Whisper of angels and devils

24-4-2004 | IslamWeb

Question:

I know that angels can whisper in the hearts of humans as well as devils. How can you distinguish between the two? Please give examples from the Hadith.

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Answer:

Praise be to Allah, the Lord of the Worlds; and may His blessings and peace be upon our Prophet Muhammad and upon all his Family and Companions.

 

Among the things that help the Muslim distinguish between these two matters, is to know the following:

-         That an angel enjoins good and guides people to do good, and warns people from evil deeds.

-         But Satan enjoins people to do a sin or an innovation or become disbelievers (Kafir), and does not order good except for deception.

The evidence about the above is in the Hadith reported by Tirmizi and narrated by Abdul Allah Ibn Masoud, who said: ‘The Prophet (Sallallahu Alaihi wa Sallam) said, “Both Satan and angels are fellow-travelers of the child of Adam.  However, Satan gives his pledge about evil things and denies the truth; but the angels promise good and confirm the truth, so if someone finds the latter, then he has to thank Allah, and if he finds the former, he has to seek refuge in Allah from Satan, then he has to recite “Satan warns you about poverty and orders you to do adultery and fornication.”  [Tirmizi said 'it is a sound Hadith']

We would like to draw the attention of this brother to the fact that such a feeling (as stated in the Hadith) is not considered a basis for any Shariah rules.  So, no disliked or forbidden thing is rendered permissible, and no permissible action or desirable action is rendered obligatory just by the whispers or something seen in a dream.  And you are not required to do anything about it.

 

Allah knows best.