IN THE NAME OF ALLAH THE MOST GRACIOUS, THE MOST MERCIFUL
Allah is so Merciful that every year in Ramadan, shaytan would be locked up in order to assist you and me to focus on our acts of worship. This is one of the reasons why you will find mosques are full in London in all its prayers, especially the Fajr prayers, and why alhamdulillah we are able to do more good deeds and prevent ourselves from disobeying Allah.
The report in as-Saheehayn from Abu Hurayrah (may Allah be pleased with him) who said: The Messenger of Allah (blessings and peace of Allah be upon him) said: “When Ramadan begins, the gates of Paradise are opened and the gates of Hell are closed, and the devils are put in chains.” Narrated by al-Bukhaari (3277) and Muslim (1079).
According to a version narrated by Muslim, “the devils are chained up.”
Another such report is the hadith of Abu Hurayrah (may Allah be pleased with him) who said: The Messenger of Allah (blessings and peace of Allah be upon him) said: “When the first night of Ramadan comes, the devils and mischievous jinn are chained up, and the gates of Hell are closed, and none of its gates are opened. The gates of Paradise are opened and none of its gates are closed …” Narrated by at-Tirmidhi (682) and Ibn Maajah (1642). It was classed as hasan by al-Albaani in Saheeh al-Jaami‘ (759).
We must take note of Allah’s Reminder when shaytan threatened Allah to mislead us:
إِنَّ عِبادي لَيسَ لَكَ عَلَيهِم سُلطانٌ إِلّا مَنِ اتَّبَعَكَ مِنَ الغاوينَ
“Certainly, you shall have no authority over My slaves, except those who follow you of the Ghawin (Mushrikun and those who go astray, criminals, polytheists, and evil-doers, etc.). 15: 42
So in very clear terms, Allah Reminded us that shaytan is not so powerful that we are forced to follow him, because shaytan actually has no authority over us. In fact when all matters have been settled and some people who CHOSE to follow the ways of shayatin entered Hellfire, shaytan would be disassociating himself from the dwellers of the Hellfire:
وَقالَ الشَّيطانُ لَمّا قُضِيَ الأَمرُ إِنَّ اللَّهَ وَعَدَكُم وَعدَ الحَقِّ وَوَعَدتُكُم فَأَخلَفتُكُم ۖ وَما كانَ لِيَ عَلَيكُم مِن سُلطانٍ إِلّا أَن دَعَوتُكُم فَاستَجَبتُم لي ۖ فَلا تَلوموني وَلوموا أَنفُسَكُم ۖ ما أَنا بِمُصرِخِكُم وَما أَنتُم بِمُصرِخِيَّ ۖ إِنّي كَفَرتُ بِما أَشرَكتُمونِ مِن قَبلُ ۗ إِنَّ الظّالِمينَ لَهُم عَذابٌ أَليمٌ
“And Shaitan (Satan) will say when the matter has been decided: “Verily, Allah promised you a promise of truth. And I too promised you, but I betrayed you. I had no authority over you except that I called you, so you responded to me. So blame me not, but blame yourselves. I cannot help you, nor can you help me. I deny your former act in associating me (Satan) as a partner with Allah (by obeying me in the life of the world). Verily, there is a painful torment for the Zalimun (polytheists and wrong-doers, etc.).” 14: 22
So let us first remind ourselves about how shaytan is very determined to destroy us and ensure that we do not obey Allah:
SHAYTAN’S PLAN
Allah Warned us in the Qur’an about shaytan’s threats:
قالَ فَبِما أَغوَيتَني لَأَقعُدَنَّ لَهُم صِراطَكَ المُستَقيمَ
ثُمَّ لَآتِيَنَّهُم مِن بَينِ أَيديهِم وَمِن خَلفِهِم وَعَن أَيمانِهِم وَعَن شَمائِلِهِم ۖ وَلا تَجِدُ أَكثَرَهُم شاكِرينَ
“(Iblis) said: “Because You have sent me astray, surely I will sit in wait against them (human beings) on Your Straight Path. Then I will come to them from before them and behind them, from their right and from their left, and You will not find most of them as thankful ones (i.e. they will not be dutiful to You).” 7: 16-17
Allah Reminded NOT JUST THE MUSLIMS, BUT THE WHOLE OF MANKIND to be careful of shaytan:
يا بَني آدَمَ لا يَفتِنَنَّكُمُ الشَّيطانُ كَما أَخرَجَ أَبَوَيكُم مِنَ الجَنَّةِ يَنزِعُ عَنهُما لِباسَهُما لِيُرِيَهُما سَوآتِهِما ۗ إِنَّهُ يَراكُم هُوَ وَقَبيلُهُ مِن حَيثُ لا تَرَونَهُم ۗ إِنّا جَعَلنَا الشَّياطينَ أَولِياءَ لِلَّذينَ لا يُؤمِنونَ
“O Children of Adam! Let not Shaitan (Satan) deceive you, as he got your parents [Adam and Hawwa (Eve)] out of Paradise, stripping them of their raiments, to show them their private parts. Verily, he and Qabiluhu (his soldiers from the jinns or his tribe) see you from where you cannot see them. Verily, We made the Shayatin (devils) Auliya’ (protectors and helpers) for those who believe not.” 7: 27
إِنَّ الشَّيطانَ لَكُم عَدُوٌّ فَاتَّخِذوهُ عَدُوًّا ۚ إِنَّما يَدعو حِزبَهُ لِيَكونوا مِن أَصحابِ السَّعيرِ
“Surely, Shaitan (Satan) is an enemy to you, so take (treat) him as an enemy. He only invites his Hizb (followers) that they may become the dwellers of the blazing Fire.” 35: 6
Therefore everyone of us believers must seriously take Islam as a serious enemy against our obedience and submission to Allah.
The Tribulation Most Beloved to Shaytan
Jābir reported: The Messenger of Allāh (sallAllāhu ʿʿalayh wasallam), said, “Verily, Satan places his throne over the water and he sends out his troops. The closest to him in rank are the greatest at causing tribulations. One of them says: I have done this and this. Satan says: You have done nothing. Another one says: I did not leave this man alone until I separated him from his wife. Satan embraces him and he says: You have done well.”[Muslim 2814]
From amongst the biggest aims of Shaytān is the splitting of the husband and the wife, specifically the Muslim couple. For Iblīs knows that the unity of the Muslim family is the source of a unified ummah and the strength of Islām; something detested by Iblīs. Conversely, the fragmentation of the Muslim family is indeed the source of a fragmented ummah and weakness for Islām.
This point is oft-mentioned but its importance cannot be stressed enough. That is, that if we want to see unity in the Muslim ummah we need to ensure that our households are unified. For it is this unity within the household that will lead to the unification of wider families, communities, cities, nations and thus the ummah at large.
Let us be weary of the traps of Shaytān and not be deceived. Let us not call for the unity of Muslims globally except that we are striving to achieve this unity in our homes.
How He Intends to Achieve it
Iblīs employs a plethora of methods to cause strife between the husband and wife. These methods include whispers into the hearts, instilling doubts, suspicion, stirring passions and desires, fear, anger, forgetfulness, false promises, and wishful thinking.
Likewise, Shaytān encourages negligence, extremism, alcohol, idolatry, gambling, witchcraft, fortune-telling, belittling of sins and the list goes on.
The aim of this article however is to focus on some simple prophetic methods we can utilise in order to protect ourselves and our families from his ploys.
OUR MAIN WEAPON AGAINST SHAYTAN IS OF COURSE ALLAH:
“And if an evil whisper from Shaitan (Satan) tries to turn you away (O Muhammad SallAllahu ‘alayhi wa sallam) (from doing good, etc.), then seek refuge in Allah. Verily, He is the All-Hearer, the All-Knower. 41: 36
We must therefore seek help in Allah in every single thing that we do everyday, with sayings and recitations and dhikr that has been taught in the Qur’an and authentic hadeeths
The Prophet (peace be upon him) said:
“There is no one among you but a companion from among the jinn has been assigned to him.” [Narrated by ‘Abd-Allah ibn Mas’ood, Muslim 2814]
This companion from among the jinn whom Allah has assigned to each of us is a Shaitan (Satan – devil) known as the Qarin (companion). The Qarin’s main objective is to take you off the straight path of Allah by constantly whispering at you, in the bid that you will take the bait, the bait to your own destruction.
It’s crystal clear that our Qarin is a pure enemy to us and will unwaveringly call us to misguidance. No blame can be placed on him because we willingly choose to fall into his trap as only we have the ability turn a whisper or thought or an idea into an action of ours and not the Qarin. So the question in hand is how can we prevent, remove and weaken the advancements of this clear enemy to us?
The Prophet (peace be upon him) said:
“Indeed, the believer exhausts/weakens his Shaitan, the way anyone of you exhausts/weakens their camel on a journey.” [Ahmad 2/380]
1. Be insistent upon reciting a daily portion of the Qur’an.
“And whosoever turns away (blinds himself) from the remembrance of the Most Beneficent (Allah) (i.e. this Quran and worship of Allah), We appoint for him Shaitan (Satan devil) to be a Qarin (an intimate companion) to him.” [Qur’an 43:36]
Qees ibn Al-Hajjaaj said: The Shaitan said to me, ‘I came to you like a camel (which is fat and ready to be slaughtered) and now I’m like a sparrow’, so I said, ‘how is that?’ He replied, ‘You have weakened me with the book of Allah (i.e. recitation of Qur’an).’
2. Remember Allah at every available moment and ask Allah to help you against the enemy.
Ibn Al-Qayyim said: ‘The remembrance of Allah represses the Shaitan, it puts him in distress, and afflicts injuries upon him like the injuries whips inflict when used. This is why the Shaitan of the believer becomes weak and frail. This is because every time the Shaitan interferes with him, the believer releases upon him his whips of remembrance, of turning towards Allah, of seeking forgiveness and obedience. Thus, his Shaitan will be in a severe state of punishment. On the other hand, the Shaitan of the evil-doer gets a lot stronger and arrogant due to him being in a state of leisure and gentleness. So whoever doesn’t punish their Shaitan in this world with his remembrance of Allah, his monotheism, his seeking forgiveness and his obedience towards Allah then they will be punished by their Shaitan with the blazing fire in the hereafter. So there is no escape from whether you punish your Shaitan or get punished by him.’ [Badai’ Al-Fawa’id]
3. Seek refuge with Allah and be Insistent upon the invocations the Prophet (peace be upon him) taught us.
“And if an evil whisper comes to you from Shaitan, then seek refuge with Allah. Verily, He is the All-Hearer, All-Knower.” [Qur’an 7:200]
Ibn Mas’ood said: ‘Indeed, when the Shaitan of the believer meets the Shaitan of the disbeliever, he sees the Shaitan of the believer as pale, covered with dirt and terribly weak. The Shaitan of the disbeliever asks him: “What happened to you?! Woe be unto you! You have been destroyed!” So the Shaitan of the believer will respond, “No, by Allah, he (the believer) doesn’t have anything essential with him except that when he eats, drinks, sleeps and enters his house he remembers the name of Allah.” Then the Shaitan of the disbeliever says, “but I eat from his (disbeliever’s) food, drink from his drinks, and sleep on his bed.” So one is stingy and the other is weak and overpowered.’ [Al-Musannaf 10/419 and At-Tabarani 9/156 with an authentic chain]
Recite the following 10 or 100 times in a day and it will protect you from the Shaitan for the entire day until evening comes. [Al-Bukhaari 31119 and Muslim 2691]
(لا إله إلا الله وحده لا شريك له، له الملك وله الحمد، وهو على كل شيء قدير)
La ilaha ill-Allah wahdahu la shareeka lah, lahu’l-mulk wa lahu’l-hamd wa huwa ‘ala kulli shayin qadeer (There is no god except Allah Alone with no partner or associate; His is the Sovereignty and His is the praise, and He is able to do all things).
Seek refuge with Allah
Here are a few examples:
When entering the washroom: (اللهم إني أعوذ بك من الخبث والخبائث)
Allaahumma inni a’oodhu bika min al-khubthi wa’l-khabaa’ith (O Allah, I seek refuge with You from the male and female devils).
When one is angry: (أعوذ بالله من الشيطان الرجيم)
A’oodhu Billaahi min al-Shaitan ir-rajeem (I seek refuge with Allah from the accursed Shaitan).
When having marital relations: (بسم الله اللهم جنبنا الشيطان وجنب الشيطان ما رزقتنا)
Bismillaah Allaahumma jannibna al-Shaitan wa jannib al-Shaitana ma razaqtana (In the name of Allah, O Allaah, keep the Shaitan away from us and keep the Shaitan away from that which You may bless us with).
When leaving the home
Anas b. Mālik (radiy Allāhu ʿanhu) reported: Prophet Muhammad (sallAllāhu ʿalayhi wasallam) said, “Whoever says upon leaving his house:
بِسْمِ اللّٰهِ، تَوَكَّلْتُ عَلَى اللّٰهِ، وَلَا حَوْلَ وَلَا قُوَّةَ إِلَّا بِاللّٰهِ
Bismillāhi, tawakkaltu ‘alallāhi, wa lā hawla wa lā quwwata illā billāh
In the Name of Allāh, I have placed my trust in Allāh; there is no might and no power except by Allāh.
It will be said to him: ‘You are guided, defended and protected.’ The devil will go far away from him.”[at Tarmidhi]
Abū Dawūd reported it with this addition: “One devil will say to another: ‘How can you deal with a man who has been guided, defended and protected?’”[Abu Daud]
By simply uttering this short statement with presence of mind as we depart our homes each day, we will benefit from significant protection; the impact of which cannot be overstated. We should all memorise this du’ā and ensure we put it to good use.
At a stop on our journey
When travelling, possibly a distance, to reach work or some meeting, another powerful means of protection is the statement reported by Khawla bt. Hakim Sulamiyya, who said “I heard Allāh’s Messenger (sallAllāhu ʿalayhi wasallam) saying: ‘When anyone lands at a place, and then says:
أَعُوْذُ بِكَلِمَاتِ اللّهِ التَّامّـَاتِ مِنْ شَرِّ مَا خَلَقَ
A’ūthu bikalimātil-lāhit-tāmmāti min sharri mā khalaq
“I seek protection in the perfect words of Allāh from every evil that He has created.”
(Recite three times)
Nothing would harm him until he marches from that stopping place.”[Muslim, 2708]
Once again, this short statement has strong implications and is one that we could easily remember to mention every time we stop during a journey. Whilst travelling, especially if doing so without good company, we are even more susceptible to the whispers of Shaytān and thus ought to take extra care.
Sūrat Al-Baqarah
The Prophet (sallAllāhu ʿalayhi wasallam) said: “Do not turn your houses into graveyards. Verily, Shaytān does not enter the house where Sūrat Al-Baqarah is recited.”[al Bukhari 6403]
The Prophet (sallAllāhu ʿalayhi wasallam) also mentioned: “Whoever recites Al-Baqarah at night in his house, then Shaytān will not enter that house for three nights. Whoever recites it during a day in his house, then Shaytān will not enter that house for three days.[at Tabarabi and Ibn Hibban]
When starting to read Qur’an: (أعوذ بالله السميع العليم من الشيطان الرجيم)
A’oodhu Billaah il-samee’ il-‘aleem min al-Shaitan ir-rajeem (I seek refuge with Allah, the All-Hearing, All-Knowing, from the accursed Shaitan).
After starting to pray: (أعوذ بالله السميع العليم من الشيطان الرجيم من همزه ونفخه ونفثه)
A’oodhu Billaah il-samee’ il-‘aleem min al-Shaitan ir-rajeem wa min hamzihi wa nafakhihi wa nafthihi (I seek refuge with Allah, the All-Hearing, All-Knowing, from the accursed Shaitan, from his madness, his arrogance and his poetry).
4. Do not take the bait.
When I have the thought or urge to do something that’s not a matter of life and death, I first identify what I’m actually engaged in at that moment. If I’m engaged in the worship of Allah; whether that be a prayer or remembering Allah etc., then I know that whatever the thought or urge is and no matter how good it appears, it’s from the accursed one, Shaitan. He is in the bid to destroy the good you are doing by shifting you from one thing to another, ruining the efficiency and corrupting your intentions. So at that point, seek refuge with Allah, renew your intentions and persist. This will anger the Shaitan to the extent that his anger will weaken him like the camel gets weakened by its heavy loads on a tiresome journey.
5. Rectify and strengthen your belief in the oneness of Allah and your sincere obedience towards Him.
It’s important to understand that sincerity in your actions and in your belief towards Allah will play a key role in the success of the things we discussed above. One cannot completely get rid of his Shaitan. The Shaitan will always attack him until the point of death and so one must be vigilant at all times and fight on at every moment. Al-Hasan Al-Basri was asked, “Does Iblis sleep?” He smiled and responded: “If he slept, we would have found rest.”
Al-Manawi mentions that the camel gets weakened during its journey due to its heavy loads, so it becomes skinny and frail. Similarly, the Shaitan of the believer gets weakened due to heaviness of his anger. This anger increases as he sees the righteousness of the believer and his obedience towards Allah, so the Shaitan lingers at a distance like a dog lingering on the side. [Faid Al-Qadir]
We need to take action, preventative rather than reactive. Allah says: ‘Ever feeble indeed is the plot of Shaitan’. So rest assured and never forget your simple heartfelt utterance of seeking refuge with Allah will disintegrate the plans of the devil.
We need to seek Allah’s Protection at all times. However, once Allah Loves us and Guides us, and Provides us with Taqwa, we will find that our journey to please Him in this world gets easier and the committing of sins will be less inshaAllah.
May Allah continue to Guide us at all time and Protect us from the influence of Shaytan which will lead to His Displeasure.
