About Imaan

Answer

In the Name of Allah, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful.

We appreciate your concern and understand the distress caused by these intrusive thoughts (waswasa). Below is a detailed response based on the Qur’an, authentic Hadith, and the Hanafi school of thought, using the requested references.

1. The Principle: Unintentional Utterances Do Not Affect Iman

Islamic jurisprudence firmly establishes that actions and words are judged by intentions (nīyah). If a word that appears to be disbelief (kufr) or mockery is uttered unintentionally, under compulsion, or due to forgetfulness, it does not remove one from the fold of Islam.

Evidence:

• Qur’an:
  “Allah does not impose blame upon you for what is meaningless in your oaths, but He imposes blame upon you for what you have intended in your hearts…”
  (Sūrat al-Baqarah 2:225) – This principle is generalized to all utterances.

• Hadith:
  The Prophet ﷺ said:
  “Allah has pardoned my ummah for what they think to themselves, as long as they do not speak it or act upon it.”
  (Ṣaḥīḥ al-Bukhārī, 6664; Ṣaḥīḥ Muslim, 127) – This clearly shows that mere thoughts or accidental words that escape without intention are forgiven.

• Hanafi Juristic Rule:
  In al-Ashbāh wa al-Naẓā’ir by Ibn Nujaym (a major Hanafi text), it is stated:

  “Words that imply disbelief (kufr) due to compulsion, forgetfulness, or lack of intention are not considered kufr.”
  (al-Ashbāh wa al-Naẓā’ir, p. 89)

• Radd al-Muhtār (Ibn ‘Ābidīn):
  In the chapter on apostasy (Riddah), it is explicitly stated:

  “If a person utters a word of kufr without intent, by mistake, or out of anger that overcomes him, then he does not become an apostate.”
  (Radd al-Muhtār, 4/224, Dār al-Ma‘rifah)

Therefore, saying a word like “না” (no) during the adhān or after tasbīḥ, without any intention of rejecting or mocking the words of Allah, does not harm your īmān.

2. Specific Scenarios Described

a. Saying “না” during the Adhān

The person’s mind feared that uttering “না” at that moment indicated rejection of the adhān’s words. However, the ruling depends on the actual intention (nīyah) in the heart.

• If the person did not intend to reject the adhān but the word came out accidentally (e.g., as a response to an unrelated thought), īmān remains intact.
• If, at the exact moment of utterance, the person realized what was happening and became worried, that worry itself is proof of īmān. A disbeliever would not care.

Fatwā reference:
Mufti Muhammad Shafi‘ (رحمه الله) in Imdād al-Fatāwā (1/321) states:

“If someone inadvertently utters a word that resembles kufr, and his heart is firm in īmān and he is distressed, then that utterance does not remove him from Islam.”

b. Saying “না” after reciting Tasbīḥ (Subḥānallāh, etc.)

The same principle applies. The accidental utterance of “না” is not a statement of rejection. It is simply an unrelated word that escaped the tongue. The key is the heart’s state.

Allāh knows our innermost thoughts. The Prophet ﷺ said:

“Whoever says Lā ilāha illallāh sincerely from his heart will enter Paradise.”
(Ṣaḥīḥ al-Bukhārī, 7570) – Sincerity is in the heart, not in the absence of accidental slips.

3. The Problem of Waswasa (Whisperings from Shayṭān)

You mentioned that you often have many thoughts and struggle with dhikr. This is a clear sign of waswasa, which the Shayṭān uses to disturb a believer’s peace, especially about īmān and acts of worship.

Guidance from the Qur’an:
Allāh says:

“If a whisper from Shayṭān provokes you, then seek refuge in Allah; indeed, He is the All-Hearing, the All-Knowing.”
(Sūrat al-A‘rāf 7:200)

Hadith on Waswasa:
The Prophet ﷷ said: “The Shayṭān comes to one of you and says, ‘Who created this? Who created that?’ until he says, ‘Who created your Lord?’ So if such a thought comes to you, then seek refuge in Allah and stop (thinking).”
(Ṣaḥīḥ al-Bukhārī, 3276)

Hanafi Scholars’ Advice:

• Ashraf ‘Ali al-Thānawī (رحمه الله) in Bahishtī Zewar (Part 2, Chapter on Waswasa) advises:

  “Do not pay any attention to these whisperings. They are from Shayṭān. The more you ponder them, the stronger they become. Simply ignore them and continue your dhikr and worship.”

• Mufti Taqī ‘Uthmānī (حفظه الله) in Fatāwā ‘Uthmānī (1/142) writes:

  “Whisperings about īmān, disbelief, or impurity are not harmful as long as the person does not willingly accept them in his heart. The cure is to ignore them completely and engage in dhikr.”

Practical Steps:

1. Say A‘ūdhubillāh min al-Shayṭān al-rajīm whenever such thoughts come.
2. Do not repeat or analyze the thought. Treat it as meaningless noise.
3. Continue your ‘ibādah – including adhān as a listener and tasbīḥ – without hesitation. The Prophet ﷺ said: “If you feel any whisper from Shayṭān during prayer, say A‘ūdhubillāh and spit to your left three times, and it will go away.” (Ṣaḥīḥ Muslim, 2203)
4. Seek refuge in Allāh from these whisperings, and recite Sūrat al-Nās daily.

4. Reassurance: Your Īmān is Firm, In shā’ Allāh

The fact that you are worried about your īmān is itself a sign of īmān. The Companions once complained to the Prophet ﷺ about similar whisperings. He said: “That is clear faith (al-īmān).” (Ṣaḥīḥ Muslim, 132) – This means the very distress proves the existence of sincere faith, for only a believer would be troubled by such thoughts.

Remember:

• Īmān is belief in the heart, affirmation by the tongue, and action by the limbs.
• A slip of the tongue without intension has no effect on one’s Islamic identity.
• Continue your dhikr (e.g., Subḥānallāh, Alḥamdulillāh, Lā ilāha illallāh, Allāhu Akbar) without fear. Every good deed increases your īmān and drives away Shayṭān.

5. Summary of the Ruling

| Scenario | Ruling | |----------|--------| | Accidentally saying “না” during adhān | Īmān remains intact. No sin. | | Accidentally saying “না” after tasbīḥ | Īmān remains intact. No sin. | | Feeling distress over these thoughts | This distress is proof of īmān. | | Continuously pondering waswasa | Disallowed. Must ignore and seek refuge. |

Final advice: Do not be harsh on yourself. Allāh is Most Merciful and knows your true state. The Prophet ﷺ said:

“Allāh does not burden a soul more than it can bear.” (Sūrat al-Baqarah 2:286)

If the problem persists, consult a knowledgeable scholar or a trusted counselor for du‘ā’ and further guidance.

May Allāh protect you from whispers, strengthen your īmān, and grant you peace in your heart. Āmīn.

References (Hanafi Kitabs Used)

• Radd al-Muhtār ‘alā al-Durr al-Mukhtār – Ibn ‘Ābidīn (4/224)
• Imdād al-Fatāwā – Muftī Muḥammad Shafī‘ (1/321)
• Fatāwā ‘Uthmānī – Muftī Taqī ‘Uthmānī (1/142)
• Bahishtī Zewar – Mawlānā Ashraf ‘Alī al-Thānawī (Part 2)
• Al-Ashbāh wa al-Naẓā’ir – Ibn Nujaym (p. 89)

And Allāh knows best.