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The question

Does the verse: {So whoever Allah wants to guide, He expands his breast to Islam; and whoever He wants to misguide, He makes his breast tight and constricted as though he were ascending into the sky. Thus does Allah place defilement upon those who do not believe} include the believer who suffers from whispers, distress, and sadness?

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Source: FtawySummarized from the full answer at Ftawy · reviewed Sep 2, 20261 min readAlso available in العربية
The answer

The obsessive whispers (waswasah) and intrusive thoughts over which a person has no control are forgiven by Allah, as long as one does not act upon them or speak them. They are, in fact, a sign of sound belief, strong faith, and the servant's dislike for them. As stated in the Hadith: "That is pure faith."

As for the expansion of the breast (inshirah as-sadr), it is a sign that Allah intends good for His servant. It is a light cast into the heart of the believer, allowing it to encompass Tawhid (monotheism) and faith. Its indications are turning towards the abode of eternity, turning away from the abode of delusion, and preparing for death. This is in contrast to one whom Allah intends to lead astray, for whom He makes their breast constricted and tight, unable to accommodate any guidance.

Summarized from the full answer at Ftawy · reviewed Sep 2, 2026

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