WHISPERINGS OF SHAYTĀN AND DOUBTS IN WORSHIP
The whispers of Shayṭān often cause a person to become trapped in endless doubts regarding acts of worship. He imagines that his wuḍū’ was incomplete, repeatedly questions whether he washed a limb properly, and begins the ablution again and again. During the prayer, he becomes uncertain about the number of rakʿahs he has performed, or is constantly troubled by thoughts that his body, clothing or place of prayer has become impure, despite having no clear evidence of impurity.
The believer must know that certainty is not removed by doubt. Therefore, if he completed his wuḍū’ and is merely plagued by uncertainty afterwards, then he pays no attention to those whispers. Likewise, if doubts arise concerning the number of rakʿahs, he acts upon what is most likely to be correct, or if he cannot determine that, he builds upon certainty.
As for baseless fears regarding impurity, then the foundation is that a person remains in a state of purity (after making wudū) until there is certain proof to the contrary. Yielding to these recurring doubts only strengthens the whispers of Shayṭān, whereas ignoring them weakens them by the permission of Allāh.
The whispers (waswasah) of Shaytan are among his greatest plots against the believer. He seeks to burden the Muslim in his worship until acts of obedience become a source of hardship and anxiety. Thus, a person may become afflicted with persistent doubts concerning his wudū’, imagining that he failed to wash a limb correctly or omitted an obligatory act, so he repeats his ablution over and over again. Likewise, during the prayer he becomes uncertain about the number of rakʿahs he has performed, or he is constantly troubled by baseless fears that his body, clothing or place of prayer has become impure, despite having no certain evidence of impurity.
Allāh, the Most High, said:
إِنَّ ٱلشَّيْطَٰنَ لَكُمْ عَدُوٌّ فَٱتَّخِذُوهُ عَدُوًّا
“Indeed, Shaytān is an enemy to you, so take him as an enemy.” (Sūrah Fāṭir 35:6)
The fundamental principle in Islām is that certainty is not removed by doubt. Therefore, whoever completes his wuḍū’ and thereafter experiences mere doubts should pay no attention to them, for his state of purity remains established. Likewise, the basic principle is that a person’s body, clothing and place of prayer remain pure unless impurity is established with certainty. The Muslim must not surrender to baseless misgivings, for doing so only strengthens the whispers of Shayṭān.
The Prophet ﷺ laid down this great principle when he said:
إِذَا وَجَدَ أَحَدُكُمْ فِي بَطْنِهِ شَيْئًا، فَأَشْكَلَ عَلَيْهِ أَخَرَجَ مِنْهُ شَيْءٌ أَمْ لَا، فَلَا يَخْرُجَنَّ مِنَ الْمَسْجِدِ حَتَّى يَسْمَعَ صَوْتًا أَوْ يَجِدَ رِيحًا
“If one of you feels something in his stomach and is uncertain whether anything has exited him or not, then he should not leave the mosque until he hears a sound or detects an odour.” (Ṣaḥīḥ Muslim, no. 362)
Similarly, if a person becomes uncertain during the prayer regarding the number of rakʿahs, he acts upon certainty by building upon the lesser number if he cannot determine what is more likely, then completes his prayer and performs the two prostrations of forgetfulness (Sujūd as-Sahw). The Messenger of Allāh ﷺ said:
إِذَا شَكَّ أَحَدُكُمْ فِي صَلَاتِهِ، فَلَمْ يَدْرِ كَمْ صَلَّى، ثَلَاثًا أَمْ أَرْبَعًا، فَلْيَطْرَحِ الشَّكَّ، وَلْيَبْنِ عَلَى مَا اسْتَيْقَنَ، ثُمَّ يَسْجُدُ سَجْدَتَيْنِ قَبْلَ أَنْ يُسَلِّمَ
“If one of you doubts during his prayer and does not know whether he has prayed three or four rakʿahs, then let him cast aside the doubt and build upon what he is certain of, then let him perform two prostrations before giving the salām.” (Ṣaḥīḥ Muslim, no. 571)
The scholars, such as Shaykh Ibn Bāz and Shaykh Ibn ʿUthaymīn (may Allāh have mercy upon them), repeatedly advised those afflicted with waswasah to ignore these recurring doubts completely. The servant who refuses to entertain such whispers, places his trust in Allāh and adheres to the principles established by the Qur’ān and the Sunnah will, by the permission of Allāh, find relief. As for repeatedly yielding to these doubts, it only strengthens Shayṭān’s hold over the person and makes the affliction more severe.
Benefits from Shaykh Ibn ‘Uthaymīn (رحمه الله) regarding one’s intention and doubts in acts of worship.
• An important principle regarding the one who has doubts about his act of worship after completing it, with examples.
• Doubt that enters during an act of worship.
• Differentiating between legitimate doubt and whisperings from Shaytān.
• The makhraj (exit) Allāh has given us from the whisperings of Shaytān.
• Obeying Allāh, building actions upon certainty and not answering the doubts of Shaytān.
Whisperings
- Waswās (the whisper itself): وَسْوَاس
- Waswasah (whispering, obsessive whisperings): وَسْوَسَة
Also commonly referred to as:
- Waswasah of Shaytān: وَسْوَسَةُ الشَّيْطَانِ
- The whispers of Shaytān: وَسَاوِسُ الشَّيْطَانِ
- The Whisperer (Shaytān): الْوَسْوَاسُ الْخَنَّاسُ
Allah mentioned in the Qur’ān:
مِن شَرِّ الْوَسْوَاسِ الْخَنَّاسِ الَّذِي يُوَسْوِسُ فِي صُدُورِ النَّاسِ
“From the evil of the retreating whisperer, who whispers into the breasts of mankind.” (Sūrah an-Nās 114:4–5)
Ruqyah is a good way of ridding oneself of the clutches of doubts and whisperings of the devils. Download this booklet on ruqyah for oneself: Download Eleven Ways to Perform Ruqyah on Yourself for Sickness, Evil-Eye, Possession, Madness and Magic.
Watch this video for a detailed explanation:
