THE SILENT WHISPERER

‘If a suggestion from Iblees assail thy mind, seek refuge with Allah; for He heareth and knoweth all things.’

—(The Noble Qur’an, Surah al-A'raf [7]:200)

There is a voice inside our minds; we call it the chatterbox or the silent whisperer. This voice tries to confuse us, creates conflict, and often succeeds in driving us crazy. This voice does not allow our mind to be silent; it creates the mental noise that we may not be aware of. It provokes us to think of the past and encourages us to regret, remember, and brood over our mistakes and fear the future. Most of us are not aware of the voice that holds the key to all our fears and failures in life.

The voice heralds doom and gloom, fear and loss, doubt and indecision. We are so accustomed to its presence that we are unaware that it is talking to us, trying to create uncertainty, vacillation and confusion. We may not be aware of the whisperer that chatters all the time, engages our mind, creating friction, hostility, hatred and animosity. Almighty Allah refers to this voice in the Noble Qur’an in Surah an-Naas [114] (mankind) as the whisperer of evil, who whispers within. In Surah al-Falaq [113] (The Dawn) the external evil whisperer is said to cast evil suggestions. He is the enemy of our soul and will do all he can to get inside our mind with his deceit. He will endeavour at all times to plant a thought of fear, suspicion, doubt, worry, evil ideas and try to torment us. He wants to wear us down. Especially when we have made a mistake and fear the future; the evil whisperer attacks us when we are at our weakest moments.

Surah al-Falaq (The Dawn) and Surah an-Naas (Mankind) are known as Al-Mu’awwithatain) or ‘The Two Protectors’. These two Surah’s Almighty Allah has blessed humankind with so that we can live a life free from fear, with the secure knowledge that Almighty Allah (SWT) is with us. We can only conquer fear when we do everything in the name of Almighty Allah. Fear is the Iblees that confuses and controls the believer. If we sincerely understand these surahs, never again will we have to surrender to fear.

Faith in Almighty Allah is the highest form of refuge, security and protection. These surahs strengthen our faith in our abilities when reciting and repeating them; we heal and empower our spiritual and our physical life. Love has its foundation in faith; out of faith we develop the power to love our Creator, all those near and dear to us and humankind. The  Noble  Qur’an helps  us  to  acquire spiritual  skills  to

develop and live an effectively satisfactory life of joy and satisfaction.

Almighty Allah blesses us with a method and special prayers to overcome the whisperer or the chatterbox. Reciting Surah al-Ikhlaas, Surah al-Falaq and Surah an-Naas every day protects us from the evil whisperer, who creates all the mental noise within of doubt, suspicion, superstition and fear.

Habitual routine recitation of these powerful surahs immobilizes the influence of Iblees. They instil in our thoughts the power to live free from fear with the secure knowledge that Almighty Allah (SWT) is with us and protects us. Reciting these three surahs repeatedly after every salat with passion, we create positive emotions that transform our fears into faith. We strengthen our willpower into positive, powerful and productive life energy.

Surah al-Ikhlaas is the declaration of Almighty Allah’s perfection, unity and purity of faith; Surah al-Falaq protects us from the whisperer without. This surah is a countermeasure, cure or neutralizer of superstition and fear. Surah an-Naas protects us from the evil whisperer from within; recital of these surahs is essential to seek refuge in Almighty Allah.

Surah al-Ikhlaas is really the concluding chapter of the Noble Qur’an; it is the declaration of Almighty Allah’s perfection, unity and purity of Faith. The noble Messenger Muhammad (S) described Surah al-Ikhlaas as equivalent to one third of the Qur’an. It is therefore said that if you recite Surah al-Ikhlaas three times, the reward is equivalent to reading the entire Qur’an.

Surah al-Ikhlaas summarizes the essence of the teachings of the  Noble Qur’an, which is the declaration of the unity and Oneness of Almighty Allah. In four short sentences it points out the fundamental errors that man can fall prey to without realizing that ‘Allah is One’ (God is One). Anything that preoccupies our mind can be a god; our faith in Almighty Allah must be pure, unadulterated.

During one of the battles, the enemies of Islam were superior to and overpowering against Hazrat Ali (ra). Despite the odds against the Muslims the battle was won. Those who fought alongside Hazrat Ali were asked what had happened. They all replied that he recited Qul hu wal la hu Ahad (Say He is Allah, the One and Only). Surah al-Ikhlaas protects us from the evil force in human beings.

In Surah al-Falaq Almighty Allah blesses us with a prayer that dispels the evil whisperer from without; this powerful surah is a blessing to humankind. Impassioned, intense faith in Almighty Allah empowers us and paralyzes the ability of Iblees to influence us with suspicion, fear and superstition.

Almighty Allah commands us to recite: Say I seek refuge with the Lord of the dawn, from the mischief of created things; from the mischief of the darkness as it overspreads; from the mischief of those who practise secret arts; and from the mischief of the  envious one as he practises envy. (The Noble Qur’an Surah [113]).

Almighty Allah (SWT) refers to Himself in this surah by His attributes The Lord of Daybreak and The Lord of Dawn. This refers to everything appearing, emerging and beginning, everything breaking into life.

Al-Falaq also means to split, tear apart and dispel the shadows of the night. Al-Falaq dispels our ignorance; enlightens us of daybreak and dawn. A‘oozu means ‘I take refuge’; we take refuge in Almighty Allah from our ignorance, the darkness of our nafs and from our doubts.

In daily recital of Surah al-Falaq we seek refuge in Almighty Allah (SWT) from unseen and unknown evil forces and hidden mysteries: the evil ones who create animosity by gossip and instil fear that can cause misery. This surah protects the receiver from gossip from our friends and relatives.

In Surah an-Naas Almighty Allah blesses us with another prayer to dispel the evil whisperer (Iblees) who creates havoc and confusion from within. This evil whisperer encourages regret, chatter and fear, and dissuades us from having faith in Almighty Allah. He whispers in our hearts and makes us worry about what may or may not happen in the future. When we have fear, we are inclined to live in the future or the past, or both.

Iblees does not want us to be present to live in the now. Iblees knows that the power of Almighty Allah is in the now; there is power in focusing in the now. That is where everything happens. Eliminate fear of failure and mistakes by having absolute faith in Almighty Allah and seek refuge in Him; this develops the ability to focus on the here and now. Almighty Allah’s power is in the now; stop dwelling in the past, and fearing the future. Live in the now, it is the Sunnah of the noble Messenger Muhammad (S).

In Surah an-Naas, Almighty Allah calls upon us to recite: Say I seek refuge with the Lord and Cherisher of mankind. The King/Ruler of mankind. The God/Judge of mankind. From the mischief of the whisperer (of evil) who withdraws after his whisper. The same who whispers into the hearts of mankind; Among the jinn and among men (The Noble Qur’an Surah [114]).

In Surah an-Naas Almighty Allah reveals the procedure required to seek refuge in Him. He explains the various types of mischief that may hinder us in our pursuit to discover Him and the truth. Almighty Allah (SWT) reveals the method to discover and experience His power. Surah an-Naas provides us with emotional protection; it is a window into the hidden world. Reciting this surah several times a day is the first step towards overcoming emotional insecurity.

The closing chapter of the Noble Qur’an is Surah an-Naas— (mankind or men). Surah an-Naas testifies that the Noble Qur’an is a guide to making humankind perfect.

Man is weak and Almighty Allah (SWT) offers guidance, protection and support to enhance, build and establish a powerful will. Character-building is the grand design of the Noble Qur’an. Almighty Allah wants us to have a forceful, compelling will. The person who follows the laws and depends on Almighty Allah will develop an unshakable, fearless and secure will—a will that will conquer and overcome the Ibleesi forces in us. This evil power or force is dominant throughout the world today.

Prayer, meditation and seeking refuge in Almighty Allah are the most effective weapons to destroy Iblees and the evil whisperers. Humankind has no one to blame except itself for neglecting the means of security and defence that Almighty Allah has provided us.

Ibn Abbas (ra) related that the noble Messenger of Allah Muhammad (S) said: ‘Satan encircles the individual’s heart; he subsides whenever one conscientiously remembers Allah, but insinuates his evil whenever one is unmindful of Him’ (Allah). 

We must always be in dhikr; this will enhance our ability to be vigilant of the evil whisperer from within and without. Surah an-Naas protects us from the whisperer who creates fearful chatter in our minds.

In Surah al-‘Araaf, Almighty Allah warns of the cunning devious method of Iblees: ‘If a suggestion from Satan assails thy (mind), seek refuge with Allah for He heareth and knoweth (all things)’ ([7]:200).

In Surah al-‘Araaf, Almighty Allah reminds us that His names empower those who remember Him: ‘Those who fear Allah when a thought of evil from Satan assaults them, bring Allah to remembrance when Lo! They clearly perceive the right way’ ([7]:201).

Iblees cannot force us to do anything without our participation. Almighty Allah warns that when Iblees assails the mind, immediately seek refuge in Him. Almighty Allah protects the men of faith and promises to direct the believer to the path of victory. Iblees wants us to be insecure; when we are insecure, we hesitate; doubt creeps in and we become derailed, ultimately lacking focus on the here and now.

Once we establish security and protection in Almighty Allah from the evil forces, we empower ourselves to take up the challenge to strive in the cause of Almighty Allah.

Almighty Allah promises the believers that have Iman (Faith) and demonstrate it practically that they will be protected by the Power of Almighty Allah. The believers do not fear the threats of Satan. No harm will ever touch those who earn the pleasure of Almighty Allah. Almighty Allah is the absolute Lord of all bounties.

There are three voices in the mind: one is from Almighty Allah, which we hear only when we are silent; the second comes from us; and the third is the voice of Iblees (the chatterbox), which continually tries to concoct and devise chatter to create chaos, confusion, conflict and leaves us in a state of indecision.

Reading Surah al-Ikhlaas, Surah al-Falaq and Surah anNaas regularly in positive affirmation demonstrates our faith, develops confidence in the future, and earns us the assurance that Almighty Allah is with the believer.

By having absolute faith in Almighty Allah we have the confidence that whatever Almighty Allah wills for us will come to us. Almighty Allah wills for us what we want. Remember ‘Allah wills for you what you will for yourself.’ Almighty Allah only wills well for His creation; if we expect good from Almighty Allah, that’s what we will attract. We will develop the will and desire to attract a positive approach to life.

Surah al-Ikhlaas, Surah al-Falaq and Surah an-Naas restore proper energy balances; good thoughts can cure illness in the body and bad thoughts can kill us. Words and thoughts have power, these surahs establish positive thoughts. It is certain that only those who spiritually pay serious attention and practise the content of these surahs will receive reward. There is power in repeating the words in these surahs, composed by none other than Almighty Allah (SWT) Himself.

There is power in silence; control the chatterbox (Iblees). Peace and calmness can only be experienced when we are able to free our minds. When the mind is settled and free, it becomes a channel for peace and gives up restlessness. Silence has a power of its own; it is a potent carrier of presence. Listen to the silence in salat.

The noble Messenger Muhammad (S) loved these surahs deeply; he said: ‘Recite Surah al-Ikhlaas, Surah al-Falaq, and Surah an-Naas as often as you can, for you shall never recite anything equivalent to them.’

Recite the names of Almighty Allah with whose names nothing on earth or heaven harms. He is the all-Hearing and all-Knowing.

‘Bismillahil-lahdi laa yaduru ma’asmihi shay’un fil ardi wa laa fissamaa’, wa huwasamee‘ ul-‘aleem’

‘In the name of Allah, with whose name nothing on earth or in the heavens harms, and He is All-Hearing, All-

Knowing.’

Rasoolullaah (sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam) said: ‘The servant who says [this] in the morning of every day and in the evening of every day... three times, nothing will cause him any harm.’

Fear has its origin in Satan. We must refuse to give place to fear. When fearful thoughts grip our mind we must immediately employ our spiritual weapon, recite Surah alIkhlaas, Surah al-Falaq and Surah an-Naas and recite the powerful names of Almighty Allah. Remember there is power in words, when we recite these surahs we are reciting the right words that trigger positivity and destroy Satan’s ability to create conflict within.