Waswas is the whispers that come from the shaytaan. The person has speculation, suffers from suspicion, the person has doubt and has all kinds of issues. We deal with this all the time with people from our community. 

Everybody has waswas but the one who has some level of normality, he can bring his waswas in control. He remembers what the Prophet (SAW) says:

“Beware of suspicion, for suspicion is the most false of tales.” (Ṣaḥīḥ al-Bukhārī 6066, Ṣaḥīḥ Muslim 2563)

Waswas is in the head and in the heart, so you can’t say ‘just get over it’ or ‘come on it’s just shaytaan’ – that is not okay! You can’t say that to these people because they are not processing things and thinking and analysing normally, they have an issue. Worse than that is the isolation, they come to our community and it’s an ayb (shame) to have any mental disorder although the vast majority of people in a Masjid will have some sort of mental issue, from severe to mild.  All of our community have to support these people. Don’t laugh at them, don’t ridicule them, and don’t make them isolated. We have to say in our community that we are here to help you.

For the people who have waswas, there are a number of things that you have to try to do. If you are not doing these things, then you are blame worthy. From those things that we can do, and you can do is what the Prophet (SAW) mentions:

“When one of you sees something else he dislikes, it is from Satan so let him seek refuge from its evil and not mention it to anyone. It will not harm him.” (Sahih al Bukhari 6584)

If you have waswas don’t talk about it to the best of your ability. Instead make dhikr, if you remember Allah when you are touched by a devil you can see a right. Waswas brings sadness as a result of our bad experiences in the past. Things that could happen in the future (insha’Allah) can also cause us anxiety and depression.

Our Rasool (SAW) taught us certain duas that are divine protection against waswas. Anyone who is afflicted with anxiety or depression, and they make this dua it will go away. This dua will teach you don’t feel sorry for yourself because of your waswas, as Allah is just in what he has decreed on you. Your forehead is in Allah’s hands.

All shaytaan can do is make whispers, so if you close a door, he can’t open it. He is weak. His strength and power and ability goes over those people who take him as a friend. You take him as a friend if you do not pray.

As it relates to the issue of mental health, you have to learn clinically and technically how to deal with the people. A lot of the time we don’t have the professional ability to deal with these things as they require someone who knows the deen and the importance of being patient and easy.  We want everyone in this Masjid and other masjids to know that we are trying to address and take care of the needs of the Ummah to the best of our ability. That means, if you fall anywhere in the scale of these mental disorders or waswas our Imams are here for advice and our community is here to raise awareness.