Warning Against Whispers and Their Treatment

Question:
This questioner (Ali F. A) says: Your Eminence! Among my questions is this: I am a man who has committed sins and transgressions, including minor and major ones. Allah has granted me repentance, and I praise Allah for that. However, I constantly remember these sins and transgressions, and Satan uses them to disturb me during my prayer. I become distracted and do not know what I am saying in my prayer. I do not know if I have completed the obligatory acts and pillars or not. I am trying hard to struggle against myself. What is your guidance? And do I bear any sin for this?

Answer:
We advise you to be wary of these whispers, and to seek refuge in Allah from Satan when they occur to you. Spit to your left three times and say, “I seek refuge in Allah from Satan,” three times. Do this whenever they occur to you... seek refuge in Allah from Satan. Defy the enemy of Allah and subdue him. This is the enemy of Allah who is harming you; so you must turn to Allah to seek His protection from this harm. Ask Him in your prostration and otherwise that He protect you from these whispers. You are—praise be to Allah—in a good state, as long as you were sincere in your repentance, you are in a great state of goodness. This is from the enemy of Allah to harm you, so you must seek refuge in Allah from him, seek His protection from him, turn to Allah, and ask Him for protection. Be glad of good.

The presenter: May Allah reward you.