Protecting Your Faith

Faith is not a fixed, static state — it is alive and breathing. It increases through obedience, remembrance, and knowledge, and it decreases through heedlessness and sin. This is not a weakness of faith but its very nature, as described by the Prophet ﷺ: 'Faith increases and decreases.'

Among the most challenging experiences for a believer is waswas — disturbing thoughts or troubling questions about Allah, religion, or about the soundness of one's own faith. The good news is that these whispers are not a sign of disbelief or weak faith — they are, in most cases, a sign that faith exists. Shaytan whispers to the believer because he wants to destabilise their faith. He has no need to whisper to someone who has no faith.

It is authentically reported that the Companions (may Allah be pleased with them) came to the Prophet ﷺ complaining of such whispers. He replied: 'That is pure faith' — meaning your very existence and resistance to such thoughts is itself clear evidence of your faith.

The Prophetic remedy for waswas in the hadith of al-Bukhari: 'Shaytan comes to one of you and says: who created this, until he says: who created your Lord? When that happens, let him seek refuge in Allah and stop.' — meaning: do not engage with these thoughts, do not analyse them, but say A'udhu billahi min al-shaytan il-rajim and turn away from them.

As for the two testimonies of faith, they are the great anchor. When you feel doubt or distress, return to the shahada: I bear witness that there is no god but Allah and Muhammad is the Messenger of Allah. This sincere declaration is the lifeline between you and your Lord in the hardest moments.

It is worth noting the difference between ordinary passing waswas and what is known as religious OCD (scrupulosity), which requires professional support. Religious OCD causes a person to repeat purification or prayer excessively out of fear that they have not done it properly — this condition needs both spiritual and psychological care.

In summary: faith fluctuates and that is normal. Waswas comes from shaytan, not from you. The solution: seek refuge, turn away, do not engage. And the shahada is your beacon when the fog descends.