Musnad Ishaq

Benefits:
➊ ... From the mentioned hadith, it is understood that it is permissible to push away an enemy; this does not invalidate the prayer. Similarly, from other authentic ahadith, it is established that it is also permissible to kill a snake or scorpion during prayer. As the Messenger of Allah (sallallahu alayhi wa sallam) said: “Kill the harmful creatures, i.e., the snake and the scorpion, during prayer.” (Sahih Abu Dawud, no. 814; Sunan Ibn Majah, no. 1245)

In the same way, it is permissible, out of necessity, to take a few steps forward or backward. As narrated from Sayyidah Aisha (radi Allahu anha), that the Messenger of Allah (sallallahu alayhi wa sallam) would be praying, and the door would be closed, so I would come and open the door (i.e., knock), and he (sallallahu alayhi wa sallam) would walk and open the door, then return to his prayer. (Sahih Abu Dawud, no. 815; Sunan Tirmidhi, no. 601)

Every human being has a shaytan with him, but the Noble Prophet (sallallahu alayhi wa sallam) was completely protected from satanic attacks. As narrated from Sayyiduna Abdullah ibn Mas’ud (radi Allahu anhu), that the Messenger of Allah (sallallahu alayhi wa sallam) said: “Allah has appointed a jinn (shaytan) as a companion for each of you.” The people said: “O Messenger of Allah, even for you?” He (sallallahu alayhi wa sallam) said: “Yes, even for me, but my Lord helped me against him and he has become submissive to me, so he does not command me except with good.” (Muslim, Kitab Sifat al-Munafiqin, no. 2914)

Nevertheless, the shaytan would continue to express his inner wickedness, but he would return unsuccessful. The supplication of Sayyiduna Sulayman (alayhis salam) is: ﴿وَهَبْ لِیْ مُلْکًا لاَّ یَنْبَغِیْ لِاَحَدٍ مِّنْ بَعْدِیْ﴾ (Saad: 35) ... “(O Allah!) Grant me a kingdom such as shall not belong to anyone after me.” Therefore, the Messenger of Allah (sallallahu alayhi wa sallam) let that jinn go. Now the question arises: Is it permissible to subjugate the jinn or not?

Shaykh al-Islam Ibn Taymiyyah (rahimahullah) writes: There are several scenarios regarding a human’s subjugation of the jinn. If a person commands the jinn with the commands of Allah and His Messenger (sallallahu alayhi wa sallam), i.e., the worship of Allah and obedience to the Messenger, and he also emphasizes this to humans, then he is the best friend (wali) of Allah, and in this matter, he is the successor and deputy of the Messenger of Allah (sallallahu alayhi wa sallam).

If someone employs the jinn in matters that are legally permissible for him, such as commanding the performance of obligations, forbidding unlawful things, and taking permissible service from them, then his status is like that of kings who rule over people. But if someone employs the jinn in matters that are prohibited in the sight of Allah and His Messenger, such as using them for shirk, or for killing an innocent person, or for helping in oppression and sin, if he seeks help from the jinn in matters of disbelief, then he is a disbeliever. If he seeks help in acts of disobedience, then he is disobedient, sinful, and a wrongdoer. (Majmu‘ al-Fatawa: 11/307)