What is the ruling on continuing an act of worship—such as prayer, ablution (wudu'), and ritual bathing (ghusl)—if a person afflicted with obsessive-compulsive disorder (waswasa) feels a strong urge to discontinue it during its performance? And what is the correct action for a person with waswasa to take during istinja' (cleaning oneself after defecation/urination) if they doubt that impurities have splashed or transferred to a clean area?

What the questioner mentioned stems from a type of waswas (whispering of Satan/obsessive thoughts), and the religion of Allah is ease, with no hardship in it. The treatment for waswas involves three matters: continuously remembering Allah the Almighty (dhikr), seeking refuge in Him and asking Him for healing and well-being, and completely disregarding what the waswas calls for. One must not pay attention to doubts and delusions regarding purity, for the default state is purity, and attaining cleanliness is achieved by washing the private parts. The intention to break wudu (ablution) or prayer does not harm; rather, one must ignore this thought and continue with the act of worship, because it is not affected by waswas. Allah does not burden a soul beyond its capacity. Acting upon this advice and disregarding the waswas will remove it, Allah willing.