Acacia

Combatting Wasaawis & Preventative Measures Islam is a complete way of life with solutions for every problem. The following advices have been compiled from various authentic sources where scholars have advised sufferers of wasaawis, be they in regard to purity, prayers, or blasphemy. 1. Identify wasaawis as being from Shaytaan & seek refuge with Allah Almighty “And if an evil whisper comes to you from Shaytaan (Satan), then seek refuge with Allaah. Verily, He is All-Hearer, All-Knower" [al-A’raaf 7:200] We seek refuge with Allah Ta'aala by saying: a`oodhu billaahi mina ash-shaytaani ar-rajeem (I seek refuge and protection in Allah from Satan, the accursed). In Surah An-Naas, Allah Ta'aala says: 1. Say: "I seek refuge with (Allah) the Lord of mankind, 2. "The King of mankind, 3. "The Ilah (God) of mankind, 4. "From the evil of the whisperer (devil who whispers evil in the hearts of men) who withdraws (from his whispering in one's heart after one remembers Allah) , 5. "Who whispers in the breats of mankind, 6. "Of jinns and men." One of the other ways to seek refuge from Satan is to recite the last two chapters of the Holy Quran, namely Surat Al-Falaq (The Daybreak) and Surat An-Naas (Mankind) Doubts during Prayers: One of the Sahaabah complained to the Messenger of Allaah (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) about waswaas during prayer, and he said: “The Shaytaan comes between me and my prayers and my recitation, confusing me therein.” The Messenger of Allaah (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) said: “That is a devil called Khanzab. If he affects you seek refuge in Allah from him and spit drily to your left three times.” He [the Sahaabi] said, I did that and Allaah took him away from me. (Narrated by Muslim, 2203) Imām An-Nawawī states in his explanation, “And this hadīth proves that it is recommended to seek refuge from Shaytān then to dryly spit to the left when one is inner whisperings.” (Although in a talk by Shaykh Riyadhul Haq, it is mentioned that the spitting should be done before and after the Salah in the Hanafi fiqh) Wudhu: As for the doubts that cross your mind regarding Wudhu, Nabi (Sallallaahu Alayhi Wasallam) has taught us a Du'aa that we should constantly make, 'O Allah! I seek protection from Walahaan.' (Mishkaat pg.47; Qadeemi). Walahaan is the name of the devil that causes these doubts to cross our minds during wudu. The Shaytaan who whispers in Wudhu is called Walahaan. He creates doubts regarding Tahaarat (Purity) and these doubts should be ignored. (From the lecture of Shaykh Riyaadhul Haqq) Short but comprehensive advice from Hazrat Maulana Abdul Hamid Is`haq Saheb (Daamat Barakaatuhum) 2. Oppose the Shaytaan Opposing the Shaytaan for he may come in the form of someone offering sincere advice, so we must go against him. For if he were really good he would be good to himself first, but he has caused himself to be doomed to Hell. So if he comes to you whilst you are praying, and says, “You are showing off (so cut your prayer short),” then make your prayer lengthy. If he says, “You have broken your wudoo’,” say, “You are lying”. When you eat, be different from him and eat and drink with your right hand, and take food with your right hand. This even applies to taking a siesta, as it says in the hadeeth: “Take a siesta for the devils do not take a siesta.” Narrated by Abu Na’eem with a saheeh isnaad. Saheeh al-Jaami’, 4/147. 3. Seek Allah's Help through Du'a & Prayer 4. Ignore wasaawis Evil whispers during prayer and regarding purity come from the Shaytaan who is keen to misguide the Muslim and lead him astray. The most common advise to combat these Wasaawis is to ignore them which if implemented when they first begin to occur, can serve as a deterrent. (Source: taken from the teachings of Shaykh Muhammad Saleem Dhorat) 5. Seek advice from scholars and thereafter follow the advice Once a certain situation is clarified with a scholar, then it should be left to rest. Every time the same scenario appears, one should follow the guidance given on the previous occasion. 6. Be aware of fiqh (jurisprudence) issues related to impurity, doubts etc., so that one does not go to extremes in ignorance. Abu Abdullah said: The Prophet sallallahu alayhi wasallam had made clear that it is obligatory (while performing) ablution to was the body-parts once. And the Prophet sallallahu alayhi wasallam also did perform the ablution by washing (these) parts twice and thrice, but he never washed them more than three times. (Bukhari, vol.1, pg. 135) The learned scholars disliked exceeding the limits set by the Prophet sallallahu alayhi wasallam while performing ablution. 7. Seek medical help when necessary 8. Establish clear limits and stick to them 9. Refrain from sin Keep away from sins and wrong actions which are the means by which Iblees gains control over the sons of Adam. Allah says: “Verily, he [the Shaytaan] has no power over those who believe and put their trust only in their Lord (Allah)” [al-Nahl 16:99] 10. Recommended du'aas In the book of Ibn al-Sunni it is narrated via ‘Aa’ishah (may Allaah be pleased with her), “Whoever suffers from this waswaas, let him say ‘Aamantu Billaahi wa bi rusulihi (I believe in Allaah and in His Messengers)’, three times, and it will go away from him.” Al-Nawawi (may Allaah have mercy on him) said that one of the scholars thought it was mustahabb for the one who was affected by Waswasah with regard to his Wudhu or prayer to say Laa ilaaha ill-Allaah, for when the Shaytaan hears dhikr (remembrance of Allah) he slinks away, and Laa ilaaha ill-Allaah is the best of dhikr, and the most effective remedy for warding off Waswasah is to remember Allah a great deal. The simple remedy to such thoughts is to ignore them and don’t bother. This will be a smack on Shaitaan’s face. Shaitaan will feel humiliated and not attempt his evil plot on you again. Simply read: لاحول ولا قوة إلا بالله العلي العظيم and أعوذ بالله من الشيطان الرجيم (source: Mufti Ebrahim Desai) 11. Hope & trust in Allah Trust in Allah that your prayer and purity are accepted. Remember that the sahaba and the Prophet (peace be upon him) all had less water than we do now, and without a doubt their prayers were accepted. So there is no doubt that we, who use (and waste) so much more water than they ever did, are performing our wudhu in a matter acceptable to Allah. 12. Preventative measures Urinating in the Bath It is mentioned in a hadith that the Holy Prophet Sallallahu Alaihi Wasalam has prohibited us to urinate in the bath as the illness of waswasah arises from this. (Tirmizi p.12 v.1) Something to keep in the mind and the heart Undoubtedly, whoever thinks of the paths of the Messengers of Allah, especially our Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) will find that his path and his law is easy and clear, with no hardship in it. “… and has not laid upon you in religion any hardship” [al-Hajj 22:78] Thoughts/ Wasaawis are like Guests They are like guests. If one made a guest feel welcome, the guest is inclined to visit again and the more welcome he is made to feel the more he will be inclined to visit. However when a guest is made to feel unwelcome he may visit once or twice and then at the continuous cool reception no self respecting person will visit again. Similarly unwanted thoughts/Wasaawis will continue to come if attention is paid to them. If ignored they may persist for a while but eventually they will cease Insha Allah. (From the teachings of Shaykh Muhammad Saleem Dhorat). === (back to Table of Contents)

Examples of Waswasah Cases A Cry For Help For some months i have been having a problem with waswas in both my prayers and when performing wudu. I keep forgetting what i have washed in my wudu and keep forgetting how much i have prayed. It has reached a point where i am making sajdah as - sahw for every single prayer because my mind keeps going blank. The more i concentrate on my prayer the more it occurs. Sometimes i think i must have read 6 or 7 rakats for a four rakat prayer because i simply cannot recal how much i have prayed and so i continue until i am certain. The more i do this the worse the problem gets. I want to ignore the waswas but i am not sure if this is sanctioned by the shariah. I feel it is the only way to rid myself of this disease. I read Surah Baqarah and many dua related to the whisperings of shaytan and Surahs Falaq and Naas. With regards to wudu i have a combination of problems as i feel that i have not washed properly after using the bathroom or if my clothes get wet that there is something impure on my clothes. When making wudu i feel like i have not washed properly. I try to ignore these whisperings but i am terrified that if i ignore it and i am wrong, that my prayers will not be answered. I have reached a point where my prayers can take upto an hour or more to perform and have become merely a ritual without any khushoo because of these problems. I finish one prayer and start fearing how i am going to manage to get through the next one. I feel i am trapped because there is no way i can miss a prayer as I know this is exactly what shaytan wants me to do. Please help me. Suffering From Waswasa (source). [Question:] First, I take long in the toilet, making ghusl and wudhu, i.e. washing my hands incessantly. Second, every verbal utterance by me or my wife is dissected and analysed for kufr. I ask approximately 10 muftis for a fatwa because I want to be 100% sure. Inevitably, asking so many muftis results in 1 out of 10 concluding kufr. My negative mindset precludes me from focusing on the 9 in favour. This has happened on 3 occasions. For example just yesterday my wife was reading a message on facebook part of which said: “thank you Allah for making my samosas turn out the right shape.” When she finished reading the message she said: “trust her to come out with crap.” 4 muftis said no kufr but the one inconclusive fatwa is what my mind is entrenched with. Another example is of a conversation I had with my father wherein I stated: “I told Sajid that I am willing to help the Masjid out in confidence provided my employer doesn’t come to know. If, however, you mention my name to them I will screw you over and I don’t give a damn then that the masjid is involved.” The intention here was not to disrespect the masjid but to threaten the brother. Mufti Siraj Desai (South Africa) and Mufti of (Zimbabwe) and Mufti of (Darul Ifta Birmingham UK) concluded that this did not constitute kufr but my anxiety levels are such that I cannot rest until the remaining muftis all come back and conclude the same. Third whenever I am given naseehat by my wife in particular such anger and anti Islamic sentiments grip my heart that it feels like I have left the fold of Islam. Muftis have suggested seeing a psychiatrist. I am reluctant to see a non-muslim psychiatrist yet I cannot find a reliable Muslim psychiatrist in the UK. I am gradually falling in to a state of depression bordering on the suicidal. My marriage is up and down and I am completely lost. I am irregular with Salah and my akhlaaq rapidly oscillates from the sublime to the disgraceful. I have been sitting in bed all day doing absolutely nothing. The month of Ramadhan is passing by and I an pre-occupied with obtaining fatwas regarding whether such and such statement constitutes kufr. Please provide a solution. Even whilst writing this, I initially wrote please help me as opposed to please provide a solution. Now I am wondering whether asking help from another besides Allah constitutes disbelief. Please suggest a cure and confirm that there is no need to renew Iman and re-perform nikah. [Answer:] There is no doubt that you are suffering from a dangerous type of waswasa which probably may actually lead to the destruction of your Iman. Shaitaan is playing with your mind, and you are giving him the chance to do so. Your first problem is that you are bringing many unnecessary questions in your mind, and the other problem is that when you receive answers for your questions (from authoritative scholars), you begin to have doubts in their answers. If you continue in this manner, you will ruin yourself. You need to take control of your self, do whatever you are commanded to do as a Muslim, and refrain from prying into every small and insignificant matter that comes to your mind. If you cannot control them, then recite a lot of Ta’awuz (that is, say A’uzu billahi Minash Shaitanir Rajeem) frequently, until these thoughts go away. Secondly, ignore whatever comes to your mind (from among these evil whispers). Pay no heed to it, and give it no importance. Thirdly, if you think that some of these thoughts are such that you need to seek a fatawa, then communicate with such a Mufti (Islamic scholar) upon whom you have reliance and confidence, and accept what he says. Do not go about ‘scouting’ for opinions, for this will only put you in a state of confusion. With respect to asking questions while seeking help, this is something which Allah Has (himself) asked us to do when he said, ‘And ask those who know if you do not know’. Allah Has also ordered us by saying ‘And help each other in goodness and in piety’. In order to cure the problem of waswasa, you should also frequently recite the dua which Allah has given in the Holy Quran when one is touched and affected by Shaitan. This Dua is :- ‘Rabbi A’uzu bika min Hamazaatish Shayateen wa A’uzu bika Rabbi An Yahdhuroon’. ‘O my lord I seek refuge in you from the whispers of the devils. And I seek refuge in you, O my lord, from their presence. Strictly adhere to the performance of your Salaah, stay away from all the haram, and supplicate to Allah and follow the guidelines that I have given. Insha Allah, Allah will remove your problem. And Allah knows best. === (back to Table of Contents)

Islamic Definition and Proof of Wasaawis from Qur'an and Hadeeth The word waswaas is originally an infinitive in the sense of waswasah 'to whisper'; however, in Islam, it is also used as an expression to refer specifically to Satanic and other evil whisperings ( Source: Ma'ariful Qur'an, surah 114). Waswaas or Wasaawis (singular - Waswasah) in this context then are: repetitive and unwanted thoughts, doubts and fears whispered into the minds and hearts of people by unseen and unheard shayateen (evil jinns) who are keen to misguide Muslims and deprive them of good. Wasaawis follow such a pattern that they take one away from and distance one from the remembrance of Allah Ta'aala and ibaadah to Him. Allah Ta'aala instructs us to seek refuge with Him against wasaawis. We are told a Satanic companion is attached to each of us and continually tries to destroy us in different ways: First of all, he induces us to commit sins, and paves the way for us to willfully violate the Divine laws and injunctions. If he does not succeed in this, he tries to contaminate and destroy our acts of obedience and worship by casting the thoughts of dissimulation, hypocrisy, pride, and arrogance. He attempts to create doubts about authentic beliefs and doctrines of Islam in the minds of the learned scholars. The only one who can be saved from the evil of such Satanic pranks is the one whom Allah gives His protection. The Messenger of Allah is reported to have said: "There is not a single one of you, but his companion [a devil] has been assigned to him." The companions enquired: 'Is such a devil companion joined to you also, O Messenger of Allah?' He replied: 'Yes. However, Allah has helped me against him and he has become submissive to me. As a result, he only commands me to do good." ( Source: Ma'ariful Qur'an, surah 114) Other types of wasaawis in Islam include: whisperings of evil people who cast doubts in the minds of others in indirect ways without uttering them explicitly; and whisperings of our own nafs which urges us to do evil works. ( Source: Ma'ariful Qur'an, surah 114) While these two other forms of wasaawis may also urge us to do evil works, for the purposes of comparison with OCD however, neither of them may be as repetitive, persistent, and unwanted as those fears and doubts cast in our minds and hearts by shayateen. For this reason, our focus will remain on Satanic whispers. Mention of Wasaawis in the Qur'an In Surah Al-A'raf (verses 16-17), Allah Ta'aala tells us how the devil has made it his mission to lead people astray: [satan] said, "Because You have put me in error, I will surely sit in wait for them on Your straight path. (16) Then I will come to them from before them and from behind them and on their right and on their left, and You will not find most of them grateful [to You]." (17) In Surah Al-A'raf (verse 200), Allah Ta'aala also tells us what we should do when we are afflicted by wasaawis: And if an evil suggestion comes to you from Satan, then seek refuge in Allah . Indeed, He is Hearing and Knowing. (200) And, in Surah An-Naas, Allah Ta'aala gives us the ultimate du'aa against wasaawis: Say, "I seek refuge in the Lord of mankind, The Sovereign of mankind. The God of mankind, From the evil of the retreating whisperer - Who whispers [evil] into the breasts of mankind - From among the jinn and mankind." Mention of the Wasaawis in Hadeeth In Saheeh Muslim, it is narrated that Abu Hurayrah (radiallahu anh) said: “Some of the companions of the Messenger of Allaah (salallahu 'alayhi wa sallam) came to him and said, ‘We find in our hearts things that none of us dares utter.’ He said, ‘Do you really find that?’ They said, ‘Yes.’ He said, ‘That is clear faith.’” (2/153). One of the Sahaabah complained to the Messenger of Allaah (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) about waswaas during prayer, and he said: “The Shaytaan comes between me and my prayers and my recitation, confusing me therein.” The Messenger of Allaah (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) said: “That is a devil called Khanzab. If he affects you seek refuge in Allah from him and spit drily to your left three times.” He [the Sahaabi] said, I did that and Allaah took him away from me. (Narrated by Muslim, 2203) “The Shaytaan comes to any one of you and says, ‘Who created such and such? Who created such and such?’ until he says, ‘Who created your Lord?’ If that happens to you, seek refuge with Allaah and give up these thoughts.” (Narrated by al-Bukhaari, no. 3277) The Companions (radiallahu anhum) of the Prophet (salallahu 'alayhi wa sallam) came to him complaining about the doubts and waswaas that they were suffering. In Saheeh Muslim it is narrated that Abu Hurayrah (radiallahu anh) said: “Some of the companions of the Messenger of Allaah (salallahu 'alayhi wa sallam) came to him and said, ‘We find in our hearts things that none of us dares utter.’ He said, ‘Do you really find that?’ They said, ‘Yes.’ He said, ‘That is clear faith.’” (2/153). What is meant by his saying ‘That is clear faith’ is that their hatred of that waswasah and their rejecting it was a clear sign of faith. The Shaytaan only whispers to people of faith; as for the kaafir he comes to him however he wants and does not limit himself to waswaas, rather he toys with him however he wishes. === (back to Table of Contents)

Treatment Options for OCD Since treatment for OCD can vary depending on the nature, severity and history of the disorder, with some cases requiring a combination of treatments, it is most advantageous to seek help from qualified medical and mental health professionals. Some forms of treatment currently available for OCD sufferers include: Counselling Group therapy Drug therapy Cognitive behaviour therapy (CBT) Relaxation exercises ​Dr. Sadiq Mohammed details some of the above-listed treatments as follows: Obsessive-compulsive disorders are treatable. Several treatment modalities have been traditionally used in the treatment of OCD including drug therapy, behavior therapy, cognitive behavior therapy, and relaxation exercises in various combinations depending upon the nature, severity, and history. Most of the drugs used to treat OCD are antidepressants, such as, Anafranil, Celexa, Luvox, Paxil, Prozac, Zoloft. These drugs have variable effectiveness in the control of the symptoms of OCD and depression. Apparently these drugs do not completely stop the obsessive thoughts or the compulsive behavior, but reduce the anxiety and depression associated with them thereby reducing the felt severity of the disorder. So, they manage the severity of the symptoms, but don't seem to get rid of them. This is why drug treatment is generally used in conjunction with psychological therapies. Psychological therapies, on the other hand, attempt to help the client understand the roots, dynamics, and the possible contributing factors of the disorder. The stress and anxiety are treated with relaxation exercises. Faulty beliefs arising out of the obsessions and leading to compulsions are examined. Here is a case example. The client says: “In the Qur’an, there is a verse that says, ‘And Allah loves those who purify themselves’. Also the Prophet (saw) says "Purity is half the Iman". So I keep thinking that I must keep myself clean (paak) or that I am not good enough.” With relaxation, education and cognitive behavior therapy, the person is gradually guided in correcting the faulty beliefs. Past traumas, like sexual/physical abuse, and unsavory conduct and life styles of the past that may be responsible for severe guilt leading to the OCD, are dealt with. Appropriate home assignments are given to promote new and healthy thought process and beliefs. And, over a period of time, the obsessive thoughts and the compulsive behaviors begin to decrease. In cases where the symptoms of the OCD are so severe that they render the person completely dysfunctional lacking any control over the thought processes, psychological therapies by themselves are not often very effective. In such cases, drug therapy is combined with psychological therapies to initially reduce the anxiety and depression followed by counseling and therapy. (source) Collaboration for Scrupulosity For those who suffer from scrupulosity OCD, collaboration between medical and mental health professionals and the religious community are recommended and encouraged. The suggestion is that: Religious leaders can determine within their doctrine which rituals are extreme and which are appropriate, and they may be able to offer guidance and treatment. Additionally, highly religious individuals often consult their religious leaders rather than clinicians for help..., so providing OCD education and specialized treatment trainings in religious settings could be beneficial to bringing therapies that have been shown to be effective to more people suffering from these obsessions. (source) === (back to Table of Contents)

Religious (Scrupulosity) OCD For people with OCD, even religious thoughts can become intrusive and distressing. Some examples of religious thoughts are: intrusive religious blasphemous thoughts, compulsive prayer, hypermorality, unwarranted concern about committing a sin, and cleaning/washing rituals. Such problematic thoughts have been referred to as scrupulosity: the relationship between religiosity and the symptoms of OCD. Fear of sin and Fear of God have been identified as the 2 domains of scrupulosity. Studies show that scrupulosity obsessions in OCD are ranked as one of the most common forms of OCD affecting an estimated 25% of OCD individuals (1998). Medical and mental health professionals often point to environmental (i.e. religious and cultural) causes when examining and working with individuals with scrupulous obsessions. The following results are of particular interest (please note that these results are based on Western studies across various religions and may not necessarily include Muslims): Individuals with scrupulous obsessions may have anxiety related to their religion, sinning, and guilt, which can cause religious practices and rituals to become compulsive,.. Also, these individuals are often more religious and more likely to seek out religious counseling and less likely to receive medical treatment... They also found that a negative concept of God was associated with higher symptom severity, and that one in five did not subscribe to a particular religious affiliation. In line with the negative God concept, those that believe that their God is punitive will likely engage in more severe compulsions to make up for minor sins, even though the clergy is aware that their sins are minor and do not need compulsive actions... In addition, 20% stated that their OCD symptoms help them in observing their religion. While it may be easy to assume that people with these types of worries are from very religious or strict traditions, these worries can strike the very orthodox, non-religious people, or even atheists. Scrupulosity should not be confused with being obsessed with religion or being very devout. People with this type of OCD do not feel more spiritual or fulfilled by performance of OCD-related rituals, which may include repeating prayers, seeking reassurance, or mental rituals. Common scrupulous obsessions include: Receiving extra change from a cashier Accidentally omitting any loved ones from their prayers. Concerns with sacrilege or blasphemy: For example, someone might worry that they have inadvertently offended God or even accidentally worshiped the devil. Excess concern with right/wrong, morality: For example, someone may worry about always doing the morally right thing, in every circumstance. Performing a religious task or ritual in the wrong way Blasphemy Having committed a sin Behaving morally Purity Going to hell Death A loss of impulse control (source) === (back to Table of Contents)

Examples of OCD Cases Symmetry OCD Twenty-two-year-old Josh Cannings has suffered from symmetry OCD or obsessive compulsive disorder for nearly 10 years. It is a condition that has had a massive effect on his day-to-day life, but one that is often trivialised by society. "I have to touch everything with my left and right hands, my left and right feet an equal amount of times everywhere I go, 24/7. It's constant," says Cannings. "So say I pick up a fork with my left hand I have to also touch it with my right hand the same amount of times. "I shake hands with both hands clasping." Cannings, who works as a chef in a restaurant, says if he does not "equalise" he gets a feeling of dread in his mind and to counteract that feeling has to continually obey his compulsions. It's that dread you get when you feel like something horrible has happened, when you find out a piece of extremely bad news, like someone you love is injured. "It's that feeling of helplessness about not being able to do anything about it and obviously anxiety levels rise, you start sweating, you can feel your heart beating faster and you start breathing heavily." (Source) Fear of Harming Another ritual, which was a compulsion, was the fear that if I didn't say my prayers respectfully and sincerely, my mother might be killed in a car accident. I took on this huge responsibility as a child for another person's life. "A lot of people know about the hand washing and the checking of things, but many people are unaware that OCD can also take a sinister angle, where you have a fear that you may harm your own children very violently. "When I had my fourth child I had intrusive thoughts at bedtime that I would go to the children's bedrooms in my sleep, take out their dressing gown cords and strangle each one. This was horrendous to go through, because I didn't know whether I was going to do it or not. "People with OCD are not dangerous and they do not harm, but I was permanently exhausted. "That was the obsession: the compulsion was to try to relieve some of the pain and terror that came from those thoughts. I would get out of bed, find their dressing gowns, take the cords out of the dressing gowns and tie them into as many knots as possible, so that I wouldn't be able to put the cords around their necks. "Then I'd go back to bed, but I still couldn't sleep. I would get out of bed again, get the cords, put them in a bag, seal the bag, and put the bag in a high cupboard. This would give a little relief, but it was still terrifying. (Source) Scrupulosity OCD The anxiety and shame started when Diance was 25. She was sitting in a pew at her church, where she is active in the ministry. It seemed to come out of nowhere. She felt as if she were going to jump out of her skin. Diance doesn’t know why she felt so anxious. But she knows what she saw when the feeling overwhelmed her: a nearby woman wearing a v-neck sweater. For years after that episode, Diance, a health care professional from Maryland, was unable to look at people wearing v-neck sweaters or other potentially revealing clothes for fear she was sinning. When people sat down across from her and crossed their legs, she thought it was because she had been looking at their genitals. “I was scared to look at people. I thought I was offending them by inappropriately glancing at them, and I constantly prayed for forgiveness,” said Diance, who stopped hugging family and friends and felt like a hypocrite in church. Diance suffers from scrupulosity, a type of (OCD). People with scrupulosity suffer from persistent, irrational thoughts about not being devout or moral enough, and believing that these thoughts are sinful and disappoint God. And like the 2.2 million adults who have OCD, Diance’s obsessive, unwanted thoughts and rituals interfered with her life and relationships. (Source) Abaya, Socks & Gloves To Ward Off Germs (A Muslimah with OCD) Sarah (not her real name) was so worried about germs that she dressed herself from head to toe in a black abaya, wore socks and would not take her gloves off, even when visiting other women. She finally admitted she had a problem one day when one of her friends started teasing her about using her gloves while struggling to open an envelope. She found an excuse to leave and return home instead of continuing with the visit. Her friend was angry and confused at her rudeness. It was then that Sarah realized she did not have control over her behaviour. Keeping Things Separate (A Muslimah with OCD) This old lady has spent half her life suffering yet unable to change her condition. She started off by keeping her things separate; from clothes to her utensils in the kitchen. Before she began cooking everything from the table tops, utensils to the knobs on the cooker were wiped three times. No one was allowed to touch anything unless they washed their hands. If by chance someone did open a pot to see what was cooking without washing their hands, the lid would be rinsed. At an age where she needs care, her carers constantly wash their hands before touching her or handling her belongings. *No medical treatment however many family members have tried various ways of helping her -condition worsens === (back to Table of Contents)

Causes of OCD While the exact cause of OCD remains elusive, medical and mental health professionals point to the following possible triggers: genetic (inherited from family) neurobiological (the way the person's brain and body are structured, including chemical imbalances) behavioural (personality and usual behaviours based on ways of thinking) environmental (including culture, religious ideologies, lifestyles, daily stress) The Royal College of Psychiatrists (UK) explains some of the above-noted triggers as follows: Genes: OCD is sometimes inherited, so can occasionally run in the family. Stress: Stressful life events bring it on in about one out of three cases. Life changes: Times where someone suddenly has to take on more responsibility – for example, puberty, the birth of a child or a new job. Brain changes: We don't know for certain, but if you have the symptoms of OCD for more than a short time, researchers think that an imbalance of a chemical called serotonin (also known as 5HT) develops in the brain. Personality: If you are a neat, meticulous, methodical person with high standards you may be more likely to develop OCD. These qualities are normally helpful, but can slip into OCD if they become too extreme. Ways of thinking: Nearly all of us have odd or distressing thoughts or pictures in our minds at times - "what if I stepped out in front of that car?" or "I might harm my child". Most of us quickly dismiss these ideas and get on with our lives. But, if you have particularly high standards of morality and responsibility, you may feel that it's terrible to even have these thoughts. So, you are more likely to watch out for them coming back – which makes it more likely that they will. (source) While many medical and mental health professionals counsel, treat, and assist people with OCD by focusing on one or more possible triggers, scientists continue to explore possible genetic and neurobiological links. For example, scientists at the Ansary Stem Cell Institute and the Department of Psychiatry at Weill Cornell Medical College have been studying possible genetic links in studies involving mice. In a study published in the April 2013 issue of Nature, the scientists reported that mice missing a single gene (Slitrk5) developed OCD-like behaviours seen in humans with OCD (source). In another example, scientists from the Cummings School of Veterinary Medicine at Tufts University, Medford, Mass., and the McLean Imaging Center at McLean Hospital, Belmont, Mass., have been studying possible neurobiological links in studies involving dogs. In their study, the scientists found that the structural brain abnormalities of dogs afflicted with canine compulsive disorder were similar to those of humans with OCD (source). === (back to Table of Contents)

OCD - Medical Definition Where did the Medical term OCD (Obsessive Compulsive Disorder) come from? OCD is a diagnostic category constructed over time by various medical and mental health professionals to assist in the identification, treatment, monitoring, and recording of a range of behaviours deemed to be abnormal. Medical and mental health professionals turn to manuals put out by their professional associations when diagnosing various disorders. In the case of OCD, the manual that is used more generally is the ICD (International Classification of Diseases) put out by the WHO (World Health Organization); however, American professionals use the DSM (Diagnostic and Statistical Manual) put out by the American Psychological Association (ASA). The current manual in use in America is the DSM-5 (2013) which took 14 years to produce but includes ICD codes for efficiency and consistency. While the ICD is available online for free, the DSM-5 is not (current cost is $199). The ICD-10 is the current standard diagnostic tool in use. It was endorsed in 1990 and came into use by WHO Member States from 1994 onward. A revised version is in the works. The ICD-10 lists OCD (F42) under neurotic, stress-related and somatoform disorders. The DSM-5 lists OCD as a distinct, separate category. In the previous version (DSM-IV), OCD was listed under anxiety disorders; however, while the current manual does not list OCD under anxiety disorders the sequential order in which they are listed in the DSM-5 “reflects the close relationships among them.” While changes are continually made (albeit slowly) to the diagnostic manuals in place, it should be noted that medical and mental health professionals express concern “about the potential harm any diagnostic system can have if it increases the potential for over-identification of illness and therefore the possibility of unnecessary treatment” (source). From this, we understand that the medical term OCD is not necessarily fixed across cultures and time but rather, it is fixed within certain communities (i.e. the medical and mental health professionals) for ease, efficiency, and consistency. OCD according to the ICD-10 OCD can be either obsessions (thoughts, ideas, or images) or compulsions (acts) or both; must be present on most days for a period of at least 2 weeks; and, must not be due to other mental disorders such as schizophrenia. Obsessions and compulsions share the following features, all of which must be present: (1) They are acknowledged as originating in the mind of the patient, and are not imposed by outside persons or influences. (2) They are repetitive and unpleasant, and at least one obsession or compulsion must be present that is acknowledged as excessive or unreasonable. (3) The subject tries to resist them (but if very long-standing, resistance to some obsessions or compulsions may be minimal). At least one obsession or compulsion must be present which is unsuccessfully resisted. (4) Carrying out the obsessive thought or compulsive act is not in itself pleasurable. (This should be distinguished from the temporary relief of tension or anxiety). The obsessions or compulsions cause distress or interfere with the person's social or individual functioning, usually by wasting time. (source) When Obsessions Meet Compulsions Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD) can cause severe anxiety in those affected. The following outline of OCD helps us understand how the two may be connected: OCD is made up of two parts – obsessions and compulsions 1. Obsessions Obsessions are unwanted and recurrent thoughts. They seem real (almost like one's thoughts) which cause anxiety. They can be regarding many different things like purity or contamination of filth or germs. They can also be regarding fear i.e. fear of harm to oneself or others or being responsible for something terrible happening or related to perfectionism i.e. being obsessed with exactness. 2. Compulsions Compulsions are actions carried out to alleviate the anxiety. Examples of compulsions are washing something excessively or in a certain way i.e. washing hands, showering etc. Compulsions can also be regarding checking things over and over again or repeating things a certain number of times or arranging and rearranging things; Compulsion can also be regarding thoughts which are sexual, violent or religious (blasphemous). The OCD Cycle The diagram below shows how obsessions and compulsions are connected in an OCD cycle: Does Compulsion lead to Obsession, or the other way round? Bearing in mind that obsessions and compulsions can be present, one without the other, in instances where they are both present, most are of the opinion that compulsive behaviours are carried out in response to obsessions. However, it could be the other way round, say researchers from the Universities of Cambridge and Amsterdam. OCD as defined and described by a Muslim mental health professional, Dr Mohammad Sadiq (certified psychologist), of Alberta, Canada: Obsessive Compulsive Disorder is characterized by unabated recurrent thoughts and images that are invariably distressing because they are violent, loathsome, threatening, or obscene in nature. They are recognized as the individual's own thoughts, even though they are involuntary and often repugnant. They are largely out of the person's control and often, the more the person tries to resist them, the worse they become. These unwanted thoughts generally produce a very high amount of anxiety. This is the obsessive component of the disorder. These thoughts lead a person to engage in behaviours that will relieve the anxiety or threat. Since the thoughts are recurrent, the resultant defensive behaviour is also repetitive. For example, if the obsessions are about catching germs or becoming unclean, the person frequently washes himself/herself. If the obsessions are about personal safety and security, the person engages in repeatedly checking the doors and locks his/her house. These repetitive behaviours take up so much time from their daily life that they become unable to live normally. Paradoxically, the more they engage in these defensive behaviours, the more they are attacked by these obsessions. Thus, the obsession, followed by the compulsion, becomes such a vicious cycle that one cannot easily break out of it. (source) === (back to Table of Contents)

Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD) & Satanic Whisperings (Wasaawis) Most people know someone affected by OCD or wasaawis. It is said that one in every 50 people suffer from OCD and almost all of us (all people except Anbiyaa) are affected by wasaawis to some degree. OCD Minor obsessions and compulsions are common. We all occasionally worry about whether we’ve locked the door or left the iron on at home, and you might hear people described as being ‘obsessed’ with work or sport. You wouldn’t usually describe these thoughts as unwanted and persistent, and they don’t interfere significantly with everyday life. OCD is a disorder where unwanted thoughts, urges and repetitive activities persist and become an obstacle to living life as you want to. Living with someone affected by this anxiety disorder can be very stressful and in many cases lead to the breakup of relationships. Wasaawis Faith and trust in Allah Ta'aala is a necessary component of the deen of Islam, as are ritual purity, concentration during prayers, the sequence and timing of prayers and so on. While we may all occasionally wonder if we have performed our ablution properly or if we have inadvertently skipped a step in prayers, we do not dwell on these thoughts and allow them to persist, causing disruptions and delays in our worship. Wasaawis are thoughts whispered in the hearts and minds of people by Shayaateen (Devils) in order to distract them from worship. They can be regarding purity, prayers, blasphemy or other matters which can lead to such severity that it can become an obstacle to proper and punctual worship. ~~~ InshaAllah, we intend to compile information on these debilitating conditions to create more awareness and examine how they may be connected. An incredible amount of information is available online which would be time consuming for someone to read through and could lead to confusion. We have therefore selected only relevant information from reliable sources. We examine whether OCD and related symptoms are strictly medical conditions or whether they could also be Wasaawis (whisperings of shayateen or evil jinn) or related to lack of control over the nafs? Do we find any basis for such symptoms in the Qur'an and Sunnah? What are probable the causes? What precautions can be taken and what kinds of solutions are there for sufferers? === (back to Table of Contents)

Table of Contents Post/Description Table of Contents Introduction Medical Definition of OCD Causes of OCD Examples of OCD Cases Religious (Scrupulosity) OCD Treatment Options for OCD Islamic Definition and Proof of Wasaawis Examples of Waswasa Cases Combating Wasaawis and Preventive Measures Connecting OCD and Wasaawis Examples of OCD and Waswasa Combined A Success Story References, Useful Links, and Further Reading (and onwards) Comments

Waalaikumussalaam wa rahmatullahi wa barakatuhu brother Naqshband: You can attach pictures using the little 'image' icon on the lower tool bar. You'll see roughly at the centre of the tool bar insha'Allah. With regards to pictures, we just need to be careful not to post pictures of animated objects or outlines of people etc. I am not sure about Youtube videos though. I will check into it insha'Allah and get back to you... or, perhaps one of the other members will beat me to it!

Allahu Akbar! JazakAllah khayran for sharing this wonderful masnoon du'aa sis.

The following is a quick summary of Shaykh Husain Abdul Sattar's January 6, 2002 talk on BRINGING BARAKAH INTO OUR LIVES. The Principle - to attain any goal, we need: Effort – whoever makes effort will get results (1:1 ratio expected) - e.g. if you put effort into a piece of metal, you can make it fly (airplane) Barakah – when added to effort, the result is multiplied - e.g. when a Muslim puts an effort but puts barakah into it, it is multiplied. Think about our beloved Prophet - within 22 years, he established such an environment that even today we are practicing Islam & thinking about him . How many things last 1400+ years? SubhanAllah! How does one take this barakah in? Follow in the footsteps of our beloved Prophet . Why is barakah in our lives? when we connect ourselves to Allah Ta'aala by following in the footsteps of our beloved Prophet , everything we do goes further (e.g. sleep - knowing how to sleep according to the sunnah of Rasulullah - there is barakah in it and when we have barakah in your sleep, our few hours of sleep goes further than a person who sleeps 7-8 hours and still feels tired! It is because we connected ourselves to Allah Ta'aala.) Read Imam Ghazali’s books, especially From Error to Guidance - Sunnah isn't just there for us to read about but for us to act on/interact with. Emulate our beloved Prophet . The Secret: Sunnah - you achieve barakah by following our beloved Prophet . Everything he did was for Allah Ta'aala. This is our continuous dhikr - following the sunnah of Rasulullah .

JazakAllah khayran. Yes, that is what I meant by halaal video. Also, for those videos that have images, perhaps the option to be able to play the audio (not show the video). Another site does this quite well, perhaps they could help guide your team in this regard. Wa'assalaam

I love the colours, I love the layout, I love how user-friendly it is (easy to navigate), I love the categories, I love how easy it is to locate Arabic phrases (smileys)... masha'Allah, all around a great forum! I honestly can't think of much but pushed the pea a bit and came up with the following suggestions that you may or may not find useful: Is it possible to have the calendar also show the Hijri month and year? Under Forum Help: consider re-naming the New-Muslim? sub-section to New or newly practicing Muslim? Under General Library: include sub-sections on: (1) youth issues, (2) Islamic finances, and (3) birth and death (related resources) Under Islamic Library: include a sub-section for Islamic (halaal) videos to all the brothers and sisters involved with this beneficial resource.

These are too funny sister! I heard shaykh google, imam facebook, moulana twitter before and they make me smile every time... but this time, ibn Wifi al internete had me laughing out loud (not too loud) - heard (read) it for the first time today. Great reminder insha'Allah. JazakAllah khayran!

It is hard to choose but I would suggest it remain where it is - there was a reason you posted it there and insha'Allah it will make it easier for non-Muslims in the future to discover it easily. Besides those of us following the forum have been blessed with it (jazakAllah khayran) so it is available to us all and always will be insha'Allah.

Waalaikumussalaam wa rahmatullahi wa barakatuhu dear sister: Wa iyyaki dear sister. No amount of work (at least on my part) can match the hard work and dedication you and others have put here masha'Allah. JazakAllah khayran for all you do and especially you - for being such a caring and gentle guide masha'Allah, alhamdulillah. About the 'matters of the heart' category. Why do you feel the need to change it? To make it more relevant easier to find? How about Purification of the Heart - nothing 'unique' but tried, tested and true and quite relevant insha'Allah. I think I will have to spend some time looking at the forum with a critical eye to see if there is anything that might make it better than it already is masha'Allah. Otherwise, I must say I find it quite good... especially love the search! Insha'Allah others with more experience will contribute as well.

Ameen, ameen, thumma ameen!

SubhanAllah, masha'Allah. To the point! I've shared this message forward and insha'Allah it will continue to reverberate strong. JazakAllah khayran for sharing here sister.

Alhamdulillah, this is very helpful insha'Allah. JazakAllah khayran for sharing here.

Masha'Allah, alhamdulillah, this is welcome advice not only for husband-wife relations but any relation in the home be it between siblings, or parents with children, or even children with parents, and so on. JazakAllah khayran for the share.

The following is a summary of Shaykh Husain Abdul Sattar's December 22, 2002 talk on INTERFACING WITH ALLAH. Please listen to the entire talk, as it builds up to dhikr towards the end. GOAL: to remember that Allah is the central point and goal of every Muslim; and, to develop a relationship with Allah Ta'aala and do those acts that He has permitted and avoid and refrain from those acts that He has prohibited. One of the concepts that we hear about across many fields (computers, electronics, even biology) is the idea of interfacing where 2 products or organisms are able to work together, are compatible, can connect. We want to know if two computers can interface, or if two different species of plants can combine to create a 3rd species, or if two people are compatible for marriage. When we talk about interfacing, we are always comparing things that are similar. For example, computers made with the same types of materials, or plants where the genomes are being mixed, or humans where certain characteristics are being compared. Usually, we have lengthy discussions about these issues and despite being so similar in every way except maybe some minute differences, we realize that not all things are compatible, not all things can interface. If we look at our own abilities to see and hear, we realize just how limited we really are. As an example: In terms of sight: if we turn to the left, we can’t see to the right; and if we look behind us, we can’t see what is going on in front of us. In terms of sound: our hearing is dependent on sound being produced by another. Even then, we are not able to attend to and concentrate on every sound such that, if 2 people talk to us at the same time, we are not able to concentrate on both simultaneously. Unlike us and all of His creation, Allah Ta’aala is perfect in every single characteristic - He is complete, perfect, absolute, non-dependent upon anything. Allah Ta’aala is All Seeing – He sees everything that goes on here, in the universe, from the beginning of time to the end of time. Allah Ta’aala is All Hearing (As-Sami’) – He hears the call of every single creation and every single noise away from creation throughout the entire universe, from the beginning of time to the end of time. His hearing is independent even of sound - whether there is sound or there is no sound, Allah Ta’aala still hears. When the entire world and the universe is completely annihilated and that moment comes when Allah Ta’aala – alone – stands throughout the entire universe, He will still be As-Sami’ – He will be the one who hears. Despite being completely different from His creation, on a daily basis Allah Ta’aala allows us to interface with Him. That is absolutely amazing! Yet, despite this huge blessing, we turn away from Him so many times during our lives. We interface with Allah Ta’aala during salaah - we praise Him and we know from hadeeth that He replies "verily my servant has praised me." We read the book of Allah Ta’aala, we take the name of Allah Ta’aala, we discuss Allah Ta’aala, we hear the name Allah Ta’aala – that we are even able to do all this (and more) is amazing! It is actually all through the Mercy of Allah Ta’aala – He sent us His final messenger who told us about Him and He allows us to interact with Him on so many different levels – subhanAllah! This is very unique when compared to the things in this world. Allah Ta’aala should attract our attention in such a way that nothing else does because He is so different – above-and-beyond – and He is so unique compared to all creation. So, if we are interacting with other things and we are excited by those, then imagine what our excitement should be when we think about Allah Ta’aala. We get so caught up with creation and fabricated things when it is all just like a board-game – it has no reality. Allah Ta’aala is the only reality. So, we should really, really begin to understand that within us there is a sickness – we’ve lost our ability to discern what is truth from what is falsehood. This is why the Prophet would pray to Allah Ta’aala: “ya Allah, show me the ability to discern between truth and falsehood." And what is the truth? The ultimate truth is Allah Ta’aala. And what’s falsehood? Everything else that exists in the universe. Everything else is batil. Everything else will perish and Allah Ta’aala is the only one that is permanent. Allah Ta’aala, out of His Mercy, has blessed us with the ability to interface with him in so many ways and we need to interface with him and begin to reflect on Him, begin to sacrifice and get closer to Him. When we do, the whole game changes - the whole world changes for us. We no longer do things because we have to but because we understand that it draws us towards Allah Ta’aala and His infinite mercy – because we love Him. Love of Allah Ta’aala is a concept that exists within our deen and sahaba were so in love with Allah Ta’aala that they couldn’t even think of anything else. When the sahaba did something, they said “this is because Allah Ta’aala permitted us to do it.” When they weren’t able to do something they said “it is because Allah Ta’aala did not permit us to do so.” Over-and-over again in hadeeth, sahaba are recorded as saying: “I prayed as much as Allah Ta’aala allowed me to pray and I said what Allah Ta’aala allowed me to say and I did what Allah Ta’aala allowed me to do.” Meaning, every single thing in their life was focused and centered upon what Allah Ta’aala permitted them. Everything was through Allah Ta’aala – everything was seen through the lens of Allah Ta’aala. How different is it from the way we look at the world now? SubhanAllah. We have to begin to appreciate that these diseases exist within us (and our ummah as a whole) and begin to work to change. For example, when we look at our hand we can see it is weak – if it gets crushed, we feel pain, and if it breaks, we are not able to move it properly – yet we use it to do things that displease Allah Ta’aala. We have a choice to use the same hand for to earn His pleasure. The only great thing our hand can do then is to either win Allah Ta’aala's pleasure or displeasure - no other choice - otherwise, the hand is worthless in and of itself. When Allah Ta’aala comes into our lives - such that, everything we do is for the sake of Allah Ta’aala, we constantly reflect upon Allah Ta’aala, when we pray, we know that we are praying to Allah Ta’aala – that is called Islam. That is the central point. Once we get to that state, we'll do things that also benefit the community and bring them to Allah Ta’aala but the central point is Allah Ta'aala and nothing else. Du'aa: May Allah Ta’aala give us the tawfiq to begin to submit to Him, to get nearer to Him and to bring others onto that path. Ameen.

Here is an explanation (noted elsewhere) for the title name-change:

Respected Moderators and Administrators: I ask that you please change the title of the thread to 'Curtailing Desires'. JazakAllah khayran.