How Can I Overcome Doubts and Whispers Regarding My Faith?

Answered by Dr. Muhammad Fayez Awad

Question

How can I overcome doubts and whispers regarding my faith?

Answer

All praise is due to Allah, Lord of the worlds. Blessings and peace be upon the Master of the Messengers, his Family, and all his Companions.

A firmly rooted belief in the heart is the key to salvation and attaining Allah’s pleasure. However, one might experience doubts and whispers (waswas). Are these harmful to one’s faith, and do they remove a person from Islam? What is their remedy?

First, it is crucial to differentiate between doubt and whispering.

Doubt

Doubt contradicts certainty, where a person hesitates between two possibilities. Askari defines doubt in “al-Furuq” as:

“Doubt is the state of being between two opposites without leaning toward either.”

For example, doubt in Allah’s existence implies wavering between believing in His existence and not believing. Allah addresses this in the Quran:

“Their messengers asked (them), ‘Is there any doubt about Allah, the Originator of the heavens and the earth? He is inviting you in order to forgive your sins, and delay your end until your appointed term.’” [Quran, 14:10]

Ibn Kathir explains this verse by saying:

“Is there any doubt about His existence? The innate nature of humans acknowledges His existence. However, doubts may arise in some due to external factors, necessitating reflection on the evidence of His existence. Hence, the messengers guide them by pointing to Allah’s creation of the heavens and the earth, which are undeniable signs of a Creator.” [Ibn Kathir, Tafsir Ibn Kathir]

Whispers

Whispers (waswas), on the other hand, are subtle thoughts cast into the heart, often hidden from others. They can either be self-generated thoughts or instigated by Shaytan. Whispers do not settle in the heart, nor do they become beliefs; rather, they are fleeting thoughts that the person dislikes.

Such whispers are not contradictory to faith. In fact, they are a sign of a sound heart. Abu Hurayra (Allah be pleased with him) narrated:

“Some Companions of the Prophet (Allah bless him and give him peace) came to him and said, ‘We find thoughts in our minds that are too terrible to speak of.’ He said, ‘Do you really experience this?’ They said, ‘Yes.’ He replied, ‘That is clear faith.’” [Muslim]

Imam Nawawi explains:

“The meaning is that the Companions’ abhorrence of such whispers and their fear of expressing or believing them is a clear indication of true faith. Only those who have perfected their faith and have no doubt or suspicion would feel such aversion and fear.” [Nawawi, Sharh Muslim]

Doubts and whispers in matters of faith are challenges many believers face. To effectively address these, it is essential to understand their causes and remedies.

Causes of Whispers

• Shaytan (Satan): Ibn ‘Abbas narrated that a man came to the Prophet (Allah bless him and give him peace) and said: “O Messenger of Allah, one of us finds something within himself that is too terrible to speak of.” The Prophet responded: “Allah is the Greatest! Praise be to Allah who has reduced his (Shaytan’s) plotting to mere whispers.” [Ibn Hibban; Nasa’i; Abu Dawud; Ahmad]
• Psychological or environmental factors: Past experiences, traumatic events, or upbringing may contribute to the development of intrusive thoughts and doubts.

Steps to Overcome Whispers

To overcome the whispers (waswas) that may affect a person in their worship and thoughts, they should do the following:

Sincere Supplication to Allah

Turn to Allah with sincerity, asking Him to remove this affliction. Supplication is a powerful means of seeking Allah’s assistance.

Regular Quran Recitation and Remembrance (Dhikr)

Consistently engage in reading the Quran and maintaining the daily remembrances, especially morning and evening adhkar, as well as those before sleeping, upon waking, entering and exiting the house, and before and after eating. These acts fortify the believer against Shaytan’s whispers.

Seek Refuge in Allah from Shaytan

When afflicted with whispers, say: “I seek refuge in Allah from the accursed Shaytan,” and refrain from engaging with these thoughts.

The Prophet (Allah bless him and give him peace) said:

“Shaytan will come to one of you and ask, ‘Who created this and that?’ until he asks, ‘Who created your Lord?’ When it comes to that, seek refuge in Allah and stop such thoughts.” [Bukhari; Muslim]

Understand the Nature of Whispers

‘Abdullah Ibn Mas‘ud narrated that the Prophet (Allah bless him and give him peace) said:

“Shaytan has a touch (influence) on the son of Adam, and the angel also has a touch. Shaytan’s influence promises evil and denies the truth, while the angel’s influence promises goodness and affirms the truth. Whoever experiences the latter should praise Allah, and whoever experiences the former should seek refuge in Allah from the accursed Shaytan.”

Then he recited: “The Devil threatens you with (the prospect of) poverty and bids you to the shameful deed (of stinginess).” [Quran, 2:268] [Ibn Hibban; Nasa’i; Tirmidhi]

Disregard the Whispers

Ibn Hajar al-Haytami was asked about the treatment for whispers. He responded: “The effective remedy is to completely disregard them. No matter how persistent the doubt, ignoring it will cause it to fade over time.” [Haytami, al-Fatawa al-Kubra al-Fiqhiyya]

Company of the Righteous

Attend gatherings of righteous individuals and seek the company of scholars. Avoid isolating yourself or keeping the company of those who may lead you astray.

We ask Allah to preserve our faith, protect us from trials and whispers, and keep us steadfast. Indeed, He is the All-Hearing, the Responsive. All praise is due to Allah, the Lord of all worlds.

[Shaykh] Dr. Muhammad Fayez Awad