The short answer
The Quran and Sunnah give a clear method: seek refuge in Allah the moment the whisper comes, do not engage with it or argue with it, affirm your faith ("amantu billah"), and keep your heart busy with the remembrance of Allah. The whisperer is described as one who "retreats" when Allah is remembered.
1. Seek refuge immediately. "If an evil suggestion comes to you from Satan, then seek refuge in Allah. Indeed, He is Hearing and Knowing" 1. Say a'udhu billahi min ash-shaytan ir-rajim. Surah an-Nas teaches exactly this: refuge in the Lord of mankind "from the evil of the retreating whisperer, who whispers [evil] into the breasts of mankind" 2. The word for "retreating" (al-khannas) describes one who pulls back; Ibn Abbas explained that the whisperer whispers when a person is heedless and withdraws when he remembers Allah 9.
2. Stop, do not argue. About the whisper "who created your Lord?", the Prophet ﷺ said one should "seek refuge with Allah and give up such thoughts" 3. Waswasa grows when you debate it, check it and obsess over it. Cut it off and move on.
3. Affirm your faith. He also said the person should say, "I affirm my faith in Allah" 4.
4. Know that your distress is a good sign. When the Companions said they had thoughts too terrible to speak of, he said: "That is the faith manifest" 5. When a man said he would rather be burnt to charcoal than speak of his thoughts, the Prophet ﷺ said "Allahu Akbar" three times and praised Allah "Who has reduced the guile of the devil to evil prompting" 6. Being reduced to mere whispering is a sign of Satan's weakness, not of your failure.
5. Remember Allah. "Those who fear Allah - when an impulse touches them from Satan, they remember [Him] and at once they have insight" 7.
6. Take the easy path the religion gives you. "Religion is very easy and whoever overburdens himself in his religion will not be able to continue in that way" 8. If waswasa becomes constant and disturbs daily life, it can also be a treatable condition (such as OCD); seeking good medical help alongside these steps is part of taking the means Allah has provided.
If an evil suggestion comes from Satan, seek refuge in Allah.
وَإِمَّا يَنزَغَنَّكَ مِنَ ٱلشَّيۡطَٰنِ نَزۡغࣱ فَٱسۡتَعِذۡ بِٱللَّهِۚ إِنَّهُۥ سَمِيعٌ عَلِيمٌ ٢٠٠
And if an evil suggestion comes to you from Satan, then seek refuge in Allah. Indeed, He is Hearing and Knowing
Refuge in the Lord of mankind from the retreating whisperer among jinn and men.
قُلۡ أَعُوذُ بِرَبِّ ٱلنَّاسِ ١ مَلِكِ ٱلنَّاسِ ٢ إِلَٰهِ ٱلنَّاسِ ٣ مِن شَرِّ ٱلۡوَسۡوَاسِ ٱلۡخَنَّاسِ ٤ ٱلَّذِي يُوَسۡوِسُ فِي صُدُورِ ٱلنَّاسِ ٥ مِنَ ٱلۡجِنَّةِ وَٱلنَّاسِ ٦
1 Say, "I seek refuge in the Lord of mankind 2 The Sovereign of mankind 3 The God of mankind 4 From the evil of the retreating whisperer 5 Who whispers [evil] into the breasts of mankind 6 From among the jinn and mankind
When Satan brings the question "who created your Lord?", seek refuge and give up such thoughts.
Narrated Abu Huraira:Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) said, "Satan comes to one of you and says, 'Who created so-and-so? 'till he says, 'Who has created your Lord?' So, when he inspires such a question, one should seek refuge with Allah and give up such thoughts
حَدَّثَنَا يَحْيَى بْنُ بُكَيْرٍ، حَدَّثَنَا اللَّيْثُ، عَنْ عُقَيْلٍ، عَنِ ابْنِ شِهَابٍ، قَالَ أَخْبَرَنِي عُرْوَةُ، قَالَ أَبُو هُرَيْرَةَ ـ رضى الله عنه ـ قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم " يَأْتِي الشَّيْطَانُ أَحَدَكُمْ فَيَقُولُ مَنْ خَلَقَ كَذَا مَنْ خَلَقَ كَذَا حَتَّى يَقُولَ مَنْ خَلَقَ رَبَّكَ فَإِذَا بَلَغَهُ فَلْيَسْتَعِذْ بِاللَّهِ، وَلْيَنْتَهِ ".
Whoever faces this should say, "I affirm my faith in Allah".
It is narrated on the authority of Abu Huraira that the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) said:Men will continue to question one another till this is propounded: Allah created all things but who created Allah? He who found himself confronted with such a situation should say: I affirm my faith in Allah
حَدَّثَنَا هَارُونُ بْنُ مَعْرُوفٍ، وَمُحَمَّدُ بْنُ عَبَّادٍ، - وَاللَّفْظُ لِهَارُونَ - قَالاَ حَدَّثَنَا سُفْيَانُ، عَنْ هِشَامٍ، عَنْ أَبِيهِ، عَنْ أَبِي هُرَيْرَةَ، قَالَ قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم " لاَ يَزَالُ النَّاسُ يَتَسَاءَلُونَ حَتَّى يُقَالَ هَذَا خَلَقَ اللَّهُ الْخَلْقَ فَمَنْ خَلَقَ اللَّهَ فَمَنْ وَجَدَ مِنْ ذَلِكَ شَيْئًا فَلْيَقُلْ آمَنْتُ بِاللَّهِ " .
Finding such thoughts too grave to speak of is "the faith manifest".
It is narrated on the authority of Abu Huraira that some people from amongst the Companions of the Apostle (ﷺ) came to him and said:Verily we perceive in our minds that which every one of us considers it too grave to express. He (the Holy Prophet) said: Do you really perceive it? They said: Yes. Upon this he remarked: That is the faith manifest
حَدَّثَنِي زُهَيْرُ بْنُ حَرْبٍ، حَدَّثَنَا جَرِيرٌ، عَنْ سُهَيْلٍ، عَنْ أَبِيهِ، عَنْ أَبِي هُرَيْرَةَ، قَالَ جَاءَ نَاسٌ مِنْ أَصْحَابِ النَّبِيِّ صلى الله عليه وسلم فَسَأَلُوهُ إِنَّا نَجِدُ فِي أَنْفُسِنَا مَا يَتَعَاظَمُ أَحَدُنَا أَنْ يَتَكَلَّمَ بِهِ . قَالَ " وَقَدْ وَجَدْتُمُوهُ " . قَالُوا نَعَمْ . قَالَ " ذَاكَ صَرِيحُ الإِيمَانِ " .
Praise be to Allah who reduced the devil's guile to mere whispering.
Narrated Abdullah ibn Abbas: A man came to the Prophet (ﷺ) and said: Messenger of Allah! one of us has thoughts of such nature that he would rather be reduced to charcoal than speak about them. He said: Allah is Most Great, Allah is Most Great, Allah is Most Great. Praise be to Allah Who has reduced the guile of the devil to evil prompting. Ibn Qudamah said "reduced his matter" instead of "reduced his guile". Ibn Qudamah said "reduced his matter" instead of "reduced his guile
حَدَّثَنَا عُثْمَانُ بْنُ أَبِي شَيْبَةَ، وَابْنُ، قُدَامَةَ بْنِ أَعْيَنَ قَالاَ حَدَّثَنَا جَرِيرٌ، عَنْ مَنْصُورٍ، عَنْ ذَرٍّ، عَنْ عَبْدِ اللَّهِ بْنِ شَدَّادٍ، عَنِ ابْنِ عَبَّاسٍ، قَالَ جَاءَ رَجُلٌ إِلَى النَّبِيِّ صلى الله عليه وسلم فَقَالَ يَا رَسُولَ اللَّهِ إِنَّ أَحَدَنَا يَجِدُ فِي نَفْسِهِ - يُعَرِّضُ بِالشَّىْءِ - لأَنْ يَكُونَ حُمَمَةً أَحَبُّ إِلَيْهِ مِنْ أَنْ يَتَكَلَّمَ بِهِ فَقَالَ " اللَّهُ أَكْبَرُ اللَّهُ أَكْبَرُ اللَّهُ أَكْبَرُ الْحَمْدُ لِلَّهِ الَّذِي رَدَّ كَيْدَهُ إِلَى الْوَسْوَسَةِ " . قَالَ ابْنُ قُدَامَةَ " رَدَّ أَمْرَهُ " . مَكَانَ " رَدَّ كَيْدَهُ " .
The God-fearing remember Allah when touched by a whisper and see clearly again.
إِنَّ ٱلَّذِينَ ٱتَّقَوۡاْ إِذَا مَسَّهُمۡ طَٰٓئِفࣱ مِّنَ ٱلشَّيۡطَٰنِ تَذَكَّرُواْ فَإِذَا هُم مُّبۡصِرُونَ ٢٠١
Indeed, those who fear Allah - when an impulse touches them from Satan, they remember [Him] and at once they have insight
The religion is easy; whoever overburdens himself in it will not be able to continue.
Narrated Abu Huraira: The Prophet (ﷺ) said, "Religion is very easy and whoever overburdens himself in his religion will not be able to continue in that way. So you should not be extremists, but try to be near to perfection and receive the good tidings that you will be rewarded; and gain strength by worshipping in the mornings, the afternoons, and during the last hours of the nights." (See Fath-ul-Bari, Page 102, Vol)
حَدَّثَنَا عَبْدُ السَّلاَمِ بْنُ مُطَهَّرٍ، قَالَ حَدَّثَنَا عُمَرُ بْنُ عَلِيٍّ، عَنْ مَعْنِ بْنِ مُحَمَّدٍ الْغِفَارِيِّ، عَنْ سَعِيدِ بْنِ أَبِي سَعِيدٍ الْمَقْبُرِيِّ، عَنْ أَبِي هُرَيْرَةَ، عَنِ النَّبِيِّ صلى الله عليه وسلم قَالَ " إِنَّ الدِّينَ يُسْرٌ، وَلَنْ يُشَادَّ الدِّينَ أَحَدٌ إِلاَّ غَلَبَهُ، فَسَدِّدُوا وَقَارِبُوا وَأَبْشِرُوا، وَاسْتَعِينُوا بِالْغَدْوَةِ وَالرَّوْحَةِ وَشَىْءٍ مِنَ الدُّلْجَةِ ".
Ibn Abbas, Mujahid and Qatadah said the whisperer whispers when one is heedless and withdraws when Allah is remembered.
Say: "I seek refuge with the Lord of An-Nas, (1)"The King of An-Nas, (2)"The God of An-Nas, (3)"From the evil of the whisperer who withdraws. (4)"Who whispers in the breasts of An-Nas. (5)"Of Jinn and An-Nas. (6) These are three attributes from the attributes of the Lord, the Mighty and Majestic. They are lordship, sovereignty and divinity. Thus, He is the Lord of everything, the King of everything and the God of everything. All things are created by Him, owned by Him, and subservient to Him. Therefore, He commands whoever is seeking protection to seek refuge with the One Who has these attributes from the evil of the whisperer who withdraws. This (the whisperer) is the devil that is assigned to man. For verily, there is not any of the Children of Adam except that he has a companion that beautifies wicked deeds for him. This devil will go to any lengths to confuse and confound him. The only person who is safe is He Whom Allah protects. It is confirmed in the Sahih that he (the Prophet ﷺ) said, مَا مِنْكُمْ مِنْ أَحَدٍ إِلَّا قَدْ وُكِّلَ بِهِ قَرِينُهُ (There is not a single one of you except that his companion (a devil) has been assigned to him.) They (the Companions) said, "What about you, O Messenger of Allah?" He replied, نَعَمْ، إِلَّا أَنَّ اللهَ أَعَانَنِي عَلَيْهِ فَأَسْلَمَ، فَلَا يَأْمُرُنِي إِلَّا بِخَيْرٍ (Yes. However, Allah has helped me against him and he has accepted Islam. Thus, he only commands me to do good.) It is also confirmed in the Two Sahihs from Anas, who reported the story of Safiyyah when she came to visit the Prophet ﷺ while he was performing I'tikaf, that he went out with her during the night to walk her back to her house. So, two men from the Ansar met him (on the way). When they saw the Prophet ﷺ, they began walking swiftly. So, the Messenger of Allah ﷺ said, عَلَى رِسْلِكُمَا، إِنَّهَا صَفِيَّةُ بِنْتُ حُيَيٍّ (Slow down! This is Safiyyah bint Huyay!) They said, "Glory be to Allah, O Messenger of Allah!" He said, إِنَّ الشَّيْطَانَ يَجْرِي مِنِ ابْنِ آدَمَ مَجْرَى الدَّمِ، وَإِنِّي خَشِيتُ أَنْ يَقْذِفَ فِي قُلُوبِكُمَا شَيْئًا، أَوْ قَالَ: شَرًّا (Verily, Shaytan runs in the Son of Adam like the running of the blood. And verily, I feared that he might cast something into your hearts – or he said – evil.) Sa'id bin Jubayr reported that Ibn 'Abbas said concerning Allah's statement, الْوَسْوَاسِ الْخَنَّاسِ (The whisperer (Al-Waswas) who withdraws.) "The devil who is squatting (perched) upon the heart of the Son of Adam. So when he becomes absentminded and heedless he whispers. Then, when he remembers Allah he withdraws." Mujahid and Qatadah also said this. Al-Mu'tamir bin Sulayman reported that his father said, "It has been mentioned to me that Shaytan is Al-Waswas. He blows into the heart of the Son of Adam when he is sad and when he is happy. But when he (man) remembers Allah, Shaytan withdraws." Al-'Awfi reported from Ibn 'Abbas; الْوَسْوَاسِ (The whisperer.) "He is Shaytan. He whispers and then when he is obeyed, he withdraws." As for Allah's saying; الَّذِي يُوَسْوِسُ فِي صُدُورِ النَّاسِ (Who whispers in the breasts of An-Nas.) Is this specific for the Children of Adam as is apparent, or is it general, including both mankind and Jinns? There are two views concerning this. This is because they (the Jinns) are also included in the usage of the word An-Nas (the people) in most cases. Ibn Jarir said, "The phrase Rijalun min Al-Jinn (Men from the Jinns)[referring to Quran 72:6] has been used in reference to them, so it is not strange for the word An-Nas to be applied to them also." Then Allah says, مِنَ الْجِنَّةِ وَالنَّاسِ (Of Jinn and An-Nas.) Is this explanatory of Allah's statement, الَّذِي يُوَسْوِسُ فِي صُدُورِ النَّاسِ (Who whispers in the breasts of An-Nas.)? Then, Allah explains this by saying, مِنَ الْجِنَّةِ وَالنَّاسِ (Of Jinn and An-Nas.) This is supportive of the second view. It has also been said that Allah's saying, مِنَ الْجِنَّةِ وَالنَّاسِ (Of Jinn and An-Nas) is an explanation of who is it that whispers into the breasts of mankind from the devils of mankind and Jinns. This is similar to Allah's saying, وَكَذَٰلِكَ جَعَلْنَا لِكُلِّ نَبِيٍّ عَدُوًّا شَيَاطِينَ الْإِنسِ وَالْجِنِّ يُوحِي بَعْضُهُمْ إِلَىٰ بَعْضٍ زُخْرُفَ الْقَوْلِ غُرُورًا (And so We have appointed for every Prophet enemies – Shayatin among mankind and Jinn, inspiring one another with adorned speech as a delusion.)(6:112) Imam Ahmad recorded that Ibn 'Abbas said, "A man came to the Prophet ﷺ and said, 'O Messenger of Allah! Sometimes I say things to myself that I would rather fall from the sky than say (aloud openly).' The Prophet ﷺ said, اللهُ أَكْبَرُ، اللهُ أَكْبَرٌ الْحَمْدُ للهِ الَّذِي رَدَّ كَيْدَهُ إِلَى الْوَسْوَسَةِ (Allah is Most Great! Allah is Most Great! All praise is due to Allah Who sent his (Shaytan's) plot back as only a whisper.)" Abu Dawud and An-Nasa'i also recorded this Hadith. This is the end of the Tafsir. All praise and thanks are due to Allah, the Lord of all that exists.
This answer was compiled with the help of AI, using only the verified texts shown here. Every reference links to its source. If you find a mistake, please report it. Updated 2026-09-24