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Managing disturbing thoughts and flashbacks from depression and stress?

Answered as per Hanafi Fiqh by Muftisays.com
Please could you advice me. i am trying to rebuild my life after an episode of
chronic depression and mental stress. I have been in a very bad state over the
last few weeks suffering from anxiety and sleeplessness. This was caused by
thoughts that were very disturbing. I am slowly recovering now Alhanmdulillah
> I am ignoring such thoughts even when they come whilst I am praying Salaat,
Quraan e.t.c. However, I am frequently haunted by flashbacks of scenarios and
incidents that occurred whilst I was very low. Please understand that I was in
a condition of mental distress so this would cause me not to think or concentrate properly.
At times I try to say the kalimah, do zikr but at the same time my mind says shirk.
Sometimes the thoughts just come naturally as if I am saying them. Sometimes I don’t even know have I uttered shirk or not. Wallahi I am certain if I did then I didn’t mean it because I have felt very guilty afterwards. I am very paranoid.
One such incident was when reciting Quran when I read
the word ‘rabbanaa’ the image of someone else came to mind okay this was just a
thought but then i carried on praying and when the word rabbanaa came agin I
thought of that person , Now I am confused on purpose did I bring that thought
into my mind or not? I do remember that a few seconds later I felt really
guilty and said to myself how can you do that only Allah is rabb that person is
not your rabb. I do
know that I have felt guilt afterwards. Only a believer feels this guilt isn’t
it not a kaafir or mushrik.. Episodes such as these just drag me back to square
one again and hamper my rehabilitation. Allah is merciful he will pardon me won’t he as it is definitely a mental imbalance I am experiencing. Does my condition still fall into the category of waswasas? I don’t need to re new my nikah do I? As it is impossible to keep renewing the nikah each time it happens.

Answer
Bismillah

Al-jawab billahi at-taufeeq (the answer with Allah’s guidance)

If you have not intended Kufr due to error and the thoughts that you have of Kufr does not reach to determination (Azm), then you are still a Muslim and no need to renew Nikah.

Prophet (Sallallahu Alaihi Wasallam) said,”Indeed Allah forgives all that they thought in their hearts as long as they do not utter it or act upon it.” (Muslim)

As you are experiencing Waswasa, you should ignore it and do not bother.

How to remove such thoughts:

Read the following Du’a from Quran (23:97-98):

رَّبِّ أَعُوذُ بِكَ مِنْ هَمَزَاتِ الشَّيَاطِينِ
وَأَعُوذُ بِكَ رَبِّ أَن يَحْضُرُونِ

Trans: And say: ‘O my Lord, I seek refuge in You from evil suggestions of the satans. O my Lord, I seek refuge in You lest they attend me.’

This Du’a should be recited excesively.

In addition you may do the following actions:

Make a routine of reciting the Quran like morning and evening etc.

“We sent down in the Quran that which is a healing and a mercy to those who believe.” (17:82)

Recite Zikr abundantly.

“O you who believe! Remember Allah with much remembrance”. (Ahzab:41)

Recite La Ilaha IllAllahu Muhammadur Rasulullah frequently.

Recite Surah Fatiha and Ayatul Kursi (2:255).

Recite the last verse of Surah Baqarah (2:285,286).

Recite Surah Yaseen in the morning.

Recite Muawwazatain (Surah Naas and Falaq) and Surah Ikhlas and blow over yourself from your nape to feet 3 times, after every Fardh Salah and before you retire to bed.

And Only Allah Ta’ala Knows Best.

————————————–
Moulana Qamruz Zaman
London, UK

Original Source Link

This answer was collected from MuftiSays.com, based in London (UK). It is one of the fruits of Darul Uloom London. Many ‘ulama are involved in answering the Q&A on the site, including: Shaikul Hadeeth Mufti Umar Farooq Sahib, Mufti Saifur Rahman Sahib, Mufti Abdullah Patel Sahib, Maulana Qamruz Zaman Sahib, Mufti Abu Bakr Karolia Sahib.

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