he ordered them to seek refuge in Allah the Exalted from it and to stop it.
With these four ways that come to my mind now, you can get rid of these intrusive thoughts that have afflicted you. I ask Allah to cure you from them and to cure all Muslims.
The questioner : Yes.
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 all his Companions. As for what follows, intrusive thoughts generally arise from mental, intellectual, and even physical idleness, for when a person is occupied, he focuses on what occupies him and turns away from bad thoughts and intrusive whispers. However, intrusive thoughts may occur even when there is something to occupy the mind, body, and soul. The way to get rid of them is:
First, do not pay attention to them or give them importance. One should not pay attention to them, not care about them, and not give them any status in his heart. Even if he is tempted, he should resolve in his heart that this matter is not a reality, and then leave thinking about it. This is the method of removal: to empty oneself of it, not to care about it, and not to pay attention to it.
The second way to get rid of it is to use the means of salvation from it, which is to frequently seek refuge in Allah the Exalted from Satan the outcast and from intrusive thoughts. When seeking refuge, one should be aware of two things:
The first is the complete dependence on Allah Blessed and Exalted is He, total dependence in all aspects, such that the person disowns his own power and strength in this state and entrusts the matter to Allah, Glorified and Exalted is He.
The second is that he should feel, or rather be aware, that Allah Blessed and Exalted is He, indeed that Allah the Exalted is capable of removing it, and that
His command is only when He intends a thing that He says to it, "Be," and it is.
إِنَّمَا أَمْرُهُ إِذَا أَرَادَ شَيْئًا أَنْ يَقُولَ لَهُ كُنْ فَيَكُونُThe third way to get rid of this matter is to be serious when occupied with the affairs of his religion and his worldly life, meaning that he should be present in heart for the work. When the heart turns away from intrusive thoughts and intellectual lethargy to seriousness in work and looking at matters with a serious eye, the heart moves, acts, and directs itself to these deeds, and thereby he forgets and those intrusive thoughts and bad ideas are removed from him.
The fourth way to get rid of it is to know that this matter, especially intrusive thoughts regarding creed and what concerns Allah Blessed and Exalted is He, and His names and attributes, has occurred to those who are more perfect in faith than us and higher in status than us, and they are the Companions (may Allah be pleased with them). They complained of it to the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him), so he ordered them to seek refuge in Allah the Exalted from it and to stop it.
With these four ways that come to my mind now, you can get rid of these intrusive thoughts that have afflicted you. I ask Allah to cure you from them and to cure all Muslims.
The questioner : Yes.