Answered by Shaykh Yūsuf Badāt
Question:
This is a very long question however I’m in a big dilemma here and it’s very embarrassing. I want to be a good slave to Allāh and get the proper advice needed. I have always been practicing and pray etc, however OCD has taken a toll on my life due to my addiction to masturbation. It is the only thing which is killing my faith.
The problem is regards to purity and cleanliness. After I commit this sin, I feel that everything I touch is impure although my hands are washed after this act. The only thing which is impure is probably the door handle even though my hands are usually dried when I touch it as I wipe with tissue. However, in my mind, how it works is that if I touched the door handle, now the whole door and bannisters beside it etc. are all impure so I end up wiping the entire door. I would not have touched the other side of the door but still end up cleaning it also “in case”. Another problem is my bed is next to a heater and walls so sometimes impurities are on the blanket and I think it is on the walls and heaters, even if nothing is visible so I also end up cleaning these things which has made the walls become discouloured and start to peel. I also have a bed which is not wood but these modern type velvet ones. I also clean this which is damaging even though nothing is on it.
I have to use the toilet before ghusl so I will spend over 2 hours cleaning door handles, door, side of the doors, the seat, the lota, light switches even though I washed my hands before I went in because I think I am impure or my clothes are impure so everything in contact with it is impure. I will basically in essence, clean anything that has come into contact with me whether or not sperm is there or not. It causes me so much grief and struggle that I sometimes delay ghusl and cleaning and miss so many ṣalāh and have to make it up.
It even goes as far as, if my feet goes next to the bed when impure, I will clean the bottom of the bed, literally the underneath of the bed. Even if nothing is on my feet or there, which I cannot even see. I even go as far as if my clothing brushed against something I will clean that too. I have literally become miserable, (depressed is a strong word to use but it is close to it) because of the constant battle and struggle. Let alone this, I cannot even explain the amount of time I spend cleaning my hands, ghusl, istinjā etc.
It takes me a week to clean everything including sandals, bathroom, toilet, light switches, room & the amount of water, wipes, towels & dettol spray which goes to waste is absurd. I am wasting my parent’s money and they think I am crazy, they even tell me I am going to go crazy and I feel it. However, I cannot tell them what I do. I literally do not know what to do. It has taken away my happiness and khushū’ in the worship of Allāh.
My question is, what do I clean and not clean? Am I being excessive and only need to clean things which actually have filth on it? I have stopped before but fell on and off. I never commit this sin in Ramaḍān or when my īmān is high. I have been off it for more than a year. What should I do, how do I get out of this cycle? If I need to see OCD specialist, who do you recommend I speak to? An imam or an actual OCD specialist from the NHS etc?
Answer:
بِسْمِ اللهِ الرَّحْمنِ الرَّحِيْم
In the name of Allāh, Most Gracious, Most Merciful.
Jazāk Allāh Khayr/ Thank you for contacting Mathābah Institute.
A few recommendations to your dilemma are as follows: Firstly, you need to stop masturbating. This way you will not fall into this predicament. Secondly, you should know that a mere assumption of impurities being everywhere does not constitute things being impure. Impurities can only be certain if you can clearly smell, feel and or see the impurity with absolute certainty. Thirdly, you should consult your medical doctor to advise you for treatment regarding OCD. Medical treatment to our ailments is encouraged in Islam. – (See: Rad Al- Muḥtār, Vol 6, Page 733[1], Vol 1, Page 188[2], Dār Al-Fikr, Al-Qawāid Al-Fiqhīyyah, Page 15, Dār Al-Tirmidhī[3])
“Success is really attained by the believers … who guard their private parts except from their wives or from those (bondwomen who are) owned by their hands, as they are not to be blamed. However, those who seek [sexual pleasure] beyond that are the transgressors.” – (Qur’ān 23:1-7)[4]
The Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) said, “Allāh has sent down both the illness and the cure, and He has created a cure for every disease, so treat yourselves medically, but use nothing unlawful.” – (Abū Dāwūd 3874)[5]
Only Allāh knows best
[1] إذَا ظَهَرَ فِي الثَّوْبِ الطَّاهِرِ أَثَرُ النَّجَاسَةِ مِنْ لَوْنٍ أَوْ طَعْمٍ أَوْ رِيحٍ فَإِنَّهُ يَتَنَجَّسُ – كتاب الدر المختار وحاشية ابن عابدين رد المحتار ج٦/ ص٧٣٣ دارالفكر
[2] قَوْلُهُ فَلَوْ فِيهِ جِيفَةٌ إلَخْ أَشَارَ إلَى مَا قَدَّمْنَاهُ مِنْ شُمُولِ النَّجَاسَةِ الْمَرْئِيَّةِ وَغَيْرِهَا فَيُعْتَبَرُ ظُهُورُ الْأَثَرِ فِي كُلٍّ مِنْهُمَا – كتاب الدر المختار وحاشية ابن عابدين رد المحتار ج١/ ص١٨٨ دارالفكر
[3] اليقين لا يزول بالشك – القواعد الفقهية ص١٥ دارالترمذي
[4] قَدْ أَفْلَحَ الْمُؤْمِنُونَ الَّذِينَ هُمْ فِي صَلَاتِهِمْ خَاشِعُونَ وَالَّذِينَ هُمْ عَنِ اللَّغْوِ مُعْرِضُونَ وَالَّذِينَ هُمْ لِلزَّكَاةِ فَاعِلُونَ وَالَّذِينَ هُمْ لِفُرُوجِهِمْ حَافِظُونَ إِلَّا عَلَىٰ أَزْوَاجِهِمْ أَوْ مَا مَلَكَتْ أَيْمَانُهُمْ فَإِنَّهُمْ غَيْرُ مَلُومِينَ فَمَنِ ابْتَغَىٰ وَرَاءَ ذَٰلِكَ فَأُولَٰئِكَ هُمُ الْعَادُون – سورة المؤمنون ١-٧
[5] إِنَّ اللَّهَ أَنْزَلَ الدَّاءَ وَالدَّوَاءَ وَجَعَلَ لِكُلِّ دَاءٍ دَوَاءً فَتَدَاوَوْا وَلاَ تَدَاوَوْا بِحَرَامٍ – أبو داؤد ٣٨٧٤
