Reception of Evil Whispers

Allah the Exalted says:

Say: “I seek refuge with (Allah) the Lord of mankind. The King of mankind. The Ilah (God) of mankind. From the evil of the whisperer (devil who whispers evil in the hearts of men) who withdraws (from his whispering in one’s heart after one remembers Allah). Who whispers in the breasts of mankind. Of jinn and men.” (Surah An-Naas, 114:1-6)

And says:

“And indeed We have created man, and We know what his ownself whispers to him. And We are nearer to him than his jugular vein (by Our Knowledge).” (Surah Qaf, 50:16)

This quality of accepting evil whispers is something one cannot get rid of. The Prophet (salla Allah alayhi wa sallam) said:

“The Satan is stuck to the heart of the human being, but if he remembers Allah; the Satan withdraws from whispering evil in one’s heart.” (Reported by Bukhari)

The accursed Satan whispers secretly in the breasts of the human beings. There starts a battle between the faithful heart and the Satan who encourages evil. This battle is ever ongoing. If faith is stronger, one wins and the Satan loses. Iblis (fiend) whispered to Adam and Eve and made them descend from heaven to earth.

Allah Exalted says:

 “Then Shaitan (Satan) whispered suggestions to them both in order to uncover that which was hidden from them of their private parts (before); he said: “Your Lord did not forbid you this tree save you should become angels or become of the immortals.” (Surah Al-A'raf, 7:20)

This whispering is not limited to the Satan alone. There are some evil people who also play this role, some bad friends and accomplices. This type of people are more dangerous than the Satans, because they are visible and clearly heard, like the backbiters, taletellers, adultery promoters and the persons who cause people to deviate from the right path and follow heresies and worldly pleasures. They make bad deeds look like good ones in the eyes of their victims. It is an ongoing war between the pious and the evil people.

Allah the Exalted says:

 “And certainly, the Shayatin (devils) do inspire their friends (from mankind) to dispute with you, and if you obey them [by making Al Maitah (a dead animal) legal by eating it], then you would indeed be Mushrikun (polytheists).” (Surah Al-An'am, 6:121)

The Satan, we are told always, comes to the human beings from every direction; the right, left, back and front.

Allah the Exalted says:

“Then I will come to them from before them and behind them, from their right and from their left, and You will not find most of them as thankful ones (i.e. they will not be dutiful to You).” (Surah Al-A'raf, 7:17)

The impact of the Satan proves fruitful only upon those who are weak and lack faith and therefore follow him. But the people of strong faith, by the support of Allah, defeat the Satan.

Allah the Exalted says:

“Verily, he (Satan) has no power over those who believe and put their trust only in their Lord (Allah). His power is only over those who obey and follow him (Satan), and those who join partners with Him (Allah i.e. those who are Mushrikun i.e., polytheists.” (Surah An-Nahl, 16:99-100)

Allah, the All-Knower, knows every whisper upon earth or in Heaven. He knows the present secrets and the future secrets. Men should beware the Satan’s whispering as he, through such whispers, encourages evil and forbids virtue. One should seek Allah’s protection from his whispers, temptations and breath. The Satan as such is very weak if people remember Allah. He always withdraws when Allah is remembered. It had been narrated that the Satan could hardly chase Umar ibn Al Khattab (radhia Allah anhu). If Umar went in a way, the Satan used to go another way.

The ones who forget Allah’s remembrance are the ones who are caught by this Satan and to whom he clings.

Allah the Exalted says:

“And whosoever turns away blindly from the remembrance of the All-Gracious (Allah) (i.e. this Qur’an and worship of Allah), We appoint for him a Shaitan (Satan   devil) to be a Qarin (a companion) to him. And verily, they (Satans / devils) hinder them from the Path (of Allah), but they think that they are guided aright!” (Surah Az-Zukhruf, 43:36-37)