Disturbed by Waswaas (Whispers from the Shaytaan) and evil thoughts
When I do Salah (formal prayers) or intend to do good deeds I often get very evil thoughts in my mind. When I concentrate in Salah, and try to focus on the meaning of the words, evil thoughts enter my mind, which make evil suggestions about everything including Allah. I feel very frustrated and angry about this. I know that none forgives sins except Allah alone, but because of my thoughts I feel that there is nothing worse than to have evil thoughts about Allah. After Salah I ask Allah's forgiveness, but feel very bad because I want to stop these evil thoughts, but I can't stop them. These thoughts spoil my enjoyment of Salah, and also make me feel as though I am doomed. Please advise me.
Praise be to Allah.
Evil whispers during prayer and at other times come from the Shaytaan, who is keen to misguide the Muslim and deprive him of good and keep it far away from him. One of the Sahaabah complained to the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) about waswaas during prayer, and he said: «». The Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) said: «», He [the Sahaabi] said: "I did that and Allah took him away from me" (Narrated by Muslim [2203]).
Proper focus (khushoo') is the essence of prayer. Prayer without proper focus is like a body without a soul. The following are two of the things that help one to develop the proper focus:
1. Striving to think about what you are saying and doing, pondering the meanings of the Qur'aan, dhikr (words of remembrance) and du'aa's (supplications) that you are reciting; bearing in mind that you are conversing with Allah as if you can see Him. For when the worshipper stands to pray, he is speaking to his Lord, and ihsaan means worshipping Allah as if you are seeing Him, and knowing that even though you cannot see Him, He sees you. Every time a person experiences the sweetness of prayer, he will be more inclined to do it.
This depends of the strength of one's faith, and there are many means of strengthening one's faith. Hence the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) said: «» According to another hadeeth he said: «» and he did not say: Give us a break from it.
2. Striving to ward off the things that may distract you during prayer, namely thinking about things that are irrelevant or distracting. Waswaas affects each person differently, because waswaas has to do with a person's level of doubts and desires and the degree to which a person is attached to other things or is fearing other things (From Majmoo' Fataawa Shaykh al-Islam Ibn Taymiyah [22/605]).
With regard to what you say about the waswaas reaching such a great level that you have begun to experience waswaas that makes you think about Allah in ways that are not appropriate, these are evil whispers from the Shaytaan. Allah says:
{وَإِمَّا يَنزَغَنَّكَ مِنَ ٱلشَّيْطَـٰنِ نَزْغٌۭ فَٱسْتَعِذْ بِٱللَّهِ ۖ إِنَّهُۥ هُوَ ٱلسَّمِيعُ ٱلْعَلِيمُ}
'Translation' {And if an evil whisper from Shaytaan (Satan) tries to turn you away (O Muhammad) (from doing good), then seek refuge in Allah. Verily, He is the All‑Hearer, the All‑Knower}[Fussilat:36].
Some of the Sahaabah complained about the waswaas that was bothering them. Some of the companions of the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) came to the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) and said to him: "We find in ourselves thoughts that are too terrible to speak of", He said: «», They said: "Yes", He said: «» (Narrated by Muslim [132 ] from the hadeeth of Abu Hurayrah).
Al-Nawawi said in his commentary on this hadeeth (narration): "The Prophet's words: «» means, the fact that think of this waswaas as something terrible is a clear sign of faith, for if you dare not utter it and you are so afraid of it and of speaking of it, let alone believing it, this is the sign of one who has achieved perfect faith and who is free of doubt".
And it was said that what it means is that the Shaytaan only whispers to those whom he despairs of tempting, because he is unable to tempt them. As for the kaafir (non-Muslim), he can approach him in any manner he wants and is not restricted to waswaas, rather he can play with him however he wants. Based on this, what the hadeeth means is that the cause of waswaas is pure faith, or that waswaas is a sign of pure faith. See also question no. [12315].
The fact that you hate that and your heart recoils from it is a clear sign of faith. Waswaas happens to everyone who turns to Allah by reciting dhikr etc. It is inevitable, but you have to be steadfast and patient, and persevere with your dhikr and prayer, and not give up, because in this way you will ward off the plot of the Shaytaan.
Every time a person wants to turn to Allah, waswaas brings other matters to mind. The Shaytaan is like a bandit: every time a person wants to move towards Allah, he wants to block the way. Hence when it was said to one of the salaf that the Jews and Christians say: "We do not experience waswaas", he said: "They are speaking the truth, for what would the Shaytaan do with a house in ruins?" (From Fataawa Shaykh al-Islam Ibn Taymiyah [22/608]).
The remedy:
1. If you feel that you are being affected by this waswaas, say: "Aamantu Billaahi wa Rasoolihi (I believe in Allah and His Messenger)". It was narrated from 'Aa'ishah that the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) said: «» (Narrated by Ahmad [25671], classed as hasan (sound) by al-Albaani in al-Saheehah [116]).
2. Try to stop thinking about that as much as possible, and keep busy with things that will distract you from it.
Finally we advise you to keep on turning to Allah in all situations, and to ask Him for help, and to beseech Him, and to ask Him to make you steadfast until death, and to cause you to die doing righteous deeds.
And Allah knows best.
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