iswas

Iswas is a term that may refer to the Arabic concept waswas, usually transliterated as waswas or waswasah in English. The word derives from the Arabic root w-s-w-s, which denotes whispering or insinuation. In transliteration, iswas can arise from attempts to render short vowels or from typographical variants; as such, it is not a standard scholarly spelling but may appear in some sources.

In Islamic theology, waswasah refers to the whisperings of Satan or intrusive doubts that aim to turn a person away from virtue. The Qur’an describes the “evil of the whisperer who withdraws” in Surah An-Nas (114:4). Muslim scholars distinguish between external insinuations from Satan and internal doubts arising from the nafs (the self). Protection against waswas is traditionally sought through remembrance of God (dhikr), prayer, and seeking refuge in God from the accursed shaitan.

Historically, commentators such as al-Ghazali and Ibn al-Qayyim discuss waswas as a spiritual trial affecting faith, conscience, and moral decision-making. In contemporary usage, the term has also entered popular language to denote intrusive thoughts, temptations, or lingering doubts, particularly within a religious or moral context.

Because iswas is not a standardized English term, most reliable references spell it as waswas or waswasah. When encountered, it is typically treated as a variant of the Arabic concept rather than a separate term.

See also: Satan, Qur’an, hadith, dhikr, nafs, shaitan, khannas.