Silsilat al-Ahadith al-Sahihah

Asim bin Umar bin Qatadah narrates from his father, and he from his grandfather Sayyiduna Qatadah bin Nu’man (may Allah be pleased with him), who said: It was a very dark night, and it was raining. I said: I should take advantage of this night and perform the ‘Isha prayer with the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him). So I did so. The Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) returned (after leading the prayer) and was walking, leaning on a date-palm branch. When he saw me, he asked: “Qatadah! What happened to you! At this hour, here, (what is the reason)?” I said: O Messenger of Allah! I came with the intention of performing the prayer with you. The Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) gave me that branch and said: “After you left, Satan entered your house. Take this branch, keep holding it until you reach your house, (when you reach home, then) catch Satan from behind the house and strike him with this branch.” I left the mosque, and that branch kept providing me light like a lamp. I reached my family, and they were all asleep. I saw a porcupine (an animal with long quills on its body) in a corner of the house. I kept striking it with the branch until it left.