Lesson 4 of 6 · The whisper has a name
The shortest instruction in the tradition
The reports below are what was given for the worst version of this, the doubt that comes for God Himself. Seek refuge, and turn away. Not argue. Not resolve. Turn away. The two verses are the same instruction in the form of a command, and neither of them has a second clause.
Qur’an and Sunnah
One of the two verses carrying the same instruction as a command. Seek refuge, and there is no second clause.
وَإِمَّا يَنزَغَنَّكَ مِنَ ٱلشَّيۡطَٰنِ نَزۡغࣱ فَٱسۡتَعِذۡ بِٱللَّهِۚ إِنَّهُۥ سَمِيعٌ عَلِيمٌ
If Satan should prompt you to do something, seek refuge with God- He is all hearing, all knowing
Qur’an 7:200
Almost the same words as the verse beside it, and it stops in the same place. Both are shown because the point here is that the instruction ends where it ends.
وَإِمَّا يَنزَغَنَّكَ مِنَ ٱلشَّيۡطَٰنِ نَزۡغࣱ فَٱسۡتَعِذۡ بِٱللَّهِۖ إِنَّهُۥ هُوَ ٱلسَّمِيعُ ٱلۡعَلِيمُ
If a prompting from Satan should stir you, seek refuge with God: He is the All Hearing and the All Knowing
Qur’an 41:36
What was given for the worst version of this, the doubt that comes for God Himself. Seek refuge and keep away from it. Not argue, and not resolve.
(It is narrated on the authority of Abu Huraira that the Messenger of Allah may peace be upon him) observed:The Satan comes to everyone. of you and says: Who created this and that? till he questions: Who created your Lord? When he comes to that, one should seek refuge in Allah and keep away (from such idle thoughts)
Sahih Muslim 134graded sound, sahihaynthe Arabic and its grading
The same instruction in a second collection. Seek refuge, and give up the thought.
Narrated Abu Huraira:Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) said, "Satan comes to one of you and says, 'Who created so-and-so? 'till he says, 'Who has created your Lord?' So, when he inspires such a question, one should seek refuge with Allah and give up such thoughts
Sahih al-Bukhari 3276graded sound, sahihaynthe Arabic and its grading
Translation: M.A.S. Abdel Haleem, The Qur'an, Oxford University Press, 2004.