What should someone do if waswas makes them stop praying?
Source-verified English summary of the Shaykh’s ruling. The original Arabic source has been verified. Independent scholarly review is shown separately when completed; refer to the original Arabic source for the Shaykh’s complete wording.
Review status: Independent scholarly review pending.
Short answer
In summary, Shaykh Ibn ‘Uthaymeen treats severe waswas as a serious trial but still urges the person to seek refuge with Allah, increase remembrance and Qur’an, and force themselves gently but firmly to continue the acts of worship they are able to perform. His advice is not to surrender worship to the whispering.
What does that mean?
Waswas can be severe
The Shaykh acknowledges that some people experience obsessive whispering so intensely that worship becomes extremely difficult.
Do not give the whispering control
He advises seeking refuge with Allah, increasing dhikr and Qur’an, and deliberately continuing obedience despite the initial difficulty.
Try this scenario
A person repeatedly abandons prayer because obsessive thoughts make beginning or completing it feel unbearable.
The Shaykh’s advice is to keep seeking refuge with Allah and deliberately return to the prayer rather than allowing the waswas to dictate the person’s worship.
What can change the answer?
- Is the person capable of understanding and performing the prayer?
- Is there a severe mental-health condition requiring professional care alongside religious guidance?
Quick check
- Does the Shaykh advise surrendering the prayer to waswas?
- NoHe urges the person to resist the whispering and continue acts of obedience.
- Does he recommend seeking refuge with Allah and increasing Qur’an and dhikr?
- YesThese are among the practical steps in his answer.
Why?
The Shaykh connects waswas to the whispering of Shaytan and advises isti‘ādhah, remembrance of Allah, Qur’an and persistence in obedience.
Check you understood
Reveal the answer and explanation
Correct answer: Keep resisting the waswas and continue worship as able
He urges persistence in obedience together with seeking refuge with Allah.
Original source
حكم من ترك الصلاة بسبب الوسوسة
- Shaykh
- Muhammad ibn Salih al-‘Uthaymeen رحمه الله
- Series
- اللقاء الشهري
- Reference
- اللقاء الشهري [41]
- Review status
- Official Arabic source verified; independent scholarly review pending
Source-verified English summary of the Shaykh’s ruling. The original Arabic source has been verified. Independent scholarly review is shown separately when completed; refer to the original Arabic source for the Shaykh’s complete wording.
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