Clinicians, Imams, and the Whisperings of Satan

Najwa Awad in Yaqeen Institute for Islamic Research

Waswâs al-qahri, which means ‘overwhelming whisperings’ in Arabic, is a complex mental health disorder found in Muslim populations. Waswâs al-qahri is a presentation of obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) that is not included in the Diagnostic Statistical Manual (DSM)[1] or International Classification of Diseases (ICD) for several reasons including lack of research, diagnosis overlap and insufficient recognition of spiritually-based diseases by the American Psychiatric Association (APA).

Keywords: waswasa, Satan, OCD, jinn, clinicians and imams

Archived 14 October 2026 · Source: Yaqeen Institute