💐 In The Name Of Allah The Most Gracious The Most Merciful
💌 Whether some people call it OCD (obsessive-compulsive disorder) while many believe that receiving intrusive thoughts is one of shaytan's schemes to mislead humanity, a lot of Muslims occasionally struggle with unwanted imaginations, indecent fantasies, baseless suspicions, unjustified doubts, or uncontrollable impulses which they try to suppress because of how inappropriate they actually are.
🔹 Through these unwanted thoughts, evil suggestions, or waswaas, shaytan aims to:
1] ...confuse Muslims regarding their belief / 'Aqeedah or cause them to feel unsure about Islam until they decide to become apostates. AstaghfurAllah Al-'Atheem.
2] ...make Muslims get tired of worshipping Allah the Almighty by confusing them regarding the number of times they've washed a body part while performing wudhu / ablution, which unit they're in while praying, and if they prayed the correct amount of Rak'ahs for each prayer.
3] ...distress or emotionally disturb Muslims who guess they're "in love" until they act on a sexual urge and commit zina with someone of the opposite gender, with the same gender, or with oneself.
4] ...waste the time of Muslims so instead of moving on to the next assignment or task, they're still preoccupied with an activity, unnecessarily performing it multiple times until it reaches unreasonable perfection.
5] ...intimidate non-Muslims who are interested in accepting the truth by misleading them into assuming that it is difficult to be a Muslim, as the way some Muslims perform religious rituals or good deeds appears to be too tiring, challenging, or intolerable.
🔹 What we can Inn-sha-Allah do to overcome waswaas or OCD thoughts:
1] Ignore them as much as you can, while being aware that they're only shaytan's evil insinuations, in the same manner as you'd ignore packs of cigarettes in a store because you know that smoking is destructive to yourself and others.
2] If you're unable to ignore them, then accept them as real without acting upon them, without discussing them with another Muslim, and without acknowledging that they're okay when they aren't. For instance, if you have a brief crush on an unattainable person, admit that you really like them, but you won't chase them, since you don't wish to get into any trouble in this world and the next.
3] Consistently pray to Allah the Most Wise that such foul thoughts stop disturbing you, or that He Subhaanahu wa Ta'aala grants you more guidance, patience, and strength to pass all His tests.
4] Substitute immoral thoughts with better ones, especially Du'a / supplications, Adhkaar, Istighfaar, frequent Qur'an recitation, and regularly contemplating on the reality of death whilst preparing yourself to meet Allah Subhaanahu wa Ta'aala in a noble condition.
5] Actively avoid toxic people, online content, objects, gatherings, and situations which remind you of past sins, could trigger those bad thoughts, or incite you to behave improperly. The farther you are from what can stir up fitna, the safer is your faith/Imaan and overall well-being.
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📖 Abu Huraira RadhiAllahu 'anhu narrated: Allah's noble Messenger Muhammad SallAllahu 'alaihi wa sallam said, "Verily, Allah has pardoned my nation for what occurs within themselves (inappropriate thoughts, imaginations, or feelings), as long as they do not speak of it or act upon it."
Source: Sahih Al-Bukhari 6287
Sahih Muslim 127
Grade: Muttafaqun Alayhi (Authenticity agreed upon) according to Al-Bukhari and Muslim
📖 Abu Dharr RadhiAllahu 'anhu narrated: Allah's noble Messenger Muhammad SallAllahu 'alaihi wa sallam said, "Verily, Allah (the Almighty) has pardoned my nation for their mistakes, their forgetfulness, and what they are coerced (forced, compelled) into doing."
Source: Sunan Ibn Mājah 2043
Grade: Sahih (Authentic) according to Al-Albani