Waswas (Insinuating Thoughts from Shaytan)

A person may ask: "I am suffering from many insinuating thoughts (waswas) about the nature of Allah, may He be glorified. There are thoughts going around in my mind that I cannot utter because they are not befitting to Alaah, and they keep coming back to me, when I am praying and at other times. It is so bad that I doubt my faith, and wonder if I am even a Muslim or not. What is the cure for this problem?"

A number of ahadith have been reported from the Prophet (Peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) which contain the answer to this problem, alhamdulillah.

The Messenger (Peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) said: "The Shaytan may come to any one of you and say, 'Who created Allah?' If any one of you experiences this, let him say, 'amantu billahi wa rasulih (I believe in Allah and His Messenger),' and that will drive him away." [Reported by Sahih al-Jami', 1657] The Messenger of Allah (Peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) said: "The Shaytan may come to any one of you and ask, 'Who created the heaven?' and he will say, 'Allah.' The Shaytan will say, 'Who created the earth?' and he will say, 'Allah.' Then the Shaytan will say, 'Who created Allah?' If any one of you experiences this, let him say, 'amantu billahi wa rasulih.'" [Reported by Sahih al-Jami', 1656]

The Prophet (Peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) said: "Whoever experiences anything of this waswas, let him say three times, ''amantu billahi wa rasoolih,' and that will drive (the Shaytan) away." [Reported by Sahih al-Jami', 6587]

The Prophet (Peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) said: "The Shaytan may come to any one of you, and say, 'Who created such-and-such? Who created such-and-such?' until he asks, 'Who created your Lord?' If this happens to anyone, let him seek refuge with Allah and let him stop these thoughts." [Reported by Sahih al-Jami', 7993]

The Prophet (Peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) said: "The people will nearly ask too many questions, so that one of them may say, 'Allah created all of creation, but who created Allah?' If they say this, then say: 'Allah is the One, Allah is the Self-Sufficient Master. He begets not, nor was He begotten; and there is none co-equal or comparable unto Him' [Al-Qur'an 112:1-4, interpretation of the meaning], and spit (drily) to your left three times, and seek refuge with Allah from the Shaytan." [Reported by Sahih al-Jami', 8182]

The Prophet (Peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) said: "Think about the signs of Allah, do not think about Allah (Himself)." [Reported by Sahih al-Jami', 2975]

The Prophet (Peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) said: "Think about the creation of Allah, do not think about Allah (Himself)." [Reported by Sahih al-Jami', 2976]

From these texts we may summarize the following six ways of overcoming these insinuating thoughts:

The person who is experiencing such ideas should say, "Amantu billahi wa rasulih (I believe in Allah and His Messenger)."

He should seek refuge with Allah from the accursed Shaytan, and say three times, "A'udhu billahi'l-Sami' il-'Alim min ash-Shaytan ir-rajim, min hamzihi wa nafkhihi wa nafathih (I seek refuge with Allah, the All-Hearing, the All-Knowing, from the accursed Shaytan, and from his slander and evil insinuations)."

He should spit (drily) to his left three times.

He should stop thinking about whatever it is that is on his mind, as the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) said: "Let him stop." This is an important tactic, because continuing to allow the Shaytan to influence one in this way can only make it worse. The Muslim must stop these thoughts, as much as he is able, and keep his mind busy with something useful and beneficial.

He should recite Surah Al-Ikhlas (Qul huwa Allahu ahad), because it describes attributes of the Most Merciful and is considered to be equivalent to one-third of the Qur'an. Reciting this great Surah will guarantee an end to these insinuating thoughts.

He should think about the creation and blessings of Allah, not about His nature, because his weak human mind can never comprehend the nature of Allah. Allah says (interpretation of the meaning): " … and they will never compass anything of His Knowledge." [Al-Qur'an, Surah Ta-Ha, 20:110]