Another attribute of the Student of Knowledge: She leaves her house with a truthful exit.
-> The facts related to the deeds she performs are clear in her heart.
E.g. She is attending a study circle. She wants her sins to be forgiven, she wants the angels to mention her name to Allah, etc.
The angels lower their wings for those who seek knowledge. This indicates the high position of students of knowledge with Allah.
E.g. She gets up for Qiyam AlLayl. She hopes for forgiveness of sins, to enter Paradise in peace to be honored by Allah, to be one of the righteous people, etc.
If you get up without these matters in front of your eyes you will not receive the full reward.
If you have a pure intention these facts will be alive in front of your eyes.
-> She repels every other intention that contradicts or taints her main goal.
In the beginning your intention may be clear and sincerely for the sake of Allah. As time goes by you will begin to make connections with the people and your intention may be tainted. You may go to the study circle to meet people, etc. You need to constantly renew your intention.
-> She is a serious person.
The way you sit indicates your seriousness. When the companions sat in the assembly of the Prophet, they sat so attentively it was as if birds were perched on their heads.
- وسواس -
Because many people don't know that the sickness they are afflicted with is from the Shaytan and is called وسواس they diagnose it wrongly and take the wrong medicine. In turn, this sickness will continue to grow with them.
There are two kinds of وسواس:
1) In the religion
2) In worldly matters
It does not just affect adults, it can affect children as well.
What are the causes of وسواس in religious matters?
1) Ignorance of the Religion
This is of two types:
a) Ignorance of the detailed knowledge
E.g. The person knows Allah made the religion easy. However, whenever he performs a good deed, like making Wudhu while fasting, he fears that this water left in his mouth will nullify his fast so he obsessively dries his tongue.
The solution to this problem is to seek knowledge. Ask, even if the question appears silly, in order to overcome the doubts in your heart.
b) Ignorance of the foundations of the religion
He has doubts about who created us, who created Allah, etc. This is from the Shaytan. The whispers will come gradually, in steps.
As soon as you detect this, seek refuge in Allah, so that the Shaytan will يخنس.
Ex. A general rule is that certainty isn't nullified by doubt. If, for example, you are sure that you performed ablution yet you keep renewing it just in case you accidentally nullified your Wudhu. The certainty is that you performed ablution, so the doubts don't nullify that. The person is ignorant of this law, this is why he continues to make Wudhu.
2) Being brought up in a family that is affected by وسواس.
E.g. Some mothers are paranoid, and constantly scare their children.
E.g. To be brought up in a community where people always attribute things to magic, evil eye, etc.
E.g. Some families are so strict to the point they don't give their children freedom to choose things like their food, clothes, etc. Or on the other side of the coin, the children are neglected. Be moderate and follow the Qur'an and Sunnah.
Ibn AlQayyim mentioned in his book 'Igathat al-Lahf':
"The Shaytan throws the idea or evil whisper and the person will accept it due to his ignorance or due to his way of upbringing, then he will act upon it, them it will increase and become a sickness"
3) A person may go through a situation which affects his nervous system such that it is easy for him to accept the ideas thrown to him by the Shaytan.
This is by the Qadar of Allah and is a test for this person. The remedy is the same.
E.g. A person may be suppressing hatred or enmity towards people. The Shaytan may use this against him.
E.g. Insecurity. A person may have gone through a difficult childhood and is constantly afraid. This grows with the child.
4) Committing Sins.
If righteous people commit a sin, the feeling of guilt in their heart will cause the Shayan to overpower them and make them despair of the mercy of Allah and forget that Allah, the Most Merciful, rejoices when a slave repents.
5) A genetic problem
The sickness runs in the family.
6) Being continuously reminded of something.
E.g. The media exaggerates and spreads fear amongst people.
E.g. Breast cancer. People rebuke you for not going to check ups regularly. People fear sicknesses.
The Prophet (Peace be upon Him) said: “No precaution can protect against the decree of Allaah.(Narrated by al-Tabaraani, 2/800 (33). Al-Albaani said in Saheeh al-Jaami’, 7739, (it is) hasan).
The Prophet (Peace be upon Him) said: “No precaution can protect against the decree of Allaah.(Narrated by al-Tabaraani, 2/800 (33). Al-Albaani said in Saheeh al-Jaami’, 7739, (it is) hasan).
By all means go for check ups, but don't believe it will delay or save you from death.
If you come across a person suffering from وسواس how should you deal with him?
1) Don't rebuke or reproach them.
2) Be gentle and kind with them
3) Repeat the advice and information again and again.
It is reported by al-Bukhari that a man who drank wine was brought to the Prophet. The Prophet said, 'Beat him!' Abu Hurayrah said, 'So some of us beat him with their hands, and some with their shoes, and some with their garments (by twisting it) like a lash, and then when we finished, someone said to him, "May Allah disgrace you!" On that the Prophet said, "Do not say so, for you are helping the Shaytan to overpower him"
Ibn Hajar said, "The goal of Shaytan in making the sin beautiful is to humiliate and disgrace the person. When you say that you are helping the Shaytan attain his goal"
Some scholars said, "الوسواس is a بدعة originated from ignorance or due to lack of understanding"
Because of the ignorance of the person, the Shaytan whispers and makes him do new actions.
A man came to the Prophet and said, "O Allah's messenger, matters are presented to one of us which grieves us and we prefer to become burnt coal rather than speaking of it" Allah's messenger said, "Allah Akbar (thrice), Alhamdulillah who has turned his (Shaytans) plot into waswasah (just a whisper)" (Sahih Abu Dawud and Authenticated by Al-Albani 5112)
What is the difference between this whisper and the whispers in the previous Hadith? The former is where the person accepts and the Shaytan's whispers and acts upon it. This comes to people who aren't strong in faith.
The second type happens to those who are perfect in faith. They reject it and hate themselves to an extent they wished they were burnt than to speak it. They repelled and sought refuge with Allah from it.
Othman bin Abi alAas came to the Prophet and said, "O Messenger of Allah, The Shaytan is spoiling my prayers and confusing my reciting of the Qur'an." The Messenger of Allah said, "That is a Satan called Khinzab. So if you feel of him say, "I seek refuge with Allah from you" then blow your breath will light spit on your left three times." Othman said, "I did that and Allah took him away from me" (Muslim)
In (58:10):
إنما النجوى من الشيطان ليحزن الذين آمنوا وليس بضارهم شيئا إلا بإذن الله وعلى الله فليتوكل المؤمنون
إنما النجوى من الشيطان ليحزن الذين آمنوا وليس بضارهم شيئا إلا بإذن الله وعلى الله فليتوكل المؤمنون
The Shaytan wants to spoil our lives, relationship with the people, cause us sadness and grief, etc
He would entice the hypocrites and disbelievers to talk secretly among themselves when the believers passed by to make them feel upset.
He even whispers to the disbelievers and hypocrites.
In (19:83):
الاز means:
1) Enticing them to do evil
2) Tempting them
3) The loud voice of the Shaytan which disturbs them.
They may want to listen to the truth but the loud voice of the Shaytan disturbs them and distracts them from listening to it.
You need to fight back by seeking help from Allah.
What is the description of the person overpowered by the Shaytan?
From the plot of the Shaytan is that he smells the person in order to find out what kind of person he is. Does enthusiasm and diligence dominate him or is he lazy? If he sees that you are a lazy person he will dishearten you even more. If he sees you are active and have high resolutions he will make you belittle the deed and transgress the limits. - Ibn Qayyim
If he can't overpower you regarding your actions he will whisper in your heart.
E.g. He tells you that people belittle you when you make Da'wah. If a person accepts this statement he will abandon Da'wah altogether.