How Can I Get Rid of My Doubts about Purity and Prayer?

Answered by Mawlana Ilyas Patel

Question

I’ve had irregular bowel movements for about two years, and as a result, I’ve developed an overwhelming fear and phobia of breaking wudu every time I pray salat. I’m having difficulty sustaining my wudu and even finishing one prayer since I’m experiencing severe fireworks and powerful physical movements in my back passage, such as bubbles, movements, wind exiting in small quantities, etc.

I continue to do wudu, maybe 4 or 5 times to complete 2 or 4 Raka‘at. It’s been exhausting, and I keep thinking Allah is angry with me and has taken away my salat, causing me even more anguish and concern.

I’d be grateful if you could provide Sharia Islamic guidelines and rulings on how to maintain my wudu and salat.

Answer

In the Name of Allah, the Most Merciful and Compassionate.

I pray you are in good faith and health. Thank you for your question and for seeking guidance.

I want to suggest you do the following:

Say the ta‘awwudh, which is:

“أَعُوذُ بِاللَّهِ مِنَ الشَّيطَانِ الرَّجِيمِ”

(I seek refuge in Allah from the rejected devil)

Make dua abundantly when anxious before prayer.  You can also recite Surat al-Nas, a Sura and dua, for protection against misgivings. Also, keep your tongue moist with this dua:

“.اَللّٰھُمَّ اجْعَلْ وَسَاوِسَ قَلْبِیْ خَشْیَتَکَ وَ ذِکْرَکَ وَاجْعَلْ ھِمَّتِیْ وَھَوَایٰ فِیْمَـا تُـحِبُّ وَ تَرْضٰی”

(O Allah! Render the thoughts and inclinations within my heart, to be Your fear and remembrance, and let my endeavor and desire be devoted to what You love and are pleased with) [Daylami, Musnad al-Firdaws]

Set a time limit to perform wudu and stick to them: 1 shower a day for 5 minutes max,  wudu per prayer for 1 minute maximum (5 seconds on each limb), 10 seconds for washing your hands maximum, and so on. Once the timer is up, you stop the action, assume wudu, and move on.

Do not look back. Go straight into your prayer after wudu, or continue with your day. In other words, busy yourself and your mind before Shaytan tries to take over.

Trust in Allah that your wudu and prayer are accepted. Remember that the companions also suffered from misgivings, and they challenged and continued because the Prophet (Allah bless him and give him peace) said they (misgivings)are clear and pure faith.

May Allah help you in your time of difficulty, cure you of your misgivings, and give you – and all of us – good health. Do not worry; in time, you will be relieved from the whisperings in sha’ Allah.

Read and watch the following links and sign up for this course: Satanic Tactics: Seven Tricks of the Devil.

Allah Is Not Upset with You

I would advise you to continue working on increasing your acts of worship, religious knowledge, and the dhikr of Allah.

Don’t focus on your current condition of excessive doubts and actions, but focus on Allah the Exalted and how much he has given to you. Be happy and thankful, and invest your time in praising Allah for his favors upon you and sending salawat on the Prophet (Allah bless him and give him peace).

And when difficulties come – and as long as we live in this world, we will find problems – realize that they are from Allah, and don’t dwell upon why they’re there, but on how you can get past them with excellence. Be ever grateful because passing such trials with patience and thankfulness will increase your rank with Allah.

As you have excessive flatulence and regular bowel movements, seek medical help and avoid foods that generate this type of condition.

Related:

• Prayer Reader: The Ultimate Guide To Prayer in Islam
• Devil’s Tricks – The Path of Muhammad: Birgivi’s Manual of Taqwa Explained
• Doubts – IPD Session #3 | COJ – an ISIP Youth Chapter Initiative
• The Application of Islamic Psychotherapy for the Treatment of OCD
• Key Principles Relating to Certainty, Doubt, and Baseless Misgivings (waswasa)
• A Reader on OCD and Waswasa (Baseless Misgivings) (seekersguidance.org)
• The Application of Islamic Psychotherapy for the Treatment of OCD
• Satanic Tactics: Seven Tricks of the Devil
• Being Balanced – Emotional and Mental Health
• How Does One Perform The Prayer Of Need (Salat al-haja)?

Wassalam,
[Mawlana] Ilyas Patel
Checked and Approved by Shaykh Faraz Rabbani