Part 38

' Recorded by Ahmad, al-Nasa’i and Ibn Hibban. It was authenticated by Shaikh al-Albani.

? Ighatat al-lahfan (1/94).

> Recorded by al-Bukhari and Muslim.

“Allah is altogether great; and praise be to Allah in abundance; and Glory be to Allah in the moring and after (saying each three times). I seek refuge in Allah from Satan, the accursed, from his puffing up (nafkh), his spitting (nafih) and his evil suggestions (hamz).” His nafth is poetry, his nafkh is pride, and his hamz is madness.

‘Uthman ibn Abi al-‘As @ came to the Prophet % and said: “O Messenger of Allah, Satan intervenes between me and my prayer and my reciting of the Qur’an, and he confounds me.” Thereupon, the Prophet 4 said: “That is the doing of a devil who is known as Khinzab, so when you perceive his effect, seek refuge in Allah 8 from it and spit three times to your left” I did that and Allah dispelled that from me.”

The answer to this is that the case differs from one person to another. A strong pious believer repels the intrusion of Satan just by making isti‘adha; Allah 3 said: (Those who fear Allah, when they are bothered by a thought of evil from Satan, remember (Allah) and immediately see clearly)’, those are the really mindful ones of Allah; who chase away Satan just by the remembrance of Allah 3%.

As for those whose faith is weak, being much less mindful of Allah in their lives, their hearts are easily overwhelmed with their love for this worldly life that there is no room for the remembrance of Allah; so they simply cannot drive away Satan just by making isti‘adha. They have first to purify their hearts from the deception of Satan; causing them to love this world more than the Hereafter.

When a man falls in love with a woman and desires her so much, do you think he could easily forget her? No, he would think of her all the time. His body may be sitting next to you, but his mind would be with her. Likewise, those people who love this worldly life and their own desires would never stop thinking of them, even when standing in prayer before their Creator. They would only come to their senses when their heads would hit the wall of their graves; that would be their

' Recorded by Abu Dawad, and was authenticated by al-Albani. 2 Recorded by Muslim. 3 Surat al-A ‘raf, vetse 201.

great awakening. Therefore, we seek refuge in Allah from heedlessness.

Abu Hurayrah 4 reported that the Prophet 3% said: “When the adhan is pronounced, Satan takes to his heels and passes wind with noise during his flight in order not to hear the adhan. When the adhan is completed, he returns and again takes to his heels when the igama is pronounced, and after its completion he returns again till he whispers into the heart of the person to divert his attention during Prayer, making him remember things which he did not recall before the prayer, which causes him to forget how much he has prayed.”!

Seeking refuge in Allah during the time of Anger

Two men abused each other in front of the Prophet 3%, and one of them was so angry that his face became swollen. The Prophet % said: “I know a word, that if he were to say it, his anger would cease.” They asked: “What is it, O Messenger of Allah?” He replied: “I seek refuge in Allah from the accursed Satan.”

Seeking refuge in Allah when hearing the barking of a dog or the braying of a donkey

Abu Hurayrah & reported that the Prophet 38 said: “When you hear the braying of a donkey, seek refuge in Allah from the outcast Satan; for the donkey has seen a devil. But when you hear the crowing of a cockerel, ask for Allah’s Blessings, for their crowing indicate that he has seen an angel.”

Jabir ibn ‘Abdullah 2% reported that the Prophet 3% said: “When you hear the barking of dogs and the braying of asses at night, seek refuge in Allah, for they see what you do not see.”

' Recorded by al-Bukhari and Muslim. ? Recorded by al-Bukhari and Muslim. > Recorded by al-Bukhari and Muslim. * Recorded by Abu Dawud.

Seeking the Protection of Allah for one’s family, children and Property

‘Abdullah ibn ‘Amru ibn al-‘As ¢ reported that the Prophet 3 said: “If one of you marries a woman or buys a slave, he should say: ‘O Allah, I ask You for the good in her, and in the disposition You have given her. I take refuge in You from the evil in her, and in the disposition You have given her.” When he buys a camel, he should take hold of the top of its hump and say the same kind of thing”.

Ibn Abbas 2 reported that the Prophet 4 said: “If anyone of you approaches his wife (for sexual intercourse) says: ‘O Allah, keep us away from Satan, and keep Satan away from what You provide us,’ and if it is destined that you should have a child, then Satan will never be able to harm him.”

The bridegroom may lead his wife in performing a prayer (of two raka‘at) and invoke Allah to protect their new conjugal life from the evil of Satan.

Ibn Mas‘ud said: “When your wife comes to you, tell her to perform a prayer behind you, and invoke Allah: ‘O Allah, I ask for Your Blessings on my wife, and Your Blessings on me. O Allah, bless our union in good, and separate us — if You ever separate us — in good.””?

If a man feels conceited about his wealth, he should say: “ma sha’ Allah, la hawla wa la quwwata illa billah” (It is Allah’s Will. There is no might or power except with Allah); for Allah 3 said: (Why, when you entered your garden, did you not say: “It is as Allah wills, there is no strength but in Allah”?)’.

It is recommended to recite the adhan in the ear of the new-born child. Abu Rafi‘ < said: “I saw the Prophet performing Adhan in the ear of al-Hussain ibn ‘Ali 4 when Fatima # gave birth to him.”* It is also recommended that a man should make invocations for his children. It

' Recorded by Abu Dawud. AL-Albani who categorised it as Hasan (sound). ? Recorded by al-Bukhari and Muslim.

> Recorded by al-Tabarni, and was authenticated by al-Albani.

* Surat al-Kahf, verse 39.

5 Recorded by Abu Dawud and al-Tirmidhi.

was reported by Ibn ‘Abbas # that the Prophet 38 made prayers for alHassan and al-Hussain, saying: “I seek refuge for you two in Allah’s Perfect Words, from every devil and evil suggestion, and from every evil eye.” Then he 3 said: “This is how my father Ibrahim (Abraham) ¥@ used to invoke for Isma‘il (Ishmael) 4 and Ishaq (Isaac) #51”'.

The tenth shield: Surat al-Baqara

Abu Hurayrah 2 reported that the Messenger of Allah 3€ said: “Do not make your houses become graveyards. For the house in which Surat al-Baqara is recited is not entered by Satan.”? He 2 also said: “Recite surat al-Bagarah in your house, for Satan does not enter a house where Surat al-Baqara is recited.”

Anas ibn Malik reported that the Prophet 4 said: “Satan runs out from the house when he hears that Surat al-Baqara is being recited in it.”*

The eleventh shield: Ayat al-Kursi

We have seen the Hadith of Abu Hurairah # where the devil said to him: “When you go to bed, read Ayat al-Kursi, and Allah will appoint a guard for you who will stay with you, and no demon will come near you till morning.” The Prophet 4 confirmed it, yet he # said: “He really spoke the truth, although he is an absolute liar. Do you know whom you were talking to, O Abu Hurayra?” I answered: “No.’” He #% said: “It was Satan.”

' Recorded by al-Bukhari and al-Tirmidhi.

? Recorded by Muslim and al-Tirmidhi.

3 A Hadith authenticated by al-Albani in “The Authentic Series”, under No. 1521. * Transmitted by Abu ‘Ubaid with a sound chain of authorities.

5 Recorded by al-Hakim and said it is Sahih, and agreed by al-Dhahabi.

The twelveth shield: Ten verses from Surat al-Baqarah

Tbn Mas‘ud - said: “Whoever recites ten verses from Surat al-Baqara during the night, no devil would enter that house on that particular night. The verses are: the first four verses, the Holy Throne verse (Ayat al-Kursi), the next two verse, and the last three verses of the Surat”. In another narration: “No devil, or anything he dislikes, would come near him or his family, and if these verses were recited over a possessed person, he would regain consciousness.”

The thirteenth shield: Last two verse of Surat al-Baqara

Abu Mas‘ud # reported that the Prophet 4 said: “If one recites the last two verses of Surat al-Baqarah at night, it would be sufficient for him (for that night)”.

It was said that they (the last two verses) are sufficient for him, like performing the night prayer, and it was said, “They are sufficient for him to safeguard him from Satan,” and it was also said from every evil thing. And Allah knows best.

An-Nu‘man ibn Bashir # reported that the Prophet # said: “Two thousand years before creating the heavens and the earth, Allah 4% inscribed a book of which He sent down the two verses with which He concluded Surat al-Bagara. The Devil will not come near a house in which they are recited for three nights.”?

‘Ali # said: “I have never seen a conscious man go to sleep before reciting the last three verses of Surat al-Baqara.”

The fourteeth shield: Al-mu‘awwidhat*

‘Aishah 2 said that whenever the Prophet 4 went to bed, he would join his hands together and blow in them, reciting: (Say: He is Allah,

' Transmitted by al-Darimi, by way of al-Sha‘bi. ? Recorded by al-Bukhari and Muslim. 3 Recorded by al-Tirmidhi and al-Hakim who said: it is sahih.

‘the last three Surahs of the Qur’an