The Cure for Whispers and the Loss of Humility in Prayer

Question:
A questioner says: Your Eminence the Shaykh! I am frequently plagued by whispers (waswas) in prayer, and I often lose my humility (khushu'). What is the way to drive away the Satan who whispers to me in my prayer? May Allah reward you with good.

Answer:
The path is what Allah and His Messenger have enjoined. Allah the Exalted said: the All-Seeing. He the Glorious and Exalted said: Seek refuge with Allah from Satan in prayer and in other matters. Whenever you feel envy about something, say: "I seek refuge with Allah from Satan, the accursed." The Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) also advised this when 'Uthman ibn al-'As said to him: In repentance, he ordered him to seek help from Allah against Satan, and he also mentioned prayer. He said: 'Uthman did that, and Allah removed from me what I was afflicted with. So, seek refuge with Allah from Satan in prayer and outside of it. When he prompts you three times, say: "I seek refuge with Allah from Satan, the accursed," and be glad of good, if you are truthful and sincere to Allah. You will become strong, and you will be in mercy that causes Satan to depart from you. As for mercy, if Satan overcomes it, he harms him. But the strong man does not; he seeks help from Allah, seeks help from Allah, and remains strong, devotes himself to his prayer, is humble before Allah, and keeps away from the enemy. The enemy is like a dog: if it sees a strong person, it stays away from him, and if it sees a weak person, it covets him.