Answer
Short Answer: Well, you need to know that you are in the middle of a battle between you and Satan. So, whenever you start thinking of these thoughts, you can say: a`udhu billahi min Ash-Shaytan ir-rajeem (I seek refuge in Allah from the accursed Satan).
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Asalamu Alaikum Mohammed,
Thank you so much for your contacting Ask about Islam.
In fact, I was extremely happy when I read your question. I noticed your sincerity and faith.
I noticed your grief while talking about the bad thoughts that usually come to you, and I see the strength that you have to prevent them, yet they still come again and again.
Well, you need to know that you are in the middle of a battle between you and Satan. So, whenever you start thinking of these thoughts, you can say: a`udhu billahi min Ash-Shaytan ir-rajeem (I seek refuge in Allah from the accursed Satan).
And tell yourself that you are much more stronger than Satan is because of your faith in Allah Almighty. Below please find a fatwa that will answer your question regarding the bad thoughts.
Dr. Abdul-Fattah Ashoor, Professor of the Exegesis of the Quran at Al-Azhar University, states:
Contemplating the reaction of the Prophet’s Companions (may Allah be pleased with them all) when the verse
{Whether you show what is in your minds or conceal it} (Al-Baqarah 2:284)
was revealed, we will realize how merciful Allah Almighty is to His servants.
According to Imam Ahmad, Abu Hurayrah (may Allah be pleased with him) said that when that verse was revealed, the Prophet’s Companions (may Allah be pleased with them all) got extremely sad and fearful that they would be accounted by Almighty Allah for everything including their inner thoughts.
They went to the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him), got down on their knees and said:
O Allah’s Messenger! Allah Almighty has so far prescribed for us things that we can bear doing, such as prayer, fasting, jihad (striving for Allah), and zakah (obligatory alms). But with regard to this verse, we would not be able to abide by the teaching it denotes.
The Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) said:
Do you want to follow in the footsteps of the People of the Scriptures before you, when they said (to their Prophets), ‘We hear, but we rebel’? You should, rather, say, ‘We hear, and we obey. (Grant us) Thy forgiveness, our Lord. Unto Thee is the journeying.’
Upon that, the Companions submitted humbly to what Allah ordains in that verse. Following this, Allah Almighty revealed:
{The Messenger believes in what has been revealed to him from his Lord, and (so do) the believers; they all believe in Allah and His angels and His books and His messengers; We make no difference between any of His messengers; and they say: We hear and obey, our Lord! Thy forgiveness (do we crave), and to Thee is the eventual course.} (Al-Baqarah 2:285)
Then, Allah Almighty revealed:
{Allah does not impose upon any soul a duty but to the extent of its ability; for it is (the benefit of) what it has earned and upon it (the evil of) what it has wrought: Our Lord! do not punish us if we forget or make a mistake; Our Lord! do not lay on us a burden as You did lay on those before us, Our Lord do not impose upon us that which we have not the strength to bear; and pardon us and grant us protection and have mercy on us, You are our Patron, so help us against the unbelieving people.} (Al-Baqarah 2:286)
According to the two authentic books of Al-Bukhari and Muslim, Abu Hurayrah (may Allah be pleased with him) reported Allah’s Messenger (peace and blessings be upon him) said:
Allah Almighty says (in a qudsi [Divine] hadith), ‘Whenever My servant intends to do a bad deed then (O Angels) do not write it unless he does it; if he does it, then write it as one bad deed. (On the other hand) if he intends to do a good deed but does not do it, then write it as a good deed (in his account), and if he does it, then write it for him (in his account) as ten good deeds.’
It is also reported by Muslim on the authority of Abu Hurayrah that Allah’s Messenger (peace and blessings be upon him) said:
Allah Almighty says (in a qudsi hadith), ‘Whenever My bondsman intends to do good but does not do it, it is written as one good act for him; but if he puts it into practice, it is written from ten to seven hundred good deeds in favor of him. When he intends to commit a bad deed but does not actually do it, it is not recorded against him. But if he does it, it is written as only one bad deed.’
There are many hadiths reported in that regard.
This indicates that Allah Almighty revealed the verse in question as a trial to test the faith and submission of the Prophet’s Companions (may Allah be pleased with them all), and they proved to be up to Almighty Allah’s trust in them.
Hence, He Almighty, out of His Graciousness and Mercy, alleviated their worry and decreed that they would not be accountable for what they harbored in their hearts.
Thank you for your question and please keep in touch.
Walaikum Asalam.
(From Ask About Islam archives)
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