In the name of Allah, Most Gracious, Most Merciful.
“Certainly, you shall have no authority over My slaves, except those who follow you of the Ghawin (Mushrikun and those who go astray, criminals, polytheists, and evil-doers, etc). Qur’an 15: 42
In very clear terms, Allah (SWT) reminds us that Shaytan is not so powerful that we are forced to follow him, because Shaytan actually has no authority over us. In fact, when all matters have been settled and some people who choose to follow the ways of shayatin entered Hellfire, Shaytan would be disassociating himself from the dwellers of the Hellfire: “And Shaitan (Satan) will say when the matter has been decided: ‘Verily, Allah promised you a promise of truth. And I too promised you, but I betrayed you. I had no authority over you except that I called you, so you responded to me. So blame me not, but blame yourselves. I cannot help you, nor can you help me. I deny your former act in associating me (Satan) as a partner with Allah (by obeying me in the life of the world)’. Verily, there is a painful torment for the Zalimun (polytheists and wrong-doers, etc.).” Qur’an14: 22
So, let us first remind ourselves about how Shaytan is very determined to destroy us and ensure that we do not obey Allah.
Allah warns us in the Qur’an about Shaytan’s threats: “(Iblis) said: ‘Because You have sent me astray, surely I will sit in wait against them (human beings) on Your Straight Path. Then I will come to them from before them and behind them, from their right and from their left, and You will not find most of them as thankful ones (i.e. they will not be dutiful to You).’” Qr 7: 16-17
Allah (SWT) reminds not just Muslims, but the whole of mankind to be careful of shaytan: “O Children of Adam! Let not Shaitan (Satan) deceive you, as he got your parents [Adam and Hawwa (Eve)] out of Paradise, stripping them of their raiments, to show them their private parts. Verily, he and Qabiluhu (his soldiers from the jinns or his tribe) see you from where you cannot see them. Verily, We made the Shayatin (devils) Auliya’ (protectors and helpers) for those who believe not.” Qur’an 7: 27
“Surely, Shaitan (Satan) is an enemy to you, so take (treat) him as an enemy. He only invites his Hizb (followers) that they may become the dwellers of the blazing Fire.” Qur’an 35: 6
Therefore, every believer must take Shaytan as a serious enemy against our obedience and submission to Allah (SWT).
One of the most beloved opportunities Shaytan uses to influence Muslims negatively is tribulation.
Jabir reported that the Messenger of Allah (sallAllahu alayh wasallam), said, “Verily, Satan places his throne over the water and he sends out his troops. The closest to him in rank are the greatest at causing tribulations. One of them says: I have done this and this. Satan says: You have done nothing. Another one says: I did not leave this man alone until I separated him from his wife. Satan embraces him and he says: You have done well.” [Muslim 2814]
Among the biggest aims of Shaytan is the splitting of a husband and the wife, specifically a Muslim couple. For Iblis knows that the unity of the Muslim family is the source of a unified ummah and the strength of Islam; something detested by Iblīs. Conversely, the fragmentation of the Muslim family is indeed the source of a fragmented ummah and weakness for Islam.
This point is often mentioned but its importance cannot be stressed enough. If we want to see unity in the Muslim ummah, we need to ensure that our households are unified. It is this unity within the household that will lead to the unification of wider families, communities, cities, nations and the ummah at large.
Let us be wary of the traps of Shaytan and not be deceived. Let us not call for the unity of Muslims globally except that we are striving to achieve this unity in our homes.
Believer becomes weak and frail. This is because every time the Shaytan interferes with him, the believer releases upon him his whips of remembrance, of turning towards Allah, of seeking forgiveness and obedience. Thus, his Shaitan will be in a severe state of punishment. On the other hand, the Shaitan of the evil-doer gets a lot stronger and arrogant due to him being in a state of leisure and gentleness. So whoever does not punish their Shaitan in this world with his remembrance of Allah (SWT), his monotheism, his seeking forgiveness and his obedience towards Allah (SWT) then they will be punished by their Shaitan with the blazing fire in the hereafter. So there is no escape from whether you punish your Shaitan or get punished by him. [Badai’ Al-Fawa’id]
At a stop on our journey, when travelling, possibly a distance, to reach work or some meeting, another powerful means of protection is the statement reported by Khawla bt. Hakim Sulamiyya: “I heard Allah’s Messenger (SAW) saying: ‘When anyone lands at a place, and then says: A’uthu bikalimatil-lahit-tammati min sharri ma khalaq (I seek protection in the perfect words of Allah from every evil that He has created’ three times), nothing would harm him until he marches from that stopping place.” [Muslim, 2708]
Once again, this short statement has strong implications and is one that we could easily remember to mention every time we stop during a journey. While travelling, especially if doing so without good company, we are even more susceptible to the whispers of Shaytan and thus ought to take extra care.
Moreover, the Prophet (SAW) said: “Do not turn your houses into graveyards. Verily, Shaytan does not enter the house where Surat Al-Baqarah is recited.” [Al Bukhari 6403]
The Prophet (SAW) also said: “Whoever recites Al-Baqarah at night in his house, then Shaytan will not enter that house for three nights. Whoever recites it during a day in his house, then Shaytan will not enter that house for three days. [At Tabarabi and Ibn Hibban]
Also, when starting to read Qur’an, we are to say: A’oodhu Billaah il-samee’ il-‘aleem min al-Shaitan ir-rajeem (I seek refuge with Allah, the All-Hearing, All-Knowing, from the accursed Shaitan).
Then, if we want to start to pray, we should say: A’oodhu Billaah il-samee’ il-‘aleem min al-Shaitan ir-rajeem wa min hamzihi wa nafakhihi wa nafthihi (I seek refuge with Allah, the All-Hearing, All-Knowing, from the accursed Shaitan, from his madness, his arrogance and his poetry).
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It is important to understand that sincerity in our actions and in our belief towards Allah (SWT) will play a key role in the success of the things we discussed above. One cannot completely get rid of Shaitan. Shaitan will always attack him until the point of death and so one must be vigilant at all times and fight on at every moment. Al-Hasan Al-Basri was asked, “Does Iblis sleep?” He smiled and responded: “If he slept, we would have found rest.”
Al-Manawi mentions that the camel gets weakened during its journey due to its heavy loads, so it becomes skinny and frail. Similarly, the Shaitan of the believer gets weakened due to heaviness of his anger. This anger increases as he sees the righteousness of the believer and his obedience towards Allah, so the Shaitan lingers at a distance like a dog lingering on the side. [Faid Al-Qadir]
We need to take action, preventative rather than reactive. Allah (SWT) says: “Ever feeble indeed is the plot of Shaitan.” So, rest assured and never forget your simple heartfelt utterance of seeking refuge with Allah will disintegrate the plans of the devil.
We need to seek Allah’s protection at all times. However, once Allah (SWT) loves us and guides us, and provides us with taqwa, we will find that our journey to please Him in this world gets easier, inshaAllah.
May Allah continue to guide us at all time and protect us from the influence of Shaytan which will lead to His displeasure, Amin.
