and seeking forgiveness and obedience. His devil thus suffers severe torment in his company, unlike the devil of an evildoer, who enjoys ease and comfort with him. This is why the latter devil becomes strong, defiant, and fierce.

Whoever does not torment his devil in this world by remembering Allah Most High, affirming His oneness, seeking His forgiveness, and obeying Him will be tormented by his devil in the Hereafter through the punishment of the Fire. Everyone must therefore either torment his devil or be tormented by him.

Consider how the form waswās (“whisperer”) is reduplicated because he repeats the same whisper over and over until the servant resolves to act upon it. The form khannās (“the repeatedly retreating one”) follows the fa‘‘āl pattern, indicating someone who repeatedly performs a particular action. Whenever Allah is remembered, he retreats; then, when the servant becomes heedless, he returns to whisper to him. Thus, the forms of both words correspond to their meanings.

Section

His words, “who whispers into the breasts of mankind,” give a third description of Satan. He first mentions his whispering, then its location second, and, third, that it is in the breasts of mankind.

Allah has enabled Satan to enter the servant’s body and gain access to his heart and breast. He flows through him as blood flows. He has been assigned to the servant and does not leave him until death.

The two Sahīh collections relate, through al-Zuhrī, from ‘Alī ibn Husayn, from Safiyya bint Huyayy, who said:

“The Messenger of Allah ﷺ was in devotional retreat, and I came to visit him at night. I spoke with him, then rose and set off home, and he rose to escort me.” Her residence was in the house of Usāma ibn Zayd. “Two men of the Ansār passed by, and when they saw the Prophet ﷺ, they quickened their pace. The Prophet ﷺ said, ‘Slow down, you two. This is Safiyya bint Huyayy.’ They said, ‘Glory be to Allah, O Messenger of Allah!’ He said, ‘Satan flows through a person as blood flows, and I feared that he might cast some evil—or he said, “something”—into your hearts.’”

Also in the Sahīh, Abū Salama ibn ‘Abd al-Rahmān relates from Abū Hurayra that the Messenger of Allah ﷺ said:

“When the call to prayer is made, Satan turns and flees, passing wind. Then, when it is finished,