Many human beings may also see devils and jinn, but these possess a capacity for concealment and hiding that human beings do not. Allah Most High says:

“When Satan made their deeds seem fair to them and said, ‘No one among humankind can overcome you today, and I am your protector.’ But when the two forces came within sight of each other, he turned on his heels and said, ‘I am free of you.’”

Works of Quranic commentary and prophetic biography relate that Satan came to them in the form of a human being. Likewise, Allah says:

“Like Satan when he says to a person, ‘Disbelieve!’ Then, when he disbelieves, he says, ‘I am free of you. I fear Allah, Lord of all worlds.’”

In the hadith of Abū Dharr, the Messenger of Allah—may Allah bless him and grant him peace—said, “We seek refuge in Allah from the devils among humankind and jinn.” Abū Dharr said, “I asked, ‘Are there devils among human beings?’ He replied, ‘Yes, worse than the devils among the jinn.’”

The soul, too, whispers, as Allah Most High says:

“We certainly created man, and We know what his soul whispers to him.”

Here, a person’s own soul whispers to him, as in the expression “inner speech.” The Prophet—may Allah bless him and grant him peace—said:

“Allah has pardoned my community for what passes through their minds, so long as they neither speak of it nor act upon it.”

Al-Bukhārī and Muslim both recorded it in their Sahīh collections. Thus, those who whisper into people’s hearts are their own souls, the devils among the jinn, and the devils among humankind. “The retreating whisperer” encompasses whispering by both jinn and human beings. Otherwise,