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Practical Laws of Islam

  • Rules of Taqlīd
  • Rules on Purity
    • Rules Concerning the Different Types of Water
    • Rules of the Lavatory
    • Rules of Wuḍū’
    • The Rules for Touching the Names of Allah, the Glorious, and the Verses of the Qur’an
    • Rules of the Ghusl of Janābah
    • Rules of an Invalid Ghusl
    • Rules of Tayammum
    • Rules Pertaining to Women
    • Rules of the Dead
    • Rules of Najis Substances
    • Ruling of Intoxicants
    • Obsession and Its Treatment
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      Obsession and Its Treatment
       
      Q 310: It is several years that I am suffering from the problem of obsessive doubting, and it has really been tormenting me. Day by day this state is becoming more severe and has reached such a point that my whole life is affected with doubt, mostly in relation to food and wet things. As a result, I am unable to behave like ordinary people. When I enter a place I remove my socks immediately because I think that they have become wet by sweat and will become najis on coming into contact with a najāsah. I am even unable to sit on the prayer mat, and when I do sit, I stand up immediately lest the minute fibers of the prayers mat should stick to my clothes compelling me to clean them with water. Earlier I was not like this, and now I feel embarrassed by my conduct and always long to see someone in my dream to put my questions to him or hope for a miracle to change my life and take me back to my previous state. Please enlighten me.
      A: The rules of purity and najāsah are the same as those which have been explained in detail in the books on the practical laws of Islam. In shar‘, all things are considered pure unless it has been pronounced as najis by the Legislator, and one is certain of it being najis. Thus, getting rid of obsession in this situation does not require dreams or miracles; rather it is the duty of the mukallaf to set aside his personal inclination and observe, and bind himself to, the teachings of the sacred laws of Islam and have faith in it and he should not consider the thing whose state of najāsah is not confirmed najis. Therefore, how do you know that the door, wall, prayer mat and other things that you use are najis? And what makes you sure that the minute fibers of the prayer mat that you walk or sit on are najis and that their impurities will transfer to your socks, clothes and body? So in this case, it is not permissible for you to pay attention to this obsession. Disregarding obsession with regard to najāsah and practicing indifference and carelessness will, God willing and by Allah’s aid, help you to free yourself from the grip of obsessive doubting.
       
      Q 311: I am a postgraduate woman with several children. I am suffering from a problem concerning purity. In view of the fact that I have been raised within a religious family and want to observe all Islamic regulations and since I have young children, I am always busy with the affairs of urine and excrement. Especially in the toilet, the water drops of the flash-tanks, etc. sprinkles on my leg, face, and even head and every time I face a problem of purifying these body parts a matter that created many difficulties in my life and I cannot stop observing such matters since it is something related to my faith and religion. I consulted a psychologist in the matter, but in vain. In addition, there are some other problems that I suffer from, like the dust of the najis things and being too concerned about purifying the najis hands of the children or to prevent them from touching other things. To purify something najis is a very difficult job for me, while it is easy for me to wash the same vessels and clothes when they are just dirty. Thus, I request your valuable advice to make my life easier.
      A:
      i. As to the subject of purity and najāsah, basically every thing is considered pure in the sacred laws of Islam. Whenever we are not certain that something is najis, it is pure, even if there is a high probability that it is najis.
      ii. Those, who suffer from a severe psychological sensitivity in respect to purity and najāsah matters and, for example, get certain earlier than others that something is najis or later than others that something is pure, are called by fiqhī terminology waswāsī (obsessive). If a waswāsī individual gets certain that something is najis, they are not required to act according to their certainty except when this certainty comes through conventional ways. As for washing a najis object by a waswāsī person, the criterion is the usual people's status and it is not necessary that the waswāsī gets certain that this thing gets pure and the najāsah is removed.
      Those individuals should keep on acting upon this ruling until this psychological problem is completely cured.
      iii. For any object or body part that becomes najis, it is enough to wash it once with tap water after the najāsah has disappeared. It is not necessary to repeat washing or immersing it in water, and if najis object is a piece of cloth or the like, it should be, by caution, pressed or shaken to the usual extent so that the water comes out.
      iv. Since you are very sensitive to najāsah, you should know that najis dust is not najis for you in any way, and it is not necessary to take care of the child's hands, whether they are pure or najis. Likewise, it is not necessary to be careful whether blood has been removed from body. This rule remains applicable to you until this sensitivity is gone.
      V. The religion of Islam has simple and easy rules that are in accordance with human nature, so do not make it a problem for yourself and do not cause harm and suffering to your body and soul. The state of apprehension and anxiety in these cases makes life bitter for you, and God is not pleased with your suffering and those who are related to you. Be grateful for the blessing of easy religion, and gratitude for this blessing is to act according to the teachings of God, the Sublime and Exalted.
      vi. This condition is transient and treatable. After contracting it, many people have been saved by the mentioned method. Trust in God and calm your soul with effort and will. God willing, you will be successful.
       
    • Rules of Non-Muslims
  • Prayer
  • Fasting
  • Khums
  • Jihad
  • Enjoining the Good and Forbidding Evil
  • Ḥarām Gains
  • Chess and Gambling Instruments
  • Music and Ghinā’
  • Dancing
  • Clapping
  • Non-maḥrams’ Pictures and Films
  • Satellite Television Equipment
  • Theatre and Cinema
  • Painting and Sculpture
  • Magic, Conjuring, and Evocation of Spirits and Jinn
  • Hypnosis
  • Lottery
  • Bribery
  • Medical Issues
  • Teaching, Learning and Their Proprieties
  • Copyrights
  • Dealing with non-Muslims
  • Working for Oppressive States
  • Rules on Clothing and Conspicuous ones
  • Treating the West
  • Smoking and Narcotics
  • Shaving the Beard
  • Attending Gatherings of Debauchery
  • Writing Supplications and Istikhārah
  • Religious Events
  • Hoarding and Extravagance
  • Buying and Selling
  • Miscellaneous Issues in Business
  • Rules Concerning Ribā
  • Right of Pre-emption
  • Hiring, Renting, and Lease
  • Surety
  • Pawning and Mortgaging
  • Partnership
  • Presents and Gifts
  • Debt and Loan
  • Ṣulḥ
  • Power of Attorney
  • Mustaḥabb Alms
  • Deposits and Loaned Properties
  • Leaving a Will
  • Usurpation
  • Placement under Guardianship and Signs of Maturity
  • Silent Partnership
  • Banking
  • State Property
  • Endowments
  • Rules Concerning Graveyards
  • Glossary
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