Question:

Recently, when I’m praying, I have been going off topic and saying bad things in my head that I don’t mean at all. I try to focus but it’s still getting worse. I start saying bad things in my head while I’m talking to people too. I really try not to and recently I learned about the evils of Jinn and sometimes I even say bad things in my head, like I hope they come to someone, but I don’t know why I say what I’m saying. I feel really ashamed of myself and I really just want it to stop, but I don’t know how?

Answer:

The best way to prevent and stop evil thoughts and evil deeds is to seek refuge with Allah (SWT) from the cast Satan. Whenever you find an evil thought coming to you, or are tempted to perform an evil action, recite the Qur’anic phrase: أعوذ بالله من شيطان الرجيم ‘I seek refuge with Allah from the Cast Satan’.

If you are conscious that these evil thoughts are coming from Satan, and you make it a habit to seek refuge with God from Satan, he will eventually be defeated and will no longer bother you with such thoughts. The best treatment for evil thoughts, especially during prayer, is to just ignore it and instead concentrate on the meaning of your prayer.

Imam al-Sadiq (a.s.) said: ‘…The Evil One wants to be obeyed, and when he is disobeyed he will not return to any of you” (narrated in Forty Hadith, chapter on Waswas).

Answered by: Dr Ali Alsamail
Certified by: Sheikh Mansour Leghaei