said that the apparent meaning of the Hadith is that the Prophet (peace be upon him) ordered them to drive away such evil thoughts by distracting attention from them without seeking evidence or nullification.
He added that thoughts are of two types (settled and unsettled). The unsettled thoughts, which are not brought forth by doubt that suddenly arises, are the ones that can be warded off by avoiding them. This is what is meant by the Hadith, and such thoughts are called Waswasah. Accordingly, baseless incidental thoughts are to be dispelled without considering proofs since these thoughts are baseless. As for settled thoughts, which are brought forth by doubts, they can only be dispelled by evidence and examining refutation. And Allah knows best.
As for the Prophet's words: "let him seek refuge with Allah and stop such thoughts," it means that whenever one experiences such Waswasah, they should resort to Allah (Exalted be He) and seek His Help to ward off such evil and stop such thoughts. One should know that such thoughts are provoked by Satan, who seeks to spread corruption and temptation. A Muslim should resist these satanic insinuations and should put an end to them by occupying oneself with other useful thoughts. And Allah knows best. (AlNawawy, may Allah be merciful to him, p. 156)
Commenting on the Hadith narrated on the authority of Abu Hurayrah which is mentioned at the beginning of the answer, AlHafiz said in Fath AlBari: Regarding the Prophet's words: 'Who created your Lord?' When he reaches this far (i.e., when he inspires such a question), let him seek refuge with Allah and stop such thoughts.
means that one should not indulge in such thoughts, but rather seek the Help of Allah to dispel such thoughts. One should realize that Satan wants to spoil their religion and mind with these insinuations. A Muslim should strive hard to dispel such thoughts by occupying themselves with other useful things. AlKhattaby said: "The significance of this Hadith is that when Satan insinuates a person with such a thought, and the person seeks refuge with Allah and stops indulging with him, such a thought will be dispelled. Otherwise, if a human being makes such insinuation, it could be refuted with proofs. The difference between them is that the insinuation of a human being takes the form of a question and answer and is restricted, so one can put an end to it by following the right way of argumentation. On the other hand, insinuations of Satan have no end; rather, whenever an insinuation is refuted with evidence, Satan makes another insinuation until man is thrown into confusion. We seek refuge with Allah from that!"
AlKhattaby said: "His (Satan) saying: 'Who has created your Lord?' are nonsensical words; its end contradicts its beginning, for it is impossible for the Creator to be created.
Besides, if the direction the question takes was plausible, it would necessitate sequence which is impossible. Reason has proven that creatures are in need of a creator; so if He is in need of a creator, He will be among the creatures."
Differentiating between Satan's insinuations and human's talk is subject to consideration, for it was authentically reported by Muslim on the authority of Hisham ibn 'Urwah from his father concerning the following Hadith: "People will keep on asking, until it is said: 'Allah has created the creation, who, then, has created Allah?' Whoever encounters anything like that, let him say, 'I believe in Allah.'" that abstinence from discussing this subject is equally required in case of any questioner about it, whether a human or else.
In another narration by Muslim on the authority of Abu Hurayrah, he said: "Two asked me about it." Since questioning about this is invalid, it does not deserve an answer. Or it is an abstinence from discussing this in compliance with the command of refraining from indulgence in the subject of the Attributes and Essence of Allah. AlMaziry said: "Thoughts are of two types (settled and unsettled). The unsettled thoughts, which are not brought forth by doubt, are the ones that can be warded off by avoiding them. The Hadith applies to such thoughts; these and the like are called Waswasah. As for settled thoughts that arise from doubt, they can only be dispelled by reasoning and evidence."
A lTayyiby said: "He (peace be upon him) ordered (in this case) to seek refuge with Allah and to occupy oneself with something else, rather than contemplate and argue, for knowing that Allah (Glorified and Exalted be He) is not in need of a creator is an essential matter that is not open to controversy. Nourishing this thought only increases one's bewilderment. The only way out is to resort to Allah (Exalted be He) and seek His Protection. The Hadith also indicates disapproval of asking many questions about things that are not of one's concern or one is not in need of. It also includes one of the signs of his Prophethood that is, foretelling what is going to happen and it did."
Shaykh AlIslam, Ibn Taymiyyah (may Allah be merciful to him) said in his book, Muwafaqat Sahih AlManqul L iSaryh AlMa'qul: "Sequence means sequence of effects. i.e., every act has a doer (maker) who in turn has a doer and so on. This is Batil (null and void) according to sound reason and agreement of rational people. This is the sequence against which the Prophet (peace be upon him) ordered to seek refuge with Allah and to give it up. The person here should say, 'I believe in Allah' as mentionedin the Two Sahih (authentic) Books of Hadith (i.e. AlBukhari and Muslim)on the authority of Abu
Hurayrah who reported that the Prophet (peace be upon him) said: "Satan comes to one of you and says, 'Who created such and such? Who created such and such?' until he says, 'Who created your Lord?' When he reaches this far (i.e., when he inspires such a question), let him seek refuge with Allah and stop such thoughts." In another narration: "People will keep on asking, until it is said:
' Allah has created the creation, who, then, has created Allah?'" He (Abu Hurayrah) said, "While I was in the Masjid (mosque), some Bedouin people came to me and said, 'O Abu Hurayrah! This is Allah, Who created the creation, but who, then, created Allah?' So he grabbed some pebbles in his hand and flung them at them, then he said, 'Get up, Get up! My close friend (the Prophet) told the truth.'In Sahih AlBukhari,it was also narrated on the authority of Anas ibn Malik (may Allah be pleased with him) that the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) said: "Allah has said, 'Verily your Ummah would constantly question this and that until they would say: 'Well, it is Allah Who has created the creation, but who has created Allah?'" This is end of Ibn Taymiyyah's words.
It may now be clear to you, dear questioner, and your colleague who brought forth this doubt, through the Ayahs, Hadiths and scholarly opinions we have mentioned how they eradicate such doubts completely and show their falsity. Allah (Glorified be He) has no partner, peer or equal. He is perfect in His Essence, Attributes and Deeds. He is the Creator of everything and anything other than Him is created.
Allah tells us in His TruthClarifying Book and also through His Honest Messenger (peace be upon him) what should we believe regarding Him, the way to know Him and the evidence to His Existence through His Names, Attributes and seen Signs in the heaven, earth, mountains, seas, rivers and all His other creatures, including the very self of man that testifies to Allah's Power, Grandeur and Perfect Knowledge and Wisdom. Allah (Glorified and Exalted be He) says: Verily! In the creation of the heavens and the earth, and in the alternation of night and day, there are indeed signs for men of understanding. and: And on the earth are signs for those who have Faith with certainty.
And also in your ownselves. Will you not then see?
As for the essence of His Self and the nature of His Attributes, they are matters of the Ghayb (the Unseen) which He did not inform us of and so one should believe in and show compliance without inquiring into them, following the example of the Salaf, Sahabah (may Allah be pleased with them) and their successors in righteousness.
They did not indulge in or ask about this; rather, they believed in Allah (Glorified be He) and what He tells about Himself in His Book and what His Messenger Muhammad (peace be upon him) conveyed without any addition. They believed that there is nothing like Him; and He is the AllHearer, the AllSeer. Whoever experiences such Waswasah should feel their gravity and renounce them strongly from the bottom of the heart, saying: "I believe in Allah and His Messengers" and seek refuge with Allah from the incitements of Satan. They should dispel and discard them as the Messenger (peace be upon him) ordered us in the Hadiths mentioned above. He (peace be upon him) stressed that regarding such thoughts as terrible and renouncing them is pure Iman. One should not carry on with those who inquire into this subject, for this leads to great evil and endless doubts. Therefore, the best cure to put an end to such insinuations and to be safe from them is to obey and rely on the commandments of the Prophet (peace be upon him) and to give up indulging in them. This is in accordance with the Saying of Allah (Glorified and Exalted be He): And if an evil whisper from Shaitân (Satan) tries to turn you away (O Muhammad ﺻﻠﻰ ﺍﷲ ﻋﻠﻴﻪ ﻭﺳﻠﻢ) (from doing good), then seek refuge in Allâh. Verily, He is the All Hearer, the AllKnower.
Seeking refuge with Allah (Glorified be He), resorting to Him and avoiding the subjects introduced by skeptics and empty talkers as philosophers and whoever followed their way who delve into the subject of Allah's Names and Attributes and whatever Allah kept for His Own Knowledge, without having a plea or evidence is the way of the people of righteousness and faith. It is the way of safety, salvation and rescue from the plots of devils among human beings and Jinn. May Allah save you, all Muslims and me from their tricks! Therefore, when some people asked Abu Hurayrah (may Allah be pleased with him) about such insinuations, he threw pebbles at them and did not answer them. He only said, "My close friend (the Prophet) told the truth."
A Muslim, in this regard, should recite the EverGlorious Qur'an frequently and contemplate it, for it clarifies Allah's Attributes and Greatness and gives evidence to His Existence, that instills faith, love and glorification in the hearts. It creates firm belief that Allah (Glorified be He) is the Lord of everything and the Creator of everything in the world. There is no god or lord except Him.
A Muslim should also ask Allah to grant them more useful knowledge, insight, steadfastness to truth and safety from falling into misguidance after guidance. He (Glorified be He) directs and urges His Servants to ask for His Favors, and promises them to answer their demands. He (Glorified and Exalted be He) says: And your Lord said: "Invoke Me, [i.e. believe in My Oneness (Islâmic Monotheism) and ask Me for anything] I will respond to your (invocation). Verily! Those who scorn My worship [i.e. do not invoke Me, and do not believe in My Oneness, (Islâmic Monotheism)] they will surely enter Hell in humiliation!" There are so many Ayahs replete with this meaning.
I ask Allah to guide us, your colleague and all other Muslims to understand religion and to keep us from deluding trials, tricks and insinuations of the devils among mankind and Jinn. Allah is the One Who is Capable of doing so. Assalamu 'alaykum warahmatullah wabarakatuh (May Allah's Peace, Mercy, and Blessings be upon you!) May Peace and blessings of Allah be upon His Servant and our Prophet Muhammad, his family and Companions!