What Is the Difference Between Waswas and Laziness?

Answered by Shaykh Anas al-Musa

Question

Is there a difference between waswas (obsessive thoughts) and laziness?

Answer

In the name of Allah, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful.

All praise is due to Allah, Lord of all worlds. Peace and blessings be upon the Messenger sent as a mercy to the worlds, our Master and Prophet, Muhammad, and his Family and Companions.

Yes, there is a clear difference between waswasa (obsessive thoughts) and laziness.

Waswas (Obsessive Thoughts)

Waswas refers to persistent psychological and physical thoughts, whether related to religious, mental, sensory, or other aspects, that distract a person from being close to the truth. [Thanawi, Kashhaf al-Istilahat]

In simpler terms, waswasa is a psychological condition characterized by recurring, unwanted thoughts (obsessions) that compel a person to engage in repetitive actions or behaviors in an attempt to relieve the anxiety caused by these thoughts. Examples include:

• Waswasa in purification (tahara), where an individual repeatedly washes parts of their body during ablution, thinking they haven’t done so correctly.
• Waswasa of harm, where a person believes someone is trying to harm them, even without evidence.

Laziness

Laziness is defined as neglecting an action despite having the ability to perform it. [Ibn Hajar, Fath al-Bari]

It refers to lethargy, procrastination, or a lack of enthusiasm for engaging in work or responsibilities. Linguistically, laziness (kasal) is described as:

“Sluggishness, delay, and weakness in performing an act. It is said that a person ‘is lazy’ when they become sluggish after engaging in an action but do not complete it.” [Abu Hayyan, al-Bahr al-Muhit]

The Prophet (Allah bless him and give him peace) sought refuge from laziness in his supplications:

“O Allah, I seek refuge with You from laziness, cowardice, miserliness, the trial of the Dajjal, and the punishment of the grave.” [Ahmad]

Conclusion

If a person experiences waswasa, they should consult knowledgeable and specialized individuals, as it is a condition that requires treatment. Jurists have mentioned some of these remedies within the discussions on purification (tahara).

May Allah bless the Prophet Muhammad and give him peace, and his Family and Companions.

[Shaykh] Anas al-Musa

Shaykh Anas al-Musa, born in Hama, Syria, in 1974, is an erudite scholar of notable repute. He graduated from the Engineering Institute in Damascus, where he specialized in General Construction, and Al-Azhar University, Faculty of Usul al-Din, where he specialized in Hadith.

He studied under prominent scholars in Damascus, including Shaykh Abdul Rahman al-Shaghouri and Shaykh Adib al-Kallas, among others. Shaykh Anas has memorized the Quran and is proficient in the ten Mutawatir recitations, having studied under Shaykh Bakri al-Tarabishi and Shaykh Mowfaq ‘Ayun. He also graduated from the Iraqi Hadith School.

He has taught numerous Islamic subjects at Shari‘a institutes in Syria and Turkey. Shaykh Anas has served as an Imam and preacher for over 15 years and is a teacher of the Quran in its various readings and narrations.

Currently, he works as a teacher at SeekersGuidance and is responsible for academic guidance there. He has completed his Master’s degree in Hadith and is now pursuing his Ph.D. in the same field. Shaykh Anas al-Musa is married and resides in Istanbul.