The More You Entertain Waswasa, The More It Grows

Waswasa are the subtle and intrusive whispers from Shaytaan or your Qareen that aim to disturb your peace, distract your focus, and weaken your imān. These whispers are not always loud or obvious. Sometimes they creep in quietly, wrapping themselves around your thoughts like smoke, making you question your purity, your intentions, your worth, and even your connection with Allah.

But here’s a truth many overlook: the more attention you give to these whispers, the louder they become.

Waswasa feeds on your focus. It grows in the space you allow it. The more you engage with it, entertain it, analyse it, or spiral into overthinking because of it, the more control it gains over you.

This is how it works:

You hear a whisper

“Was my wudhu valid?”

“Did I pray properly?”

“Maybe my intention was wrong”

“Maybe Allah is not accepting my du’ā”

At first, it feels innocent. You just want to be sincere. You want to do things right. But before long, your worship becomes filled with anxiety rather than presence. Your mind begins to race. You repeat actions over and over. You feel spiritually drained. And that is exactly what Shaytaan wants.

Waswasa isn’t always about tempting you to sin. Sometimes it’s about disturbing your connection with Allah by overwhelming you with fear, guilt, and confusion. It pushes you to chase impossible perfection, until you lose sight of the simplicity and mercy within this deen.

Allah does not burden you with more than you can bear.

Shaytaan tries to.

Waswasa convinces you that nothing you do is ever enough.

Allah reminds you that He is Al-Ghafūr and Al-Rahmān.

Waswasa traps you in self-doubt.

Allah calls you to Him with open arms.

The more you fight waswasa by engaging with it, the deeper it pulls you in. But when you learn to ignore it, to turn your attention back to Allah without getting stuck in the whisper, you starve it. You weaken its grip.

The Prophet ﷺ taught us not to entertain these whispers. He said:

“Shaytaan comes to one of you and says, Who created such and such? Who created such and such? until he says, Who created your Lord? If this happens to someone, let him say, I believe in Allah and stop thinking about it.”

(Sahih Muslim)

Notice the cure. It wasn’t argument or analysis.

It was belief. And redirection.

If the whispers you are hearing bring you fear, confusion, or obsession and distance you from Allah, that’s your sign. Shaytaan is whispering. Your Qareen is working. But you don’t have to listen.

Do not give power to the very force that is trying to take yours away.

Say A‘ūdhu billāhi min ash-Shayṭān ir-Rajīm.

Turn your heart to the Qur’ān.

Engage in dhikr.

Raise your hands in du‘ā.

And keep walking forward.

Your attention is sacred. Guard it. Protect it. Direct it toward what brings you closer to Allah. Because what you focus on grows. Let it grow into light, not shadows. Let it grow into truth, not whispers. Let it grow into remembrance of Allah, not the tricks of Shaytaan.

May Allah protect our hearts and minds from the traps of waswasa, and may He keep us grounded in clarity, sincerity, and tawakkul.

Āmīn.