Evil thoughts

Answered by: Molana Eunus Ali​

Question

Asak.

I am facing a very unique kind of problem. I stay alone at home in a foreign country. My husband is at work most of the time. I get negative thoughts all the time. At times, if I see someone I start getting very bad thoughts about that person. I don’t mean it from my heart but just a flash comes in my mind like something bad really bad. Will I be punished for this? I feel so guilty, I don’t know what to do. As I live alone I always live in past. I keep remembering my sins and the entire day and some days I don’t do my daily activities because of doubts in my mind. I just don’t know what to do. Will I be punished for the dirty/negative things that come suddenly in my mind about others although I don’t mean it. I feel very bad and guilty. Please help me. Jazak Allah Khair.

Answer

Allah has stated:

Say, “I seek refuge with the Lord of mankind, The King of mankind, The God of mankind, From the evil of the whisperer who withdraws (when Allah’s name is pronounced), The one who whispers in the hearts of people. From among the Jinn and Mankind.  (Surah An-Naas)

Mufti Shafi’ (may Allah have mercy on him) stated commenting on Surah An-Naas:

Shaitan initially whispers to the people to commit sins and opens the path for them to violate the commandments of Allah. If shaitan is unavailable to make the person commit sin he tries to contaminate and corrupt the person’s good deed by casting thoughts of dissimulation, hypocrisy, pride and arrogance.[1]

It is narrated by Abu Huraira (may Allah be pleased with him): The Prophet (ﷺ) said, “Allah has accepted my invocation to forgive what whispers in the hearts of my followers unless they put it to action or utter it.” (Bukhari: 2528)

For as long as the evil and negative thoughts are not materialised practically or verbally one will not be held responsible for them.[2]

Conclusion: although one may not be held responsible for the evil and negative thoughts that cross the heart whispered by shaytan, an effort should be made to avoid them as much as possible as they may lead to essentially committing the sin.

The following duas has been recommended for protection:

رَّبِّ أَعُوذُ بِكَ مِنۡ هَمَزَٲتِ ٱلشَّيَـٰطِينِوَأَعُوذُ بِكَ رَبِّ أَن يَحۡضُرُونِ

My Lord! I seek your protection against the suggestions of the Shaytans, and I seek your protection, my Lord, lest they be present with me, (Surah Muminoon:98-99)[3]

2. 
   Aban bin `Uthman said:“I heard `Uthman bin `Affan (ra) saying: ‘The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) said: “There is no worshiper who says, in the morning of every day, and the evening of every night:

بِسْمِ اللَّهِ الَّذِي لاَ يَضُرُّ مَعَ اسْمِهِ شَيْءٌ فِي الأَرْضِ وَلاَ فِي السَّمَاءِ وَهُوَ السَّمِيعُ الْعَلِيمُ

‘In the Name of Allah, who with His Name, nothing in the earth or the heavens can cause harm, and He is the Hearing, the Knowing’

three times, (except that) nothing shall harm him.”(Sunan At-Tirmidhi 3388)

Only Allah knows best

Written by Molana Eunus Ali

Checked and approved by Mufti Mohammed Tosir Miah

Darul Ifta Birmingham