Authored by: Dr. Rida Abdullah Pasha ḥafiẓahullāh
Does Shayṭān have the power to divert the children of Ādam from reflecting upon the dominion of the heavens and the earth?
It is narrated from Abū Hurayrah (رضي الله عنه) that he said the Messenger of Allah ﷺ said:
“On the night I was taken on the Night Journey (Isrā’), when we reached the seventh heaven, I looked above and suddenly I was amidst thunder, lightning, and claps of thunder. I passed by a people whose bellies were like houses, and inside their bellies were snakes which were visible from the outside. I asked, ‘O Jibrīl! Who are these people?’ He replied, ‘These are those who consumed usury (ribā).’
_Then when I descended toward the lowest heaven, I looked beneath me and suddenly I saw dust, smoke, and voices. I asked, ‘O Jibrīl! What is this?’ He replied, ‘These are the devils who circle around the eyes of the children of Ādam so that they do not reflect upon the dominion of the heavens and the earth. And had it not been for that, they would have surely seen wonders.’”
[Musnad Aḥmad 1/353]
✔ Shayṭān actively obstructs human reflection, especially regarding the dominion of the heavens and the earth.
✔ The Prophet ﷺ observed during the Night Journey that devils were stationed to distract and confuse humans through visual and mental disturbances.
✔ This spiritual distraction prevents humans from witnessing divine signs and understanding the reality of creation.
✔ The purpose behind this obstruction is rooted in the devils’ enmity toward the children of Ādam, which stems from the belief of Iblīs (لعنة الله عليه) that Ādam (علیہ السلام) was the cause of his expulsion from Paradise.
Hence, it becomes evident that the devils lie in ambush against humans, attempting to prevent them from engaging in reflection upon any branch of faith, particularly the contemplation of Allah’s majestic creation.
❖ Question:
Does Shayṭān have the power to divert the children of Ādam from reflecting upon the dominion of the heavens and the earth?
❖ Answer:
It is narrated from Abū Hurayrah (رضي الله عنه) that he said the Messenger of Allah ﷺ said:
“On the night I was taken on the Night Journey (Isrā’), when we reached the seventh heaven, I looked above and suddenly I was amidst thunder, lightning, and claps of thunder. I passed by a people whose bellies were like houses, and inside their bellies were snakes which were visible from the outside. I asked, ‘O Jibrīl! Who are these people?’ He replied, ‘These are those who consumed usury (ribā).’
_Then when I descended toward the lowest heaven, I looked beneath me and suddenly I saw dust, smoke, and voices. I asked, ‘O Jibrīl! What is this?’ He replied, ‘These are the devils who circle around the eyes of the children of Ādam so that they do not reflect upon the dominion of the heavens and the earth. And had it not been for that, they would have surely seen wonders.’”
[Musnad Aḥmad 1/353]
❖ Key Points:
✔ Shayṭān actively obstructs human reflection, especially regarding the dominion of the heavens and the earth.
✔ The Prophet ﷺ observed during the Night Journey that devils were stationed to distract and confuse humans through visual and mental disturbances.
✔ This spiritual distraction prevents humans from witnessing divine signs and understanding the reality of creation.
✔ The purpose behind this obstruction is rooted in the devils’ enmity toward the children of Ādam, which stems from the belief of Iblīs (لعنة الله عليه) that Ādam (علیہ السلام) was the cause of his expulsion from Paradise.
❖ Conclusion:
Hence, it becomes evident that the devils lie in ambush against humans, attempting to prevent them from engaging in reflection upon any branch of faith, particularly the contemplation of Allah’s majestic creation.
