Where Do Thoughts Come From?
Question:
Assalamu ‘Alaykum
Answer:
Wa ‘alaykum assalam wa rahmatullah wa barakatuh.
I pray you are well.
Thoughts have many sources. Some are your conscious thoughts; others come from the subconscious mind, others from one’s ego. The Devil can also whisper thoughts into us, as angels can.
Thoughts can’t be completely controlled, usually, but striving to remove our baser traits can help refine the thoughts the come from us. Following the sunna of the Prophet (Allah bless him and give him peace) also weakens the devil we each have with us, and consequently, his whispers are not as strong. I recommend reading Imam Nawawi’s Riyad al Salihin to learn how to do the above.
Please see:
https://seekers.flywheelstaging.com/answers/prayer-shafii-fiqh/how-do-i-dispel-sinful-thoughts/
https://seekers.flywheelstaging.com/answers/general-counsel/how-can-i-overcome-my-negative-thoughts/
May Allah grant you the best of both worlds.
[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.