How Can I Overcome Thoughts of Kufr in My Everyday Life?
Answered by Shaykh Abdul-Rahim Reasat
Question
I have fake plants around my house, and I have decorations with Allah’s name and the name of the Prophet Muhammed (Allah bless him and give him peace) in my house. Every time I walk past them, I get thoughts and whispers telling me to worship them and do shirk constantly. I don’t know if it’s Shaytan or what because I also have OCD.
Also, I get very evil thoughts about Islam when I go to the washroom, especially when I use the toilet. Please advise.
Answer
I pray you are well.
Don’t Resist the Thoughts
Yes, OCD is causing these thoughts. Do not worry. This is not shirk or kufr as you are not doing anything which negates your faith.
The thoughts are like the thoughts certain companions had. When they told the Messenger of Allah (Allah bless him and give him peace) that they have unspeakable thoughts, he told them that their finding then abhorrent was “clear faith.“ (Muslim) He did not criticize them for their thoughts.
Don’t Fight the Thoughts.
Let the thoughts come in, and then let them go out, You are not choosing them, and you are not accountable for them. The more you focus on them, the stronger they will get.
Please listen to this seminar and look at this answer for more information. May Allah remove this difficulty from you very soon.
[Shaykh] Abdul-Rahim
Checked and Approved by Shaykh Faraz Rabbani
Shaykh Abdul-Rahim Reasat began his studies in Arabic Grammar and Morphology in 2005. After graduating with a degree in English and History, he moved to Damascus in 2007, where, for 18 months, he studied with many erudite scholars. In late 2008 he moved to Amman, Jordan, where he continued his studies for the next six years in Sacred Law (fiqh), legal theory (Usul al-fiqh), theology, hadith methodology, hadith commentary, and Logic. He was also given licenses of mastery in the science of Quranic recital. He was able to study an extensive curriculum of Quranic sciences, tafsir, Arabic grammar, and Arabic eloquence.
