As we know, the goal set for humans in divine teachings is worship and servitude to God, as stated in the Holy Quran:
“I have not created jinn and humans except to worship Me.” [1]
However, the reality is that on the path of servitude, there are obstacles such as desires of the self and satanic whispers. Humans are in a world filled with strong and misleading worldly attractions, to the extent that at every step they might fall into a trap, and with every thought or glance, face a new threat. As the Quran mentions:
“The love of desires—[what is pleasurable for the human soul and that which it longs for]—of women, children, accumulated treasures of gold and silver, fine horses, cattle, and tilled land, has been made to seem attractive to mankind. These are the joys of worldly life, but with God is the best of destinations.” [2]
On the other hand, Satan, the sworn and eternal enemy of humanity, has clearly declared his decisive plan to mislead all of mankind before God:
“I will surely sit in wait for them on Your straight path. Then I will come to them from before them and from behind them, and from their right and from their left. And You will not find most of them grateful [to You].” [3]
Thus, we humans are exposed to harm from both the desirous soul and the cunning Satan, and confronting these two obstacles of servitude requires attention, reflection, and solutions[4]. Throughout history, followers of the Ahl al-Bayt (peace be upon them) have sought guidance. For example, there is the story of a man who wrote a letter to Imam Jawad (peace be upon him) complaining of the whispers that came to his mind. Imam Jawad (peace be upon him) replied to him:
“Indeed, the great and honorable God, if He wills, will make you steadfast and will not give Satan any way over you. Some people complained to the Prophet about the intrusive thoughts that came to their hearts, and they said that if the wind took them to faraway places or they were torn apart, they would rather it happen than discuss those whispers. The Prophet (peace be upon him) said: ‘Did you understand this? (That these thoughts are very troubling for you?)’ They said, ‘Yes.’ He said: ‘By the One in Whose hand is my soul, this is pure faith. So whenever you feel these whispers, say: “We believe in God and His Messenger, and there is no power nor strength except with God.”‘”[5]
Such involuntary and unwelcome thoughts, because they are incompatible with our faith and beliefs, are unpleasant to us. When such whispers occur, we must rely on God and remain steadfast in our duties, just as we have been in the past. We should not slack in our actions or allow any distortion in the practices we had maintained due to these bothersome whispers. According to Imam Jawad (peace be upon him), one of the strategies the Imams (peace be upon them) provide to face the pitfalls and challenges of life is to seek refuge in God’s infinite power. If a person faces a wild animal, they will immediately seek a way to escape or a powerful tool to find safety; they would not just stand still and wait to be harmed by the animal. The reality of seeking refuge in God is the same—it is to seek protection from Satan’s attack by turning to the Almighty.
In other words, to overcome the obstacles of servitude during life’s ups and downs and in moments of trial and tribulation, recalling one’s heartfelt belief and faith in God and His Messenger, as well as the covenant of servitude and seeking refuge and help from the Lord, is key. For all power and strength come from Him, and He is capable of everything.
Finally, it is important to note that this approach—like many other solutions—requires perseverance and consistency. Any setbacks along the way should not cause the individual’s resolve to waver.
Footnotes:
[1] Quran, Surah Dhariyat, verse 56
[2] Quran, Surah Aal-e-Imran, verse 14
[3] Quran, Surah A’raf, verses 16 and 17
[4] The existence of obstacles on the path of servitude is due to divine wisdom, one of which is the test of the servants.
[5] Al-Kafi, Volume 4, Book on Whispering and Self-Talk, Hadith Number 4