Hypochondria, whisperings of the Devil, and sickness

 

I am 24 years old. and I have been troubled by the whisperings of shaitaan (I think). I sometimes worry about things so much that it causes me to have extreme anxiety where I feel sick to my stomach. [...] I wear hijab, pray, fast, read quran daily, do zikr, avoid haram as best as I can. I read duas to keep shaitaan away but it still happens. then the terrible thought comes into mind of the existence of Allah or if he is even listening to me because I continue to feel like this. [...] what am I lacking in my life to be feeling like this, (trust, love, or fear of Allah?) please help me I feel like this eating me away. Please help from your Knowledge from Allah .

Wa `alaykum as-Salam:

The most beneficial remedy is to ignore those whisperings and not dwell on them, and to counter them by reciting this du`a abundantly:

 Subhan al-Malik al-Khallaq, {in yasha' yudhhibkum   wa-ya'ti bi-khalqin jadid, wa-ma dhalika `ala Allahi   bi`-aziz}.

This means:

Glorified and exalted be the King that creates all at every instant! {If He will he can take you away and bring a new creation instead. That is not difficult for Allah at all.} (see Q 14:19-20; 35:16-17)

These overpowering thoughts are a kind of test for which the believer receives reward as long as he or she observes right and adab with Allah in them [i.e. turns constantly to Allah Most High from them]. Allah Most High gives them power over a servant only so that that servant return to Him broken-hearted and pressed, and He then answers him or her as He said:

{Or, who listens to the (soul) distressed when it calls on Him, and who relieves its suffering, and makes you (mankind) inheritors of the earth? Is there any God beside Allah? Little do you reflect!} (see Q 27:62)

It is possible that these bad thoughts stem from bad habits such as eating dubious food or sharing the company of an evil person. One must also search within oneself and repent from anything they may come up with. If one blames oneself but without pinpointing anything in particular then repent generally speaking of anything you may know or not know.

If one finds no reason outward nor inward then this is a pure test over which one must pluck up sabr and be steadfast until its time passes. Allah will grant reward for this.

Source: Imam al-Habib `Abd Allah al-Haddad - his soul be sanctified - in al-Nafa'is al-`Ulwiyya (p. 88, q. 65).

Was-Salam,
Hajj Gibril