8 Shar’i Guidelines for Dealing with Satanic Whispers About Allah ﷻ Source: Fatawa Arkan-e-Islam
Question
A person is afflicted with constant satanic whispers (waswās) concerning Allah ﷻ, which cause fear and anxiety. What guidance can be offered in this situation?
Answer
Alḥamdulillāh, and blessings and peace be upon the Messenger of Allah. To proceed:
If a believer experiences satanic whispers (wasāwis) about Allah ﷻ and becomes distressed or fearful because of them, this fear is in fact a glad tiding. It is a sign of sound faith (īmān), and—in shā’ Allāh—such whispers will ultimately be a means of goodness for that person.
Shayṭān attacks the believers with such thoughts to sow confusion in their beliefs, mental unrest, and inner turmoil—ultimately seeking to divert them from the path of Allah ﷻ.
Whispers (Waswās), the Companions, and a Glad Tiding
This phenomenon is not new for believers. Even the noble Companions (Ṣaḥābah) experienced such whispers.
It is narrated from Abū Hurairah (RA):
The Companions came to the Prophet ﷺ and said: “We sometimes find thoughts in our hearts so severe that we consider it too terrible to utter them.”
The Prophet ﷺ responded:
((أَوَقَدْ وَجَدْتُّمُوهُ؟ قَالُوا: نَعَمْ، قَالَ: ذَاكَ صَرِيحُ الْإِيمَانِ))
(Sahih Muslim, Book of Faith, Chapter: Concerning Whispers in Faith, ḥadīth 132)
Meaning: “Do you really experience such thoughts?” They said, “Yes.” He ﷺ replied: “That is pure faith.”
Satanic Whispers and Prophetic Instruction
In another narration, the Prophet ﷺ provided a clear solution:
((يَأْتِي الشَّيْطَانُ أَحَدَكُمْ فَيَقُولُ: مَنْ خَلَقَ كَذَا؟ مَنْ خَلَقَ كَذَا؟ حَتَّى يَقُولَ: مَنْ خَلَقَ رَبَّكَ؟ فَإِذَا بَلَغَهُ فَلْيَسْتَعِذْ بِاللَّهِ وَلْيَنْتَهِ))
(Sahih al-Bukhari, Book of Beginning of Creation, Hadith: 3276;
Sahih Muslim, Book of Faith, Hadith: 134)
Meaning: “Shayṭān comes to one of you and says: Who created this? Who created that? Until he says: Who created your Lord? When this happens, seek refuge with Allah and cease (thinking about it).”
Examples from the Companions
Ibn ʿAbbās (RA) narrates that a man said:
“Thoughts come to me that I would prefer to be reduced to ashes than to utter them.”
The Prophet ﷺ responded:
((الْحَمْدُ لِلَّهِ الَّذِي رَدَّ كَيْدَهُ إِلَى الْوَسْوَسَةِ))
(Sunan Abī Dāwūd, Book of Manners, Chapter: Responding to Waswās, Hadith: 5112)
Meaning: “Praise be to Allah who reduced Shayṭān’s plot to mere whispers.”
Explanation by Shaykh al-Islam Ibn Taymiyyah (رحمه الله)
In his book Al-Īmān, Ibn Taymiyyah writes:
A believer may at times be afflicted by whispers so disturbing that they border on disbelief, causing anguish and distress. Just as the Companions said, “We would rather fall from the sky to earth than speak such thoughts.”
The Prophet ﷺ responded:
((ذَاكَ صَرِيحُ الْإِيمَانِ))
(Sahih Muslim, ḥadīth 132)
Despite such intrusive thoughts, the believer's rejection and hatred of them is a sign of pure faith. This is similar to a mujāhid who overcomes the enemy—such resistance is a form of great jihad.
Why Are the Righteous More Affected?
Ibn Taymiyyah further explains:
Students of knowledge and devout worshippers are often targeted with such whispers because they turn their attention to Allah ﷻ.
On the other hand, heedless individuals follow their desires, and this is what Shayṭān wants.
8 Practical Guidelines for Coping with Waswās
➊ Abandon the Waswās
◈ Once you recognize the thought as satanic, do not dwell on it.
◈ Resist and struggle against it.
The Prophet ﷺ said:
((إِنَّ اللَّهَ تَجَاوَزَ عَنْ أُمَّتِي مَا وَسْوَسَتْ بِهِ صُدُورُهَا مَا لَمْ تَعْمَلْ أَوْ تَتَكَلَّمْ))
(Sahih al-Bukhari 2528; Sahih Muslim 127)
Meaning: “Allah has pardoned my Ummah for what their hearts whisper, as long as they do not act upon it or speak it.”
➋ Understand the Nature of Waswās
◈ If someone asks: “Do you believe in these whispers?” firmly respond: No.
◈ Say: “Glory be to Allah! This is a great slander!”
➌ Recognize Waswās as a Plot of Shayṭān
◈ Shayṭān runs through the human body like blood.
◈ His goal is to lead the believer away from Islam.
➍ Visualize the Illusion
◈ It's like someone washing a cloth thoroughly, but repeatedly doubting its cleanliness.
◈ These are groundless thoughts, not to be taken seriously.
Summary of Advice
◈ Recite “Aʿūdhu billāh” and abandon the thought as instructed by the Prophet ﷺ.
◈ Remain engaged in worship and devotion to Allah.
◈ Purify your intentions and seek Allah’s pleasure sincerely.
◈ Abundantly supplicate and beseech Allah to safeguard you from such whispers.
❝ Hādhā mā ‘indī, wallāhu a‘lam biṣ-ṣawāb ❞
(This is what I know; and Allah knows best what is right.)
