What should one do if afflicted with obsessive doubts?
Machine translationRead the Arabic original
Question:
This questioner wrote in his own style and symbolized his name with (M. A. K). He says: I have suffered for a long time from an affliction from Shaytan, and now he says that it is better than before, but I constantly suffer from obsessive doubts, and I utter words to myself that may contain disbelief, which causes me much pain. This happens frequently, and these words increase when I enter the bathroom—may Allah protect you—O my brothers, the listeners. So give us a ruling, may you be rewarded, on what I should do? Should I perform ghusl before every prayer and recite the tashahhud, or what should I do, knowing that I am consistent in performing all prayers in congregation in the mosque? And is there a great sin upon me for this? May Allah reward you with good.
Answer:
This is from Shaytan. The Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) warned the Companions about this when they encountered such things. When a person encounters such things, he should say: "I believe in Allah and His Messengers," and "I seek refuge in Allah from the accursed Shaytan," and it ends. He should not persist in these obsessive doubts, whether they are in his prayer or outside of prayer. All of this is from Shaytan. He may come to him and whisper to him regarding belief in Allah, or Paradise, or the Fire, or other things.
It is obligatory for him to cut off these obsessive doubts, fight them, be cautious of them, and occupy himself with something else by saying: "I believe in Allah and His Messengers," "I believe in Allah and His Messengers," and "I seek refuge in Allah from the accursed Shaytan." This is sufficient for him and does not harm him, because these things are without his choice; they are from the torment of Shaytan and from the deception of Shaytan. So he should fear Allah by employing what Allah has prescribed. He should say: "I believe in Allah and His Messengers," "I believe in Allah and His Messengers," and continue in his righteous deeds. He should leave these obsessive doubts and seek refuge in Allah from Shaytan, and they will not harm him.
The presenter : May Allah reward you with good, Your Eminence the Shaykh.
This questioner wrote in his own style and symbolized his name with (M. A. K). He says: I have suffered for a long time from an affliction from Shaytan, and now he says that it is better than before, but I constantly suffer from obsessive doubts, and I utter words to myself that may contain disbelief, which causes me much pain. This happens frequently, and these words increase when I enter the bathroom—may Allah protect you—O my brothers, the listeners. So give us a ruling, may you be rewarded, on what I should do? Should I perform ghusl before every prayer and recite the tashahhud, or what should I do, knowing that I am consistent in performing all prayers in congregation in the mosque? And is there a great sin upon me for this? May Allah reward you with good.
Answer:
This is from Shaytan. The Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) warned the Companions about this when they encountered such things. When a person encounters such things, he should say: "I believe in Allah and His Messengers," and "I seek refuge in Allah from the accursed Shaytan," and it ends. He should not persist in these obsessive doubts, whether they are in his prayer or outside of prayer. All of this is from Shaytan. He may come to him and whisper to him regarding belief in Allah, or Paradise, or the Fire, or other things.
It is obligatory for him to cut off these obsessive doubts, fight them, be cautious of them, and occupy himself with something else by saying: "I believe in Allah and His Messengers," "I believe in Allah and His Messengers," and "I seek refuge in Allah from the accursed Shaytan." This is sufficient for him and does not harm him, because these things are without his choice; they are from the torment of Shaytan and from the deception of Shaytan. So he should fear Allah by employing what Allah has prescribed. He should say: "I believe in Allah and His Messengers," "I believe in Allah and His Messengers," and continue in his righteous deeds. He should leave these obsessive doubts and seek refuge in Allah from Shaytan, and they will not harm him.
The presenter : May Allah reward you with good, Your Eminence the Shaykh.
Source
binbaz.org.sa
The Arabic text is copied verbatim from the original source, without any edits.