format_quote Originally Posted by
IbnAbdulHakim
but my question meant what do you do AT THE EXACT INSTANCE you feel the fitnah/'waswas/temptation arising inside like a raging bull about to rob you of your control?
I am not a Muslim, so please bear that in mind when you read my answer.
I think the hardest thing is to recognise the temptation
at the time when you are experiencing it! (Very often it is with hindsight -
after the event - that we realise it ...)
If you know when you are being tempted, then you could use a verse from the Qu'ran or something else, which might be helpful to you, to repeat in your head. Anything to drown out the feeling you are trying to ignore.
I read a story recently, in which a man was trying to find his little daughter in a raging river. When he was asked afterwards how he had managed to deal with the doubts, feelings of hopelessness and negative thoughts, which flooded his mind, he simply said
"Whenever a negative thought came into my head, I forced myself to think of something else".
I find that so powerful!!
The key is not to let negative thoughts/temptation/doubt get hold of your thinking.
We all have those moments - but what's important is to get rid of them before they take control.
It takes practice ... so keep practising. :)
Take some time to reflect at the end of the day: when have you done well? Why did it go well? What did you do differently?
When have you not done so well? What could you have done better?
Keep the faith! And never give up. :)