Question

As Salaamu Alaykum, Dear Mufti Sahib, I agree that I have an OCD problem and I believe that is related to me fearing whether I have done kufr, I am trying to stay away from Waswasa. One thing is that at times when I am unsure and I really want clarification from people who know if I know not,

One thing today was that I was watching a podcast where non Muslim mentioned to Muslim that an artist urinated on picture cross or something like that and took a pic and mentioned a rude word.

I wasn’t watching the video but a thought came that I wonder if the Muslim laughed but I think I rejected this and I looked at the Muslim. I feared if I looked at the screen to see if he laughed or not, then I feared that did I think a Muslim would disrespect Prophet Isa and following from that, I had a thought about that you know Prophet Isa didn’t go on the cross so is your fear of the Muslim laughing indirectly
saying Prophet Isa was on the cross but I think what I feared was that this artist called his pic, that being a rude word followed by the word Christ.

I have not read The Shahaadah in the sense of believing I have committed kufr but I wanted to ask what should I do in these situations where I am not sure? What would you say about this scenario?

My fear about seeing a therapist is that what I fear is falling into disbelief and I think the people to ask about that are the Scholars and a non Muslim/non Scholar therapist won’t be as qualified as a Scholar. I don’t really fully know of how to go about trying to find someone local to speak about all my fears and these scenarios so I resort to Q&A’s. Most of my teachers if not all at the moment are not actually local. Please advise me Mufti Sahib.

Answer

OCD causes many doubts in the minds of Muslims over their actions, their statements, and their purity. This is a test from Allah, and may Allah offer ease to those that are afflicted with these doubts constantly. I ask Allah to reward the brothers and sisters for their extra caution in their actions.

Consider the practice of the Prophet ﷺ. It is reported that He ﷺ would perform wudhu and then sprinkle water on his private section.[1] The scholars write that the wisdom behind this was to ward away doubts should a person worry about whether the droplets they perceive are urine. This practice teaches us that we should work within our means to ward away Shaytan.

You have mentioned that fear falling into disbelief. This is not an issue. If you are in the practice of performing regular adhkar, that will renew any such occurrence. Moreover, prayer (salat) will also renew any such event. Thus, this is not a matter to ponder too deeply over. Put in safeguards to allow you to function in daily activities. For example, morning and evening adhkār, which includes “La Ilaha Illahah” a few times, is a good practice. In fact, the hadith informs us that La Ilaha Illallah is the best form of dhikr.[2] This will ensure reward and would also ward away any such doubts.

As for seeing a therapist, opting for a Muslim therapist, potentially a scholar, would be very beneficial for you. Seeking professional help will help you develop coping mechanisms for anxieties and doubts; this should be explored, even if the practitioner is non-Muslim. Though, speaking to your local Imam can be equally beneficial in advising you. Seek out the help of someone accessible Insha’Allah, and supplement your professional help with their Islamic advice.

May Allah assist you.

[1]           سنن ابن ماجه (حديث 501) حَدَّثَنَا مُحَمَّدُ بْنُ يَحْيَى، حَدَّثَنَا عَاصِمُ بْنُ عَلِيٍّ، حَدَّثَنَا قَيْسٌ، عَنِ ابْنِ أَبِي لَيْلَى، عَنْ أَبِي الزُّبَيْرِ، عَنْ جَابِرٍ، قَالَ تَوَضَّأَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ـ صلى الله عليه وسلم ـ فَنَضَحَ فَرْجَهُ

[2]           جامع الترمذي (حديث 3383) حَدَّثَنَا يَحْيَى بْنُ حَبِيبِ بْنِ عَرَبِيٍّ، حَدَّثَنَا مُوسَى بْنُ إِبْرَاهِيمَ بْنِ كَثِيرٍ الأَنْصَارِيُّ، قَالَ سَمِعْتُ طَلْحَةَ بْنَ خِرَاشٍ، قَالَ سَمِعْتُ جَابِرَ بْنَ عَبْدِ اللَّهِ، رضى الله عنهما يَقُولُ سَمِعْتُ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم يَقُولُ ‏ “‏ أَفْضَلُ الذِّكْرِ لاَ إِلَهَ إِلاَّ اللَّهُ وَأَفْضَلُ الدُّعَاءِ الْحَمْدُ لِلَّهِ ‏”‏ ‏.‏ قَالَ أَبُو عِيسَى هَذَا حَدِيثٌ حَسَنٌ غَرِيبٌ لاَ نَعْرِفُهُ إِلاَّ مِنْ حَدِيثِ مُوسَى بْنِ إِبْرَاهِيمَ ‏.‏ وَقَدْ رَوَى عَلِيُّ بْنُ الْمَدِينِيِّ وَغَيْرُ وَاحِدٍ عَنْ مُوسَى بْنِ إِبْرَاهِيمَ هَذَا الْحَدِيثَ

Answered by:
Maulana Ikramul Hoque Miah

Checked & Approved by:
Mufti Abdul Rahman Mangera
Mufti Zubair Patel