Forty Authentic Ahadith Regarding the Schemes of Shaytan
✍ Written by: Abu Hamzah Abdul Khaliq Siddiqi
إن الحمد لله نحمده، ونستعينه، من يهده الله فلا مضل له، ومن يضلل فلا هادي له ، وأشهد أن لا إله إلا الله وحده لا شريك له، وأن محمدا عبده ورسوله . أما بعد:
Shaytan Partakes in Food When "Bismillah" is Not Recited
قَالَ اللهُ تَعَالَى: وَكَذَٰلِكَ جَعَلْنَا لِكُلِّ نَبِيٍّ عَدُوًّا شَيَاطِينَ الْإِنسِ وَالْجِنِّ يُوحِي بَعْضُهُمْ إِلَىٰ بَعْضٍ زُخْرُفَ الْقَوْلِ غُرُورًا ۚ وَلَوْ شَاءَ رَبُّكَ مَا فَعَلُوهُ ۖ فَذَرْهُمْ وَمَا يَفْتَرُونَ ﴿١١٢﴾
(Al-An‘ām 6:112)
❀ Allah, the Exalted, said:
"And thus We have made for every Prophet an enemy – devils from among mankind and jinn – inspiring one another with adorned speech in delusion. But if your Lord had willed, they would not have done it; so leave them and what they fabricate."
Ḥadīth ①
«عن جابر بن عبد الله أنه سمع النبى صلى الله عليه وسلم يقول: إذا دخل الرجل بيته فذكر الله عند دخوله ، وعند طعامه ، قال الشيطان: لا مبيت لكم ولا عشاء، وإذا دخل فلم يذكر الله عند دخوله قال الشيطان: أدركتم المبيت ، وإذا لم يذكر الله عند طعامه ، قال: أدركتم المبيت والعشاء»
Reference: Ṣaḥīḥ Muslim, Kitāb al-Ashriba, Bāb Ādāb al-Ṭaʿām wal-Sharāb wa Aḥkāmihimā, No. 5262; Sunan Abī Dāwūd, Kitāb al-Aṭʿimah, Bāb al-Tasmiyah ʿalā al-Ṭaʿām, No. 3765.
Translation:
Jābir ibn ʿAbdillāh (RA) reported: I heard the Prophet (ﷺ) say, “When a man enters his house and remembers Allah at the time of entering and at the time of eating, Shaytan says (to his companions): ‘There is no place for you to spend the night here and no supper for you.’ But when he enters without mentioning Allah’s name, Shaytan says: ‘You have found lodging.’ And when he does not mention Allah’s name at the time of eating, Shaytan says: ‘You have found both lodging and supper.’”
Shaytan Eats and Drinks with the Left Hand
قَالَ الله تَعَالَى: قَالَ مَا مَنَعَكَ أَلَّا تَسْجُدَ إِذْ أَمَرْتُكَ ۖ قَالَ أَنَا خَيْرٌ مِّنْهُ خَلَقْتَنِي مِن نَّارٍ وَخَلَقْتَهُ مِن طِينٍ ﴿١٢﴾
(Al-Aʿrāf 7:12)
❀ Allah, the Exalted, said:
“[Allah] said: ‘What prevented you from prostrating when I commanded you?’ He said: ‘I am better than him. You created me from fire, and You created him from clay.’”
Ḥadīth ②
«وعن عبد الله بن عمر، أن النبى صلى الله عليه وسلم قال: لا يأكل أحدكم بشماله ولا يشرب بشماله فإن الشيطان يأكل بشماله ويشرب بشماله»
Reference: Sunan al-Tirmidhī, No. 1799; Sunan Ibn Mājah, No. 3266; Sunan Abī Dāwūd, No. 4137; al-Silsilah al-Ṣaḥīḥah, No. 1236.
Translation:
ʿAbdullāh ibn ʿUmar (RA) reported that the Prophet (ﷺ) said: “None of you should eat or drink with his left hand, for Shaytan eats and drinks with his left hand.”
Some Devils Reside in People’s Homes
قَالَ اللهُ تَعَالَى: وَإِذْ قُلْنَا لِلْمَلَائِكَةِ اسْجُدُوا لِآدَمَ فَسَجَدُوا إِلَّا إِبْلِيسَ كَانَ مِنَ الْجِنِّ فَفَسَقَ عَنْ أَمْرِ رَبِّهِ ۗ أَفَتَتَّخِذُونَهُ وَذُرِّيَّتَهُ أَوْلِيَاءَ مِن دُونِي وَهُمْ لَكُمْ عَدُوٌّ ۚ بِئْسَ لِلظَّالِمِينَ بَدَلًا ﴿٥٠﴾
(Al-Kahf 18:50)
❀ Allah, the Exalted, said:
“And [mention] when We said to the angels: ‘Prostrate to Adam,’ so they prostrated except for Iblis. He was of the jinn and departed from the command of his Lord. Will you then take him and his descendants as allies instead of Me, while they are enemies to you? Wretched is it as an exchange for the wrongdoers.”
Ḥadīth ③
«وعن أبى سعيد الخدري قال: سمعته قال: قال رسول الله: إن بالمدينة نفرا من الجن قد أسلموا، فمن رأى شيئا من هذه العوامر فليؤذنه ثلاثا ، فإن بدا له بعد فليقتله فإنه شيطان»
Reference: Ṣaḥīḥ Muslim, Kitāb al-Salām, Bāb Qatl al-Ḥayyāt wa Ghayrihā, No. 5841.
Translation:
Abū Saʿīd al-Khudrī (RA) reported that he heard the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) say: “Indeed, in Madinah there are some groups of jinn who have accepted Islam. So if anyone sees something from these household jinn, let him give it notice three times. If it appears again after that, then kill it, for it is a Shaytan.”
A Spot Between Sunlight and Shade Is a Seat of Shayṭān
قَالَ اللهُ تَعَالَى: وَاسْتَفْزِزْ مَنِ اسْتَطَعْتَ مِنْهُم بِصَوْتِكَ وَأَجْلِبْ عَلَيْهِم بِخَيْلِكَ وَرَجِلِكَ وَشَارِكْهُمْ فِي الْأَمْوَالِ وَالْأَوْلَادِ وَعِدْهُمْ ۚ وَمَا يَعِدُهُمُ الشَّيْطَانُ إِلَّا غُرُورًا ﴿٦٤﴾
(Al-Isrāʾ 17:64)
❀ Allah, the Exalted, said:
“And incite whoever you can among them with your voice, rally against them your cavalry and your infantry, share with them in wealth and children, and make promises to them.” But Shayṭān promises them nothing but delusion.
Ḥadīth ④
«وعن رجل من أصحاب النبي: أن النبى صلى الله عليه وسلم نهى أن يجلس بين الصح والظل ، وقال: مجلس الشيطان»
Reference: Ṣaḥīḥ al-Targhīb, No. 3081; Musnad Aḥmad 3/413, No. 15421 — declared ṣaḥīḥ by Shaykh Shuʿayb al-Arnāʾūṭ.
Translation:
From a Companion of the Prophet (RA): the Prophet (ﷺ) forbade sitting between sunlight and shade and said, “It is a seat of Shayṭān.”
Iblīs Dispatches His Troops; the Greatest Fitnah-Monger Is Nearest to Him
Ḥadīth ⑤
«وعن جابر رضي الله عنه قال: قال رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم: إن إبليس يضع عرشه على الماء ، ثم يبعث سراياه، فأدناهم منه منزلة أعظمهم فتنة، يجيء احدهم فيقول: فعلت كذا وكذا فيقول: ما صنعت شيئا قال: ثم يجيء احدهم فيقول ما تركته حتى فرقت بينه وبين امرأته قال فيدنيه منه ويقول نعم أنت»
Reference: Ṣaḥīḥ Muslim, Kitāb Ṣifat al-Qiyāmah wal-Jannah wan-Nār, No. 7106.
Translation:
Jābir (RA) reported that the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) said: “Iblīs places his throne upon the water, then sends out his detachments. The one nearest to him in rank is the greatest at causing tribulation. One of them comes and says: ‘I did such-and-such,’ and he replies: ‘You have done nothing.’ Then one comes and says: ‘I did not leave him until I separated him from his wife.’ He brings him near and says: ‘You are the one!’”
Marketplaces Are Battlefields of the Devils
قَالَ اللهُ تَعَالَى: وَمَن يَعْشُ عَن ذِكْرِ الرَّحْمَٰنِ نُقَيِّضْ لَهُ شَيْطَانًا فَهُوَ لَهُ قَرِينٌ ﴿٣٦﴾
(Az-Zukhruf 43:36)
❀ Allah, the Exalted, said:
“Whoever turns away from the remembrance of the Most Merciful, We assign for him a devil, and he becomes his companion.”
Ḥadīth ⑥
«وعن سلمان قال: لا تكونن ، إن استطعت أول من يدخل السوق ولا آخر من يخرج منها ، فإنها معركة الشياطين وبها ينصب رايته»
Reference: Ṣaḥīḥ Muslim, Kitāb Faḍāʾil al-Ṣaḥābah, No. 6315; Musnad al-Bazzār 1/392; Kanz al-ʿUmmāl, No. 9335.
Translation:
Salmān (RA) said: “If you can, do not be the first to enter the marketplace nor the last to leave it, for it is the battlefield of the devils, and there they raise their banner.”
Devils Can Fly in the Heavens
قَالَ اللهُ تَعَالَى: وَلَقَدْ صَدَّقَ عَلَيْهِمْ إِبْلِيسُ ظَنَّهُ فَاتَّبَعُوهُ إِلَّا فَرِيقًا مِّنَ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ ﴿٢٠﴾
(Sabaʾ 34:20)
❀ Allah, the Exalted, said:
“And indeed, Iblīs proved true his assumption about them, so they followed him, except for a party of the believers.”
Ḥadīth ⑦
«وعن أبى هريرة رضي الله عنه يقول: إن نبي الله صلى الله عليه وسلم قال: إذا قضى الله الأمر فى السماء ضربت الملائكة بأجنحتها خضعانا لقوله كأنه سلسلة على صفوان فإذا ﴿فُرِْعَ عَنْ قُلُوبِهِمْ قَالُوا مَا ذَا قَالَ رَبُّكُمْ قَالُوا﴾ للذي قال: ﴿الْحَقِّ وَهُوَ الْعَلِيُّ الْكَبِيرُ﴾ فيسمعها مسترق السمع ، ومسترق السمع هكذا بعضه فوق بعض، ووصف سفيان بكفه فحرفها وبدد بين أصابعه ، فيسمع الكلمة فيلقيها إلى من تحته، ثم يلقيها الآخر إلى من تحته حتى يلقيها على لسان الساحر أو الكاهن فربما أدرك الشهاب قبل أن يلقيها ، وربما ألقاها قبل أن يدركه فيكذب معها مائة كذبة فيقال: أليس قد قال لنا يوم كذا وكذا ، كذا وكذا ، فيصدق بتلك الكلمة التى سمع من السماء .»
Reference: Ṣaḥīḥ al-Bukhārī, Kitāb al-Tafsīr, Bāb Qawluhū Taʿālā: (ḥattā idhā fuzziʿa ʿan qulūbihim), No. 4800.
Translation:
Abū Hurayrah (RA) narrated that the Prophet (ﷺ) said:
“When Allah decrees a matter in the heaven, the angels beat their wings in submission to His command, sounding like a chain striking a smooth stone. When fear is removed from their hearts, they say: ‘What has your Lord said?’ They reply: ‘The truth, and He is the Most High, the Most Great.’ Then the eavesdropper (from the devils) hears this, and they are like this, one above the other (Sufyān described it by spreading his fingers apart). The eavesdropper hears a word and passes it to the one below, who passes it to the one below, until it reaches the tongue of the sorcerer or the soothsayer. Sometimes the flaming missile overtakes them before they pass it on, and sometimes they pass it on before it strikes them. They then add one hundred lies to that word. People say: ‘Did he not tell us such-and-such on such-and-such day?’ So he is believed because of that word which was heard from the heaven.”
Devils Cause Harm and Disturb Humans
قَالَ اللهُ تَعَالَى: يَا بَنِي آدَمَ لَا يَفْتِنَنَّكُمُ الشَّيْطَانُ كَمَا أَخْرَجَ أَبَوَيْكُم مِّنَ الْجَنَّةِ يَنزِعُ عَنْهُمَا لِبَاسَهُمَا لِيُرِيَهُمَا سَوْآتِهِمَا ۗ إِنَّهُ يَرَاكُمْ هُوَ وَقَبِيلُهُ مِنْ حَيْثُ لَا تَرَوْنَهُمْ ۗ إِنَّا جَعَلْنَا الشَّيَاطِينَ أَوْلِيَاءَ لِلَّذِينَ لَا يُؤْمِنُونَ ﴿٢٧﴾
(Al-Aʿrāf 7:27)
❀ Allah, the Exalted, said:
“O children of Adam, let not Shayṭān tempt you as he removed your parents from Paradise, stripping them of their clothing to show them their private parts. Indeed, he and his tribe see you from where you do not see them. Indeed, We have made the devils allies to those who do not believe.”
Ḥadīth ⑧
«وعن أبى هريرة قال: وكلني رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم بحفظ زكاة رمضان فأتاني آت فجعل يحثو من الطعام فأخذته فقلت: لأرفعنك إلى رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم فقص الحديث فقال: إذا أويت إلى فراشك فاقرأ آية الكرسي لن يزال من الله حافظ ولا يقربك شيطان حتى تصبح وقال النبي: صدقك وهو كذوب ذاك شيطان»
Reference: Ṣaḥīḥ al-Bukhārī, Kitāb Faḍāʾil al-Qurʾān, No. 5010.
Translation:
Abū Hurayrah (RA) reported: The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) appointed me to guard the charity of Ramaḍān. Someone came and began taking handfuls of food. I caught him and said, “I will take you to the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ).” He told the story (and then said): “When you go to your bed, recite Āyat al-Kursī. Then a protector from Allah will remain with you, and no Shayṭān will come near you until morning.” The Prophet (ﷺ) said: “He told you the truth though he is a liar. That was a Shayṭān.”
Ḥadīth ⑨
«وعن أبى هريرة رضي الله عنه أن رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم قال: يعقد الشيطان على قافية رأس أحدكم إذا هو نام ثلاث عقد، يضرب على مكان كل عقدة عليك ليل طويل فارقد، فإن استيقظ فذكر الله انحلت عقدة، فإن توضأ انحلت عقدة، فإن صلى انحلت عقدة فأصبح نشيطا طيب النفس ، وإلا أصبح خبيث النفس كسلان»
Reference: Ṣaḥīḥ al-Bukhārī, Kitāb al-Tahajjud, No. 1142; Ṣaḥīḥ Muslim, No. 1816.
Translation:
Abū Hurayrah (RA) narrated that the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) said:
“When one of you sleeps, Shayṭān ties three knots at the back of his head. He blows upon every knot saying: ‘You have a long night ahead, so sleep.’ If he wakes up and remembers Allah, one knot is undone. If he performs wuḍūʾ, the second knot is undone. If he prays, the third knot is undone, and he wakes up energetic and in good spirits. Otherwise, he wakes up in a bad mood and lazy.”
Devils Are Chained During Ramaḍān
قَالَ اللهُ تَعَالَى: إِنَّمَا ذَٰلِكُمُ الشَّيْطَانُ يُخَوِّفُ أَوْلِيَاءَهُ فَلَا تَخَافُوهُمْ وَخَافُونِ إِن كُنتُم مُّؤْمِنِينَ ﴿١٧٥﴾
(Āl ʿImrān 3:175)
❀ Allah, the Exalted, said:
“It is only Shayṭān who frightens his allies. So fear them not, but fear Me if you are believers.”
Ḥadīth ⑩
«وعن أبى هريرة صلى الله عليه وسلم يقول: قال رسول الله: إذا دخل شهر رمضان فتحت أبواب السماء ، وغلقت أبواب جهنم، وسلسلت الشياطين»
Reference: Ṣaḥīḥ al-Bukhārī, Kitāb al-Ṣiyām, No. 1899; Ṣaḥīḥ Muslim, No. 1079; Sunan al-Dārimī, No. 1775; Ṣaḥīḥ Ibn Ḥibbān, No. 3434; Ṣaḥīḥ Ibn Khuzaymah, No. 1882.
Translation:
Abū Hurayrah (RA) reported that the Prophet (ﷺ) said: “When Ramaḍān begins, the gates of the heavens are opened, the gates of Hell are closed, and the devils are chained.”
Devils Spread Out at Nightfall
قَالَ اللهُ تَعَالَى: إِنَّمَا النَّجْوَىٰ مِنَ الشَّيْطَانِ لِيَحْزُنَ الَّذِينَ آمَنُوا وَلَيْسَ بِضَارِّهِمْ شَيْئًا إِلَّا بِإِذْنِ اللَّهِ ۚ وَعَلَى اللَّهِ فَلْيَتَوَكَّلِ الْمُؤْمِنُونَ ﴿١٠﴾
(Al-Mujādilah 58:10)
❀ Allah, the Exalted, said:
“Private conversation is only from Shayṭān, that he may grieve those who believe. But he cannot harm them at all except by permission of Allah. And upon Allah let the believers rely.”
Ḥadīth ⑪
«وعن جابر بن عبد الله رضى الله عنه قال: قال رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم: إذا كان جنح الليل أو أمسيتم فكفوا صبيانكم، فإن الشياطين تنتشر حينئذ ، فإذا ذهبت ساعة من الليل فخلوهم، وأغلقوا الأبواب، واذكروا اسم الله ، فإن الشيطان لا يفتح بابا مغلقا. قال: وأخبرني عمرو بن دينار سمع جابر بن عبد الله نحو ما أخبرني عطاء ولم يذكر واذكروا اسم الله»
Reference: Ṣaḥīḥ al-Bukhārī, Kitāb Badʾ al-Khalq, No. 3304; Ṣaḥīḥ Muslim, No. 2012.
Translation:
Jābir ibn ʿAbdillāh (RA) narrated: The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) said, “When night falls, or when evening comes, keep your children close, for the devils spread out then. When an hour of the night has passed, let them go. Close the doors and mention the name of Allah, for Shayṭān does not open a closed door.”
ʿAmr ibn Dīnār informed me that he heard Jābir narrating the ḥadīth in the same way as ʿAṭāʾ had narrated to me, except that he did not mention: ‘Say the name of Allah.’
Some Animals Can See the Devils
قَالَ اللهُ تَعَالَى: وَلَا تَأْكُلُوا مِمَّا لَمْ يُذْكَرِ اسْمُ اللَّهِ عَلَيْهِ وَإِنَّهُ لَفِسْقٌ ۗ وَإِنَّ الشَّيَاطِينَ لَيُوحُونَ إِلَىٰ أَوْلِيَائِهِمْ لِيُجَادِلُوكُمْ ۖ وَإِنْ أَطَعْتُمُوهُمْ إِنَّكُمْ لَمُشْرِكُونَ ﴿١٢١﴾
(Al-Anʿām 6:121)
❀ Allah, the Exalted, said:
“And do not eat of that upon which the name of Allah has not been mentioned, for indeed it is grave disobedience. And indeed the devils inspire their allies to dispute with you. And if you were to obey them, you would surely be associators.”
Ḥadīth ⑫
«وعن أبى هريرة رضي الله عنه أن النبى صلى الله عليه وسلم قال: إذا سمعتم صياح الديكة فاسألوا الله من فضله ، فإنها رأت ملكا وإذا سمعتم نهيق الحمار فتعوذوا بالله من الشيطان، فإنه رأى شيطانا»
Reference: Ṣaḥīḥ al-Bukhārī, Kitāb Badʾ al-Khalq, No. 3294.
Translation:
Abū Hurayrah (RA) narrated that the Prophet (ﷺ) said: “When you hear the crowing of roosters, ask Allah of His bounty, for they have seen an angel. And when you hear the braying of a donkey, seek refuge in Allah from Shayṭān, for it has seen a Shayṭān.”
Some Devils Fear Certain Servants of Allah
قَالَ اللهُ تَعَالَى: يَا أَيُّهَا النَّاسُ إِنَّ وَعْدَ اللَّهِ حَقٌّ ۖ فَلَا تَغُرَّنَّكُمُ الْحَيَاةُ الدُّنْيَا ۖ وَلَا يَغُرَّنَّكُم بِاللَّهِ الْغَرُورُ ﴿٥﴾ إِنَّ الشَّيْطَانَ لَكُمْ عَدُوٌّ فَاتَّخِذُوهُ عَدُوًّا ۚ إِنَّمَا يَدْعُو حِزْبَهُ لِيَكُونُوا مِنْ أَصْحَابِ السَّعِيرِ ﴿٦﴾
(Fāṭir 35:5–6)
❀ Allah, the Exalted, said:
“O mankind! Surely the promise of Allah is true, so let not the worldly life deceive you, and do not let the deceiver deceive you concerning Allah. Indeed, Shayṭān is an enemy to you, so take him as an enemy. He only invites his party to be among the companions of the Blaze.”
Ḥadīth ⑬
«وعن سعد ابن أبى وقاص، قال: استأذن عمر على رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم وعنده نساء من قريش يكلمنه ويستكثرنه ، عالية أصواتهن ، فلما استأذن عمر ، قمن يبتدرن الحجاب ، فأذن له رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم ، ورسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم يضحك فقال عمر: أضحك الله سنك يا رسول الله! قال عجبت من هؤلاء اللاتي كن عندي ، فلما سمعن صوتك ابتدرن الحجاب . قال عمر: فأنت يا رسول الله كنت أحق أن يهبن ثم قال: أى عدوات أنفسهن أتهبنني ولا تهبن رسول الله قلن: نعم أنت أفظ وأغلظ من رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم قال رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم: والذي نفسي بيده! ما لقيك الشيطان قط سالكا فجا إلا سلك فجا غير فجك»
Reference: Ṣaḥīḥ al-Bukhārī, Kitāb Badʾ al-Khalq, No. 3294.
Translation:
Saʿd ibn Abī Waqqāṣ (RA) narrated: ʿUmar (RA) sought permission to enter upon the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) while some Quraysh women were with him, talking to him loudly and asking for more expenditure. When ʿUmar sought permission, they quickly veiled themselves. The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) gave him permission to enter, and he entered while the Prophet (ﷺ) was smiling. ʿUmar said, “May Allah keep you smiling, O Messenger of Allah!” He (ﷺ) said: “I am amazed at these women who were with me. When they heard your voice, they hastened to veil themselves.” ʿUmar said, “But you, O Messenger of Allah, are more deserving that they should fear you.” Then he said, “O enemies of yourselves! You fear me but not the Messenger of Allah?” They said, “Yes, for you are harsher and sterner than the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ).” The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) said: “By the One in Whose Hand is my soul! Whenever Shayṭān meets you on a path, he takes a path other than yours.”
Devils Cannot Take the Form of the Prophet ﷺ
قَالَ اللهُ تَعَالَى: فَلَمَّا قَضَيْنَا عَلَيْهِ الْمَوْتَ مَا دَلَّهُمْ عَلَىٰ مَوْتِهِ إِلَّا دَابَّةُ الْأَرْضِ تَأْكُلُ مِنسَأَتَهُ ۖ فَلَمَّا خَرَّ تَبَيَّنَتِ الْجِنُّ أَن لَّوْ كَانُوا يَعْلَمُونَ الْغَيْبَ مَا لَبِثُوا فِي الْعَذَابِ الْمُهِينِ ﴿١٤﴾
(Sabaʾ 34:14)
❀ Allah, the Exalted, said:
“And when We decreed death for him, nothing indicated to them his death except a creature of the earth eating away his staff. But when he fell, it became clear to the jinn that if they had known the unseen, they would not have remained in the humiliating punishment.”
Ḥadīth ⑭
«وعن أبى هريرة قال: سمعت النبى صلى الله عليه وسلم يقول: من رآني فى المنام فسيراني فى اليقظة ولا يتمثل الشيطان بي»
Reference: Ṣaḥīḥ al-Bukhārī, Kitāb Taʿbīr al-Ruʾyā, No. 6993; Ṣaḥīḥ Muslim, No. 2266.
Translation:
Abū Hurayrah (RA) reported: I heard the Prophet (ﷺ) say: “Whoever sees me in a dream will see me in wakefulness, for Shayṭān cannot take my form.”
Devils Too Will Die
قَالَ اللهُ تَعَالَى: كُلُّ نَفْسٍ ذَائِقَةُ الْمَوْتِ ۗ وَإِنَّمَا تُوَفَّوْنَ أُجُورَكُمْ يَوْمَ الْقِيَامَةِ ۖ فَمَن زُحْزِحَ عَنِ النَّارِ وَأُدْخِلَ الْجَنَّةَ فَقَدْ فَازَ ۗ وَمَا الْحَيَاةُ الدُّنْيَا إِلَّا مَتَاعُ الْغُرُورِ ﴿١٨٥﴾
(Āl ʿImrān 3:185)
❀ Allah, the Exalted, said:
“Every soul shall taste death. And you will only be given your full compensation on the Day of Resurrection. So he who is drawn away from the Fire and admitted to Paradise has indeed attained success. And the life of this world is nothing but the enjoyment of delusion.”
وَقَالَ اللهُ تَعَالَى: كُلُّ مَنْ عَلَيْهَا فَانٍ ﴿٢٦﴾ وَيَبْقَىٰ وَجْهُ رَبِّكَ ذُو الْجَلَالِ وَالْإِكْرَامِ ﴿٢٧﴾
(Al-Raḥmān 55:26–27)
❀ Allah, the Exalted, said:
“Everyone upon it will perish, but the Face of your Lord will remain, Owner of Majesty and Honor.”
Ḥadīth ⑮
«وعن ابن عباس أن النبى صلى الله عليه وسلم كان يقول: أعوذ بعزتك الذى لا إله إلا أنت الذى لا يموت ، والجن والإنس يموتون»
Reference: Ṣaḥīḥ al-Bukhārī, Kitāb al-Tawḥīd, No. 7383; Ṣaḥīḥ Muslim, No. 2717.
Translation:
Ibn ʿAbbās (RA) narrated: The Prophet (ﷺ) used to say, “I seek refuge in Your Glory — there is no deity except You, the One who never dies — while the jinn and mankind will die.”
Shayṭān’s Aim Is to Lead People into Kufr and Shirk
قَالَ اللهُ تَعَالَى: أَلَمْ أَعْهَدْ إِلَيْكُمْ يَا بَنِي آدَمَ أَن لَّا تَعْبُدُوا الشَّيْطَانَ ۖ إِنَّهُ لَكُمْ عَدُوٌّ مُّبِينٌ ﴿٦٠﴾ وَأَنِ اعْبُدُونِي ۚ هَٰذَا صِرَاطٌ مُّسْتَقِيمٌ ﴿٦١﴾ وَلَقَدْ أَضَلَّ مِنكُمْ جِبِلًّا كَثِيرًا ۖ أَفَلَمْ تَكُونُوا تَعْقِلُونَ ﴿٦٢﴾
(Yā Sīn 36:60–62)
❀ Allah, the Exalted, said:
“Did I not enjoin upon you, O children of Adam, that you not worship Shayṭān, for indeed he is to you a clear enemy? And that you worship Me — this is a straight path. And he has already led astray from among you a great multitude, so will you not reason?”
Ḥadīth ⑯
«وعن عباض بن حمار المجاشعي، أن رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم قال ذات يوم فى خطبته: ألا إن ربي أمرني أن أعلمكم ما جهلتم مما علمني ، يومي هذا ، كل مال نحلته عبدا ، حلال ، وإني خلقت عبادى حنفاء كلهم ، وإنهم أتتهم الشياطين فاجتالتهم عن دينهم، وحرمت عليهم ما أحللت لهم ، وأمرتهم أن يشركوا بى ما لم أنزل به سلطانا …»
Reference: Ṣaḥīḥ Muslim, Kitāb al-Jannah wa Ṣifat Naʿīmihā wa Ahlihā, No. 7207.
Translation (excerpted for clarity):
ʿIyāḍ ibn Ḥimār al-Mujāshiʿī (RA) narrated that the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) said one day in his sermon:
“Indeed, my Lord has commanded me to teach you what you did not know of what He has taught me today. Every wealth that I have granted to a servant is lawful. And indeed, I created all of My servants as ḥunafāʾ (inclining to truth), but the devils came to them and diverted them from their religion. They made unlawful for them what I had made lawful, and they commanded them to associate with Me that for which I sent down no authority…”
(The narration continues with mention of Allah’s displeasure with people, His sending of the Prophet ﷺ, the characteristics of the people of Jannah and the people of Hell.)
Shayṭān Entices People into Sins
قَالَ اللهُ تَعَالَى: وَلَا يَصُدَّنَّكُمُ الشَّيْطَانُ ۖ إِنَّهُ لَكُمْ عَدُوٌّ مُّبِينٌ ﴿٦٢﴾
(Al-Zukhruf 43:62)
❀ Allah, the Exalted, said:
“And let not Shayṭān avert you. Indeed, he is to you a clear enemy.”
Ḥadīth ⑰
«وعن جابر ، قال: سمعت النبى صلى الله عليه وسلم يقول: إن الشيطان قد ايس أن يعبده المصلون فى جزيرة العرب ولكن فى التحريش بينهم»
Reference: Ṣaḥīḥ Muslim, Kitāb Ṣifat al-Qiyāmah wa al-Jannah wa al-Nār, No. 7103.
Translation:
Jābir (RA) reported: I heard the Prophet (ﷺ) say: “Indeed, Shayṭān has despaired of ever being worshipped by those who pray in the Arabian Peninsula, but he seeks to stir up discord among them.”
He Prevents Every Act of Goodness
قَالَ اللهُ تَعَالَى: فَرِيقًا هَدَىٰ وَفَرِيقًا حَقَّ عَلَيْهِمُ الضَّلَالَةُ ۗ إِنَّهُمُ اتَّخَذُوا الشَّيَاطِينَ أَوْلِيَاءَ مِن دُونِ اللَّهِ وَيَحْسَبُونَ أَنَّهُم مُّهْتَدُونَ ﴿٣٠﴾
(Al-Aʿrāf 7:30)
❀ Allah, the Exalted, said:
“A group He guided, while another group deserved to be in error. Indeed, they took the devils as allies instead of Allah, and they think that they are guided.”
Ḥadīth ⑱
«وعن سبرة بن أبى فاكه قال سمعت رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم يقول: إن الشيطان قعد لابن آدم بأطرقه …»
Reference: Musnad Aḥmad 3/483; Sunan al-Nasāʾī, Kitāb al-Jihād, No. 3136; Ṣaḥīḥ al-Jāmiʿ al-Ṣaghīr, No. 1652.
Translation (summarized):
Sabrāh ibn Abī Fākih (RA) said: I heard the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) say:
“Shayṭān lies in wait for the son of Adam at every path. He lies in wait at the path of Islām and says: ‘Will you embrace Islām and abandon your religion and the religion of your forefathers?’ But he disobeys him and embraces Islām. Then he lies in wait at the path of Hijrah and says: ‘Will you migrate and abandon your land and your sky?’ But he disobeys him and migrates. Then he lies in wait at the path of Jihād and says: ‘This is hardship upon your self and your wealth. You will fight, be killed, and your wife will remarry and your wealth will be divided.’ But he disobeys him and engages in Jihād. Whoever does this and dies, it is a promise upon Allah that He will admit him to Paradise — whether he is killed, drowned, or his riding beast throws him and he dies, it is a promise upon Allah that He will admit him to Paradise.”
Interfering in Worship
قَالَ اللهُ تَعَالَى: ادْفَعْ بِالَّتِي هِيَ أَحْسَنُ السَّيِّئَةَ ۚ نَحْنُ أَعْلَمُ بِمَا يَصِفُونَ ﴿٩٦﴾ وَقُل رَّبِّ أَعُوذُ بِكَ مِنْ هَمَزَاتِ الشَّيَاطِينِ ﴿٩٧﴾ وَأَعُوذُ بِكَ رَبِّ أَن يَحْضُرُونِ ﴿٩٨﴾
(Al-Muʾminūn 23:96–98)
❀ Allah, the Exalted, said:
“Repel evil by that which is best. We know well what they describe. And say: ‘My Lord, I seek refuge with You from the whisperings of the devils, and I seek refuge with You, my Lord, lest they be present with me.’”
Ḥadīth ⑲
«وعن أبى هريرة أن رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم قال: إذا نودي للصلاة أدبر الشيطان وله ضراط …»
Reference: Ṣaḥīḥ al-Bukhārī, Kitāb al-Adhān, No. 608.
Translation:
Abū Hurayrah (RA) reported that the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) said:
“When the call to prayer is made, Shayṭān turns his back and flees with breaking wind so that he does not hear the call. When the call is finished, he returns. When the iqāmah is pronounced, he again turns his back and flees. When it is finished, he comes back to distract the worshipper, saying: ‘Remember this and that,’ things which he had not thought of before, until the person no longer knows how many rakʿāt he has prayed.”
Showing False Dreams
قَالَ اللهُ تَعَالَى: وَلَا تَسْتَوِي الْحَسَنَةُ وَلَا السَّيِّئَةُ ۚ ادْفَعْ بِالَّتِي هِيَ أَحْسَنُ … وَإِمَّا يَنزَغَنَّكَ مِنَ الشَّيْطَانِ نَزْغٌ فَاسْتَعِذْ بِاللَّهِ ۖ إِنَّهُ هُوَ السَّمِيعُ الْعَلِيمُ ﴿٣٦﴾
(Fuṣṣilat 41:34–36)
❀ Allah, the Exalted, said:
“Not equal are the good deed and the bad. Repel evil by that which is best, then the one between whom and you is enmity will become as if he were a devoted friend. But none is granted it except those who are patient, and none is granted it except one having a great share. And if there comes to you from Shayṭān an evil suggestion, then seek refuge in Allah. Indeed, He is the Hearing, the Knowing.”
Ḥadīth ⑳
«وعن أبى قتادة عن النبى صلى الله عليه وسلم قال: الرؤيا الصالحة من الله والحلم من الشيطان فإذا حلم فليتعوذ منه وليبصق عن شماله فإنها لا تضره»
Reference: Ṣaḥīḥ al-Bukhārī, Kitāb al-Taʿbīr, No. 6986.
Translation:
Abū Qatādah (RA) narrated that the Prophet (ﷺ) said:
“A good dream is from Allah, while a bad dream is from Shayṭān. So if anyone of you sees a bad dream, let him seek refuge with Allah from it and spit lightly to his left side, and it will not harm him.”
Confusing a Person at the Time of Death
قَالَ اللهُ تَعَالَى: لَّعَنَهُ اللَّهُ ۘ وَقَالَ لَأَتَّخِذَنَّ مِنْ عِبَادِكَ نَصِيبًا مَّفْرُوضًا ﴿١١٨﴾ … وَمَن يَتَّخِذِ الشَّيْطَانَ وَلِيًّا مِّن دُونِ اللَّهِ فَقَدْ خَسِرَ خُسْرَانًا مُّبِينًا ﴿١١٩﴾
(Al-Nisāʾ 4:118–119)
❀ Allah, the Exalted, said:
“Allah has cursed him (Shayṭān), and he said: ‘I will surely take from among Your servants a specified portion. And I will mislead them, and I will arouse in them false desires. I will command them so they will slit the ears of cattle, and I will command them so they will change the creation of Allah.’ And whoever takes Shayṭān as an ally instead of Allah has certainly sustained a clear loss.”
Ḥadīth ㉑
«وعن أبى اليسر، قال: كان رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم يقول: اللهم إني أعوذبك من التردى … وأعوذبك أن يتخبطني الشيطان عند الموت …»
Reference: Sunan al-Nasāʾī, Kitāb al-Istiʿādhah, No. 5531; Ṣaḥīḥ al-Jāmiʿ al-Ṣaghīr, No. 1282.
Translation:
Abū al-Yusr (RA) said: The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) used to supplicate:
“O Allah, I seek refuge in You from falling to destruction, from being buried under debris, from drowning, from burning, and I seek refuge in You from being confounded by Shayṭān at the time of death. And I seek refuge in You from turning my back and fleeing in Your cause, and from dying due to a harmful animal bite.”
Shayṭān Flows in the Human Body Like Blood
قَالَ اللهُ تَعَالَى: قُلْ أَعُوذُ بِرَبِّ النَّاسِ … مِن شَرِّ الْوَسْوَاسِ الْخَنَّاسِ ﴿٤﴾ الَّذِي يُوَسْوِسُ فِي صُدُورِ النَّاسِ ﴿٥﴾ مِنَ الْجِنَّةِ وَالنَّاسِ ﴿٦﴾
(Al-Nās 114:1–6)
وَقَالَ اللهُ تَعَالَى: وَقُل لِّعِبَادِي يَقُولُوا الَّتِي هِيَ أَحْسَنُ إِنَّ الشَّيْطَانَ يَنزَغُ بَيْنَهُمْ … ﴿٥٣﴾
(Al-Isrāʾ 17:53)
وَقَالَ اللهُ تَعَالَى: وَإِذْ زَيَّنَ لَهُمُ الشَّيْطَانُ أَعْمَالَهُمْ … إِنِّي أَخَافُ اللَّهَ ۚ وَاللَّهُ شَدِيدُ الْعِقَابِ ﴿٤٨﴾
(Al-Anfāl 8:47–48)
❀ Allah, the Exalted, revealed multiple verses showing the plots of Shayṭān, his deception, and that he causes mischief among people.
Ḥadīth ㉒
«وعن صفية زوج النبى صلى الله عليه وسلم … فقال النبى صلى الله عليه وسلم: إن الشيطان يبلغ من الإنسان مبلغ الدم ، وإنى خشيت أن يقذف فى قلوبكما شيئا»
Reference: Ṣaḥīḥ al-Bukhārī, Kitāb al-Iʿtikāf, Nos. 2035, 2038; Ṣaḥīḥ Muslim, No. 2175; Sunan Abī Dāwūd, No. 2470; Sunan Ibn Mājah, No. 1779; Musnad Aḥmad 6/337.
Translation:
Ṣafiyyah (RA), the wife of the Prophet (ﷺ), reported that she came to visit him while he was in iʿtikāf during the last ten nights of Ramaḍān. After speaking for some time, she stood up to leave, and the Prophet (ﷺ) walked with her. When they reached the door of the mosque near Umm Salamah’s door, two men from the Anṣār passed by and greeted the Prophet (ﷺ). He said to them: “Wait! She is Ṣafiyyah bint Ḥuyayy.” They replied: “SubḥānAllāh, O Messenger of Allah!” It was hard for them (to think he suspected them). The Prophet (ﷺ) said: “Indeed, Shayṭān flows in man like blood, and I feared he might cast something (evil suspicion) into your hearts.”
Shayṭān Casts Whispers in the Heart
Ḥadīth ㉓
«وعن عبد الله بن مسعود قال: قال رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم: إن للشيطان لمة بابن آدم وللملك لمة …»
Reference: Sunan al-Tirmidhī, Kitāb al-Tafsīr, No. 2988; Sunan al-Nasāʾī al-Kubrā, No. 11051; Musnad Aḥmad 1/235. Graded authentic by al-Albānī and Aḥmad Shākir.
Translation:
ʿAbdullāh ibn Masʿūd (RA) reported: The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) said:
“Indeed, there is a touch of Shayṭān upon the son of Adam, and there is a touch of the angel. The touch of Shayṭān is a threat with evil and denial of the truth. The touch of the angel is encouragement to good and confirmation of the truth. Whoever experiences this (good touch) should know that it is from Allah, and let him praise Allah. And whoever experiences the other should seek refuge in Allah from Shayṭān.”
Then the Prophet (ﷺ) recited: ﴿الشَّيْطَانُ يَعِدُكُمُ الْفَقْرَ وَيَأْمُرُكُم بِالْفَحْشَاءِ ۚ وَاللَّهُ يَعِدُكُم مَّغْفِرَةً مِّنْهُ وَفَضْلًا﴾
(Al-Baqarah 2:268)
The Prophet ﷺ Was Affected by Magic
Ḥadīth ㉔
«وعن عائشة رضي الله عنها قالت: سحر رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم رجل من بني و زريق يقال له، لبيد بن الأعصم …»
Reference: Ṣaḥīḥ al-Bukhārī, Kitāb al-Ṭibb, No. 5763; Musnad Aḥmad 6/57, 63.
Translation:
ʿĀʾishah (RA) said: A man from the Banū Zurayq, called Labīd ibn al-Aʿṣam, cast a spell on the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ). As a result, he (ﷺ) imagined that he had done something when he had not done it. One day (or one night), he was with me, supplicating. Then he said: “ʿĀʾishah, do you know that Allah has answered me about what I asked Him? Two men came to me (i.e. Jibrīl and Mīkāʾīl), one sat by my head and the other by my feet. One asked: ‘What is the matter with this man?’ The other replied: ‘He has been bewitched.’ He asked: ‘Who bewitched him?’ He replied: ‘Labīd ibn al-Aʿṣam.’ He asked: ‘With what?’ He replied: ‘With a comb and hair stuck in the spadix of a male date-palm.’ He asked: ‘Where is it?’ He replied: ‘In the well of Dharwān.’”
So the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) went to that well with some of his Companions. On returning, he said: “ʿĀʾishah, its water was red like the infusion of henna, and its date-palm heads looked like the heads of devils.” I said: “O Messenger of Allah, why did you not take it out?” He said: “Allah has cured me, and I disliked stirring up evil among the people.” Then he ordered it to be buried.
Shayṭān Seeks to Misguide the Muslim Community
قَالَ اللهُ تَعَالَى: لَّقَدْ أَضَلَّنِي عَنِ الذِّكْرِ بَعْدَ إِذْ جَاءَنِي ۗ وَكَانَ الشَّيْطَانُ لِلْإِنسَانِ خَذُولًا ﴿٢٩﴾
(Al-Furqān 25:29)
❀ Allah, the Exalted, said:
“He led me away from the Reminder after it had come to me. And Shayṭān has ever been a betrayer to man.”
Ḥadīth ㉕
«وعن أبى الدرداء قال: سمعت رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم يقول: ما من ثلاثة فى قرية ولا بدو لا تقام فيهم الصلاة إلا قد استحوذ عليهم الشيطان فعليك بالجماعة فإنما يأكل الدلب القاصية»
Reference: Sunan Abī Dāwūd, No. 547; Sunan al-Nasāʾī, No. 847; Mishkāt al-Maṣābīḥ, No. 1067; Ṣaḥīḥ al-Jāmiʿ al-Ṣaghīr, No. 5701.
Translation:
Abū al-Dardāʾ (RA) reported: The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) said:
“There are no three people in a village or in the desert among whom prayer is not established in congregation, except that Shayṭān overcomes them. So adhere to the congregation, for the wolf devours only the stray sheep.”
Preventing Rising for Fajr Prayer
قَالَ اللهُ تَعَالَى: اسْتَحْوَذَ عَلَيْهِمُ الشَّيْطَانُ فَأَنسَاهُمْ ذِكْرَ اللَّهِ ۚ أُولَٰئِكَ حِزْبُ الشَّيْطَانِ ۚ أَلَا إِنَّ حِزْبَ الشَّيْطَانِ هُمُ الْخَاسِرُونَ ﴿١٩﴾
(Al-Mujādilah 58:19)
❀ Allah, the Exalted, said:
“Shayṭān has overcome them and made them forget the remembrance of Allah. They are the party of Shayṭān. Verily, it is the party of Shayṭān that will be the losers.”
Ḥadīth ㉖
«وعن عبد الله صلى الله عليه وسلم قال: ذكر عند النبى صلى الله عليه وسلم رجل فقيل: ما زال نائما حتى أصبح ما قام إلى الصلاة فقال: بال الشيطان فى أذنه»
Reference: Ṣaḥīḥ al-Bukhārī, No. 1144; Ṣaḥīḥ Muslim, No. 774.
Translation:
ʿAbdullāh ibn Masʿūd (RA) narrated: Mention was made before the Prophet (ﷺ) of a man who slept until morning without rising for prayer. The Prophet (ﷺ) said: “Shayṭān has urinated in his ear.”
Entering Between the Prayer Rows
قَالَ اللهُ تَعَالَى: وَقَالَ الشَّيْطَانُ لَمَّا قُضِيَ الْأَمْرُ إِنَّ اللَّهَ وَعَدَكُمْ وَعْدَ الْحَقِّ وَوَعَدتُّكُمْ فَأَخْلَفْتُكُمْ … إِنَّ الظَّالِمِينَ لَهُمْ عَذَابٌ أَلِيمٌ ﴿٢٢﴾
(Ibrāhīm 14:22)
❀ Allah, the Exalted, said:
“And Shayṭān will say when the matter has been decided: Indeed, Allah promised you the promise of truth. And I promised you, but I betrayed you. I had no authority over you except that I invited you, and you responded to me. So blame me not, but blame yourselves. I cannot save you, nor can you save me. Indeed, I disbelieved in your associating me with Allah before. Indeed, the wrongdoers will have a painful punishment.”
Ḥadīth ㉗
«وعن أنس بن مالك عن رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم قال: رصوا صفوفكم، وقاربوا بينها ، وحاذوا بالأعناق، فوالذي نفسي بيده إني لأرى الشيطان يدخل من خلل الصف كأنها الحذف»
Reference: Sunan Abī Dāwūd, No. 667; Sunan al-Nasāʾī, No. 815; Mishkāt al-Maṣābīḥ, No. 1093; Ṣaḥīḥ al-Targhīb wa al-Tarhīb 1/119.
Translation:
Anas ibn Mālik (RA) reported: The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) said:
“Align your rows, draw close together, and keep your necks straight. By the One in Whose Hand is my soul, I see Shayṭān entering through the gaps in the rows like small sheep.”
Moving the Index Finger in Tashahhud
قَالَ اللهُ تَعَالَى: قَالَ أَرَأَيْتَكَ هَٰذَا الَّذِي كَرَّمْتَ عَلَيَّ … ﴿٦٢﴾
(Al-Isrāʾ 17:62)
❀ Allah, the Exalted, said:
“He said: Do You see this one whom You have honored above me? If You delay me until the Day of Resurrection, I will surely destroy his descendants, except for a few.”
Ḥadīth ㉘
«وعن نافع، قال: كان عبد الله بن عمر ، إذا جلس فى الصلاة وضع يديه على ركبتيه، وأشار بأصبعه وأتبعها بصره ، ثم قال: قال رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم: لهي أشد على الشيطان من الحديد يعني السبابة»
Reference: Musnad Aḥmad 2/119; Mishkāt al-Maṣābīḥ, No. 917. Graded authentic by Aḥmad Shākir.
Translation:
Nāfiʿ reported: ʿAbdullāh ibn ʿUmar (RA) when sitting in prayer would place his hands on his knees, point with his finger, and fix his gaze upon it, then say: The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) said: “It (the forefinger in tashahhud) is harder upon Shayṭān than iron.”
Distraction in Prayer
Ḥadīth ㉙
«وعن عائشة ، قالت: سألت رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم عن الالتفات فى الصلاة، فقال: هو اختلاس يختلسه الشيطان من صلاة العبد»
Reference: Ṣaḥīḥ al-Bukhārī, Kitāb al-Adhān, No. 751; Sunan Abī Dāwūd, No. 910; Sunan al-Tirmidhī, No. 590.
Translation:
ʿĀʾishah (RA) reported: I asked the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) about looking around in prayer. He said: “It is a snatching away which Shayṭān steals from a man’s prayer.”
Pointing Weapons Towards a Muslim Brother
قَالَ اللهُ تَعَالَى: إِنَّهُ لَيْسَ لَهُ سُلْطَانٌ عَلَى الَّذِينَ آمَنُوا … ﴿١٠٠﴾
(Al-Naḥl 16:99–100)
❀ Allah, the Exalted, said:
“Indeed, he has no authority over those who believe and rely upon their Lord. His authority is only over those who take him as an ally and those who through him associate others with Allah.”
Ḥadīth ㉚
«وعن أبى هريرة عن النبى صلى الله عليه وسلم قال: لا يشير أحدكم على أخيه بالسلاح فإنه لا يدري لعل الشيطان ينزع فى يده فيقع فى حفرة من النار»
Reference: Ṣaḥīḥ al-Bukhārī, Kitāb al-Fitan, No. 7072; Musnad Aḥmad 2/317.
Translation:
Abū Hurayrah (RA) reported that the Prophet (ﷺ) said:
“None of you should point a weapon at his brother, for he does not know — perhaps Shayṭān may cause it to slip from his hand, and he may fall into a pit of the Fire.”
Chasing Pigeons (Pigeon-Play)
قَالَ اللهُ تَعَالَى: وَاتْلُ عَلَيْهِمْ نَبَأَ الَّذِي آتَيْنَاهُ آيَاتِنَا … ﴿١٧٦﴾
(Al-Aʿrāf 7:175–176)
❀ Allah, the Exalted, said:
“And recite to them the story of him to whom We gave Our verses, but he detached himself from them; so Shayṭān pursued him, and he became of the deviators…”
Ḥadīth ㉛
«وعن أبى هريرة رضي الله عنه ، أن رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم رأى رجلا يتبع حمامة فقال: شيطان يتبع شيطانة»
Reference: Ṣaḥīḥ al-Adab al-Mufrad, No. 982; Mishkāt al-Maṣābīḥ, No. 4506; Sunan Ibn Mājah, No. 3765; Sunan Abī Dāwūd, No. 4940; Musnad Aḥmad 2/345; Ṣaḥīḥ al-Jāmiʿ al-Ṣaghīr, No. 3724.
Translation:
Abū Hurayrah (RA) narrated: The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) saw a man chasing a pigeon, and he said: “A Shayṭān chasing a she-devil.”
Exaggerating in Praising the Prophet ﷺ
قَالَ اللهُ تَعَالَى: كَمَثَلِ الشَّيْطَانِ إِذْ قَالَ لِلْإِنسَانِ اكْفُرْ … ﴿١٦﴾
(Al-Ḥashr 59:16)
❀ Allah, the Exalted, said:
“[They are] like Shayṭān when he says to man: ‘Disbelieve.’ But when he disbelieves, he says: ‘Indeed, I am disassociated from you. Indeed, I fear Allah, the Lord of the worlds.’”
Ḥadīth ㉜
«وعن أنس بن مالك: أن رجلا قال: يا محمد! يا سيدنا … فقال رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم: يا أيها الناس! عليكم بتقواكم … والله! ما أحب أن ترفعوني فوق منزلتي التى أنزلني الله»
Reference: Musnad Aḥmad 3/153; al-Silsilah al-Ṣaḥīḥah, No. 1572.
Translation:
Anas ibn Mālik (RA) reported: A man said: “O Muhammad, O our master and the son of our master, the best of us and the son of the best of us.” The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) said:
“O people, adhere to your piety and do not let Shayṭān deceive you (into exaggeration). Say what you usually say and do not be misled by Shayṭān. I am Muhammad ibn ʿAbdullāh, the servant of Allah and His Messenger. By Allah, I do not love that you raise me above the rank which Allah has given me.”
Wailing and Crying Loudly at Death
قَالَ اللهُ تَعَالَى: إِنَّمَا يُرِيدُ الشَّيْطَانُ أَن يُوقِعَ بَيْنَكُمُ الْعَدَاوَةَ … ﴿٩١﴾
(Al-Māʾidah 5:91)
❀ Allah, the Exalted, said:
“Shayṭān only wants to sow enmity and hatred among you through intoxicants and gambling, and to avert you from the remembrance of Allah and from prayer. So will you not desist?”
Ḥadīth ㉝
«عن عاصم بن حميد السكوني: أن معاذا … فبكى معاذ بن جبل جشعا لفراق رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم فقال النبي: لا تبك يا معاذا … إن البكاء من الشيطان»
Reference: Musnad Aḥmad 5/235; al-Silsilah al-Ṣaḥīḥah, No. 2497.
Translation:
ʿĀṣim ibn Ḥumayd al-Sakūnī narrated: When the Prophet (ﷺ) sent Muʿādh (RA) to Yemen, he accompanied him to advise him. Muʿādh was riding, and the Prophet (ﷺ) was walking beside his mount. After giving his advice, the Prophet (ﷺ) said: “O Muʿādh, perhaps you will not meet me after this year. Perhaps you may pass by my mosque or my grave.” Muʿādh wept out of grief for the separation from the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ). The Prophet (ﷺ) said: “Do not weep, O Muʿādh, for indeed crying (wailing) is from Shayṭān.”
Seeking Treatment of Magic by Magic
قَالَ اللهُ تَعَالَى: فَوَسْوَسَ لَهُمَا الشَّيْطَانُ … ﴿٢٠﴾
(Al-Aʿrāf 7:20)
❀ Allah, the Exalted, said:
“Then Shayṭān whispered to them to make apparent to them that which was concealed from them of their private parts…”
Ḥadīth ㉞
«وعن جابر بن عبد الله قال: سئل رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم عن النشرة فقال: هو من عمل الشيطان»
Reference: Sunan Abī Dāwūd, Kitāb al-Ṭibb, No. 3868; Mustadrak al-Ḥākim 4/418 — authenticated by al-Ḥākim and al-Dhahabī.
Translation:
Jābir ibn ʿAbdullāh (RA) reported: The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) was asked about al-Nushrah (removing magic by using magic). He replied: “It is from the work of Shayṭān.”
Protection with the Last Two Verses of Sūrat al-Baqarah
قَالَ اللهُ تَعَالَى: قَالَ فَبِمَا أَغْوَيْتَنِي … ﴿١٧﴾
(Al-Aʿrāf 7:16–17)
❀ Allah, the Exalted, said:
“He said: Because You have put me in error, I will surely sit in wait for them on Your straight path. Then I will come at them from before them and from behind them and on their right and on their left, and You will not find most of them grateful.”
Ḥadīth ㉟
«وعن النعمان بن بشير ، عن النبى صلى الله عليه وسلم قال: إن الله كتب كتابا … أنزل منه آيتين ختم بهما سورة البقرة، ولا يقرأ ان فى دار ثلاث ليال فيقربها شيطان»
Reference: Sunan al-Tirmidhī, Kitāb Faḍāʾil al-Qurʾān, No. 2882; Mishkāt al-Maṣābīḥ, No. 2145 — authenticated by al-Albānī.
Translation:
Nuʿmān ibn Bashīr (RA) reported: The Prophet (ﷺ) said:
“Indeed Allah wrote a book two thousand years before creating the heavens and the earth. From it He revealed two verses with which He concluded Sūrat al-Baqarah. If they are recited in a house for three nights, no Shayṭān will come near it.”
Dhikr: Lā ilāha illa Allāh
Ḥadīth ㊱
«وعن أبى هريرة رضي الله عنه أن رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم قال: من قال لا إله إلا الله وحده لا شريك له …»
Reference: Ṣaḥīḥ al-Bukhārī, Kitāb al-Daʿawāt, No. 6403; Ṣaḥīḥ Muslim, No. 2691; Sunan al-Tirmidhī, No. 3468.
Translation:
Abū Hurayrah (RA) narrated: The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) said:
“Whoever says: ‘Lā ilāha illa Allāh, waḥdahu lā sharīka lah, lahul-mulk wa lahul-ḥamd wa huwa ʿalā kulli shayʾin qadīr’ a hundred times in a day — it will be equal to freeing ten slaves, a hundred good deeds will be written for him, a hundred sins erased, and it will be a protection for him from Shayṭān that day until evening. None will come with anything better than what he has done except one who does more.”
Seeking Refuge (Istiʿādhah)
قَالَ اللهُ تَعَالَى: يَا أَيُّهَا النَّاسُ كُلُوا مِمَّا فِي الْأَرْضِ حَلَالًا طَيِّبًا وَلَا تَتَّبِعُوا خُطُوَاتِ الشَّيْطَانِ … ﴿١٦٨﴾
(Al-Baqarah 2:168)
Ḥadīth ㊲
«وعن أبى هريرة مرفوعا: لا تسبوا الشيطان، وتعوذوا بالله من شره»
Reference: al-Silsilah al-Ṣaḥīḥah, No. 2422; Ṣaḥīḥ al-Jāmiʿ al-Ṣaghīr, No. 7318.
Translation:
Abū Hurayrah (RA) reported that the Prophet (ﷺ) said:
“Do not curse Shayṭān. Rather, seek refuge in Allah from his evil.”
Seeking Refuge at the Time of Intercourse
قَالَ اللهُ تَعَالَى: وَمِنَ الْأَنْعَامِ حَمُولَةً وَفَرْشًا … ﴿١٤٢﴾
(Al-Anʿām 6:142)
Ḥadīth ㊳
«وعن ابن عباس رضي الله عنها قال: قال النبى صلى الله عليه وسلم: لو أن أحدهم إذا: أراد أن يأتى أهله قال: باسم الله ، اللهم جنبنا الشيطان …»
Reference: Ṣaḥīḥ al-Bukhārī, Kitāb al-Wuḍūʾ, No. 141; Ṣaḥīḥ Muslim, No. 1434.
Translation:
Ibn ʿAbbās (RA) reported that the Prophet (ﷺ) said:
“If one of you, when approaching his wife, says: ‘Bismillāh, Allāhumma jannibnā al-shayṭān wa jannib al-shayṭān mā razaqtanā (In the Name of Allah, O Allah keep Shayṭān away from us and keep Shayṭān away from what You provide us),’ then if a child is decreed for them, Shayṭān will never harm him.”
Ḥadīth 39
Arabic Text:
«وعن سليمان بن صرد قال: استب رجلان عند النبى صلى الله عليه وسلم ونحن عنده جلوس ، وأحدهما يسب صاحبه مغضبا قد احمر وجهه فقال النبي: إني لأعلم كلمة لو قالها لذهب عنه ما يجد ، لو قال: أعوذ بالله من الشيطان الرحيم فقالوا للرجل: ألا تسمع ما يقول النبي؟ قال: إنى لست بمجنون»
Reference: Ṣaḥīḥ al-Bukhārī, Kitāb al-Adab, No. 6115; Ṣaḥīḥ Muslim, No. 261; Sunan Abī Dāwūd, No. 4781.
English Translation:
Sulaimān ibn Ṣurad (RA) said: Two men argued in the presence of the Prophet (ﷺ) while we were sitting with him. One of them was insulting his companion in anger and his face had turned red. The Prophet (ﷺ) said: “I know a word which, if he were to say it, what he feels would depart from him: he should say, ‘Aʿūdhu billāhi mina al-shayṭāni …’.”
They said to the man: “Do you not hear what the Prophet (ﷺ) is saying?” He replied: “I am not mad.”
Ḥadīth 40
Arabic Text:
«وعن سعيد عن أبى العلاء أن عثمان بن أبى العاص أتى النبى صلى الله عليه وسلم فقال: يا رسول الله! إن الشيطان قد حال بيني وبين صلوتي وقرآتتي ، يلبسها على ، فقال رسول الله: ذاك شيطان يقال له خنرب ، فإذا أحسسته فتعوذ بالله منه، واتفل على يسارك ثلاثا . قال: ففعلت ذلك فاذهبه الله عنى»
Reference: Ṣaḥīḥ Muslim, Kitāb al-Salām, No. 5738.
English Translation:
Saʿīd narrated from Abū al-ʿAlāʾ that ʿUthmān ibn Abī al-ʿĀṣ (RA) came to the Prophet (ﷺ) and said: “O Messenger of Allah, a shayṭān has come between me and my prayer and my recitation; he confuses it for me.”
The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) said: “That is a shayṭān called Khinrab; when you sense him, seek refuge in Allah from him and spit lightly to your left three times.” He said: “I did that, and Allah removed him from me.”
