Compiled by: Dr. Rida Abdullah Pasha (Hafizahullah)
Question:
Does Satan accompany an individual or does he prefer to be with a group?
Answer:
It is narrated from Amr ibn Shu’aib, from his father, from his grandfather, that the Messenger of Allah ﷺ said:
الراكب شيطان، والراكبان شيطانان، والثلاثة ركب
“A lone traveler is (accompanied by) Satan, two travelers are (like) two Satans, and three travelers form a group.”
(Muwatta Imam Malik, Hadith 1793; Musnad Ahmad, Hadith 7697; Sunan Abi Dawood, Hadith 2284; Sunan al-Tirmidhi, Hadith 1671; Sunan al-Nasa’i al-Kubra, Hadith 7618; Mustadrak al-Hakim, Hadith 2450)
Explanation:
This hadith warns against traveling alone, as isolation makes a person more vulnerable to Satan’s whispers and deceptions.✔ Being alone is dangerous because it makes a person more susceptible to fear, doubts, and evil influences.
✔ Even two people are considered weak against Satan.
✔ A group of three or more provides strength, safety, and support.
The Prophet ﷺ emphasized the importance of companionship, just as a wolf attacks a stray sheep, Satan preys on those who remain isolated.
Practical Lessons from This Hadith:
✔ Avoid unnecessary isolation – Satan finds it easier to deceive a person who is alone.✔ Choose righteous company – Being with good believers strengthens one’s faith and provides protection from Satan’s whispers.
✔ If alone, strengthen your connection with Allah – Engage in remembrance (dhikr), prayer, and seeking knowledge, so that Allah becomes your companion.
Conclusion:
A believer should avoid being alone unnecessarily and should stay in the company of righteous people who remind him of Allah and encourage good deeds. If solitude is inevitable, then one's best companion should be the remembrance of Allah (dhikr).
