ABSTRACT
Waswâs al-Qahri is a unique disorder from other types of obsessive-compulsive disorder. In its severe forms conditions may include disturbing/blasphemous thoughts; purity/contamination related phobias; extreme guilt and uncertainty about your inner spiritual state; extreme doubts about purity or state of faith; sexual disorientation; and obscene sexual thoughts about sacred relations and personalities. The belief regarding the causation of Waswâs al-Qahri is from the Shaytan who is bringing these thoughts to the minds of the individual. At the initial stage, the strategy is to ignore them completely, no matter how frequently they may come to mind. When these whispers are ignored, they do not become established or the individual does not fall into some form of ‘conditioning.’ In general, the advice for those suffering from Waswâs al-Qahri, should be to seek refuge with Allah and turn away from the Waswâs. However, in a chronic condition, this complex psycho-spiritual disorder requires spiritual interventions and sometimes a combination of spiritual and Islamic-based CBT. The spiritual interventions with Waswâs al-Qahri are based on the teaching of the Qur’an and Sunnah. It could in the form of self-treatment or treatment by a therapist or an Imam. The spiritual interventions range from seeking refuge in Allah, supplications, Dhikr and Ruqya. However, the best treatment of all the forms of Waswâs al-Qahri is prevention. This chapter examines the different spiritual interventions that can be used to help prevent or reduce Waswâs al-Qahri.
