53. Where is the battlefield and banner of Satan?
Answer:
The place of Satan’s attack is the market.
It is narrated from Sayyiduna Salman رضي الله عنه that the Messenger of Allah صلی اللہ علیہ وسلم said:
لا تكونن إن استطعت أول من يدخل السوق ولا آخر من يخرج منها؛ فإنها معركه الشيطان، وبها ينصب رايته
“If you are able, do not be among those who enter the market first and leave last. This is the place where Satan attacks and here he sets up his banner.”
In one narration:
فيها باض الشيطان وفرخ
Satan lays eggs and brings forth offspring in the markets.
Imam Nawawi رحمه الله wrote in the commentary of إنها معركة الشيطان:
The Noble Prophet صلی اللہ علیہ وسلم likened the market, the people of the market, and Satan’s role and control over them to a battlefield.
Considering the many false deeds that occur in the market, such as adulteration, deception, false oaths, unfair bargaining, bargaining over bargains, charging a brother more than the price, short measuring, etc.
وبها نصب رايته points to the fact that Satan and his followers gather in the markets to create discord among people and incite them to commit these aforementioned unlawful acts.
The Noble Messenger صلی اللہ علیہ وسلم said:
Whoever says upon entering the market:
لا إله إلا الله وحده لا شريك له، له الملك وله الحمد يحيي ويميت وهو حي لا يموت، بيده الخير، وهو على كل شيء قدير .
“There is no true god but Allah alone, He has no partner, His is the dominion and His is the praise, He gives life and causes death, He is alive and does not die, in His hand is all good and He has power over everything.”
Ten thousand good deeds are recorded for him, ten thousand sins are erased, and ten thousand ranks are elevated for him.
