How Can I Control My Urge to Internally Say Things Which Are Disbelief?


Answered by Ustadh Salman Younas

Question: I suffer from waswasa and am forced to internally say things that are disbelief whilst praying and when I am in any kind of distress. Sometimes I intentionally say things internally that I shouldn’t like statements of ingratitude and blasphemy. What do you advise?

Answer: assalamu alaykum

“Internal” thoughts, statements, whispers have no consequences on the faith of a person. They are to be ignored and one should take the means to rid oneself of such thoughts.

My advice to you would be:

(a) whenever such a thought comes and you recognize it, immediately seek refuge in Allah from the devil and the evils of the nafs.

(b) ensure that you are engaging in uplifting spiritual practices during the day, such as reciting the Qur’an, performing your obligatory prayers, engaging in dhikr, and so forth.

(c) try your best to remain on a state of purity.

(d) keep yourself distracted through positive things; seek the company of good people who provide you with support and busy you from reflecting on these negative thoughts.

(e) learn your religion properly from qualified scholars as ignorance may well be a cause for one’s waswasa

(f) seek the support of a professional doctor if things do not improve as waswasa – especially if regular and long-standing – may require the advice and guidance of such people.

I hope this will be of some help to you, inshaAllah.

Salman

Checked & Approved by Shaykh Faraz Rabbani