Capturing the Rebellious Devils in Ramadan — Reconciling Qur’an and Hadith
Source: Fatāwā ‘Ilmiyyah, Tawḍīḥ al-Aḥkām, Vol. 2, p. 137
Question:
A hadith states that during Ramadan the devils are chained, yet in the Qur’an (Sūrah al-Anfāl, verse 48) we learn that during the Battle of Badr — which occurred in Ramadan — Satan appeared with the polytheists of Makkah as their supporter, and later fled.
How can this apparent contradiction between the Qur’an and hadith be reconciled?
Answer:
Al-ḥamdu lillāh, waṣ-ṣalātu wa-s-salāmu ‘alā Rasūlillāh, ammā ba‘d:
Types of Devils
① The Great Devil (Iblīs):
The one who refused to prostrate to Prophet Ādam عليه السلام.
② The Rebellious Devils (Maradat ash-Shayāṭīn):
Highly defiant devils and leaders among them.
③ Ordinary Devils:
The common type of devil that whispers and incites people to sin.
Regarding Iblīs:
Iblīs is not chained in Ramadan because he asked Allah for respite until the Day of Resurrection, and Allah granted it, as stated in the Qur’an:
قال أنظرني إلى يوم يبعثون. قال إنك من المنظرين
(Sūrah al-A‘rāf: 14–18)
In Ramadan, only the rebellious devils (Maradat ash-Shayāṭīn) are chained.
Evidence from Hadith:
From Abū Hurayrah رضي الله عنه:
وتغل فیه مردۃ الشیاطین
“And the rebellious devils are chained during it (Ramadan).”
References: [Sunan an-Nasa’i: 4/129, ḥadīth 2108 — chain weak], [Musnad Ahmad: 2/230, 385, 425]
All the narrators are trustworthy, but the Tābi‘ī Abū Qilābah رحمه الله is not proven to have directly heard from Abū Hurayrah رضي الله عنه.
Reference: [At-Targhīb wa-t-Tarhīb, 2/98]
From ‘Utbah bin Farqad رضي الله عنه:
ویصفد فیه کل شیطان مرید
“Every rebellious devil is chained during it (Ramadan).”
References: [Sunan an-Nasa’i: 2110], [Musnad Ahmad: 4/311–312] — Chain is ḥasan (good).
Research of the Scholars:
These narrations clearly indicate that only the rebellious devils are imprisoned in Ramadan.
Imām Ibn Khuzaymah stated the same.
Reference: [Ṣaḥīḥ Ibn Khuzaymah, 3/188]
Principle of Tafsīr:
A specific text takes precedence over a general text, and a restricted statement over an absolute statement.
About the Ordinary Devils:
There is no explicit evidence that ordinary devils are chained in Ramadan.
Final Reconciliation:
- The Qur’anic verse (Sūrah al-Anfāl: 48) refers to Iblīs, who has respite until the Day of Resurrection and is not chained in Ramadan.
- The hadith about chaining refers specifically to the rebellious devils (Maradat ash-Shayāṭīn).
- Therefore, there is no contradiction between the Qur’an and the Sunnah.
