He also reported God’s messenger as saying, “The devil comes to one of you saying, ‘Who created this? Who created that?’ even saying, ‘Who created your Lord?’ "When he gets that length the man should seek refuge in God and stop thinking about it.” (Bukhari and Muslim.)
The Nature of Waswas (Devilish Whispers)
This hadith from Mishkat al-Masabih 65 addresses the subtle insinuations of Satan that begin with seemingly innocent questions about creation but ultimately aim to corrupt faith. The initial questions "Who created this? Who created that?" represent Satan's gradual approach, starting with matters that can be rationally understood before progressing to the incomprehensible.
Theological Boundaries of Human Intellect
When the whisper reaches "Who created your Lord?" it crosses into territory beyond human comprehension. Classical scholars explain that Allah's essence is eternal (Qadim) without beginning, and questioning His origin stems from applying created-world logic to the Uncreated. The human intellect, being finite, cannot grasp the infinite nature of the Divine.
Ibn Hajar al-Asqalani notes in Fath al-Bari that such thoughts are not from one's true faith but are external whisperings. The believer's responsibility is to recognize these as satanic attacks rather than genuine theological inquiries.
The Prescribed Remedy
The Prophet's instruction to "seek refuge in God and stop thinking about it" provides both spiritual and practical protection. Seeking refuge (isti'adha) affirms one's dependence on Allah while rejecting Satan's influence. Ceasing such thoughts prevents the whisper from gaining foothold in the heart.
Imam al-Nawawi explains in his Sharh Sahih Muslim that this teaching protects the common believer from philosophical confusion that could undermine simple faith. The scholars distinguish between beneficial contemplation of Allah's signs and harmful speculation about His essence.
Practical Application in Faith
This hadith establishes an important principle in Islamic creed: accepting the limits of human understanding regarding divine matters. True faith requires believing in what Allah has revealed about Himself without demanding how (bila kayf).
The wisdom in this teaching preserves the believer's spiritual peace while maintaining proper reverence for Allah's transcendence. It directs intellectual energy toward understanding Allah's names, attributes, and creations rather than futile speculation about His eternal nature.