Answered by Saira AbuBakr
Question: As Salamu alaikum wa rahmatullah wa barakatuh,
May Allah bless you all who are holding this website giving and helping us Muslims!
I am suffering from some deeply bad whispers. It’s not the kind that I can just ignore. Sometimes I think of deep philosophic thoughts which I can’t handle. I am trying to ignore them but I can’t do so effectively. I don’t really know what to do. All kind of thoughts are coming up like for an example bad thoughts about Allah and the Prophet (Peace and blessings of Allah be upon him). Sometimes I think things things that lead me to think Shaytan is getting me to abandon my belief. When I get to that point, I try to reject the thoughts and say, “I believe in Allah, La ilaha illAllah, Muhammadar-rasulullah. Never will I loose my faith.” What should I do? These last days are starting to plague me. I try to study more, pray more, and even do more dhikr but my problems persist.
Answer: Walaikum salaam wa RahmatuAllah,
May Allah reward you for asking this question. May Allah ease your situation.
Increase in Knowledge
It is important, as you said, to continuously increase in knowledge. Be vigilant about going to circles of knowledge and blessed gatherings in general. If there aren’t many in your area, start one. Do this even if it is just you and one other brother. Don’t be concerned about the numbers. Make a sincere intention and the gathering will be blessed. From the blessing there will be increase and not the other way around.
Dhikr and Good Company
Continue the dhikr that you are doing. Couple this with righteous company. This is key and its importance cannot be underestimated.
The Messenger of Allah is reported to have said,
A person is on the religion (deen) of his close friend and so one should look at whom one befriends.
Know that it takes effort to maintain relationships and if misunderstandings happen, as they usually do, try to rectify them quickly. Another of shaitan’s ploys is to isolate the believer by baseless whisperings about other believers.
If you currently do not have friends from whom you can benefit, ask Allah to give you good company. Don’t give up. Keep asking. Facilitate for others what you wish from your Lord and you will reap its benefits in this World and the Next. God willing.
For more details to your question, please see Ustadh Abdullah Anik Misra’s excellent answers in the two links below:
Doubts About Islam: I Don’t Find Any Observable Effect or Peace in My Worship
Ridding Oneself of Depression and Suicidal Thoughts
God bless.