Reading the incidents of the Prophets
The command of the Almighty Allah is:
﴿وَاذْكُرْ عَبْدَنَا أَيُّوبَ إِذْ نَادَىٰ رَبَّهُ أَنِّي مَسَّنِيَ الشَّيْطَانُ بِنُصْبٍ وَعَذَابٍ ﴿٤١﴾
“And mention Our servant Ayyub (peace be upon him), when he called upon his Lord, ‘Indeed, Satan has afflicted me with hardship and distress.'”
At one place it is said:
Supplicating to Allah, seeking refuge, migrating, striving in the way of Allah, thanking Allah for His blessings, and seeking guidance from the Quran:
﴿فَإِذَا قَرَأْتَ الْقُرْآنَ فَاسْتَعِذْ بِاللَّهِ مِنَ الشَّيْطَانِ الرَّجِيمِ ﴿٩٨﴾ إِنَّهُ لَيْسَ لَهُ سُلْطَانٌ عَلَى الَّذِينَ آمَنُوا وَعَلَىٰ رَبِّهِمْ يَتَوَكَّلُونَ ﴿٩٩﴾ إِنَّمَا سُلْطَانُهُ عَلَى الَّذِينَ يَتَوَلَّوْنَهُ وَالَّذِينَ هُم بِهِ مُشْرِكُونَ ﴿١٠٠﴾ وَإِذَا بَدَّلْنَا آيَةً مَّكَانَ آيَةٍ ۙ وَاللَّهُ أَعْلَمُ بِمَا يُنَزِّلُ قَالُوا إِنَّمَا أَنتَ مُفْتَرٍ ۚ بَلْ أَكْثَرُهُمْ لَا يَعْلَمُونَ ﴿١٠١﴾ قُلْ نَزَّلَهُ رُوحُ الْقُدُسِ مِن رَّبِّكَ بِالْحَقِّ لِيُثَبِّتَ الَّذِينَ آمَنُوا وَهُدًى وَبُشْرَىٰ لِلْمُسْلِمِينَ ﴿١٠٢﴾ وَلَقَدْ نَعْلَمُ أَنَّهُمْ يَقُولُونَ إِنَّمَا يُعَلِّمُهُ بَشَرٌ ۗ لِّسَانُ الَّذِي يُلْحِدُونَ إِلَيْهِ أَعْجَمِيٌّ وَهَٰذَا لِسَانٌ عَرَبِيٌّ مُّبِينٌ ﴿١٠٣﴾ إِنَّ الَّذِينَ لَا يُؤْمِنُونَ بِآيَاتِ اللَّهِ لَا يَهْدِيهِمُ اللَّهُ وَلَهُمْ عَذَابٌ أَلِيمٌ ﴿١٠٤﴾ إِنَّمَا يَفْتَرِي الْكَذِبَ الَّذِينَ لَا يُؤْمِنُونَ بِآيَاتِ اللَّهِ ۖ وَأُولَٰئِكَ هُمُ الْكَاذِبُونَ ﴿١٠٥﴾ مَن كَفَرَ بِاللَّهِ مِن بَعْدِ إِيمَانِهِ إِلَّا مَنْ أُكْرِهَ وَقَلْبُهُ مُطْمَئِنٌّ بِالْإِيمَانِ وَلَٰكِن مَّن شَرَحَ بِالْكُفْرِ صَدْرًا فَعَلَيْهِمْ غَضَبٌ مِّنَ اللَّهِ وَلَهُمْ عَذَابٌ عَظِيمٌ ﴿١٠٦﴾ ذَٰلِكَ بِأَنَّهُمُ اسْتَحَبُّوا الْحَيَاةَ الدُّنْيَا عَلَى الْآخِرَةِ وَأَنَّ اللَّهَ لَا يَهْدِي الْقَوْمَ الْكَافِرِينَ ﴿١٠٧﴾ أُولَٰئِكَ الَّذِينَ طَبَعَ اللَّهُ عَلَىٰ قُلُوبِهِمْ وَسَمْعِهِمْ وَأَبْصَارِهِمْ ۖ وَأُولَٰئِكَ هُمُ الْغَافِلُونَ ﴿١٠٨﴾ لَا جَرَمَ أَنَّهُمْ فِي الْآخِرَةِ هُمُ الْخَاسِرُونَ ﴿١٠٩﴾ ثُمَّ إِنَّ رَبَّكَ لِلَّذِينَ هَاجَرُوا مِن بَعْدِ مَا فُتِنُوا ثُمَّ جَاهَدُوا وَصَبَرُوا إِنَّ رَبَّكَ مِن بَعْدِهَا لَغَفُورٌ رَّحِيمٌ ﴿١١٠﴾ يَوْمَ تَأْتِي كُلُّ نَفْسٍ تُجَادِلُ عَن نَّفْسِهَا وَتُوَفَّىٰ كُلُّ نَفْسٍ مَّا عَمِلَتْ وَهُمْ لَا يُظْلَمُونَ ﴿١١١﴾ وَضَرَبَ اللَّهُ مَثَلًا قَرْيَةً كَانَتْ آمِنَةً مُّطْمَئِنَّةً يَأْتِيهَا رِزْقُهَا رَغَدًا مِّن كُلِّ مَكَانٍ فَكَفَرَتْ بِأَنْعُمِ اللَّهِ فَأَذَاقَهَا اللَّهُ لِبَاسَ الْجُوعِ وَالْخَوْفِ بِمَا كَانُوا يَصْنَعُونَ ﴿١١٢﴾ وَلَقَدْ جَاءَهُمْ رَسُولٌ مِّنْهُمْ فَكَذَّبُوهُ فَأَخَذَهُمُ الْعَذَابُ وَهُمْ ظَالِمُونَ ﴿١١٣﴾ فَكُلُوا مِمَّا رَزَقَكُمُ اللَّهُ حَلَالًا طَيِّبًا وَاشْكُرُوا نِعْمَتَ اللَّهِ إِن كُنتُمْ إِيَّاهُ تَعْبُدُونَ ﴿١١٤﴾ إِنَّمَا حَرَّمَ عَلَيْكُمُ الْمَيْتَةَ وَالدَّمَ وَلَحْمَ الْخِنزِيرِ وَمَا أُهِلَّ لِغَيْرِ اللَّهِ بِهِ ۖ فَمَنِ اضْطُرَّ غَيْرَ بَاغٍ وَلَا عَادٍ فَإِنَّ اللَّهَ غَفُورٌ رَّحِيمٌ ﴿١١٥﴾ وَلَا تَقُولُوا لِمَا تَصِفُ أَلْسِنَتُكُمُ الْكَذِبَ هَٰذَا حَلَالٌ وَهَٰذَا حَرَامٌ لِّتَفْتَرُوا عَلَى اللَّهِ الْكَذِبَ ۚ إِنَّ الَّذِينَ يَفْتَرُونَ عَلَى اللَّهِ الْكَذِبَ لَا يُفْلِحُونَ ﴿١١٦﴾
“When you recite the Qur’an, seek refuge with Allah from the rejected Satan; his influence does not affect the believers and those who trust in Allah. Indeed, his dominance is over those who befriend him and associate partners with Allah. And when We replace one verse with another, and Allah knows best what He reveals, they say, ‘You are a fabricator.’ But most of them do not know. Say, ‘It is Gabriel who has brought it down with the truth from your Lord, so that He may strengthen the believers and give guidance and glad tidings to the Muslims.’ We know that the disbelievers say, ‘This man is taught by a human being,’ whose language is foreign to them, while this Qur’an is clear Arabic. Indeed, those who do not believe in Allah’s verses will not be guided by Allah, and for them is a painful punishment. The ones who fabricate lies are those who do not believe in Allah’s verses. These are the liars. Whoever disbelieves after having believed, except for one who is compelled while his heart remains firm in faith, but whoever openly disbelieves, upon them is the wrath of Allah, and for them is a great punishment. This is because they preferred the worldly life over the Hereafter. Indeed, Allah does not guide the disbelievers. These are the ones upon whose hearts, ears, and eyes Allah has set seals, and they are the heedless. There is no doubt that these are the ones who will suffer severe loss in the Hereafter. Those who emigrated after being oppressed, then fought and were patient—indeed, your Lord is Forgiving and Merciful to them. The Day every soul will come disputing for itself, and every soul will be fully recompensed for what it did, and no injustice will be done to them. Allah presents the example of a city that was secure and at peace, with its provision coming to it abundantly from every place. Then it denied the favors of Allah, so Allah made it taste hunger and fear for what they used to do. There came to them a messenger from among themselves, but they denied him, so the punishment seized them while they were wrongdoers. Eat of the lawful and pure provisions that Allah has provided you, and be grateful for Allah’s favor if you worship Him alone. Forbidden to you are carrion, blood, pork, and that which has been dedicated to other than Allah. But if one is compelled without willful disobedience or transgressing limits, then indeed Allah is Forgiving and Merciful. Do not say about anything, ‘I will do this tomorrow,’ without adding, ‘If Allah wills.’ And remember your Lord when you forget and say, ‘Perhaps my Lord will guide me to what is nearer than this to right conduct.’ Do not falsely attribute to Allah what you do not know. Indeed, those who fabricate lies against Allah will not succeed.”
Seeking Refuge in Allah from the Rejected Satan
﴿وَإِمَّا يَنزَغَنَّكَ مِنَ الشَّيْطَانِ نَزْغٌ فَاسْتَعِذْ بِاللَّهِ ۚ إِنَّهُ سَمِيعٌ عَلِيمٌ ﴿٢٠٠﴾
“And if an evil whisper comes to you from Satan, then seek refuge in Allah. Indeed, He is the Hearing, the Knowing.”
«أن عثمان بن أبى العاص رضي الله عنه أتى النبى صلى الله عليه وسلم فقال: يا رسول الله ، إن الشيطان قد حال بيني وبين صلوتي وقرائتي يلبسها على فقال رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم: ذاك شيطان يقال له: خنرب، فإذا أحسسته فتعوذ بالله منه، واتفل على يسارك ثلاثا»
Narrated by Sayyiduna Uthman bin Abi Al-As (RA) that I said to the Prophet Muhammad (PBUH), “O Messenger of Allah! Surely Satan interferes in my prayer, and when I recite, he causes me doubt.” He (PBUH) said, “That is the Satan called ”خزب“. When you feel his whisper in your heart, seek refuge in Allah and spit three times to your left.”
«عن حذيفة قال فقال رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم: إن الشيطان يستحل الطعام ان لا يذكرسم الله عليه»
Narrated by Sayyiduna Hudhaifa (RA) that the Messenger of Allah (PBUH) said: “If the name of Allah is not mentioned over food, then the possibility and permission of Satan’s participation in it arises.”
«عن أبى هريرة رضي الله عنه أن رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم قال: أن أحدكم إذا قام يصلى جاء الشيطان فلبس عليه حتى لا يدرك كم صلى وجد ذلك أحدكم فليسجد سجدتين وهو جالس»
The Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) said: “When any one of you stands for prayer, Satan comes and confuses him to the extent that he does not know how many units of prayer he has performed. So when any of you faces such a situation, let him perform two prostrations while sitting.”
Additional Ways to Protect Oneself from Satan
The following are additional ways to protect oneself from Satan:
1: Establishing a strong relationship with Allah (Tawassul with Allah).
2: Knowledge of the Quran and Sunnah, acting upon it, and holding firmly to it.
3: Fully embracing Islam.
4: When overcome by whisperings, fall into prostration.
5: Engaging in the remembrance of Allah (Dhikr).
6: Reciting Surah Al-Falaq and Surah An-Nas.
7: Associating with good people.
8: Reciting Ayat al-Kursi.
9: Suppressing yawns and not making a sound.
10: Removing doubts and suspicions.
11: Repentance and seeking forgiveness (Istighfar).
12: Avoiding vain talk.
13: Avoiding heedlessness and staying away from people who are heedless of Allah.
14: Sincerity (Ikhlas).
15: Following the Messenger (peace be upon him).
16: Faith in Allah.
17: Reliance on Allah (Tawakkul).
18: Piety (Taqwa).
19: Recitation of the Holy Quran.
20: Avoiding satanic factors that overpower a person.
