I am suffering from anxiety and ocd. I don’t perform prayers frequently. But when I started offering namaz today soon after my prayer I was feeling anxiety and ocd issues. How to get rid of my ocd and anxiety. I am suffering from this since 8 years. I am 26 years old.
In the Name of Allah, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful.
As-salāmu ‘alaykum wa-rahmatullāhi wa-barakātuh.
Brother in Islam,
We make dua Almighty Allah grant you complete Shifaa. Aameen.
We are extremely pleased to hear that you have started performing your prayers once more. We make dua Almighty Allah keeps you steadfast on this. Aameen.
Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD) and Generalized Anxiety Disorder (GAD) are medical conditions. We advise you to first and foremost seek medical counsel for your condition.
The anxiety you experienced after performing Salah is actually a good sign. It shows that shaytaan was harmed by your prayers, hence, he tries to avert you from your prayers. Now more than ever, you must try your best not to be intimidated by the whisperings of shaytaan.
Hereunder are some ways to combat these whisperings. Insha-Allah it will also aid in combating the problems you face. Whilst acting upon the advice of your medical professional, practice upon the following as well.
1. Constantly recite the following supplications:
Surah Mu’minoon, Verse 97,
رَبِّ أَعُوذُ بِكَ مِنْ هَمَزَاتِ الشَّيَاطِينِ وَأَعُوذُ بِكَ رَبِّ أَنْ يَحْضُرُونِ
Translation: “O Allah, I seek your protection from the evil whisperings of the shayaateen, and, O my Rabb, I seek your protection that they (shayaateen) approach me (as they always approach me with evil).”
اَللَّهُمَّ اجْعَلْ وَسَاوِسَ قلبي خَشْيَتَكَ وذِكْرَكَ واجْعَلْ همتي وهَوَايَ فِيْمَا تُحِبُّ وتَرْضَى
Translation: “O Allah! Make Your fear and remembrance the obsession of my mind and divert my will and courage to the performance of deeds that please You.”
لا حول ولا قوة الا بالله
Translation: “There is no power to neither do any good nor prevent any evil except in Allah”
2. Recite the Ta’awwudh as much as possible.
3. Recite Surah Al-Falaq and Surah Al-Naas
4. Implore Allah Taalah in Du’aa to alleviate you from your predicament. Du’aa is the most powerful weapon of the believer.
5. Read the book “Combating the whisperings of Shaytaan” by Hadhrat Moulana Yunus Patel Saheb (Rahimahullah).
6. Once more, it is imperative you seek medical assistance for your condition.
And Allah Ta’āla Knows Best
Bilal Yusuf Pandor
Student Darul Iftaa
Lusaka, Zambia
Checked and Approved by,
Mufti Ebrahim Desai.