Explaining that Satan casts doubts and intrusive thoughts into the heart of the believer, and mentioning the remedy for that.
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The Shaykh : But know that a person’s heart may be sound, and Satan comes to distort it; or his heart may be correct, and Satan comes to corrupt it; or the heart may be sealed and strong, and Satan comes to pierce it. How is that? How is that? It is that Satan casts doubt into the heart of the believing person; he casts doubt into the heart of the believing person.
Bad intrusive thoughts constantly occur to a person; if he were to utter them with his tongue or affirm them in his heart, he would be a disbeliever in Allah. But if he drives them away, does not care about them, turns away from them, and seeks refuge in Allah (Glorified and Exalted is He) from evil, from the evil of Satan, they will soon disappear. For this reason, the Companions (may Allah be pleased with them) complained of that to the Messenger of Allah, and he said:Al-Adab Al-Mufrad 55:3. "Sarih al-iman" means: pure faith. That is, Satan casts into the heart of the person what he wishes would be a burning coal, and he does not speak of it; what he wishes would fall from the sky to destroy him, and he does not speak of it. Does this mean that the person has disbelieved? Answer?
No, but beware of affirming that in your heart or establishing it. Drive it away and reject it. The Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) has given us an effective and beneficial remedy. He said:Sahih Muslim 134c. Seeking refuge in Allah is for what you cannot control, and that is by driving away Satan; and stopping is for what you can control. You can stop these intrusive thoughts and turn away from them, occupy yourself with your work, and say to yourself when these intrusive thoughts come: "Do I not perform wudu in the cold night with cold water and go out to the mosque in the cold wind and pray?" The soul will say yes or no?
The student: Yes.
The Shaykh : The soul will say yes. So why do I do this thing? Why do I inflict this hardship on myself except because I believe in Allah (Mighty and Majestic)? Thus, what Satan casts of intrusive thoughts and doubts is driven away by this. Turn away from the doubt that has occurred in my heart and look at the deeds I am in, and let that doubt not concern me.
Many of the brothers are tested with this matter when they commit themselves to religion. When they commit themselves and Satan sees that they are committed, he goes to cast doubts and disbelief into their hearts. Some of them are guided to a person to ask about that, and he guides them to the straight path. And some of them are not guided, so they fall back, may Allah protect us from that.
[Az-Zumar 39:53].
Bad intrusive thoughts constantly occur to a person; if he were to utter them with his tongue or affirm them in his heart, he would be a disbeliever in Allah. But if he drives them away, does not care about them, turns away from them, and seeks refuge in Allah (Glorified and Exalted is He) from evil, from the evil of Satan, they will soon disappear. For this reason, the Companions (may Allah be pleased with them) complained of that to the Messenger of Allah, and he said:
Have you really felt like that?' 'Yes,' they said. He said, 'That is clear belief.'
أوجدتم ذلك؟ قالوا : نعم. قال: ذاك صريح الإيمانNo, but beware of affirming that in your heart or establishing it. Drive it away and reject it. The Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) has given us an effective and beneficial remedy. He said:
When he comes to that, one should seek refuge in Allah and keep away (from such idle thoughts).
إذا وجد ذلك فليستعذ بالله ولينتهThe student: Yes.
The Shaykh : The soul will say yes. So why do I do this thing? Why do I inflict this hardship on myself except because I believe in Allah (Mighty and Majestic)? Thus, what Satan casts of intrusive thoughts and doubts is driven away by this. Turn away from the doubt that has occurred in my heart and look at the deeds I am in, and let that doubt not concern me.
Many of the brothers are tested with this matter when they commit themselves to religion. When they commit themselves and Satan sees that they are committed, he goes to cast doubts and disbelief into their hearts. Some of them are guided to a person to ask about that, and he guides them to the straight path. And some of them are not guided, so they fall back, may Allah protect us from that.