Islam

Whispers of Shaytan

Bismillah hir rahmanir raheem

Assalamualaikum my wonderful brothers and sisters! How are you all? Hope you're doing well inshallah! Allhamduillah my week went great! How about urs?

This topic is a really upsetting one. To understand the fact that many of us follow the path of wrongdoers and shaytan. It is wrong and we know that but we still do it. Why? Due to the whispers of the shaytan. This is called the "waswasa" of Shaytan.

One of the means that the Shaytan uses to misguide people is by casting doubts and whispers (waswas) into their hearts. The Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) has warned us against some of these things. It says in the hadeeth: “The Shaytan comes to any one of you and says, ‘Who created such and such? Who created such and such?’ until he says, ‘Who created your Lord?’ If that happens to you, seek refuge with Allah and give up these thoughts.” Narrated by al-Bukhari, no. 3277

The Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) taught us two important things:

1 – To turn to Allah and seek His protection, and to beseech Him, for He is the most Generous:

{And if an evil suggestion comes to you from Satan, then seek refuge in Allah.} (al-A’raf 7:200 – interpretation of the meaning)
2 – To put a stop to this matter and turn away from it, and to keep ourselves busy with other, useful things.

The Companions of the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) came to him complaining about the doubts and waswas that they were suffering. In Saheeh Muslim it is narrated that Abu Hurayrah (may Allah be pleased with him) said: “Some of the Companions of the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) came to him and said, ‘We find in our hearts things that none of us dares utter.’ He said, ‘Do you really find that?’ They said, ‘Yes.’ He said, ‘That is clear faith.’” (2/153).

What is meant by his saying ‘That is clear faith’ is that their hatred of that waswasah and their rejecting it was a clear sign of faith.

The Shaytan only whispers to people of faith; as for the kafir (non-Muslim), he comes to him, however, he wants and does not limit himself to waswas, rather he toys with him however he wishes.

The belief concerning which there can be no doubt is that the entire universe, from its heights to its depths, is in a state of submission to Allah and no one in the universe possesses any power. Allah says (interpretation of the meaning):

{Say, [O Muhammad], "Invoke those you claim [as deities] besides Allah ." They do not possess an atom's weight [of ability] in the heavens or on the earth, and they do not have therein any partnership [with Him], nor is there for Him from among them any assistant. And intercession does not benefit with Him except for one whom He permits.} (Saba 34:22-23)
This crafty enemy is keen to misguide people and to make them doubt. The more you seek the help of Allah, learn about your enemy and be prepared to face him, the more you will be victorious over him. If you know your true enemy, the following are the weapons at your disposal.

Firstly:

Adherence to the Quran and Sunnah in word and deed, and keeping away from the paths of misguidance, for on every path there is a devil calling people to it. So you should follow the beliefs, words, acts of worship and laws that have come from Allah and abstain from that which He has forbidden. Allah says (interpretation of the meaning):

{O you who have believed, enter into al-silm completely [and perfectly]} (al-Baqarah 2:208)
Al-silm refers to Islam. Muqatil interpreted it as doing all kinds of good and righteous deeds.

Whoever gives up any part of Islam has followed in some of the footsteps of the Shaytan.

Adhering to the Quran and Sunnah in word and deed expels the Shaytan and annoys him greatly. Muslim narrated from Abu Hurayrah: “When the son of Adam recites a verse of sajdah (prostration) and prostrates, the Shaytan withdraws weeping, saying, ‘Woe to me, the son of Adam was commanded to prostrate, and he prostrated, so Paradise will be his; I was commanded to prostrate and I disobeyed, so Hell will be mine.’” Narrated by Muslim, no. 133.