This article clarifies that Satan is the eternal, declared, and perpetual enemy of mankind. In the light of the Quranic texts and authentic hadiths, the reality of his enmity, his objectives, methods of attack, and the divine instructions through which a believer can protect himself from this great trial will be explained. The first part of the article consists of Quranic evidence of Satan’s enmity, his respite until the Day of Judgment, the three fundamental commands given by Allah Almighty, and some basic facts about Satan. The following parts will include his tricks and detailed measures to protect oneself from his evil—InshaAllah.
Satan’s Enmity: From Eternity to Declaration
When Iblis refused to prostrate to Adam (peace be upon him) out of arrogance, Allah Almighty expelled him from mercy and cast him out of Paradise. Then he openly vowed to mislead mankind:
﴿ قَالَ اَرَئَیْتَکَ ھٰذَا الَّذِیْ کَرَّمْتَ عَلَیَّ لَئِنْ اَخَّرْتَنِی اِلٰی یَوْمِ الْقِیٰمَۃِ لَاَحْتَنِکَنَّ ذُرِّیَّتَہٗٓ اِلَّا قَلِیْلًا ﴾
“He said: Then look whom you have preferred over me. If you grant me respite until the Day of Resurrection, I will surely seize all of his offspring except a few.”
Allah Almighty’s response:
﴿قَالَ اذْھَبْ فَمَنْ تَبِعَکَ مِنْھُمْ فَاِنَّ جَھَنَّمَ جَزَآؤُکُمْ جَزَآئً مَّوْفُوْرًا﴾
“Allah Almighty said: Go, whoever among the children of Adam follows you, then surely Hell will be the full recompense for all of you.”
Respite until the Day of Resurrection — Continuity of Enmity
Satan himself asked for respite and it was granted to him:
﴿قَالَ رَبِّ فَاَنْظِرْنِیْٓ اِلٰی یَوْمِ یُبْعَثُوْنَ ٭ قَالَ فَاِنَّکَ مِنَ الْمُنْظَرِیْنَ ٭ اِلٰی یَوْمِ الْوَقْتِ الْمَعْلُوْمِ﴾ [ الحجر : ۳۶۔ ۳۸]
“He said: My Lord! Then grant me respite until the Day they are resurrected. Allah Almighty said: You are granted respite until the time known (to Us).”
Three Fundamental Commands of Allah Almighty (Basis for Confronting Satan)
① To consider Satan as an enemy and deal with him from this perspective
﴿ اِنَّ الشَّیْطٰنَ لَکُمْ عَدُوٌّ فَاتَّخِذُوْہُ عَدُوًّا اِنَّمَا یَدْعُوْا حِزْبَہٗ لِیَکُوْنُوْا مِنْ اَصْحٰبِ السَّعِیْرِ﴾
﴿ Indeed, Satan is your enemy, so consider him an enemy. He only invites his party to be among the companions of the blazing fire. ﴾
﴿اَفَتَتَّخِذوْنَہٗ وَ ذُرِّیَّتَہٗٓ اَوْلِیَآئَ مِنْ دُوْنِیْ وَ ھُمْ لَکُمْ عَدُوٌّ بِئْسَ لِلظّٰلِمِیْنَ بَدَلًا﴾ [الکہف :50]
﴿ Do you then take him and his offspring as allies instead of Me while they are enemies to you? Wretched it is for the wrongdoers as an exchange. ﴾
② Prohibition from Following His Footsteps
﴿ یٰبَنِیْٓ اٰدَمَ لَا یَفْتِنَنَّکُمُ الشَّیْطٰنُ کَمَآ اَخْرَجَ اَبَوَیْکُمْ مِّنَ الْجَنَّۃِ ﴾
﴿ O children of Adam! Let not Satan tempt you as he removed your parents from Paradise. ﴾
﴿ يَا أَيُّهَا الَّذِينَ آمَنُوا لَا تَتَّبِعُوا خُطُوَاتِ الشَّيْطَانِ ۚ وَمَن يَتَّبِعْ خُطُوَاتِ الشَّيْطَانِ فَإِنَّهُ يَأْمُرُ بِالْفَحْشَاءِ وَالْمُنكَرِ ﴾ [ النور : ۲۱]
﴿ O you who have believed! Do not follow the footsteps of Satan. Whoever follows the footsteps of Satan will command immorality and wrongdoing. ﴾
③ Teaching Protective Measures
The details of these practical measures will come in the following sections—ان شاء اللہ.
Some Important Facts About Satan
1) He Does Not Leave Pursuing Man
The Holy Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) said:
(إِنَّ الشَّیْطَانَ یَجْرِيْ مِنِ ابْنِ آدَمَ مَجْرَی الدَّمِ)
“Indeed, Satan runs through the veins of a human like blood.”
This illustrates the intensity of his enmity and the subtlety of his whispers.
2) He sees us; we cannot see him
﴿ اِنَّہٗ یَرٰکُمْ ھُوَ وَ قَبِیْلُہٗ مِنْ حَیْثُ لَا تَرَوْنَھُمْ ﴾
“Indeed, he (Satan) sees you, he and his tribe, from where you cannot see them.”
Protection from a hidden and cunning enemy becomes even more difficult—إلا من رحم اللہ.
3) Satan is not alone; he has armies among jinn and humans
﴿ وَکَذٰلِکَ جَعَلْنَا لِکُلِّ نَبِیٍّ عَدُوًّا شَیٰطِیْنَ الْاِنْسِ وَ الْجِنِّ یُوْحِیْ بَعْضُھُمْ اِلٰی بَعْضٍ زُخْرُفَ الْقَوْلِ غُرُوْرًا ﴾ [ الأنعام : ۱۱۲]
﴿ And thus We have made for every prophet enemies – devils from mankind and jinn, inspiring to one another decorative speech in delusion. ﴾
﴿وَ اِنَّ الشَّیٰطِیْنَ لَیُوْحُوْنَ اِلٰٓی اَوْلِیٰٓئِھِمْ لِیُجَادِلُوْکُمْ ﴾ [ الأنعام : ۱۲۱ ]
﴿ And indeed, Satan causes discord among you by his whispers to his allies. And if you obey them, indeed you will be among the polytheists. ﴾
And in an authentic hadith, the hierarchy of Iblis, his throne, and his agents is mentioned:
4) Ambush from Every Direction—Doubts in Hearts, Worldly Attraction
﴿ قَالَ فَبِمَا أَغْوَيْتَنِي لَأَقْعُدَنَّ لَهُمْ صِرَاطَكَ الْمُسْتَقِيمَ ﴿16﴾ ثُمَّ لَآتِيَنَّهُم مِّن بَيْنِ أَيْدِيهِمْ وَمِنْ خَلْفِهِمْ وَعَنْ أَيْمَانِهِمْ وَعَن شَمَائِلِهِمْ وَلَا تَجِدُ أَكْثَرَهُمْ شَاكِرِينَ ﴾ [ الأعراف : ۱۶۔ ۱۷]
(Iblis) said: “Because You have led me astray, I will surely sit in ambush for them on Your straight path. Then I will come to them from before them, from behind them, from their right, and from their left, and You will not find most of them grateful.”
According to the Quranic commentator Hazrat Ibn Abbas (may Allah be pleased with him):
From the front: Casting doubt about the Hereafter
From behind: Entangling in the love of the world
From the right: Doubts and suspicions about religion
From the left: Encouragement towards sins
Further:
﴿وَمَنْ یَّعْشُ عَنْ ذِکْرِ الرَّحْمٰنِ نُقَیِّضْ لَہٗ شَیْطٰنًا فَہُوَ لَہٗ قَرِیْنٌ ﴾
In this context, the companion of jinn and angels hadiths:
,
5) On the Day of Resurrection, Satan Will Be Declared Guilty
﴿وَ قَالَ الشَّیْطٰنُ لَمَّا قُضِیَ الْاَمْرُ اِنَّ اللّٰہَ وَعَدَکُمْ وَعْدَ الْحَقِّ وَ وَعَدْتُّکُمْ فَاَخْلَفْتُکُمْ وَ مَا کَانَ لِیَ عَلَیْکُمْ مِّنْ سُلْطٰنٍ اِلَّآ اَنْ دَعَوْتُکُمْ فَاسْتَجَبْتُمْ لِیْ فَلَا تَلُوْمُوْنِیْ وَلُوْمُوْٓا اَنْفُسَکُمْ مَآ اَنَا بِمُصْرِخِکُمْ وَمَآ اَنْتُمْ بِمُصْرِخِیَّ اِنِّیْ کَفَرْتُ بِمَآ اَشْرَکْتُمُوْنِ مِنْ قَبْلُ اِنَّ الظّٰلِمِیْنَ لَھُمْ عَذَابٌ اَلِیْمٌ ﴾ [إبراہیم: 22 ]
And when the decision has been made, Satan will say:
“Indeed, Allah had promised you the truth, and I also promised you, but I betrayed you. And I had no authority over you except that I called you, and you responded to me. So do not blame me, but blame yourselves. I cannot help you, nor can you help me. Indeed, I deny that you ever took me as a partner with Allah before. Indeed, for the wrongdoers is a painful punishment.”
This verse indicates that on the Day of Judgment, Satan will be disgraced before his followers and will say that he only invited you, but you chose on your own; therefore, instead of befriending him, opposing him is necessary.
6) Obedience to the Merciful = Disobedience to Satan
Every act of worship that is beloved to Allah is detested by Satan; therefore, he prevents humans from it. And every sin is liked by Satan; he decorates it and makes the paths easy. The Muslim who remains steadfast in obedience to the Merciful will be successful, and whoever follows Satan will be in loss.
The Primary Goal of Satan
﴿ اِنَّمَا یَدْعُوْا حِزْبَہٗ لِیَکُوْنُوْا مِنْ اَصْحٰبِ السَّعِیْرِ﴾
“Indeed, he (Satan) only invites his companions so that they may be among the inhabitants of the Hellfire (Sa’eer).”
Iblis’s true desire is that just as he himself is a denizen of Hell, humans also become fuel for Hell; for this, he diverts them from obedience to Allah and inclines them towards sin.
Satan’s Tricks
① To Involve in Disbelief and Polytheism
﴿ کَمَثَلِ الشَّیْطٰنِ اِِذْ قَالَ لِلْاِِنْسَانِ اکْفُرْ فَلَمَّا کَفَرَ قَالَ اِِنِّیْ بَرِیٓئٌ مِّنْکَ اِِنِّیْ اَخَافُ اللّٰہَ رَبَّ الْعٰلَمِیْنَ ﴾
“(The example of those hypocrites) is like Satan when he says to a human: Disbelieve. Then when he disbelieves, he says: I am free from you; indeed, I fear Allah, the Lord of the worlds.”
﴿ اِنْ یَّدْعُوْنَ مِنْ دُوْنِہٖٓ اِلَّآ اِنٰثًا وَ اِنْ یَّدْعُوْنَ اِلَّا شَیْطٰنًا مَّرِیْدًا٭ لَّعَنَہُ اللّٰہُ﴾
“They call upon women (i.e., female-named deities) instead of Allah, but in reality, they call upon a rebellious devil upon whom Allah has cursed.”
In the nation of Prophet Noah (peace be upon him), polytheism began with the whisperings of Satan; the monuments of the righteous Wadd, Suwa’, Yaghuth, Ya’uq, and Nasr were made into deities by later generations.
Ibn Jarir narrated from Muhammad bin Qais (may Allah have mercy on them) that initially, images were made for admonition and reminder, then Iblis encouraged later generations to worship them.
Even today, offerings at graves, bowing before others besides Allah, and placing hopes on the dead—all these are manifestations of the same trial of polytheism.
② Beautifying sins and inviting to disobedience
﴿قَالَ رَبِّ بِمَآ اَغْوَیْتَنِیْ لَاُزَیِّنَنَّ لَھُمْ فِی الْاَرْضِ وَ لَاُغْوِیَنَّھُمْ اَجْمَعِیْنَ ٭ اِلَّا عِبَادَکَ مِنْھُمُ الْمُخْلَصِیْنَ ﴾ [الحجر:39]
“He (Iblis) said: O my Lord! As You have led me astray, I will surely make (sins) attractive to them on earth, and I will mislead them all, except Your chosen servants among them (i.e., the sincere servants).”
From the very beginning, Adam and Eve were tempted regarding the heavenly tree:
﴿ فَوَسْوَسَ لَهُمَا الشَّيْطَانُ لِيُبْدِيَ لَهُمَا مَا وُرِيَ عَنْهُمَا مِن سَوْآتِهِمَا وَقَالَ مَا نَهَاكُمَا رَبُّكُمَا عَنْ هَٰذِهِ الشَّجَرَةِ إِلَّا أَن تَكُونَا مَلَكَيْنِ أَوْ تَكُونَا مِنَ الْخَالِدِينَ ٢١ وَقَاسَمَهُمَا إِنِّي لَكُمَا لَمِنَ النَّاصِحِينَ ﴾
“Then Satan whispered to them to reveal to them what was concealed from them of their private parts. He said, ‘Your Lord only forbade you this tree so that you do not become angels or become of the immortal.’ And he swore to them, ‘Indeed, I am to you from among the sincere advisors.’”
And he said: ﴿یٰٓاٰدَمُ ھَلْ اَدُلُّکَ عَلٰی شَجَرَۃِ الْخُلْدِ وَ مُلْکٍ لَّا یَبْلٰی﴾ [طہ : 20]
“O Adam! Shall I direct you to the tree of eternity and a kingdom that will never perish?”
Then Cain was incited to kill his brother (the story is in Surah Al-Ma’idah); after that, polytheism was adorned.
The Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) informed:
( أَلاَ إِنَّ الشَّیْطَانَ قَدْ أَیِسَ أَن یُّعْبَدَ فِی بَلَدِکُمْ ہٰذَا أَبَدًا وَلٰکِنْ سَتَکُونُ لَہُ طَاعَۃٌ فِی بَعْضِ مَا تَحْتَقِرُوْنَ مِنْ أَعْمَالِکُمْ فَیَرْضَی بِہَا )
“Beware! Satan has despaired of being worshiped in your land (i.e., the Arabian Peninsula), but he will be pleased with your obedience in those small deeds which you consider insignificant, and he will be satisfied with them.”
Today, many major sins considered “despicable” (laziness in prayer, negligence in zakat, usury, gambling, music, intoxication, bribery, disobedience to parents, etc.) have become normal for people.
③ Creating enmity through alcohol and gambling and preventing from religion
﴿اِنَّمَا یُرِیْدُ الشَّیْطٰنُ اَنْ یُّوْقِعَ بَیْنَکُمُ الْعَدَاوَۃَ وَ الْبَغْضَآئَ فِی الْخَمْرِ وَ الْمَیْسِرِ وَ یَصُدَّکُمْ عَنْ ذِکْرِ اللّٰہِ وَ عَنِ الصَّلٰوۃِ فَھَلْ اَنْتُمْ مُّنْتَھُوْنَ ﴾ [المائدۃ:19 ]
“Satan only wants to create enmity and hatred among you through alcohol and gambling and to prevent you from the remembrance of Allah and prayer. So will you desist?”
Alcohol and gambling cause social hatred and negligence towards dhikr and prayer—this is the devilish plan.
④ Disrupting worship
Guidance about the devil Khanzab who caused Uthman ibn Abi al-As (may Allah be pleased with him) to doubt due to whispers during prayer:
( ذَاکَ شَیْطَانٌ یُقَالُ لَہُ خِنْزِبٌ ، فَإِذَا أَحْسَسْتَہُ فَتَعَوَّذْ بِاللّٰہِ مِنْہُ وَاتْفُلْ عَلٰی یَسَارِکَ ثَلَاثًا )
“He is a devil called Khanzab. When you feel him (i.e., when whispers come during prayer), seek refuge in Allah from him, and lightly spit three times to your left side (i.e., blow).”
Running at the call to prayer, running again at the iqamah, inserting thoughts during prayer:
Controlling the attempt to disrupt the Prophet’s (peace be upon him) prayer:
Looking around during prayer: ( ہُوَ اخْتِلَاسٌ… )
⑤ Being engrossed in desires and wishes and inciting to change Allah’s creation
Allah Almighty says:
﴿وَ قَالَ لَاَتَّخِذَنَّ مِنْ عِبَادِکَ نَصِیْبًا مَّفْرُوْضًا٭ وَّ لَاُضِلَّنَّھُمْ وَ لَاُمَنِّیَنَّھُمْ وَلَاٰمُرَنَّھُمْ فَلَیُبَتِّکُنَّ اٰذَانَ الْاَنْعَامِ وَ لَاٰمُرَنَّھُمْ فَلَیُغَیِّرُنَّ خَلْقَ اللّٰہِ وَ مَنْ یَّتَّخِذِ الشَّیْطٰنَ وَ لِیًّا مِّنْ دُوْنِ اللّٰہِ فَقَدْ خَسِرَ خُسْرَانًا مُّبِیْنًا٭ یَعِدُھُمْ وَ یُمَنِّیْھِمْ وَ مَا یَعِدُھُمُ الشَّیْطٰنُ اِلَّا غُرُوْرًا٭ اُولٰٓئِکَ مَاْوٰھُمْ جَھَنَّمُ وَلَایَجِدُوْنَ عَنْھَا مَحِیْصًا﴾
“And (Satan) said: I will surely take a fixed portion of Your servants. And I will mislead them, and I will instill false hopes in them, and I will command them, and they will slit the ears of cattle, and I will command them, and they will change Allah’s creation (nature). And whoever takes Satan as a friend instead of Allah, then indeed, he will suffer a clear loss. He (Satan) promises them and instills hopes in them, whereas Satan’s promises to them are nothing but deception and fraud. These are the ones whose abode is Hell, and they will find no way to escape it.”
These verses indicate that Satan entangles humans in long desires and causes negligence. Humans become engrossed day and night in worldly desires and wishes, forgetting the Hereafter.
Similarly, it is also clear that Satan encourages humans to alter the form created by Allah. Men who shave their beards or women who remove facial hair and create gaps in their teeth for artificial beauty are actually pleasing Satan by changing Allah’s creation.
Hazrat Abdullah bin Masood (RA) said:
( لَعَنَ اللّٰہُ الْوَاشِمَاتِ وَالْمُوْتَشِمَاتِ ، وَالنَّامِصَاتِ وَالْمُتَنَمِّصَاتِ ، وَالْمُتَفَلِّجَاتِ لِلْحُسْنِ ، اَلْمُغَیِّرَاتِ خَلْقَ اللّٰہِ ) [ البخاری : ۴۸۸۶ ، مسلم : ۲۱۲۵]
Meaning: “Allah has cursed women who pluck, cause plucking, remove facial hair, cause removal, create gaps in teeth for beauty, and those who change Allah’s creation.”
⑥ Damaging the mutual relations of Muslims
﴿وَ قُلْ لِّعِبَادِیْ یَقُوْلُوا الَّتِیْ ھِیَ اَحْسَنُ اِنَّ الشَّیْطٰنَ یَنْزَغُ بَیْنَھُمْ اِنَّ الشَّیْطٰنَ کَانَ لِلْاِنْسَانِ عَدُوًّا مُّبِیْنًا ﴾
Allah Almighty has commanded His servants to always speak gently and kindly because Satan sows discord among them through harsh words. Today, the disputes, envy, suspicion, hatred, and animosity in the world are all the result of these whispers.
⑦ Creating Doubts and Suspicions about Allah Almighty
It is narrated from Hazrat Abu Huraira (RA) that the Messenger of Allah (PBUH) said:
( یَأْتِی الشَّیْطَانُ أَحَدَکُمْ فَیَقُولُ : مَنْ خَلَقَ کَذَا؟ مَنْ خَلَقَ کَذَا؟ حَتّٰی یَقُولُ : مَنْ خَلَقَ رَبَّکَ؟ فَإِذَا بَلَغَہُ فَلْیَسْْتَعِذْ بِاللّٰہِ وَلْیَنْتَہِ ) [ البخاری : ۳۲۷۶]
“The devil comes to one of you and asks, ‘Who created this?’ until he asks, ‘Who created your Lord?’ So when anyone reaches such a whispering extent, he should immediately seek refuge in Allah and stop such thoughts.”
⑧ The Spread of Devils at the Beginning of the Night
The Messenger of Allah (PBUH) said:
“When the shadow of night begins to fall, do not let your children go outside because at that time the devils spread. After some time passes in the night, then allow them. Close your doors, lamps, water skins, and utensils by saying Bismillah.”
These instructions are not only for the protection of faith but also for the safety of life and property.
⑨ Disturbing by Showing Frightening Dreams
The Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) said:
( اَلرُّؤْیَا الصَّالِحَۃُ مِنَ اللّٰہِ ، وَالْحُلْمُ مِنَ الشَّیْطَانِ ، فَإِذَا حَلَمَ أَحَدُکُمْ حُلْمًا یَخَافُہُ فَلْیَبْصُقْ عَنْ یَّسَارِہِ وَلْیَتَعَوَّذْ بِاللّٰہِ مِنْ شَرِّہَا فَإِنَّہَا لَنْ تَضُرَّہُ ) [ البخاری : ۳۲۹۲]
“A good dream is from Allah and a frightening dream is from Satan. When a person sees such a dream, he should lightly spit to the left side and seek refuge in Allah, and it will not harm him.”
⑩ Pricking the child at the time of birth
The Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) said:
( کُلُّ بَنِی آدَمَ یَطْعَنُ الشَّیْطَانُ فِی جَنْبِہِ بِأُصْبُعَیْہِ حِیْنَ یُوْلَدُ ، غَیْرَ عِیْسَی ابْنِ مَرْیَمَ ذَہَبَ یَطْعَنُ فَطَعَنَ فِی الْحِجَابِ ) [ البخاری : ۳۲۹۲]
“At the time of every person’s birth, Satan pricks his sides with his fingers, except for Jesus son of Mary, in whose case he only touched the curtain.”
⑪ Provoking anger and causing fights among each other
Hazrat Sulaiman bin Surad (may Allah be pleased with him) narrates:
The Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) said:
( إِنِّی لَأعْلَمُ کَلِمَۃً لَوْ قَالَہَا ذَہَبَ عَنْہُ مَا یَجِدُ ، لَوْ قَالَ : أَعُوذُ بِاللّٰہِ مِنَ الشَّیْطَانِ ذَہَبَ عَنْہُ مَا یَجِدُ ) [ البخاری : ۳۲۸۲]
“I know a word that if a person who is angry says it, his anger will be removed: A’udhu billahi min ash-shaytan ir-rajim.”
⑫ Being engrossed in music and frivolities
﴿ وَ اسْتَفْزِزْ مَنِ اسْتَطَعْتَ مِنْھُمْ بِصَوْتِکَ وَ اَجْلِبْ عَلَیْھِمْ بِخَیْلِکَ وَ رَجِلِکَ وَ شَارِکْھُمْ فِی الْاَمْوَالِ وَ الْاَوْلَادِ وَ عِدْھُمْ وَ مَا یَعِدُھُمُ الشَّیْطٰنُ اِلَّا غُرُوْرًا ﴾ [الإسراء: 64]
“And you may lead astray with your voice whomever you can, and charge at them with your cavalry and infantry, and share with them in their wealth and children, and make promises to them—Satan’s promises are nothing but deception.”
The scholars have said that “voice” here refers to singing and music, through which Satan misleads people. Today’s society is lost in this very deception.
We pray to Allah Almighty to protect us from all the trials of the accursed Satan and to grant us steadfastness in faith.
Satan is the eternal enemy of man, whose goal is to misguide the children of Adam and make them fuel for Hell.
Now, in the second part, practical measures are explained in the light of the Quran and Sunnah by which a believing servant can protect himself from the evil of this enemy.
Satan’s Weak Tactic
First of all, it is necessary to know that Satan’s tactic is naturally weak, as Allah Almighty says:
﴿اِنَّ کَیْدَ الشَّیْطٰنِ کَانَ ضَعِیْفًا﴾
“Indeed, Satan’s plan is weak.”
Allah Almighty further says:
﴿ اِنَّہٗ لَیْسَ لَہٗ سُلْطٰنٌ عَلَی الَّذِیْنَ اٰمَنُوْا وَ عَلٰی رَبِّھِمْ یَتَوَکَّلُوْنَ ٭ اِنَّمَا سُلْطٰنُہٗ عَلَی الَّذِیْنَ یَتَوَلَّوْنَہٗ وَ الَّذِیْنَ ھُمْ بِہٖ مُشْرِکُوْنَ﴾
“Satan has no authority over those who believe and put their trust in their Lord. His authority is only over those who take him as a friend and associate partners with Allah.”
And further He said:
﴿اِنَّ عِبَادِیْ لَیْسَ لَکَ عَلَیْھِمْ سُلْطٰنٌ وَ کَفٰی بِرَبِّکَ وَکِیْلًا﴾ [الإسراء: 65]
“You have no power over My servants, and your Lord is sufficient as a disposer of affairs for them.”
Strong Faith — The Shield Against Satan
The stronger the faith of a believer, the more protected he will be from the whispers of Satan.
The Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) said to Hazrat Umar (may Allah be pleased with him):
( وَالَّذِیْ نَفْسِی بِیَدِہِ مَا لَقِیَکَ الشَّیْطَانُ قَطُّ سَالِکًا فَجًّا إِلَّا سَلَکَ فَجًّا غَیْرَ فَجِّکَ )
“By the One in Whose Hand is my soul! When Satan sees you walking on a path, he leaves that path and takes another.”
Twelve (12) Effective Measures to Protect Against Satan
① Seeking Refuge in Allah
﴿وَ اِمَّا یَنْزَغَنَّکَ مِنَ الشَّیْطٰنِ نَزْغٌ فَاسْتَعِذْ بِاللّٰہِ اِنَّہٗ سَمِیْعٌ عَلِیْمٌ﴾ [الأعراف: ۲۰۰]
“And if an evil whisper from Satan tries to tempt you, then seek refuge in Allah.”
Seeking refuge in Allah is the most effective shield, because Allah alone is the Protector and the one who saves from Satan.
② Engaging in the Remembrance of Allah
Two attributes of Satan have been mentioned: “Al-Waswas Al-Khannas,” meaning the whisperer and the one who withdraws.
When a person remembers Allah, he withdraws, and when the person is heedless, he attacks.
The Messenger of Allah, peace be upon him, said:
( لَا یَحْرِزُ نَفْسَہُ مِنَ الشَّیْطَانِ إِلَّا بِذِکْرِ اللّٰہِ )
“A servant can protect himself from Satan only through the remembrance of Allah.”
In a hadith with the same meaning, it is mentioned:
( یَعْقِدُ الشَّیْطَانُ عَلٰی قَافِیَۃِ رَأْسِ أَحَدِکُمْ … فَإِنْ ذَکَرَ اللّٰہَ اِنْحَلَّتْ عُقْدَۃٌ … )
“When a person sleeps, Satan ties three knots on the pillow, and when he wakes up and remembers Allah, one knot is undone.”
③ Recitation of Surah Al-Baqarah
The Noble Prophet, peace be upon him, said:
( لَا تَجْعَلُوا بُیُوتَکُمْ مَقَابِرَ، فَإِنَّ الشَّیْطَانَ یَنْفِرُ مِنَ الْبَیْتِ الَّذِیْ تُقْرَأُ فِیْہِ سُورَۃُ الْبَقَرَۃِ )
“Do not make your houses graves, for in the house where Surah Al-Baqarah is recited, Satan flees from there.”
④ Observing Congregational Prayer
The Messenger of Allah, peace be upon him, said:
(مَا مِنْ ثَلَاثَۃٍ فِی قَرْیَۃٍ… إِلَّا قَدِ اسْتَحْوَذَ عَلَیْہِمُ الشَّیْطَانُ فَعَلَیْکَ بِالْجَمَاعَۃِ فَإِنَّمَا یَأْکُلُ الذِّئْبُ الْقَاصِیَۃَ) [ابو داؤد : ۵۴۷، نسائی : ۸۴۷]
“When three people are in a town and do not perform prayer in congregation, Satan overcomes them.”
⑤ Qiyam al-Layl (Tahajjud)
Whoever does not wake up at night for worship, Satan takes control over him.
The Holy Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) said:
( ذَاکَ رَجُلٌ بَالَ الشَّیْطَانُ فِی أُذُنِہِ )
“The person who sleeps through the entire night, Satan urinates in his ear.”
⑥ Keeping the mouth closed during yawning
( اَلتَّثَاؤُبُ مِنَ الشَّیْطَانِ … فَإِذَا قَالَ: ہَا، ضَحِکَ الشَّیْطَانُ ) [البخاری : ۳۲۸۹]
“Yawning is from Satan, so when you yawn, try to stop it, because when someone says ‘ha’, Satan laughs.”
⑦ Observance of Sunnah supplications
1. When leaving the house:
( بِسْمِ اللّٰہِ، تَوَکَّلْتُ عَلَی اللّٰہِ، لَا حَوْلَ وَ لَا قُوَّۃَ إِلَّا بِاللّٰہِ )
“In the name of Allah, I place my trust in Allah, and there is no power nor strength except with Allah.”
Hadith:
The one who recites this is guaranteed guidance, protection, and sufficiency, and Satan is kept away.
2. When entering the mosque:
( اَعُوذُ بِاللّٰہِ الْعَظِیْمِ وَبِوَجْھِہِ الْکَرِیْمِ وَسُلْطَانِہِ الْقَدِیْمِ مِنَ الشَّیْطَانِ الرَّجِیْمِ )
“I seek refuge in Allah the Great, and in His Noble Face, and in His Eternal Sovereignty, from the accursed Satan.”
The Messenger of Allah, peace be upon him, said: Whoever recites this supplication, Satan says: This person is safe from me today.
3. Remembrance after Fajr:
( لاَ إِلٰہَ إِلَّا اللّٰہُ وَحْدَہٗ لَا شَرِیْکَ لَہٗ، لَہُ الْمُلْکُ وَلَہُ الْحَمْدُ وَھُوَ عَلیٰ کُلِّ شَیْءٍ قَدِیْرٌ ) — 100 times
“There is no deity except Allah, He is alone, He has no partner, His is the dominion and all praise is for Him, and He has power over all things.”
Guarantee of protection from Satan from morning till evening.
4. Ayat al-Kursi before sleeping:
( فَاقْرَأْ آیَۃَ الْکُرْسِیِّ … لَنْ یَّزَالَ مِنَ اللّٰہِ حَافِظٌ وَلَا یَقْرَبَکَ شَیْطَانٌ حَتّٰی تُصْبِحَ ) [بخاری :۲۳۱۱]
“When you go to sleep, recite Ayat al-Kursi … A guardian from Allah stays with you, and Satan does not come near you until morning.”
5. At the time of intercourse:
( بِسْمِ اللّٰہِ، اَللّٰھُمَّ جَنِّبْنَا الشَّیْطَانَ وَجَنِّبِ الشَّیْطَانَ مَا رَزَقْتَنَا )
“In the name of Allah (I begin), O Allah! Protect us from Satan, and protect from Satan whoever You grant us as offspring.”
If a child is born as a result of this act, Satan cannot harm him.
6. Morning and evening remembrances:
Among these remembrances, especially reciting the Mu’awwidhatayn (Surah Al-Falaq and Surah An-Nas) three times is a fortress against the whispers of Satan.
Summary of the topic
❖ Satan is the eternal enemy of mankind who has vowed to mislead the descendants of Adam.
❖ His tactics are weak, but they prevail over those with weak faith.
❖ If a believer lives with remembrance, supplication, prayer, recitation, congregation, piety, and reliance on Allah, then Satan’s attacks become ineffective against him.
Conclusion
The real weapons against Satan are faith, remembrance, piety, and following the Sunnah.
The servant who brings sincerity to his deeds and maintains a strong connection with Allah remains safe from the deception of this eternal enemy.
We pray to Allah Almighty to protect us and all Muslims from the evil of Satan, to grant steadfastness in our religion, and to grant a good ending.
آمین یا رب العالمین۔
