Fatwa #468808 January 2021United Kingdom
Waswasa regarding Aqeedah and Nikah
Question
Assalamu Alaykum. I wanted to know if the following has made me leave Islam and if it has broken my Nikah.
Due to waswasa and me listening to songs previously, song lyrics come to my head at times. A few days ago whilst I was doing Ghusl, the following song lyrics came to my head: Star of wonder, star of light, star with royal beauty bright, Westward leading still proceeding, guide us to the perfect light.
This came to me head and I started to repeating/humming it back to myself and when the guide us to the perfect light part came to my head and I said it, I may have said it in the same content and way in how Allah guides us to the straight path and how Allah guides us to the straight path I think I meant that the star can also guide us to the right path eg by saying guide us to the perfect light and therefore I may have associated partners with Allah through His attributes by giving Allah's attribute to His creation.
By Allah I cannot remember exactly what I meant but from what I remember it was the above by meaning that the star can guide us too.
Based on this, if I recite the Shahadah and make sincere Taubah I know that Allah is Most Merciful and Most Forgiving but how do I renew my Nikah again? I have been married for a year now and want to make everything correct in Allah's eyes now. What is the process of renewing a Nikah and does the Father of my wife need to know this as I do not want to tell anyone this out of shame and embarrassment.
Please let me know how to one must renew their Nikah and if the father of the girl/wife needs to know or needs to be present.
This anxiety and fear is not letting me sleep as I feel as though I am now living in Zina and I need clarity so please let me know. BarakAllahu Feek and JazakAllahu Khair
Answer
In the Name of Allah, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful.
As-salāmu 'alaykum wa-rahmatullāhi wa-barakātuh.
We make dua that Allah Taala expel such thoughts from your mind and assist you to overcome this predicament.
The thoughts you are experiencing are Waswasa (whispers) from Shaytan to cause you doubts and dilemma. Such thoughts will not negatively affect one's Aqeedah. The fear of such thoughts manifests one's Imaan and belief in Allah. Even the Sahabah (Radhiyallahu Anhum) had thoughts that instilled fear in them and complain to Rasulullah (Sallallahu Alaihi Wasallam). See the following Hadith:
عَنْ أَبِي هُرَيْرَةَ، قَالَ جَاءَ نَاسٌ مِنْ أَصْحَابِ النَّبِيِّ صلى الله عليه وسلم فَسَأَلُوهُ إِنَّا نَجِدُ فِي أَنْفُسِنَا مَا يَتَعَاظَمُ أَحَدُنَا أَنْ يَتَكَلَّمَ بِهِ، قَالَ: "وَقَدْ وَجَدْتُمُوهُ؟" قَالُوا: نَعَمْ. قَالَ: "ذَاكَ صَرِيحُ الإِيمَانِ."(صحيح مسلم 132)
Translation: Abu Hurairah (Radhiyallahu Anhu) narrates that some companions of Rasulullah (Sallallahu Alaihi Wasallam)came and asked him "Verily we perceive in our minds such things which each one of us considers too severe to express." Rasulullah (Sallallahu Alaihi Wasallam) said: "Do you really perceive it?" They said: "Yes". (Upon this) He (Sallallahu Alaihi Wasallam) remarked: "That is the manifestation of faith".
The course of such thoughts is normal. One should not ponder over such thoughts and dispel the doubts that come with it. Simply, it is the play of Shaytan to cause distress and doubts to a believer.
Accordingly, your Imaan is intact, as well as your Nikah. There is no need to renew your Nikah.
We also advise you to listen to the following discourse delivered by my honorable teacher, Mufti Ebrahim Desai Hafizahullah, about dealing with Waswasa (whispers):
https://daruliftaa.net/wp-content/uploads/2019/05/Before-Zuhr-23.mp3
https://daruliftaa.net/wp-content/uploads/2019/05/After-Zuhr-23.mp3
And Allah Ta'āla Knows Best
Shakib Alam
Student - Darul Iftaa
Pennsylvania, USA
Checked and Approved by,
Mufti Ebrahim Desai.