Question
Salaam,
I’ve been having these really disturbing thoughts relating to the Quran. Like in my head I’ll be thinking about normal day to day things and suddenly I’ll see the Quran on the floor or places it’s not meant to be. I feel so helpless and weak as I try to stop these thoughts. Days go by where I cry myself to sleep because I want these thoughts to go away. It truly scares me. I want to know if I’m getting gunah and how can I get rid of this horrible sight. I wouldn’t ever imagine anything like this and it’s causing so much pain and suffering towards myself. If there is any dua I can read or any advice you could give me.
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Response
As-Salaamun ‘Alaikum – peace be with you,
Thank you for reaching out to us, we know that it isn’t easy and we appreciate the confidence you have placed in us. May you be rewarded, Ameen.
The Quran is the Word of Allah (SWT) and while we definitely have it in hard-bound copies, it’s true place is in the believer’s heart. The real seat of the respect and love is within our very beings and it is what allows us to use the Qur’an’s guidance and attributes to purify our souls. So these intrusive thoughts and visions do not represent your attitude towards the Quran, but your very faith is representative of it.
Sin is earned for immoral or unethical actions that are wilful and intentional acts of disobedience. In this instance, you are not committing such an act of disobedience, and this should be a source of solace for you.
“And if an evil whisper comes to you from Shaitan, then seek refuge with Allah. Verily, He is the All-Hearer, All-Knower.” [Qur’an 7:200]
Trying to suppress or ‘get rid’ of intrusive thoughts can be counter-productive. Suppression of thoughts can sometimes lead us to perform actions that we are seeking to avoid. When experiencing these thoughts, try to listen to the recitations of the Qu’ran with it’s meaning to find some peace. Then take some time to reflect on the your thoughts and address them with sound rational and logic until you feel they are ready to pass on.
We recommend reciting Surah al-Falaq and Nas, especially in the sunnah prayer of Fajr/Maghrib, alongside Ayat ul Kursi, al-Ikhlas and al-Kafirun before going to sleep.
“Verily, with every difficulty, there is relief, verily, with every difficulty there is relief” [Qur’an 94: 5-6
Allah (SWT) is Ar-Rahman (the Most Merciful), Al-Aleem (the All-Knowing). He is fully aware of the state of your heart, He knows the distress that these thoughts are causing your soul. He has created Shifa (healing) for every pain, every ailment, and our advice to you would be to try to seek that out. Through Inspirited Minds team of qualified counsellors and support workers or with the help of any professional counsellor you are comfortable with, you can tackle these compulsive thoughts and the anxiety and fear that they are causing.
Meanwhile, try to form a habit of sincerely reciting duas (supplications) as an invocation to our Lord and keeping the meaning in mind, for He has promised to respond. Once such dua is:
اللَّهُمَّ إِنِّي أَعُوذُ بِكَ مِنَ الْبَرَصِ، وَالْجُنُونِ، وَالْجُذَامِ، وَمِنْ سَيِّئِ الأَسْقَامِ
“O Allah, I seek refuge in You from leprosy, insanity, elephantiasis, and the worst of diseases.” [Abu Dawud]
These are just some humble suggestions. We sincerely hope and pray that one or more of them will be suitable to your circumstances and help create ease for you, In Shaa Allah (if Allah wills). If you would like to discuss anything else on your mind, we also offer more personalised counselling here at Inspirited Minds.
Please don’t hesitate to contact us if you need any further support.
Allah knows best and we hope this helps In Shaa Allah (if Allah wills).
Du’aa (supplication) always,
IM Support Team
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