What Does Not Having Waswasa Mean?
Answered by Shaykh Irshaad Sedick
Question
I have no more waswasa after I destroyed myself with sins and listened to and argued with the waswasa I used to have. Ibn Qayyim said Shaytan comes to a place where there is treasure (faith) and doesn’t come to a place where there is no treasure; he relaxes his whispers. What does having no whispers from Shaytan mean for me?
Answer
In the Name of Allah, the Most Merciful and Compassionate. May Allah alleviate our difficulties and guide us to what pleases Him. Amin.
Not suffering from the spiritual-cum-psychological illness of waswasa is a very positive outcome after your reported battle with the disease.
General Whispers
Shaytan’s general whispers (also referred to as waswas in a general sense) afflict all believers, but we are mostly unaware of them.
Allah says: “One’s ˹devilish˺ associate will say, “Our Lord! I did not make them transgress. Rather, they were far astray ˹on their own˺.” Allah will respond, “Do not dispute in My presence since I have already given you a warning. My Word cannot be changed, nor am I unjust to ˹My˺ creation.” [Quran, 50:27-29]
No One is Entirely Free From Shaytan
Being free from the spiritual-cum-psychological illness of waswasa does not mean that one is entirely free from the general whispers of Shaytan, and Allah knows best.
The Messenger of Allah (Allah bless him and give him peace) said, “Each of you has a devil companion from the jinn over him.” They said, “Even you, O Messenger of Allah?” The Prophet said, “Even me, yet Allah helped me against him until he embraced Islam. He does not order me to do anything but good.” [Muslim]
I pray this is of benefit and that Allah guides us all.
[Shaykh] Irshaad Sedick
Checked and Approved by Shaykh Muhammad Abu Bakr Badhib
Shaykh Irshaad Sedick was raised in South Africa in a traditional Muslim family. He graduated from Dar al-Ulum al-Arabiyyah al-Islamiyyah in Strand, Western Cape, under the guidance of the late world-renowned scholar Shaykh Taha Karaan.
Shaykh Irshaad received Ijaza from many luminaries of the Islamic world, including Shaykh Taha Karaan, Mawlana Yusuf Karaan, and Mawlana Abdul Hafeez Makki, among others.
He is the author of the text “The Musnad of Ahmad ibn Hanbal: A Hujjah or not?” He has served as the Director of the Discover Islam Centre and Al Jeem Foundation. For the last five years till present, he has served as the Khatib of Masjid Ar-Rashideen, Mowbray, Cape Town.
Shaykh Irshaad has thirteen years of teaching experience at some of the leading Islamic institutes in Cape Town). He is currently building an Islamic online learning and media platform called ‘Isnad Academy’ and has completed his Master’s degree in the study of Islam at the University of Johannesburg. He has a keen interest in healthy living and fitness.
