What should one recite when an evil thought comes to mind?
Answer
There are several recommendations for a person who receives bad thoughts/ideas.
1) He should try and ignore that thought and not entertain it. Sometimes this is sufficient to remove it from the mind.
2) He should recite the following du’a:
اَعُوْذُ بِاللّٰهِ مِنَ الشَّيْطَانِ الرَّجِيْمِ , اٰمَنْتُ بِاللّٰهِ وَرُسُلِهِ
A’uzu billahi minash shaytanir rajimi, amantu billahi wa rusulihi
3) If it needs to be addressed, he should approach a reliable competent scholar to answer these thoughts.
(Sahih Muslim, Hadith: 341 and 343, with the commentary of ‘Allamah Nawawi)
4) One narration also suggests recital of Ayah: 3 from Surah Hadid.
(Sunan Abi Dawud, Hadith: 5069 & Tafsir Ibn Kathir)
And Allah Ta’ala Knows best,
Answered by: Moulana Muhammad Abasoomar
Checked by: Moulana Haroon Abasoomar