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Is the feeling of guilt and torment associated with losing the sweetness of faith and excessive overthinking and intrusive thoughts?

2 min readAlso available in العربية

The questioner should dispel these intrusive thoughts by consistently reciting the morning and evening remembrances, and by balancing fear and hope through contemplating both the verses of promise and warning. To taste the sweetness of faith, he must be content with Allah as Lord, Islam as a religion, and Muhammad as a Prophet and Messenger. He should draw closer to Allah through acts of obedience, and love Allah, His Messenger, and the people of faith, while disliking the people of disbelief and transgression. The Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, said: "There are three qualities, whoever has them will taste the sweetness of faith: that Allah and His Messenger are dearer to him than anything else; that he loves a person and does not love him except for the sake of Allah; and that he hates to return to disbelief after Allah has saved him from it, just as he hates to be thrown into the Fire." He also said: "He has tasted the sweetness of faith who is content with Allah as Lord, Islam as a religion, and Muhammad as a Prophet and Messenger." In the sacred Hadith (Hadith Qudsi): "My servant continues to draw near to Me with supererogatory acts until I love him. When I love him, I am his hearing with which he hears, his sight with which he sees, his hand with which he strikes, and his foot with which he walks. If he asks Me, I will surely give him, and if he seeks refuge in Me, I will surely grant him refuge." Do not occupy yourself with intrusive thoughts. If you find any of them, seek refuge in Allah from them. If these intrusive thoughts reach the point of casting doubt on creation, then say: "I believe in Allah," and seek refuge in Allah and stop thinking about them. Islam is not a religion of blind imitation; rather, it is based on complete conviction. Reflect upon the Holy Quran, for it is an admonition, a healing, a guidance, and a mercy.

Summarized from the full answer at Ftawy · reviewed Sep 2, 2026

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