I Can’t Get Rid of Bad Whispers in My Worship. What Can I Do?
Answered by Shaykh Jamir Meah
Question: Assalamu alaykum
Whenever I do any acts of worship I get a tight feeling in my chest and ugly whispers that I hate. I can’t ignore them at all. I get depressed and don’t know what I feel. Could help me?
Answer: Assalam ‘alaykum. Thank you for your question. I pray that Allah makes your condition lighter upon you.
Baseless misgivings and whisperings are difficult to overcome, but one must take the necessary steps to minimize all channels that give way to such thoughts.
Steps to take
1. Try worshiping in open areas such as the sitting room that is open to everyone, or at the masjid when possible.
2. Keep the company of upright, and amiable religious brothers.
3. Attend circles of knowledge if you are able to. Increase in faith and certainty comes from knowledge and practicing what you learn.
4. Say the following du’a when the thoughts start, and try your best to continue your worship. Satan wants you to give up what you are doing. If you continue, he’ll give up at some point,
أعوذ بالله من الشيطان الرجيم آمَنْتُ بِاللهِ وَرُسُلِهِ هُوَ الأَوَّلُ ، وَالآخِرُ ، وَالظَّاهِرُ ، وَالْبَاطِنُ ، وَهُوَ بِكُلِّ شَيْءٍ عَلِيمٌ
‘I seek refuge in Allah. I have believed in Allah and his Messenger. He is The First and The Last, Al Dhahir and Al Baṭin, and He knows well all things’ [Hisnul Muslim]
5. Find distractions that you can turn to if the thoughts still persist. Physical activities are often good option to get rid of the thoughts.
6. If the thoughts continue, seek out a qualified councilor, or therapist (such as a homeopath) who can help you work through what you’re experiencing. Most often, there is some underlying fear and anxiety behind these feelings which need to surface and get resolved.
7. Read the following answers for further advice:
A Reader on Waswasa (Baseless Misgivings)
Warmest salams,
[Shaykh] Jamir Meah
Shaykh Jamir Meah grew up in Hampstead, London. In 2007, he traveled to Tarim, Yemen, where he spent nine years studying the Islamic sciences on a one-to-one basis under the foremost scholars of the Ribaat, Tarim, with a main specialization and focus on Shafi’i fiqh. In early 2016, he moved to Amman, Jordan, where he continues advanced studies in a range of Islamic sciences, as well as teaching. Jamir is a qualified homeopath.
