I Seek Refuge

Bismillahi

Have you been in the unfortunate situation when you slip into something haram and in the aftermath you can’t wrap your head around exactly how it happened? How did you go from A to B instantaneously? How did you lose yourself in that moment? It is as if an inaudible whisper suggested the action to you or assured you that was “okay” or that it would be “just this once”. We all have to fight to resist shaytan and his whispers. He waits for the moment when something haram crosses our mind and in that split second he whispers leading us away from what we know is right to something that our heart desires and yearns for.

The Quran says “If a suggestion from satan assails thy mind, seek refuge with Allah; For He heareth and knoweth all things. Those who fear Allah when a thought of evil from satan assaults, bring Allah to remembrance… (7:200-201). Allah is offering His help and telling us exactly what to do in these situations. We need Allah to make us stronger, in order to contain these negative desires within us that is privy to shaytans whispering. And when we feel an urge, we must call on Allah. We can resist shaytan but we cannot do it alone. We need Allah to help us and guide us. And Allah is the best helper and best guide.

I seek refuge with Allah from shaytan the accursed. Each day I say those words, I find myself more aware and sensitize to my environment. I see no, hear no, and speak no evil. My eyes are watching God and my heart calling onto Him. I resist the urge to fall into behaviors or actions that are contrary to Islamic teaching. And, I strive to control my desires and continuously call on Allah all day long. Also, I try to purify my heart. Shaytan can only act on our haram desires, he cannot act without them. We must all strive to purify our hearts to contain these negative desires. We must all call on Allah constantly, remember Him, praise Him, and draw close to Him.

May Allah make it easy for all of us. May He help us fight shaytan and our desires. May He guide us closer and closer to the straight path. And may Allah forgive us all our sins. Amin.