✿ A Lesson on Protection from Shayṭān Through the Remembrance of Allah ﷻ ✿
✍ Compiled by: Dr. Raza Abdullah Pasha ḥafiẓahullāh
Does a newborn cry at birth due to the touch of Shayṭān?
Yes!
This reality is affirmed by the Qur'an and authentic Hadiths.
Allah ﷻ says:
فَلَمَّا وَضَعَتْهَا قَالَتْ رَبِّ إِنِّي وَضَعْتُهَا أُنثَىٰ... وَإِنِّي سَمَّيْتُهَا مَرْيَمَ وَإِنِّي أُعِيذُهَا بِكَ وَذُرِّيَّتَهَا مِنَ الشَّيْطَانِ الرَّجِيمِ
(Āl ʿImrān: 36)
“Then when she (Maryam's mother) delivered her, she said:
‘My Lord, I have delivered a female… I have named her Maryam, and I seek Your protection for her and her offspring from the accursed Shayṭān.’”
✦ This verse indicates that Maryam and her son ʿĪsā عليهما السلام were protected through this duʿāʾ (supplication).
✦ Allah accepted the supplication of Maryam’s mother.
Sayyidunā Abū Hurayrah رضي الله عنه narrates that the Prophet ﷺ said:
"ما من مولود يولد إلا والشيطان يمسه حين يولد، فيستهل صارخا من مس الشيطان إياه، إلا مريم وابنها..."
[Ṣaḥīḥ al-Bukhārī, Ḥadīth 3431]
“Every child is touched by Shayṭān at the time of birth, so he cries out because of that touch — except for Maryam and her son (ʿĪsā).
Then Abū Hurayrah said: ‘If you wish, recite:
“…and indeed I seek Your protection for her and her offspring from the accursed Shayṭān.”’”
In another narration, Abū Hurayrah رضي الله عنه reported that the Prophet ﷺ said:
"ما من مولود إلا عصره الشيطان عصرة أو عضرتين، إلا عيسى ابن مريم و مريم"
[Ṣaḥīḥ Muslim, Ḥadīth 2366]
“There is no newborn except that Shayṭān strikes him once or twice, except for ʿĪsā ibn Maryam and Maryam.”
✔ Every human being cries at birth due to Shayṭān’s touch, a symbolic reminder of his enmity from the very beginning.
✔ Maryam and ʿĪsā عليهما السلام were protected from this due to a special supplication made by Maryam’s mother.
✔ This teaches the power of duʿāʾ and dhikr in safeguarding from Shayṭān's influence.
➤ Shayṭān attempts to influence the human being from the moment of birth.
➤ Remembrance of Allah and duʿāʾ are powerful shields against him.
➤ The cry of a newborn is attributed in Hadith to Shayṭān's strike, from which only Maryam and her son ʿĪsā عليهما السلام were exempt — by the virtue of divine protection invoked through dhikr and duʿāʾ.
✍ Compiled by: Dr. Raza Abdullah Pasha ḥafiẓahullāh
❖ Question:
Does a newborn cry at birth due to the touch of Shayṭān?
✔ Answer:
Yes!
This reality is affirmed by the Qur'an and authentic Hadiths.
❖ Evidence from the Qur'an
Allah ﷻ says:
فَلَمَّا وَضَعَتْهَا قَالَتْ رَبِّ إِنِّي وَضَعْتُهَا أُنثَىٰ... وَإِنِّي سَمَّيْتُهَا مَرْيَمَ وَإِنِّي أُعِيذُهَا بِكَ وَذُرِّيَّتَهَا مِنَ الشَّيْطَانِ الرَّجِيمِ
(Āl ʿImrān: 36)
“Then when she (Maryam's mother) delivered her, she said:
‘My Lord, I have delivered a female… I have named her Maryam, and I seek Your protection for her and her offspring from the accursed Shayṭān.’”
✦ This verse indicates that Maryam and her son ʿĪsā عليهما السلام were protected through this duʿāʾ (supplication).
✦ Allah accepted the supplication of Maryam’s mother.
❖ Hadith Evidence #1: Shayṭān Touches Every Newborn
Sayyidunā Abū Hurayrah رضي الله عنه narrates that the Prophet ﷺ said:
"ما من مولود يولد إلا والشيطان يمسه حين يولد، فيستهل صارخا من مس الشيطان إياه، إلا مريم وابنها..."
[Ṣaḥīḥ al-Bukhārī, Ḥadīth 3431]
“Every child is touched by Shayṭān at the time of birth, so he cries out because of that touch — except for Maryam and her son (ʿĪsā).
Then Abū Hurayrah said: ‘If you wish, recite:
“…and indeed I seek Your protection for her and her offspring from the accursed Shayṭān.”’”
❖ Hadith Evidence #2: Shayṭān’s Strike at Birth
In another narration, Abū Hurayrah رضي الله عنه reported that the Prophet ﷺ said:
"ما من مولود إلا عصره الشيطان عصرة أو عضرتين، إلا عيسى ابن مريم و مريم"
[Ṣaḥīḥ Muslim, Ḥadīth 2366]
“There is no newborn except that Shayṭān strikes him once or twice, except for ʿĪsā ibn Maryam and Maryam.”
❖ Key Insights:
✔ Every human being cries at birth due to Shayṭān’s touch, a symbolic reminder of his enmity from the very beginning.
✔ Maryam and ʿĪsā عليهما السلام were protected from this due to a special supplication made by Maryam’s mother.
✔ This teaches the power of duʿāʾ and dhikr in safeguarding from Shayṭān's influence.
✔ Summary:
➤ Shayṭān attempts to influence the human being from the moment of birth.
➤ Remembrance of Allah and duʿāʾ are powerful shields against him.
➤ The cry of a newborn is attributed in Hadith to Shayṭān's strike, from which only Maryam and her son ʿĪsā عليهما السلام were exempt — by the virtue of divine protection invoked through dhikr and duʿāʾ.
