Authored by: Dr. Rida Abdullah Pasha ḥafiẓahullāh
He came to the Prophet ﷺ and said:
“O Messenger of Allah! Indeed, the devil comes between me and my prayer and confuses my recitation.”
The Prophet ﷺ replied:
«ذاك شيطان يقال له: خنزب فإذا أحسسته فتعوذ بالله يره واتفل على يسارك ثلاثا قال: ففعلت ذلك فأذهبه الله عني»
"That is a devil called Khinzab. When you sense his presence, seek refuge in Allah from him and spit dryly to your left three times."
ʿUthmān said: “I did that, and Allah removed him from me.”
[Ṣaḥīḥ Muslim – Book of Peace, Chapter on Seeking Refuge from the Devil of Whispering in Salah, Ḥadīth no. 2203]
“They will not rise except like someone struck down by Satan’s touch, staggering like one overcome on a ship.”
➋ Imām al-Qurṭubī رحمه الله stated:
“This verse is a proof against those who deny possession by jinn and claim it is a natural occurrence. They believe that Satan neither enters nor touches humans — which is incorrect.”
➌ Shaykh al-Islām رحمه الله explained:
People are of three categories in this matter:
• Those who deny jinn possession.
• Those who defend this denial with corrupt motives and thus reject their very existence — such people disbelieve in the Lord.
• The best of the Ummah affirm the existence of jinn and believe in one deity worthy of worship, defending themselves from the devils of jinn and mankind through worship, remembrance, supplications, and the names of Allah.
➍ Imām Ibn al-Qayyim رحمه الله mentioned:
“As for possession by spirits, their leading scholars and the intelligent ones acknowledge it, though they do not support it. They admit that the cure lies in confronting the evil spirits with noble, virtuous, and righteous spirits.”
❖ Question:
How can one protect oneself from the devil who causes distractions during Salah? And what is his name?❖ Answer:
ʿUthmān ibn Abī al-ʿĀṣ رضي الله عنه narrated:He came to the Prophet ﷺ and said:
“O Messenger of Allah! Indeed, the devil comes between me and my prayer and confuses my recitation.”
The Prophet ﷺ replied:
«ذاك شيطان يقال له: خنزب فإذا أحسسته فتعوذ بالله يره واتفل على يسارك ثلاثا قال: ففعلت ذلك فأذهبه الله عني»
"That is a devil called Khinzab. When you sense his presence, seek refuge in Allah from him and spit dryly to your left three times."
ʿUthmān said: “I did that, and Allah removed him from me.”
[Ṣaḥīḥ Muslim – Book of Peace, Chapter on Seeking Refuge from the Devil of Whispering in Salah, Ḥadīth no. 2203]
❖ Views of the Scholars on Jinn Possession and Its Remedies:
➊ Imām Ibn Kathīr رحمه الله said:“They will not rise except like someone struck down by Satan’s touch, staggering like one overcome on a ship.”
➋ Imām al-Qurṭubī رحمه الله stated:
“This verse is a proof against those who deny possession by jinn and claim it is a natural occurrence. They believe that Satan neither enters nor touches humans — which is incorrect.”
➌ Shaykh al-Islām رحمه الله explained:
People are of three categories in this matter:
• Those who deny jinn possession.
• Those who defend this denial with corrupt motives and thus reject their very existence — such people disbelieve in the Lord.
• The best of the Ummah affirm the existence of jinn and believe in one deity worthy of worship, defending themselves from the devils of jinn and mankind through worship, remembrance, supplications, and the names of Allah.
➍ Imām Ibn al-Qayyim رحمه الله mentioned:
“As for possession by spirits, their leading scholars and the intelligent ones acknowledge it, though they do not support it. They admit that the cure lies in confronting the evil spirits with noble, virtuous, and righteous spirits.”
