is deemed an unbeliever even if he says, “I testify that there is no god but Allah and that Muhammad is the Messenger of Allah,” because he utters it without real certainty. How could anyone make that confession with genuine conviction yet quit the prayer and persist in abandoning it—Allah’s protection is sought?

At times, however, satanic misgivings about Allah may flit across the believer’s heart. These misgivings do not harm him in the least, for the Prophet—peace and blessings be upon him—said, “That is plain faith.” The point is not that the whispers themselves are faith, but that their very occurrence signals a heart of pure faith. Satan approaches a sound, doubt-free heart and tries to plant misgivings in it, hoping to make it doubt or to spoil its faith. He comes to the heart that is vibrant with belief; yet if the believer rebuffs him, says, “I seek refuge in Allah from the accursed Satan,” remembers Allah, glorifies Him, and turns away from those thoughts, they disappear. Satan does not bother with a ruined heart in order to corrupt it, for a ruined heart is already ruined.

It is related that Ibn Masʿūd—or Ibn ʿAbbās—may Allah be pleased with them—was approached