How Can I Tackle My Scrupulous OCD Thoughts?
Answered by Mawlana Ilyas Patel
Question
I had nikah four years back but got married only two years before, and currently, I am pregnant with my first baby.
My problem is that when I had my nikah at that time, I was mentally struggling as I had watched some anti-Islamic videos, which put doubts in my mind. I was losing faith, but I was trying hard to connect to Allah. I have OCD, so it changed into scrupulosity, which means I started having bad thoughts about Islam, and I was cursing everything and everyone in Islam in my thoughts, but I was trying to battle these thoughts and become a good Muslim again. Am I a Muslim? Is my child legitimate? I have extreme scrupulosity OCD, which says my nikah is invalid, and these thoughts turn into urges of hate.
Answer
You are Muslim and a true believer; your marriage was valid, and your child will also be legitimate. There is nothing to worry about and be concerned about. I understand you are suffering from scrupulosity. However, just work hard to let them pass; they are affecting you, but you just let them pass and not allow them to settle or work in your mind.
Our Beloved Messenger (Allah bless him and give him peace) said, “Verily the religion is easy, and no one shall make it hard except that it will destroy him. So be balanced, do your best, and rejoice! And seek help in the morning, the early evening, and something of the night.” [Bukhari]
Relax, Be Joyful, and Look at the Positives
Fast food fever – Unto The One
Habib’ Umar bin Hafiz – Advice on Duas to Read During Pregnancy and Labour – SeekersGuidance
The Application of Islamic Psychotherapy for the Treatment of OCD
Fundamental Principles Relating to Certainty, Doubt, and Baseless Misgivings (waswasa) – SeekersGuidance
How Does One Perform The Prayer Of Need (salat al-haja)? – SeekersGuidance
[Mawlana]Ilyas Patel
Checked and approved by Shaykh Faraz Rabbani
Mawlana Ilyas Patel is a traditionally trained scholar who has studied in the UK, India, Pakistan, Syria, Jordan, and Turkey.
He started his early education in the UK. He went on to complete hifz of the Quran in India, then enrolled into an Islamic seminary in the UK, where he studied the secular and Alimiyyah sciences. He then travelled to Karachi, Pakistan.
He has been an Imam in Rep of Ireland for a number of years. He has taught hifz of the Qur’an, Tajwid, Fiqh, and many other Islamic sciences to both children and adults onsite and online extensively in UK and Ireland. He taught at a local Islamic seminary for 12 years in the UK, where he was a librarian and a teacher of Islamic sciences.
He currently resides in the UK with his wife. His personal interest is the love of books and gardening.
