Whispers of the Shaytan Concerning the Steadfastness of Non-Muslims and their Self-Sacrifice for their Cause

You have done well to call these
thoughts that cross your mind waswas. It is well known that waswas comes
from the Shaytan, because the Shaytan does not want anyone to turn back to
his Creator in repentance, regretting (past mistakes) and turning towards
what is right and good. Rather, he wants to divert people away from
religious commitment using all kinds of temptations and specious arguments.
If he is unable to do that, he resorts to waswas and stirring up doubts, to
make a person feel anxious and uncertain. Hence you will find that you will
not experience this waswas except after you have given up some sins that he
used to make appear attractive to you. When you prevailed over him in this
area, he resorted to the weakest of his tricks, which is waswas. The
Companions of the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings of Allah be upon
him) complained to him that they noticed some waswas that they disliked and
did not want to speak of, and he (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him)
said to them: “Praise be to Allah Who has reduced his tricks to whispers.”
Narrated by Abu Dawood from ‘Abd-Allah ibn ‘Abbas ; classed as saheeh
(authentic) by al-Albani as stated in Saheeh Abi Dawood. 

When he was unable to stop them
doing good, he resorted to waswas. 

Shaykh al-Islam Ibn Taymiyah
(may Allah have mercy on him) said: 

Waswas is something that happens
to everyone who turns to Allah in dhikr (remembrance) etc; it will
inevitably happen to him. So he should be steadfast and remain patient, and
persist in his dhikr and prayer, and not give up, for by persisting in it he
will foil the plot of the Shaytan and ever feeble indeed is the plot of
Shaytan (4:76). 

Every time a person wants to
turn to Allah with his heart, whispers of other matters come to him. The
Shaytan is like a bandit; every time a person wants to travel towards Allah,
he wants to intercept him. Hence it was said to one of the salaf (pious
predecessors): The Jews and the Christians say, we don’t experience waswas.
He said: They are right! What would the Shaytan do with a ruined house? 

Majmoo’ al-Fatawa,
22/608 

Hence, you should not pay any
attention to this waswas, and do not let it form an obstacle on your way
towards Allah. 

With regard to what you have
mentioned about some of the kuffar (non-Muslims) and innovators enjoying a
sense of happiness and tranquillity, you did well to say in your question,
“but I do not know if it is real.” Many of these pleasures are false,
appearing outwardly whilst inwardly the person feels lost and anxious, which
can only be dispelled when a person is truly sincere towards Allah in
submitting to Him and pleasing Him. 

Here you should pay attention to
a number of matters: 

1 – The measure of sound
‘aqeedah (creed) is not whether one feels at ease or not, rather sound
‘aqeedah is known from what is stated in the Quran and the Sunnah (prophetic
tradition) of the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings of Allah be upon
him), in accordance with the way of the Companions of the Messenger of Allah
(peace and blessings of Allah be upon him). If you are confused about any
matter, measure it against the words of Allah, may He be exalted, the Sunnah
of His Messenger (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) and the words of
his Companions. If you find that the Companions of the Messenger of Allah
said that, then you will know that it is true, and anything other than that
is false. If you are unable to do that, then ask scholars whose knowledge
and method are in accordance with the way of the Sahabah (Companions) and
the righteous salaf (predecessors). This is the only true standard. 

With regard to the happiness and
tranquility that are the result of sincerely seeking the pleasure of one’s
Lord and following the Sunnah of His Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah
be upon him), Allah says (interpretation of the meaning): 

Whoever
does righteousness, whether male or female, while he is a believer – We will
surely cause him to live a good life (16:97)

2 – Feelings of anxiety and
pressure are something relative; it varies from one person to another.
Sometimes a person may live in the most difficult of circumstances and not
experience any such feelings, because he is dead at heart. Do you not see
how a blind man may live in the most intense darkness but he does not feel
that it is dark? That it because he does not have any sight at all. The same
applies to one who is dead at heart; he does not have any feeling of life at
all, so he cannot feel a sense of loss at its absence.  

But Allah says, and His word is
true (interpretation of the meaning): 

And
whoever turns away from My remembrance – indeed, he will have a depressed
life, and We will gather him on the Day of Resurrection blind.” (20:124) 

The word “dank”
(translated above as depressed) has been interpreted in a number of ways. In
the Tafseer of Ibn Katheer (may Allah have mercy on him) it says: 

i.e., depression in this world,
so he will not feel any peace of mind or ease, rather he will feel
constricted because of his misguidance, even if he seems outwardly to be
enjoying the luxuries of life, wearing what he wants, eating what he wants,
living wherever he wants. But his heart has not found certainty and
guidance, so he is in a state of anxiety, confusion and doubt, and he will
remain in that state. This is the life of depression. 

Al-Dahhak said: it refers to
evil deeds and provision that comes from haram (unlawful) sources. 

It was narrated that Abu Sa’eed
said, concerning the phrase “a depressed life”: His grave will be
constricted for him until his ribs interlock. 

It was narrated from Abu
Hurayrah that the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) said:
“indeed, he will have a depressed life refers to the torment of the
grave.’” Narrated with a jayyid isnad (good chain). End quote. 

If we assume that a kafir
(non-Muslim) or evildoer lives a happy life in this world, even inwardly, he
is still lacking in the happiness and tranquility that the true believers
enjoy, and what awaits him of torment in al-Barzakh (life in the grave),
and thereafter is terrible hardship. We ask Allah to protect us and you from
the torment of the grave, and to make us steadfast in adhering to the truth
until we meet Him. 

Finally, you should strive to do
acts of worship and good deeds, and shun the whispers that cause anxiety.
You should acquire beneficial knowledge, for it will protect you, by Allah’s
leave, from all sorts of confusion and uncertainty. 

And Allah knows best.