How to Be Truly Sincere to My Religion as I Have a Lot of Misgivings and Doubts?


Answered by Mawlana Ilyas Patel

Question

I am a Muslim who is dealing with waswasa. It has reduced a little due to seeking knowledge. I guess I have been too hard on myself in the Deen. I take the Deen too hard, and it makes me feel impious when I try to take it easy.

I don’t know if I’m sincere in my act of worship, dua, istighfar, giving charity, and repenting to Allah Most High.

I have recently felt I would be one of those who will receive Allah’s punishment on the Day of Judgement.  I don’t know if I’m even hoping for his mercy. I’m just confused.

Answer

In the Name of Allah, the Most Merciful and Compassionate

You are on the good side – the side of Allah Most High. These are just pure misgivings, a more profound sign of one’s faith and sincerity, thus shaytan’s ploy to move you away.

Believers Make Shaytan Tired by Remembering Allah, Especially Collectively

Just continue to worship Allah Most High as you are doing now. However, try to do your worship collectively, with all prayers in the congregation, even at home. Also, attend collaborative programs and circles, like circles of knowledge and remembrance. This will give you added and needed strength. Abu Huraira (Allah be pleased with him) reported the Messenger of Allah (Allah bless him and give him peace) said, “Verily, the believer can wear out his devils just as one of you exhausts his camel on a journey.” [Ahmad] So continue; you will wear out shaytans’ whisperings.

Stop Dwelling and Be Always in a Good Company

 Try not to stress, and I would advise you to continue working on increasing your acts of worship, attending the daily prayers as much as you can, performing in the congregation, seeking religious knowledge, and attending circles of remembrance of Allah. Good company in this way will eliminate your mindset and give you a collective mindset like others by being with them, insha’Allah.

 Focus on Allah, Not Your Actions

Don’t focus on your actions but on Allah and how much he has given 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).

Go through the Reader and watch the video below. May Allah give you every success and put ease in your life and increase you in guidance, faith, and good works, amin

Check these links:
A Reader on OCD and Waswasa (Baseless Misgivings) (seekersguidance.org)
The Application of Islamic Psychotherapy for the Treatment of OCD~Dr. Hooman Keshavarzi – YouTube

Why not begin your search for knowledge by signing up for a course on SeekersGuidance?
SeekersAcademy (seekersguidance.org)

I pray this helps with your question.

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

Mawlana Ilyas Patel is a traditionally-trained scholar who has studied within UK, India, Pakistan, Syria, Jordan and Turkey.

He started his early education in UK. He went onto complete hifz of Qur’an in India, then enrolled into an Islamic seminary in 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 was teaching 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 UK with his wife. His personal interest is love of books and gardening.