Do improper thoughts about the attributes of Allah, which cross one's mind despite seeking refuge (in Allah) and feeling distressed by them, constitute shirk (polytheism), especially with an occasional feeling of laxity? And does the noble verse apply to them: "Indeed, Allah does not forgive association with Him, but He forgives what is less than that to whom He wills"? And what is the correct definition and limits of shirk?

Transliteration: Hadith al-nafs wal-khawatir wa wasawis al-shaytan allati la tastaqirru fil-qalb la yu'akhadhu 'alayha al-insanu shar'an, ma lam yatalaffaz biha aw ya'mal biha, liqawl al-Nabi salla Allahu 'alayhi wa sallama: "Inna Allaha tajawaza 'an ummati ma haddathat bihi anfusaha ma lam ta'mal aw tatakallam."

Wa dawa'u al-waswasati al-fa''al huwa al-i'rad al-kulli 'anha wa 'adam al-iltifat ilayha, li'anna al-istislam laha yaziduha hatta tukhrija al-muwaswis ila al-junun. Waqad dhakara al-'Izz ibn 'Abd al-Salam anna dawa'a al-waswasati huwa i'tiqad annaha khatir shaytani wa muqatalatihi, fanayl thawab al-mujahid yaj'aluhu yafir.

Wa la tadullu al-waswasatu 'ala da'f al-iman aw al-shirk, fastiqbahuha wa raddaha dalil 'ala al-iman, walaysat al-waswasatu nafsuha sarih al-iman. Al-wajibu 'adam al-istirsali fi wasawisi al-shaytan.

English Translation: The thoughts of the self, fleeting ideas, and the whispers of Satan that do not settle in the heart are not held against a person Islamically, as long as they are not spoken aloud or acted upon. This is based on the saying of the Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him: "Indeed, Allah has pardoned my Ummah for whatever thoughts cross their minds, as long as they do not act upon them or speak about them."

The effective cure for obsessive whispers (waswasah) is to completely disregard them and pay them no attention, because succumbing to them increases them until they drive the afflicted person to madness. Al-'Izz ibn 'Abd al-Salam mentioned that the cure for waswasah is to believe that it is a satanic thought and to fight against it, for attaining the reward of the mujahid (striver in Allah's cause) will make it flee.

Waswasah does not indicate weakness of faith or shirk (polytheism). Rather, disliking it and rejecting it is a sign of faith, and waswasah itself is not explicit faith. What is obligatory is not to dwell on the whispers of Satan.