Evil Thoughts During Actions of Ibadah
First of all, this is completely normal, Shaytan is causing these doubts and evil thoughts, if you carefully study Surat an Nas (Chapter 114 of the Qur’an) you will understand the whole notion of Waswasa (Satanic Whispers)
114: 1. Say: I seek refuge with the Lord and Cherisher of Mankind
114: 2. The King (or Ruler) of Mankind
114: 3. The god of Mankind
114: 4. From the mischief of the Whisperer (of Evil), who withdraws (after his whisper)
114: 5. who whispers into the hearts of Mankind
114: 6. Among Jinns and among men.
In verse (4), we see that Jinns (Unseen creatures) whisper in the hearts of people, the point to note in this verse is that they whisper, BUT THEY ARE UNSEEN, that’s why this is bothering you, you seem to think it is you, but its not.
You should never ever believe that it is your own thought unless you are 100% sure that it’s your own!
How do we know that it’s not our own thoughts? Answer: You dislike it, you want it to go away, etc!
“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
According to this narration, Muhammad (On whom be peace) told us that Shaytan first whispers usual things (Such as ”Who created this tree”), and in the end, he asks you a Shirk question.
Muhammad’s (pbuh) command was to “Give up these thoughts”, so we should strive to give up these thoughts, he taught us 2 important things through this hadith:
1 – To turn to Allaah and seek His protection, and to beseech Him, for He is the most Generous:
“And if an evil whisper comes to you from Shaytaan (Satan), then seek refuge with Allaah”
[al-A’raaf 7:200 – interpretation of the meaning]
2 – To put a stop to this matter and turn away from it, and to keep ourselves busy with other, useful things.
Even some of the companions suffered of this disease, they asked Muhammed (pbuh) about it and Muhammad (pbuh) said something that will amaze you:
In Saheeh Muslim it is narrated that Abu Hurayrah (may Allaah be pleased with him) said: “Some of the companions of the Messenger of Allaah (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) 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 (Muhammad) said, ‘That is clear faith.’” (2/153).
So one should not believe that he is the first Muslim to get these evil thoughts!
According to this hadith, if you get thoughts you do not dare to utter, YOU HAVE CLEAR FAITH!
One has to understand why it’s clear faith, scholars have stated that it’s because one doesn’t dare to utter it, the rejecting of the thought, etc!
If you’re having these Waswasa (Satanic whispers), ask yourself, WHY are YOU having them and why not a bad Muslim? Why you? You are such a good Muslim, praying 5 times and even more, fasting, giving charity, reading Qur’an, etc, Why you?
Answer: Imagine a thief, would a thief break into a house without gold or a house with gold?
Similarly, Shaytan breaks into the heart and mind of a person that possess Iman (Faith)!
As for the unbeliever, Shaytan leaves him alone to wander in the darkness, Shaytan knows very well that this man (Unbeliever) is already messed up!
Ibn Abbas (Allah have mercy on him) narrates that a Companion came to the Messenger of Allah (Allah bless him & give him peace) and asked: “Sometimes I experience such thoughts that I would rather be reduced to charcoal than get them on my lips” (meaning that to speak of these thoughts was worse than burning in fire, m). The Messenger of Allah (Allah bless him & give him peace) said: “All praise is to Allah who restricted the devil’s designs to mere evil promptings”. (Sunan Abu Dawud,)
We have to keep in mind, IT IS ALL SHAYTANS WHISPERINGS.
You have to know that it is Shaytan otherwise he is slowly winning this battle, you have to know 100% that it is Shaytan, not 50%,,,, but 1 0 0 %!!!
To overcome Shaytan, you have to know that he is your biggest enemy, not your second biggest, but your B I G G E S T!!!!!!
“The Shaytaan said to the Lord of Glory: ‘By Your Glory O Lord, I will keep trying to misguide Your slaves so long as their souls are in their bodies.’ The Lord said, ‘By My Glory and Majesty, I will continue to forgive them so long as they ask My forgiveness.’” Narrated by Ahmad in al-Musnad and classed as saheeh by al-Albaani in Saheeh al-Jaami’, 2/32
DO NOT LOSE HOPE!
Why would you lose hope?
Abu Huraira (Allah be pleased with him) narrates that the Messenger of Allah (Allah bless him & give him peace) said:
“Verily Allah forgives my Ummah for the evil thoughts that occur in their hearts until they don’t say it verbally or act upon it”. (Sahih al-Bukhari & Sahih Muslim).
Just remind yourself, unless you don’t say it verbally or act upon it, Allah is most forgiving and WILL forgive you (InshAllah)
Not to verbally say it: Such as; “Lately I feel Islam is not the right way” or “What if there are several Gods” etc, Naudhubillah, May God protect us and never allow us to have these thoughts from Shaytan!
Not to act upon it: Such as missing prayers because of the thoughts, making a thought into a reality such as killing a person, beating your wife severely, raping, leaving Islam, etc!
How to solve it? I want it to end!!
You have to ask Allah to guide you and to increase your iman, to protect you from all the evil out there, from Jinns to Shaytan, from Shaytan to Shayateen, from Shayateen to Mankind-Shaytans and so on!
Prayers (du3a’s) are very helpful, trust me!
Recommended prayer (Du3a):
“Rabbi inni a’uzu bika min hamazat ashayatin wa a’uzu bika rabbi an yahdurun”
Translation: “O my Lord! I seek your protection from the instigations of devils and I also seek your protection from that they (ever) come to me”
This post would be a couple of miles long if we were to explain the forgiveness and mercy of Allah, but to sum it up, DO NOT lose hope, and remember that Allah always helps those who want help and those whom make sincere Tauba (Repentance).
It will end InshAllah, remember, you are NOT alone, there are literally millions of people experiencing the exact same thing you are experiencing, this is normal and will get over (With the will of Allah) off course!
