Q:

Asalam alaykum wa rahmatullahi wa barakatuhu

I am a revert since approx 4 years .I am suffering from waswas Nd ocd since I reverted in most of matters of Ibadah .I am trying to follow  advice of ignoring ol doubts until I m ? percent sure if it’s impurity but what about thoughts that I get after that did I washed the najasat or not .what to do in such kinda situations when I am nt sure and I can’t recall  washing it and with same wet hands wud hav touched other things Nd clothes ,when there are possibilities that I may have washed it but because of my ocd mind could not recall it because soo much goes in my mind most of the time .i have already gone to a psychiatrist for ocd Counselling but it didn’t helped and I don’t have Muslim psychiatrist in my place and I am a doctor myself but since it’s a religious issue I don’t know the best approach to solve it and fear of doing things in a wrong way nd affecting validity of my prayers .It will b helpful if you give me a ruling according to Shafi Madhab .jazakallahu khayran.

A:

Wa `alaykum As-Salamu wa Rahmatullahi wa Barakatuh.

In the Name of Allah, the All-Merciful, the Mercy-Giving

All praise is due to Allah. Peace and blessings be upon His Messenger Muhammad.

Many people mistake such thoughts for wasaws (Satanic whispers) and accordingly restrict the solution to more recitation of the Quran and making dhikr (remembrance of Allah) to dismiss Satan and his whispers.

Of course, these are important factors for dispelling such doubts and thoughts, but there are still more steps to be taken to eliminate such bad thoughts.

OCD causes persistent, unpleasant thoughts. It is a well-known illness caused by an imbalance in the chemicals of the brain, which needs medication.

Thus, the first step you should take is to seek treatment on the hands of a reliable professional, preferably Muslim, psychiatrist so that he would be able to understand and deal with your problem.

OCD is an illness, like any other illness, which needs taking certain medicines prescribed by a specialized doctor. So do not feel hesitant in taking the step.

We indeed know persons who experienced a suffering similar to yours, but they visited a psychiatrist and followed his instructions until Allah granted them cure and health.

Actually, the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) ordered us to seek therapy and treatment.

Imam Ahmad reported that the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) said “Seek medication, O servants of Allah, for Allah has not created an illness without providing a medicine for it except one illness, i.e. old age.” [Ibn Hibban and Al-Hakem]

Allah, the Most Merciful, makes it clear in the Qur’an that He never burdens people with things that they cannot afford. He knows the suffering you experience and the struggle you exercise to combat these thoughts, and He will never let you down.

My advice to you is to avoid repeating or exceeding the limits in removing impurities or in making wudu, ghusl, prayers, etc. Just perform these rituals normally—without any excess or repetition, and have a firm belief in your heart that Allah will accept and reward you abundantly for it.

Thus, we can sum up our advice in the following points:

First: Consult a professional psychiatrist, and continue following his instructions.

Second: Try your best to ignore the thoughts and doubts that befall you.

Third: Be sure that these doubts have no effect on your faith.

Fourth: Don’t unnecessarily repeat or exceed the normal limits in offering the rituals.

Fifth: Be sure that the suffering you experience is a test form Allah, and that your patience will be of great reward. The Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) “No fatigue, nor disease, nor anxiety, nor sadness, nor hurt, nor distress befalls a Muslim, even if it were the prick he receives from a thorn, but that Allah expiates some of his sins for that.” [Al-Bukhari and Muslim]

Finally, and most importantly, a Muslim is to seek Allah’s help, strengthen his relationship with Him, try his best to do good and refrain from evil deeds. One should have strong belief in Allah and His Absolute Power, as the Prophet says: “If people gather to confer a favor on you, this will never be done unless it has been predestined for you. And, if they conspire together to harm you, they will never harm you unless that has been predestined for you.” [Al-Tabarani]

Almighty Allah knows best.