but driving them away is very easy. The Prophet ﷺ—whom Allah granted the most concise and comprehensive speech—explained this when people complained to him about the problem. He said, “If any one of you encounters it, let him seek refuge in Allah and desist.” Two directives: seek refuge in Allah—say, “Aʿūdhu billāhi min ash-shayṭān ir-rajīm” (I seek refuge in Allah from Satan, the accursed), but say it with genuine truthfulness, fully convinced that there is no escape from Allah except by turning to Him—and then desist: turn away from the thought completely and remind yourself, “Why do I perform wuḍūʾ and pray? Is it not because I hope in Allah and fear Him?” If he follows this method—though at first he may feel constrained, struggle, and suffer—this discomfort is temporary; soon the whisperings disappear altogether, for the Messenger ﷺ never speaks from whims. He said, “Let him seek refuge and let him desist.”

“Say: I seek refuge with the Lord of mankind, the Sovereign of mankind, the God of mankind, from the evil of the sneaking whisperer.” These three clauses—these three verses—contain the full spectrum of monotheism: “the Lord of mankind” refers to Lordship (tawḥīd al-rubūbiyyah); “the Sovereign of mankind” concerns the divine names and attributes, for sovereignty is deserved only by one whose names and attributes are perfect; “the God of mankind” pertains to worship (tawḥīd al-ulūhiyyah). “From the evil of the whisperer who withdraws, who whispers in the breasts of mankind, whether of jinn or of humankind.”

The scholars say that al-khannās—the “withdrawer”—is the one who retreats whenever Allah is mentioned. Hence the ḥadīth: “If the ghūls appear in terrifying forms, repel them by giving the call to prayer.”