Waswās
Definition
Waswas is the whispering of Shaitan into the heart — the subtle suggestions, doubts, temptations, and discouraging thoughts that Shaitan introduces into the human psyche to pull it away from Allah. Al-Ghazali presents waswas as a constant reality of the spiritual life: Shaitan has access to the heart and uses this access relentlessly. The primary defense against waswas is dhikr — the remembrance of Allah that fills the heart with a presence that leaves no room for satanic influence — and the cultivation of the spiritual awareness that allows the believer to recognise and reject satanic suggestions the moment they arise, rather than entertaining and acting on them.
As understood in the classical tradition of Imam al-Ghazali and the scholars of his school.
How the scholars use Waswās.
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"It is said that an obsession with using water in purification reflects a deficiency in a person's knowledge. Ibrahim ibn Adham reported that the first appearance of whispering, or waswas, regarding purification was noted. Hasan mentioned that there is a devil who laughs at people during wudu, called al-Walhan. It is also disliked to shake the hand in a way that splatters water, to speak during wudu, and to strike the face with water."
— Imam al-Ghazali, Book 3: The Book of Purification
Appears in
1 book in the library
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