Was-was is something that happens to everyone who turns to Allaah in Dhikr.

Sheikhul-Islaam Ibn Tayymiyyah رحمه الله said,

“Was-was is something that happens to everyone who turns to Allaah in Dhikr. 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.’

[Soorah an-Nisa 4: 76]

Every time a person wants to turn his heart to Allaah, whispers of other matters come to him. The Shaytan is like a bandit; every time a person wants to travel towards Allaah, he wants to intercept him.

Hence, it was said to one of the Salaf: ‘The Jews and the Christians say, we don’t experience was-waas.’ He replied, ‘They are right! What would Shaytan do with a ruined house?’

[Majmoo al-Fatawa (22/608)]