Capturing the Rebellious Devils in Ramadan — Reconciling Qur’an and Hadith
Source: Fatāwā ‘Ilmiyyah, Tawḍīḥ al-Aḥkām, Vol. 2, p. 137
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?
Al-ḥamdu lillāh, waṣ-ṣalātu wa-s-salāmu ‘alā Rasūlillāh, ammā ba‘d:
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.
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.
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).
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]
A specific text takes precedence over a general text, and a restricted statement over an absolute statement.
There is no explicit evidence that ordinary devils are chained in Ramadan.
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.
