he returns. When the call to commence the prayer is made, he turns and flees. When it is finished, he returns, coming between a person and his heart and saying, ‘Remember this; remember that’—things he had not been thinking of—until he no longer knows whether he has prayed three units or four. If he does not know whether he has prayed three or four, he should perform the two prostrations for forgetfulness.”
Another instance of his whispering is related in an authentic report from Abū Hurayra, who narrated that the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) said:
“Satan comes to one of you and says, ‘Who created this? Who created that?’ until he says, ‘Who created Allah?’ Whoever experiences this should seek refuge in Allah and stop pursuing such thoughts.”
It is also related in the Sahīh that the Companions of the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) said:
“O Messenger of Allah, one of us finds within himself thoughts that he would rather fall from the sky to the earth than utter.” He said, “Praise be to Allah, who has reduced Satan’s plotting to mere whispering.”
Another form of his whispering is to occupy the heart with his suggestions until he makes a person forget what he intended to do. Forgetfulness is therefore attributed to him as its cause. Allah Most High relates that Moses’ companion said:
“I forgot the fish, and none but Satan made me forget to mention it.” [18:63]
Consider the wisdom and majesty of the Quran: it directs us to seek refuge from the evil of Satan, described as “the retreating whisperer, who whispers into the breasts of mankind.” It does not say, “from the evil of his whispering,” so that seeking refuge encompasses all his evil. The words “from the evil of the whisperer” include every kind of evil he causes. Allah describes him by his most prominent characteristic, the most evil, powerful in its effects, and widespread in its corruption: whispering, which is where intention begins.
The heart may be free of evil and sin; then Satan whispers to it and brings a sin to mind. The person pictures it to himself, while Satan arouses his hopes and whets his appetite until it becomes a desire. Satan makes it attractive and appealing to him, conjuring it up in his imagination until his soul inclines toward it and it becomes an intention. He continues to present it to him, feeding his imagination, arousing his hopes, and stimulating his desire. He makes him forget what he knows of its harm and conceals its evil consequences from him, preventing him from considering them. Thus he sees only the image of the sin and the pleasure he would take in it, forgetting what lies beyond. The intention then becomes a firm resolve. The heart’s eagerness for it intensifies, so it sends forth