OCD

Obsessive–compulsive disorder (OCD) is a mental disorder in which a person feels the need to perform certain routines repeatedly (called "compulsions"), or has certain thoughts repeatedly (called "obsessions"). The person is unable to control either the thoughts or activities for more than a short period of time. Common compulsions include hand washing, counting of things, and checking to see if a door is locked.

201044

OCD . Wudu (Ablution)

As a concerned mother of a 12-year-old facing anxiety and religious OCD, I am wondering if my daughter had the right Niyyah but made mistakes in Wudu without realizing it, are her past Wudu and prayers valid? Should we encourage her to ignore her doubts?

Zaid Alsalami, Shaykh Dr Zaid Alsalami is an Iraqi born scholar, raised in Australia. He obtained a BA from Al-Mustafa University, Qom, and an MA from the Islamic College in London. He also obtained a PhD from... Answered 6 meses ago

Bismihi ta'āla

Indeed, you must be concerned, and if not stopped, it will consume her, and make her life miserable, and everyone around her as well.

She must only follow her shar'i takleef. Nothing more, nothing less. Her duty is to constantly dismiss her doubts, and consider whatever she does as correct, even if other thoughts enter her mind, and even if she continues to think she did it wrong. She ignores it.

Once she does this for a while, it will, in shaa Allah, break the cycle of her intrusive thoughts.

And Allah knows best.

199148

God (Allah) . Ahl al-Bayt . OCD

If I keep getting blasphemous thoughts about Allah and the Masoomeen (as), especially Syeda Fatima (s.a), and sometimes even intentionally think or about to say them but stop myself out loud, does that make me a non-believer?

Sayyed Mohammad Al-Musawi, Sayyed Mohammad al-Musawi is originally from Iraq and heads up the World Ahlul Bayt Islamic League in London. Other than being involved in various humanitarian projects, he frequently responds to... Answered 7 meses ago

Bad thoughts are from Shaitan. You try to avoid them as much as you can by seeking refuge of Allah أعوذ بالله من الشيطان الرجيم.

It is also helpful to recite لا إله إلا الله

أستغفر الله

اللهم صل على محمد وآل محمد

Wassalam.

150525

OCD . Fear . Food

I have struggled with OCD for 12 years and have been on medication, but it is worsening. I am concerned about possibly transferring tiny traces of waste into my kitchen, the food I prepare, and even into my mouth. What steps can I take to address this?

Such repeated doubts are from your worse enemy Shaitan and must tackle it to get rid of it. You should ignore these thoughts and doubts till you don't get it. If you care for it, it will continue coming to you and might also increase and make your life more difficult, but when you ignore it and keep on ignoring it whenever it comes, it will not come to your mind frequently.

Wassalam.

190478

House . Food . OCD . Salah (Prayers) . Non-Muslims

How can I manage my prayers when non-Ahlul Kitab maids work in my house, making it difficult to maintain purity due to their tasks with dishes, cleaning, and food? My mother is unwilling to replace them, and this situation worsens my OCD.

If you are sure that an item is Najis, you must avoid using it in your Prayers. If you are not sure that it is Najis, you can consider it as Taahir unless you want to practice Ehtiyaat (precaution).

Wassalam.

186450

OCD . Najis . Clothing . Anxiety

How can I remedy my OCD-related anxiety about cleanliness, as I am worried that my sister didn't wash my Najis clothes properly, potentially contaminating everything in our house?

Bismihi ta'ala

This is a frequent question, and I would recommend you refer back to the many answers we have given here on this platform.

This clip could alos be useful for you, in shaa Allah:

185455

OCD . Ghusl . Adhan . Salah (Prayers) . Wudu (Ablution)

How can I overcome my struggles with OCD regarding my intention for prayer, ablution, and ritual bath? It takes me a long time to perform these acts due to excessive thinking and delay in making the intention.

Bismihi ta'ala

Please read our previous answers to similar questions, and this clip as well would be in shaa Allah useful as well:

178310

OCD . Waswasa . Du'a (Supplication)

How can I overcome the struggle of Waswas and OCD while making Dua, as I sometimes unintentionally say things I don't want to happen or add "Insha Allah" to something undesired?

First step in tackling Waswas and OCD is to know its origin which is Shaitan who wants to harm us in every way. We need to be aware and very careful against Shaitan and Satanic thiuts. We need to repeat Isteghfaar and Salawaat and La Hawla Wala Qowwata Illa Billah. Repeating Laa Ilaha Illallah is also very useful in tackling Satanic thoughts.

Wassalam.

141794

Depression . OCD

My depression and OCD are affecting me negatively. My OCD is quite bad when it comes to religion. My depression bothers me to the point where I am too depressed to function though I try to pray on time and read the Quran. What can I do?

You need to consult your doctor and take your medicines as advised by him.

‘You need to repeatedly remember Allah and take His name and seek His help.

‘Reciting Quran and Du’a and Azaan أذان and Salawaat is very useful.

‘Wassalam.

111391

Hell . Waswasa . OCD

Every once in a while I get these terrifying thoughts that despite all my good intentions and efforts to obtain paradise, I could still be sentenced to hell and that I am a terrible person no matter what. What should I do?

Terrifying thoughts are from Satan to disturb the believer and they do not lead to hell unless you believe in them. When you call such thoughts as terrifying, it means that you are terrified by them and never pleased or accepting them.

'Keep on repeating Estighfaar, Salawaat and LA HAWLA WALA QOWWATA ILLA BILLAH.

Wasalam.

103508

Waswasa . OCD . Shirk . Ramadan . Sawm (Fasting)

I have been dealing with Waswasa and OCD for a while now. I get Shirk thoughts even during Ramadan though I don’t believe in them nor act on them. Do my fasts become invalid? And is there some cure for this condition?

Your fast is valid. Bad thoughts which annoy you will not harm your faith nor your worshipping Allah.

Repeating Isteghfaar and repeating Salawaat and repeating La Hawla wala Qowwata ILLA Billah and reciting Sura Tawheed is very useful always especially in driving away satanic thoughts.

Wassalam.

102714

Du'a (Supplication) . OCD

Are there any Duas for help with Obsessive Compulsive Disorder?

Bismhi ta'ala

The issue of over-analysing a specific scenario, or becoming scrupulous in matters of religion is not something new, and does unfortunately affect some people.

If it is not tended to in its early stages, then it can only be cured by psychological help or medical treatment.

If it is issues related to taharah/najasah, then you need to re-program yourself and corretly learn the ahkam, emphasising on the pleasure and spiritual benefit of 'ibadah, and not that it should be straining or negative.

I would recommend watching this short presentation I gave a few years ago:

You can recite this dua:

أعوذ بالله القوي، من الشيطان الغوي، وأعوذ بمحمد الرضي من شر ما قدر وقضي، وأعوذ برب الناس من شر الجنة والناس أجمعين، وسلم، تكف مؤونة إبليس والشياطين معه ولو أنهم كلهم أبالسة مثله

Also, it is recommended to eat pomegranate, as hadiths say it removes waswasah, piece by piece, and in the morning before breakfast.

With prayers for your success.

50426

Religious Tolerance . Worship . OCD

How can I overcome extreme 'religious' OCD so that I can enjoy my worship with ease?

Bismihi ta'ala

Just because you might have some doubts, or even excessive doubts about certain things, it does not mean you have "OCD". We must remember that such problems must be diagnosed by a psychologist or a professional in that field.

Scrupulosity starts off very innocently, due to one's concern about getting their religious acts right and valid. However, it turns in a very bad state that make one very miserable in the areas they suffer in.

Instead of feeling a sense of spiritual uplifting or inner-peace, waswasah becomes a burden and leads to hating religious practices.

Please watch this presentation:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Pz2HGVepaC8&feature=youtu.be

Wassalam