What Do I Do If I Feel I Need To Return Something When The Owner Says I Don’t?

Answered by Shaykh Abdul-Rahim Reasat

Question

A friend gave me her stuff, pencils and such, and I really think I tried giving it back, and she told me to keep it. But now I am doubting whether that happened. I have waswasa, and I feel that the only reason I doubt it is because of Shaytan, but I don’t really know what to do about it.

Answer

I pray you are well.

It seems that you suffer from OCD, which is causing you to have doubts about the matter. If you have a clear memory of the event, you can ignore the doubts and relax, telling yourself it’s just the OCD causing you discomfort.

Otherwise, see if you can contact the owner or get someone else to do so. If you owe them, return them. If you don’t relax. If you can’t get a response, then don’t worry about it. Give the reward of some of your good deeds to compensate for what may be owed, as recommended by Imam al-Sha’rani (al-Sha’rani, al-Kawkab al-Shahiq). People don’t usually worry about getting minor, inexpensive items back.

You should seek some treatment for your OCD. Following every doubt needlessly tires a person. May Allah give you wellbeing.

[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, and he was able to study an extensive curriculum of Quranic sciences, tafsir, Arabic grammar, and Arabic eloquence.