Fath al-Rabbani

Benefits: … The inclination of the authors of the Sunan is that what is meant here is the prayer of Tahajjud (night vigil prayer), and this meaning appears to be more correct. It should be kept in mind that only the servant of Allah who is regular in performing Tahajjud can truly feel what kind of misfortune, ill-temper, restlessness, lack of satisfaction, and heedlessness a person falls into when he does not stand for prayer at night. Even after ages have passed, the one who has not made a habit of standing at night will find it very difficult to comprehend the meaning of such ahadith; it is simply not within his capacity, because he is not a champion in this field.

According to one opinion, what is meant by this hadith is the ‘Isha prayer (night prayer). Should the act of the Shaytan urinating be taken literally, or should it be understood metaphorically, meaning that Shaytan prevents his ear from hearing the adhan (call to prayer), the crowing of the rooster, or any such sound which generally causes the people of tawfiq (those granted success) to stand for prayer, or that he makes his ears heavy due to vain and false speech? The preferred view is to affirm the literal meaning: that Shaytan truly urinates in his ear, but the reality and manner of this is best known to Allah the Exalted. This is just like the realities of Shaytan eating, drinking, vomiting, passing wind, entering into a human being, and so on. And Allah knows best what is correct.