What is the ruling on the impurity-related obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) concerning cats and household possessions, and how can this OCD be dealt with, knowing that it has led to abandoning prayer?
Source: FtawySummary from Ftawy's records · added here Sep 2, 2026
Watching the cat and washing its paws from impurity is an uncommanded burden and indicates the persistence of scrupulosity () regarding impurity. One must turn away from these whisperings and rid oneself of them, as exaggeration in them leads to great evil, such as abandoning prayer and feeling that everything in the house is impure. Seeing impurity in one part of the house does not necessitate the impurity of the rest, for the default state of things is purity, and a ruling of impurity is only made with certainty. Fear Allah regarding yourself and turn away from these whisperings and delusions.
Summary from Ftawy's records · added here
Reviewed by El Fatwa's sharia committee.
Read the full answer on Ftawyhttps://ftawy.com/en/questions/135183
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- Ftawy
- Original fatwa ID
- 135183
- Added here
- . This is when the answer was added to El Fatwa, not the fatwa's date.
- Text
- Summary from Ftawy's records, reviewed by El Fatwa's sharia committee.
- Read the full ruling
- Read the full answer on Ftawy