What Distinguishes Angelic Intuitions from Waswasa?
Hanafi Fiqh
Answered by Mawlana Ilyas Patel
Question
I recently asked a question about hair straightening. You said it’s okay, and it doesn’t add any layers. I was relieved. But now I’m considering testing my hair to see if it’s adding a layer. Testing hair is costly. But I keep thinking I’m not taking enough steps to determine whether or not there is a layer. And Allah will punish me for it. Is this a misgiving or coming from an Angel? How would I know? I can’t ignore it.
Answer
In the Name of Allah, the Most Merciful and Compassionate.
I pray you are well. Thank you for your kind words.
If hairsprays get you into a bother of misgivings and doubt, why not move away from using hairsprays for a while or altogether? Also, you don’t need to trouble yourself in testing all these products.
Please don’t worry; you will not be punished. More than anything else, your request for an Islamic answer is a sign of guidance and an angelic prompt.
Hasan ibn Ali (Allah be pleased with him) reported: The Messenger of Allah (Allah bless him and give him peace) said, “Leave what makes you doubt for what does not make you doubt. Verily, truth brings peace of mind, and falsehood sows doubt.” [Tirmidhi]
Related:
A Reader on OCD and Waswasa (Baseless Misgivings)
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I pray this helps with your question.
Wassalam,
[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 the hifz of the Quran in India, then enrolled in an Islamic seminary in the UK, where he studied the secular and ‘Aalimiyya sciences. He then traveled to Karachi, Pakistan. He has been an Imam in Rep of Ireland for several years. He has taught hifz of the Quran, Tajwid, Fiqh, and many other Islamic sciences to children and adults onsite and online extensively in the 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 interest is a love of books and gardening.
