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Waswâs Al-Qahri: Clinicians, Imams, and The Whisperings of Satan

The document discusses Waswâs al-qahri (obsessive compulsive disorder related to religious acts) from Islamic and psychological perspectives. It notes that Islam described this concept over 1400 years ago as intrusive thoughts and compulsions related to acts of worship. Modern psychology also recognizes this as OCD and scrupulosity. The document recommends dealing with Waswâs al-qahri by seeking help from professionals versed in both psychology and Islam, applying the principle that certainty is not challenged by doubt, and using remedies like dua and ruqya.

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Hussain Munshi
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95 views

Waswâs Al-Qahri: Clinicians, Imams, and The Whisperings of Satan

The document discusses Waswâs al-qahri (obsessive compulsive disorder related to religious acts) from Islamic and psychological perspectives. It notes that Islam described this concept over 1400 years ago as intrusive thoughts and compulsions related to acts of worship. Modern psychology also recognizes this as OCD and scrupulosity. The document recommends dealing with Waswâs al-qahri by seeking help from professionals versed in both psychology and Islam, applying the principle that certainty is not challenged by doubt, and using remedies like dua and ruqya.

Uploaded by

Hussain Munshi
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
Available Formats
Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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Waswâs al-qahri

Clinicians, Imams, and the Whisperings of Satan – Yaqeen Institute for


Islamic Research.
Waswâs al-qahri - Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder
(OCD) → Scrupulosity
• Unwillingly, take everyday acts of worship, like washing for prayer
(wudu), or prayer itself, to extreme lengths.
• Obsession over acts of worship being invalid.
• Physical manifestations - Dysfunctional brain chemistry, imbalanced
gut flora, etc. – Western psychology.
• Why do you think Western psychology acknowledges mainly the
physical manifestations of Waswâs al-qahri ?
Contemporary Psychological Terms
• Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD)
• Scrupulosity
• And say: “My Lord! I seek refuge with You from the whisperings
(suggestions) of the Shayatin (devils). And I seek refuge with You, My
Lord! lest they may attend (or come near) me. (The Quran,23:97-98)
• Islam discussed Waswâs al-qahri which modern psychology relates
with OCD and Scrupulosity over 1400 years ago, what does that tell
you about Islam and Prophet Muhammad (PBUH)?
Waswâs - Its Natural To Some Degree
• It’s part of your Nafsi struggle.
• To a certain degree it’s part of your inner spiritual struggle.

• About 94% of the human population worldwide experience intrusive


thoughts. - Journal of Obsessive-Compulsive and Related Disorders

• Radomsky, A., Alcolado, G., Abramowitz, J., Alonso, P., Belloch, A., Bouvard, M., Clark, D., Coles, M., Doron, G., Fernandez-Alvarez, H., Garcia-Soriano, G., Ghisi, M., Gomez, B.,
Inozu, M., Moulding, R., Shams, G., Sica, C., Simos, G., & Wong, W. (2014). Part 1. You can run but you can’t hide: Intrusive thoughts on 6 continents. Journal of Obsessive-
Compulsive and Related Disorders, 3, 269-279. Retrieved from http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.cbpra.2009.10.002
Waswas al-qahri & the Psychological Aspect
• The more we try to not think of something, the more we end up
thinking about it.
• All or nothing thinking: E.g. “Either I pray all the Salah or I don’t pray
at all”.
• Islam encourages nuanced thinking instead of all or nothing thinking.
• Islam depicts human state as one between fear and hope (especially
towards God) and it is important to find and search for a balance
between the two.
Many different manifestations of Waswâs al-
qahri
• Tahara
• Ibadah
• Aqeedah - Malicious thoughts about Allah – almost a self-takfir.

• Has anyone heard of someone experiencing the above to a certain


degree?

• Has anyone experienced or heard of Waswâs al-qahri in matters of


transactions? Like sadaqa, loan, mahr, or zakat?
Exposure and Response Prevention (ERP)
• Islamic advice is to ignore the obsession and resist the compulsion.
Preferably under the guidance of a professional psychologist and a
learned Islamic scholar.

• Modern psychology has a similar approach as the above approach


and calls it Exposure and Response Prevention (ERP).
Islam’s Approach & Exposure and Response
Prevention (ERP)
• Principle of Handling Waswasa - Certainty is not challenged by
doubt.
• Ibn Qayyim al-Jawziyya in I'laam ul Muwaqqi'een, Vol 1, p.295 states that there is
a consensus on this principle among jurists, even though there might be some
differences when it comes to technical details.
• Imam Al - Nawawi confirmed the validity of the above principle when discussing
the following ahadith - Hadith No: 176 From: Sunan Abu Dawood. Chapter 1,
Purification (Kitab Al-Taharah) Narrated/Authority of Abbad bin Tamim from his
uncle, A person made a complaint to the Prophet (peace be upon_him) that he
entertained (doubt) as if something had happened to him which had rendered his
ablution invalid. He (the Prophet) said: He should nor cease (to pray) unless he
hears a sound or perceives a smell (of passing wind.)
Islam’s Approach & Exposure and Response
Prevention (ERP)
• Principle of Handling Waswasa - Certainty is not challenged by
doubt.
• Essential Elements in applying the above principle.
1. Certainty at the outset.
2. Doubts later arising concerning its continuity.
3. That both certainty and doubt relate to a specific issue.
4. Issues in which the presumption of continuity impacts upon religious
obligations.
Dealing with Waswâs al-qahri
• Get help from a professional psychologists who is versed in Islam and
the issue of Waswâs al-qahri.

• Apply the principle - Certainty is not challenged by doubt.

• Utilize Dua, Dhikr, Seeking Refuge in Allah, Ruqya, Black Cumin –


Naturopathic remedies.

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