❖ Reality of Adultery and the Role of Satan ❖
Authored by: Dr. Raza Abdullah Pasha حفظه الله
Is adultery instigated by Satan?
Sayyidunā Abū Mūsā al-Ashʿarī رضي الله عنه narrates a Marfūʿ Hadith from the Prophet ﷺ:
إن إبليس يبث جنوده فى الأرض، يقول لهم: أيكم أضل مسلما ألبسته التاج على رأسه. فأعظمهم فتنة أقربهم إليه منزلة، فيجيء أحدهم فيقول له: لم أزل بفلان حتى طلق امرأته، فيقول: ما صنعت شيئا، سوف يتزوج غيرها، ثم يجي الأخر فيقول له: لم أزل بفلان حتى ألقيت بينه وبين أخيه العداوة فيقول: ما صنعت شيئا، سوف يصالحه، ثم يجي الأخر فيقول: لم أزل بفلان حتى زنى، فيقول إبليس: نعم ما فعلت. فيدنيه منه، ويضع التاج على رأسه
Translation:
Iblīs dispatches his armies upon the earth and says to them: Whosoever among you leads a Muslim astray, I shall place a crown upon his head.
The one who causes the greatest tribulation becomes the closest to him in status.
One devil comes and says: I did not leave so-and-so until he divorced his wife.
Iblīs replies: You did nothing of significance; he will marry another.
Another comes and says: I continued inciting so-and-so until I created enmity between him and his brother.
Iblīs replies: You did nothing of significance; they will reconcile soon.
Then another comes and says: I did not leave so-and-so until he committed adultery.
Iblīs responds: Excellent! You have done well.
Then he brings that devil closer to himself and places a crown upon his head.
This narration has been reported by Imām Ibn Ḥibbān in his Ṣaḥīḥ Ibn Ḥibbān (Hadith No. 6189). Similarly, Imām Ḥākim has also transmitted this narration in al-Mustadrak (Volume 4, Page 350) and has classified it as ṣaḥīḥ al-isnād (authentic in its chain).
However, some muḥaddithīn have critiqued the authenticity of this narration due to the ikhtiṭāṭ (confusion in narration) of the narrator ʿAṭāʾ ibn al-Sāʾib.
In contrast, a similar Hadith is found in Ṣaḥīḥ Muslim narrated by Sayyidunā Jābir ibn ʿAbdullāh رضي الله عنه, which also speaks of the mischief of Shayṭān. However, in that version, creating separation between a husband and wife is given more emphasis than adultery.
Every Muslim should keep themselves pure and free from the commission of this heinous major sin (kabīrah).
Sayyidunā Sahl ibn Saʿd رضي الله عنه narrates that the Noble Prophet ﷺ said:
من يضمن لي ما بين لحييه وما بين رجليه، أضمن له الجنة
“Whoever guarantees for me what is between his jaws (his tongue) and between his legs (his private parts), I shall guarantee Paradise for him.”
[Ṣaḥīḥ al-Bukhārī, Hadith No. 6474]
✔ Adultery is a grave sin and a significant victory for Shayṭān, earning the instigating devil the highest praise and closeness from Iblīs.
✔ The Prophet ﷺ has made the protection of the tongue and private parts a criterion for guaranteed entry into Paradise, indicating the seriousness of sins like adultery.
Authored by: Dr. Raza Abdullah Pasha حفظه الله
❖ Question:
Is adultery instigated by Satan?
❖ Answer:
Sayyidunā Abū Mūsā al-Ashʿarī رضي الله عنه narrates a Marfūʿ Hadith from the Prophet ﷺ:
إن إبليس يبث جنوده فى الأرض، يقول لهم: أيكم أضل مسلما ألبسته التاج على رأسه. فأعظمهم فتنة أقربهم إليه منزلة، فيجيء أحدهم فيقول له: لم أزل بفلان حتى طلق امرأته، فيقول: ما صنعت شيئا، سوف يتزوج غيرها، ثم يجي الأخر فيقول له: لم أزل بفلان حتى ألقيت بينه وبين أخيه العداوة فيقول: ما صنعت شيئا، سوف يصالحه، ثم يجي الأخر فيقول: لم أزل بفلان حتى زنى، فيقول إبليس: نعم ما فعلت. فيدنيه منه، ويضع التاج على رأسه
Translation:
Iblīs dispatches his armies upon the earth and says to them: Whosoever among you leads a Muslim astray, I shall place a crown upon his head.
The one who causes the greatest tribulation becomes the closest to him in status.
One devil comes and says: I did not leave so-and-so until he divorced his wife.
Iblīs replies: You did nothing of significance; he will marry another.
Another comes and says: I continued inciting so-and-so until I created enmity between him and his brother.
Iblīs replies: You did nothing of significance; they will reconcile soon.
Then another comes and says: I did not leave so-and-so until he committed adultery.
Iblīs responds: Excellent! You have done well.
Then he brings that devil closer to himself and places a crown upon his head.
This narration has been reported by Imām Ibn Ḥibbān in his Ṣaḥīḥ Ibn Ḥibbān (Hadith No. 6189). Similarly, Imām Ḥākim has also transmitted this narration in al-Mustadrak (Volume 4, Page 350) and has classified it as ṣaḥīḥ al-isnād (authentic in its chain).
However, some muḥaddithīn have critiqued the authenticity of this narration due to the ikhtiṭāṭ (confusion in narration) of the narrator ʿAṭāʾ ibn al-Sāʾib.
In contrast, a similar Hadith is found in Ṣaḥīḥ Muslim narrated by Sayyidunā Jābir ibn ʿAbdullāh رضي الله عنه, which also speaks of the mischief of Shayṭān. However, in that version, creating separation between a husband and wife is given more emphasis than adultery.
✿ A Caution Against Major Sin:
Every Muslim should keep themselves pure and free from the commission of this heinous major sin (kabīrah).
Sayyidunā Sahl ibn Saʿd رضي الله عنه narrates that the Noble Prophet ﷺ said:
من يضمن لي ما بين لحييه وما بين رجليه، أضمن له الجنة
“Whoever guarantees for me what is between his jaws (his tongue) and between his legs (his private parts), I shall guarantee Paradise for him.”
[Ṣaḥīḥ al-Bukhārī, Hadith No. 6474]
❖ Conclusion:
✔ Adultery is a grave sin and a significant victory for Shayṭān, earning the instigating devil the highest praise and closeness from Iblīs.
✔ The Prophet ﷺ has made the protection of the tongue and private parts a criterion for guaranteed entry into Paradise, indicating the seriousness of sins like adultery.
