How to get rid of waswas (وسوس ) ?

[Saadia]

Salam dear all.  I am suffering from waswas in my daily life.  I often end up doing my wudu 3 or 4 time when I go to the washroom, because I always have this strange feeling I have not done my wudu properly even if I have and end up staying too long in the washroom.  I always say “BismAllah” before I start cooking and before I start eating.  But after I start cooking and after I begin eating I feel maybe I did not say “BismAllah” and that keeps worrying me.   While offering my salah, I perform my ruku and sajoud, and then feel perhaps it was not properly performed so I perform it again because of which my salah takes too long, much longer than other members of my family.  These are just a few examples. The waswas is getting me tired. I almost feel nervous starting to do anything of daily life.   I discussed with my family and they said Satan and those evil jinn that follow him may try to do this to harass humans, to control them, and that I must fully ignore the waswas, it will go away on its own.  Is waswas mentioned in the Quran as a real thing?  Is it really Shaitaan and his followers who can be behind it?  Please help how to handle this, it’s becoming a big problem for me making my life unhappy.

[Fadil Ali]

I also experience this kinda conflict sometimes though not as much as this person.

[Heba E. Husseyn]

Walaikum as Salam.   I get your point.   Though not a common problem, it isn’t rare either.  But nothing much to worry about as it’s easier to overcome than you may feel at the moment.

Waswas means ‘whispers’ which is mentioned in the last Chapter of the Noble Quran, Surah 114, An-Nas.  Quoting below:

"Say: I seek refuge in the Rab of mankind, 
The King of mankind,
The God of mankind, 
From the evil of the whisperer, 
Who whispers in the hearts of mankind, 
Of the jinn and of mankind." 
(114:1-6 Surah An-Nas).

The translation “evil of the whisperer” is stated in the Noble Quran as “sharri l-waswāsi” ..   reference is to the temptations of  Shaitaan or his followers (evil among the jinn) to trouble believers so they end up feeling harassed or get misguided one way or another.  ‘Whisper’ is experienced as the constant conflict within yourself, a feeling that you are falling short of whatever you are doing, whether it’s performing wudu or offering salah or doing household chores or shopping or sitting at your office desk etc.etc.

The advice given by your family to completely ignore these whispers is the right one.  Initially you may feel it is easier said than done. But once you realize that these whispers are empty and useless that carry no practical worth and are only there to bother your mind, it will be easy for you to firmly put down your foot and say NO each time you are tempted to repeat your wudu or salah etc.  If you are troubled with a thought that you perhaps didn’t utter “BismAllah” prior to eating, just say to yourself that InshAllah you will utter it next time and proceed with your meal at ease. 

Most importantly, turn to Allah and ask for healing and strength to fight these whispers by ignoring and turning away from them.  Understand the rules of Allah that if your intentions are right, forgetfulness and small practical mistakes during daily life are minor issues, NOT something we need to fret about allowing them to take over our lives and rob our peace of mind.

You basically need to help yourself so you don’t lose control of your life.  Make a resolve with complete trust in Allah.  Be firm to disregard and turn a deaf ear to these unnecessary whispers. That’s how you can win this ‘battle’ against the evil ones.  If you keep obeying the whispers and subsequently making yourself unhappy, then you are helping the evil whispers to win.  Don’t allow that.  Hold firm to Allah and pay no heed to the whispers.  For the first couple of days it may cause you bit of emotional discomfort. But don’t let that worry you either.  Continue shunning the whispers and take no notice of them.  You will be surprised to see how fast these stupid whispers disappear.  Shaitaan’s whispers are always foolish, and for a sincere and brave believer they are never a challenge.

Hope this helps, InshAllah.

[Fadil Ali]

Sister is right, very helpful.

[ZebunNissa]

Does waswas only comes from Shaitaan and the evil among jinn, or can it also come from evil humans to good humans?

[Heba E. Husseyn]

Does waswas only comes from Shaitaan and the evil among jinn, or can it also come from evil humans to good humans?   

Excellent question.  It certainly can also come from evil humans to good humans but in a different way.

Waswas or whispers are from three sources:

-  From the nafs or the human self which is inclined to misguidance.
-  From Satan or his evil followers (evil jinn).
-  From the evil among the misguided humans (also called devils among humankind).

Allah says, describing the first source, the nafs.
 
“And We have already created man and know what his soul whispers to him, and We are closer to him than (his) jugular vein” (50:16)  Surah Qaf.


Allah describes the second source waswas which is Satan, or in other cases can also come from the evil among jinn.

"Then Satan whispered to him; he said, 'O Adam, shall I direct you to the tree of eternity and possession that will not deteriorate?' "   (20:120)  Surah Ta-Ha.

This waswas to Adam was directly from Satan.


And Allah describes the third source which includes waswas or whispers from the evil among mankind.
 
"Say: I seek refuge in the Rab of mankind,
The King of mankind,
The God of mankind,
From the evil of the whisperer,
Who whispers in the hearts of mankind,
Of the jinn and of mankind."
(114:1-6 Surah An-Nas).


Both types of waswas, whether from Satan or the evil among jinn, or from the bad ones among humans, are all from the devils and need to be rejected completely. The only difference between whispers coming from Satan or the evil jinn and whispers coming from evil humans is, whispers into the hearts of humans from Satan or the evil jinn come in the form of obsessive thoughts in the human mind, while the whispers from an evil human to an unsuspecting human comes openly. For instance, if you have a misguided friend, they may talk you into doing something evil or Haram.

Also to avoid any confusion, let me say, the waswas described by Saadia as she is experiencing seems exactly like one of those troublesome whispers coming from either Shaitaan or the evil jinn who follow him. This is how it starts, as uncomplicated whispers poking you that your right actions are wrong.  The more you listen to these nonsensical whispers, the more they control your life, and eventually you may give up offering salah and your normal daily chores, following a very different path of life closer to misguidance or into misguidance. Thus, to seek refuge in Allah by seeking His help and firmly rejecting every bit of waswas is of utmost importance and the key to success against the whispers.  If you are steadfast in rejecting these whispers each time they bother you, your victory will come a lot faster than you may presume.

This problem is also discovered by psychologists and known in medical science as OCD or Obsessive Compulsive Disorder as a condition of the mind causing  people to experience unpleasant or difficult recurring thoughts in the form of obsession, provoking them to repeat their behavior as compulsions. These symptoms can be time-consuming and cause significant distress or interfere with daily life exactly as Saadia described.  Though psychologists can diagnose it, they cannot give the root cause for it.  Study conducted by humans can go only that far as it cannot step into the unseen. But Allah, Who fully Knows the unseen, gives a deeper source as the cause, clearly elucidating a link between the Quran and scientific study for the eyes & minds of those who perceive. Alhumdulilah.

[Fadil Ali]

Very well analyzed sister Hebba Husein.  How psychological issues have possibilities of being connected with unseen causes or sources.  This helps greatly.  JazekAllah khair.

[ZebunNissa]

Thank you.  These details throw lot of light on what we need to know.   There are many young people including teenagers who are, until now, leading a fairly Halal life.  But they have friends who are not.  Can these friends be  interpreted as among the devils of humankind whom people with guidance should avoid?

[Ruhi_Rose]

....   There are many young people including teenagers who are, until now, leading a fairly Halal life.  But they have friends who are not.  Can these friends be  interpreted as among the devils of humankind whom people with guidance should avoid?

As long as we know someone is not leading a Halal life, whether friends or neighbors or colleagues or even relatives, it is definitely necessary to maintain a distance so we don't get closely involved in their personal lives and circumstances.  Just stay away.  However, if at any time they are facing any hardships in regard to finances or ill health etc. and need our help or ask for our help, then we should do whatever we can to try helping them at an ethical and humane level.  But should not have them as close personal friends until or unless we are sure they have reformed and returned to a Halal life.

[ZebunNissa]

True, well said Ruhi Rose.

[Nadera Sami]

But should not have them as close personal friends until or unless we are sure they have reformed and returned to a Halal life.

and that may never happen knowing how much glitzy attraction Haram life has in today's world pulling people away from Halal, and many simple ones get pulled away.

[N. Truth Seeker]

Probably yes, the chances of that are huge.  In that case we simply have to leave matters where they are as it's very relevant not to have close personal ties with people leading a Haram life in whatever ways.  That runs a constant risk for a well guided person and their family slipping and falling into musguidance as well.  And then, the person responsible will not be there on the Day of Judgement to rescue his or her victims from Allah.

[Fadil Ali]

true, I concur.

[Saadia]

I went through this thread with interest from the first reply, and it's given me a very positive feeling.  It helped me to understand where I stand and the only way for me to help myself.  JazekAllah and thank you to all sisters, brothers and guests. 

Sometimes or may be a little often, while offering salah I forget which rakah I am in.  E.g.  If I am offering third rakah, I forget if it's third or second.  Is this connected with the same issue of waswas?  How to correct this from happening every now and again?

[Ruhi_Rose]

..
Sometimes or may be a little often, while offering salah I forget which rakah I am in.  E.g.  If I am offering third rakah, I forget if it's third or second.  Is this connected with the same issue of waswas?  How to correct this from happening every now and again?

This is just a common mistake.  It happens with a lot of people when they are a bit distracted while offering salah.  It doesn't have anything to do with waswas.   In this case you can repeat your salah by starting from the smaller number.  E.g. You cannot recall whether you are in your third  rakah or second rakah. Then offer your second rakah and then after tashahud offer third rakah.