The prominent Muslim scholar, Sheikh Muhammad Iqbal Nadvi, Director and Imam of Al-Falah Islamic Center, Oakville, Ontario, Canada , states: “Any Muslim struggling with consequent doubts should try to conquer this feeling of waswasa. The Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, showed us the proper way of making wudu’, pointing out that an organ should be washed one time at minimum, or 3 three times at maximum. If a Muslim has some bladder problem, they should not bother about it, just ignore it and focus on prayer. This is one of the ways the shaitan steals from the prayer of the Muslim. Some scholars say waswasa starts from the taharah.”
Elaborating more on the issue of waswasah, we’d like to state that a Muslim should always ask Allah to increase his faith and to protect him against the footsteps of Satan and all evils. Enhancing one’s faith and renewing it can be done by reciting the two Testifications of faith and constantly offering the prescribed Prayers and the other pillars of Islam, reciting the Qur’an, accompanying righteous friends, giving out charity, being beneficial to other people, setting a good example for others in all aspects of life, etc.
In fact, in normal cases, such doubts can occur to any person, but they do not persist in such an exhaustive manner. To remove them, it is enough to follow the Prophet’s advice to his companions who complained of similar doubts; the Prophet told them to make isti`azah (to say: I seek refuge in Allah) and to cease thinking about these matters.
Finally, and most importantly, one should seek Allah’s help and support, asking Him Almighty to heal you and comfort you. Try to strengthen your relation with Him Almighty, adhering to His commands, and refraining from His prohibitions. In any problem, Muslim should resort immediately to Allah, for He, and He alone, can cure the patient and relieve the distressed. Be confident that He Almighty is the All-Merciful and that if you return to Him He will not let you down.
Now, it is time to sum up our advice to every Muslim going through waswasah:
– Do not feel guilty for having these doubts.
– Be sure that these doubts are not punishab
le. They do not affect your faith or acts of worship.
– Seek the advice of a Muslim psychiatric and follow his instructions strictly.
– Try not to isolate yourself from others. Engage yourself as much as possible in useful activities, especially the collective ones.
– Have confidence in Allah and ask Him for help and support. Be persistent in making Du`a’ that Allah relieves you from your pain. Do all what you can in strengthening your relation with Him, reciting the Qur’an, being constant in offering Prayer, and spending in charity. Allah says:
“We send down (stage by stage) in the Qur’an that which is a healing and a mercy for believers.”
– Ignore the wasaws as much as you can, and be moderate in performing the taharah.
In conclusion we remind you with the prophetic advice: “know that victory comes with patience; relief with distress; and with hardship comes easiness”. You will find solace in this hadith “No fatigue, nor disease, nor anxiety, nor sadness, nor hurt, nor distress befalls a Muslim, even if it were the prick he receives from a thorn, but that Allah expiates some of his sins for that.”