Know Your Enemy V (Ahadith 2907 – 2915)

Bismillah.

Chapter: The characteristics of Iblis (Satan) and his soldiers

Volume 4, Book 54, Number 508 :
Narrated by ‘Aisha (radiallaahu `anhaa)
The Prophet (sallallaahu `alayhi wasallam) said, “While the angels talk amidst the clouds about things that are going to happen on earth, the devils hear a word of what they say and pour it in the ears of a soothsayer as one pours something in a bottle, and they add one hundred lies to that (one word).”

Volume 4, Book 54, Number 509 :
Narrated by Abu Huraira (radiallaahu `anhu)
The Prophet (sallallaahu `alayhi wasallam) said, “Yawning is from Satan and if anyone of you yawns, he should check his yawning as much as possible, for if anyone of you (during the act of yawning) should say: ‘Ha’, Satan will laugh at him.”

Volume 4, Book 54, Number 510 :
Narrated by ‘Aisha (radiallaahu `anhaa)
On the day (of the battle) of Uhud when the pagans were defeated, Satan shouted, “O slaves of Allah! Beware of the forces at your back,” and on that the Muslims of the front files fought with the Muslims of the back files (thinking they were pagans). Hudhaifa (radiallaahu `anhu) looked back to see his father, Al-Yaman (being attacked by the Muslims). He shouted, “O Allah’s Slaves! My father! My father!” By Allah, they did not stop till they killed him. Hudhaifa said, “May Allah forgive you.” ‘Urwa said that Hudhaifa continued to do good (invoking Allah to forgive the killer of his father till he met Allah (i.e. died).

That is the pinnacle of good character. We claim to be good Muslims and followers of the Sunnah but do we really imitate the Prophet (sallallaahu `alayhi wasallam) and his Companions, also known as the best of generations, when it comes to dealing with others? Being kind to people who are kind to you is very easy. Being kind to someone who wrongs you.. not so easy. When it comes to being kind to a person (very much Muslim – probably better than you) who does something awful to your family (murdering your parent, let’s say).. wait, is that even an option?! Hudhaifa (radiallaahu `anhu) was above and beyond kind for the killer of his father. He understood that it was a mistake that happened amidst all the confusion so he prays for his forgiveness. It is said that he didn’t accept the blood money either. And the best part: he never says anything but good about that person till the day he dies. That, my friends, is true forgiveness. May Allah help us reach such merits in our characters.

Volume 4, Book 54, Number 511 :
Narrated by ‘Aisha (radiallaahu `anhaa)
I asked the Prophet (sallallaahu `alayhi wasallam) about one’s looking here and there during the prayer. He replied, “It is what Satan steals from the prayer of any one of you.”

Volume 4, Book 54, Number 512 :
Narrated by Abu Qatada (radiallaahu `anhu)
As below (i.e. Hadith No. 513)

Volume 4, Book 54, Number 513 :
Narrated by Abu Qatada (radiallaahu `anhu)
The Prophet (sallallaahu `alayhi wasallam) said, “A good dream is from Allah, and a bad or evil dream is from Satan; so if anyone of you has a bad dream of which he gets afraid, he should spit on his left side and should seek Refuge with Allah from its evil, for then it will not harm him.”

Also, don’t discuss bad dreams with others.

It was narrated from Abu Sa’eed al-Khudri that he heard the Messenger of Allaah (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) say:

“If any one of you sees a dream that he likes, it is from Allaah, so let him praise Allaah for it and tell people about it. But if he sees something other than that, that he dislikes, it is from the Shaytaan, so let him seek refuge with Allaah from its evil and not mention it to anyone, for it will not harm him.”  (Narrated by al-Bukhaari, 7045)

It was reported that Abu Hurayrah said: “The Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) said:

‘If any one of you sees something that he dislikes (in a dream), let him get up and pray, and not tell people about it.’” (Narrated by Muslim, 2263)

Volume 4, Book 54, Number 514 :
Narrated by Abu Huraira (radiallaahu `anhu)
Allah’s Apostle (sallallaahu `alayhi wasallam) said, “If one says one-hundred times in one day: “None has the right to be worshipped but Allah, the Alone Who has no partners, to Him belongs Dominion and to Him belong all the Praises, and He has power over all things (i.e. Omnipotent)”, one will get the reward of manumitting ten slaves, and one-hundred good deeds will be written in his account, and one-hundred bad deeds will be wiped off or erased from his account, and on that day he will be protected from the morning till evening from Satan, and nobody will be superior to him except one who has done more than that which he has done.”

Volume 4, Book 54, Number 515 :
Narrated by Sad bin Abi Waqqas (radiallaahu `anhu)
Once Umar (radiallaahu `anhu) asked the leave to see Allah’s Apostle (sallallaahu `alayhi wasallam) in whose company there were some Quraishi women who were talking to him and asking him for more financial support raising their voices. When ‘Umar asked permission to enter the women got up (quickly) hurrying to screen themselves. When Allah’s Apostle (sallallaahu `alayhi wasallam) admitted ‘Umar, Allah’s Apostle (sallallaahu `alayhi wasallam) was smiling, ‘Umar asked, “O Allah’s Apostle! May Allah keep you gay always.” Allah’s Apostle (sallallaahu `alayhi wasallam) said, “I am astonished at these women who were with me. As soon as they heard your voice, they hastened to screen themselves.” ‘Umar said, “O Allah’s Apostle! You have more right to be feared by them.” Then he addressed (those women) saying, “O enemies of your own souls! Do you fear me and not Allah’s Apostle ?” They replied. “Yes, for you are a fearful and fierce man as compared with Allah’s Apostle.” On that Allah’s Apostle (sallallaahu `alayhi wasallam) said (to ‘Umar), “By Him in Whose Hands my life is, whenever Satan sees you taking a path, he follows a path other than yours.”

Volume 4, Book 54, Number 516 :
Narrated by Abu Huraira (radiallaahu `anhu)
The Prophet (sallallaahu `alayhi wasallam) said, “If anyone of you rouses from sleep and performs the ablution, he should wash his nose by putting water in it and then blowing it out thrice, because Satan has stayed in the upper part of his nose all the night.”

Doing wudu takes care of that, but a menstruating woman will have to wash the nose outside of wudu to get rid of Shaytan.

The chapter of Iblees’ characteristics and soldiers ends here, and hence the series “Know Your Enemy”.

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Know Your Enemy IV (Ahadith 2899 – 2906)

Bismillah.

Chapter: The characteristics of Iblis (Satan) and his soldiers

Volume 4, Book 54, Number 500 :
Narrated by Jabir (radiallaahu `anhu)
The Prophet (sallallaahu `alayhi wasallam) said, “When night falls, keep your children close to you, for the devils spread out then. An hour later you can let them free; and close the gates of your house (at night), and mention Allah’s Name thereupon, and cover your utensils, and mention Allah’s Name thereupon, (and if you don’t have something to cover your utensil) you may put across it something (e.g. a piece of wood etc.).”

Volume 4, Book 54, Number 501 :
Narrated by Safiya bint Huyay (radiallaahu `anhaa)
While Allah’s Apostle (sallallaahu `alayhi wasallam) was in Itikaf, I called on him at night and having had a talk with him, I got up to depart. He got up also to accompany me to my dwelling place, which was then in the house of Usama bin Zaid. Two Ansari men passed by, and when they saw the Prophet they hastened away. The Prophet (sallallaahu `alayhi wasallam) said (to them). “Don’t hurry! It is Safiya, the daughter of Huyay (i.e. my wife).” They said, “Glorified be Allah! O Allah’s Apostle! (How dare we suspect you?)” He said, “Satan circulates in the human mind as blood circulates in it, and I was afraid that Satan might throw an evil thought (or something) into your hearts.”

Volume 4, Book 54, Number 502 :
Narrated by Sulaiman bin Surd (radiallaahu `anhu)
While I was sitting in the company of the Prophet (sallallaahu `alayhi wasallam), two men abused each other and the face of one of them became red with anger, and his jugular veins swelled (i.e. he became furious). On that the Prophet (sallallaahu `alayhi wasallam) said, “I know a word, the saying of which will cause him to relax, if he does say it. If he says: ‘I seek Refuge with Allah from Satan.’ then all is anger will go away.” Some body said to him, “The Prophet has said, ‘Seek refuge with Allah from Satan.”‘ The angry man said, “Am I mad?”

Anger Management

There are means of soothing anger if it arises, which will enable the one who does them to cure himself of anger and its effects. Al-Maawirdi mentioned a good number of them when he said: 

“Remember that there are means of soothing anger if it arises, which a person may use to help himself become patient. These include:

1 – Remembering Allaah, which should make him fear Him; this fear will motivate him to obey Him, so he will resume his good manners, at which point his anger will fade. 

Allaah says (interpretation of the meaning):

“And remember your Lord when you forget”

[al-Kahf 18:24]

‘Ikrimah said: i.e., when you get angry. And Allaah says (interpretation of the meaning): 

“And if an evil whisper comes to you from Shaytaan (Satan), then seek refuge with Allaah”

[al-A’raaf 7:200]

i.e., if the Shaytaan makes you angry – then seek refuge with Allaah, for He is the All-Hearer, All-Knower – i.e., He hears the ignorance of the ignorant and He knows the things that take anger away from you.

One of the wise men said: Whoever remembers the power of Allaah will not use his own power to wrong the slaves of Allaah. ‘Abd-Allaah ibn Muslim ibn Muhaarib said to Haroon al-Rasheed: “O Ameer al-Mu’mineen, I ask You by the One before Whom you are more insignificant than I am before you, and by the One Who has more power to punish you than you have to punish me: why don’t you let me off?” So he left him off, because he had reminded him of the power and might of Allaah.

2 – He should get out of the situation he is in, so that his anger will dissipate because of his moving away from that situation. 

It was narrated that Abu Dharr said: The Messenger of Allaah (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) said to us: “If one of you gets angry when he is standing, let him sit down, and if that does not take away his anger, then let him lie down.” Narrated by Abu Dawood, 4782; classed as saheeh by al-Albaani in Saheeh Abi Dawood.

3 – He should remember what anger leads to of regret and the need to apologize.

One of the literary figures said: Beware of the pride of anger, for it leads to the humiliation of apology.

4 – He should remember the reward for forgiving others and of being tolerant, so he should force himself to overcome his anger, seeking that reward and so as to avoid deserving blame and punishment.

Raja’ ibn Haywah said to ‘Abd al-Malik ibn Marwaan, when he had the power to capture some of his enemies: “Allaah has given you the victory that you wanted, so give Allaah what He wants of forgiveness.” A man said something that ‘Umar ibn ‘Abd al-‘Azeez disliked to hear, so ‘Umar said: “You wanted the Shaytaan to provoke me because of my position so that I would be harsh with you and in return you would harm me tomorrow (i.e., on the Day of Resurrection). Go away, may Allaah have mercy on you.”

5 – He should remind himself of the way that people like and respect him, and he should not risk losing that because of his anger, so that people change their minds about him. He should know that by forgiving people he will only increase the respect with which they view him.

As the Messenger of Allaah (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) said:

“Allaah will not increase a person who forgives others except in honour.” Narrated by Muslim, 2588.

And one of the poets said:

“It is not a trait of nobility to be swift in seeking revenge.

And generosity does not lead to a loss of blessings.”

Taken from Adab al-Dunya wa’l-Deen, p. 258-260.

Volume 4, Book 54, Number 503 :
Narrated by Ibn ‘Abbas (radiallaahu `anhu)
The Prophet (sallallaahu `alayhi wasallam) said, “If anyone of you, on having sexual relation with his wife, says: ‘O Allah! Protect me from Satan, and prevent Satan from approaching the offspring you are going to give me,’ and if it happens that the lady conceives a child, Satan will neither harm it nor be given power over it.”

 

Volume 4, Book 54, Number 504 :
Narrated by Abu Huraira (radiallaahu `anhu)
The Prophet (sallallaahu `alayhi wasallam) offered a prayer, and (after finishing) he said, “Satan came in front of me trying persistently to divert my attention from the prayer, but Allah gave me the strength to over-power him.”

Volume 4, Book 54, Number 505 :
Narrated by Abu Huraira (radiallaahu `anhu)
The Prophet (sallallaahu `alayhi wasallam) said, “When the call for the prayer is pronounced, Satan takes to his heels, passing wind with noise, When the call for the prayer is finished, he comes back. And when the Iqama is pronounced, he again takes to his heels, and after its completion, he returns again to interfere between the (praying) person and his heart, saying to him. ‘Remember this or that thing.’ till the person forgets whether he has offered three or four Rakat: so if one forgets whether he has prayed three or four Rak’a-t, he should perform two prostrations of Sahu (i.e. forgetfulness).”

Volume 4, Book 54, Number 506 :
Narrated by Abu Huraira (radiallaahu `anhu)
The Prophet (sallallaahu `alayhi wasallam) said, “When any human being is born. Satan touches him at both sides of the body with his two fingers, except Jesus, the son of Mary, whom Satan tried to touch but failed, for he touched the placenta-cover instead.”

Volume 4, Book 54, Number 507 :
Narrated by Alqama
I went to Sham (and asked. “Who is here?”), The people said, “Abu Ad-Darda.” Abu Darda said, “Is the person whom Allah has protected against Satan, (as Allah’s Apostle said) amongst you”. The sub-narrator, Mughira said that the person who was given Allah’s Refuge through the tongue of the Prophet (sallallaahu `alayhi wasallam) was ‘Ammar (bin Yasir).

Know Your Enemy III (Ahadith 2895 – 2898)

Bismillah

Chapter: The characteristics of Iblis (Satan) and his soldiers

Volume 4, Book 54, Number 496 :
Narrated by Abu Huraira (radiallaahu `anhu)
Allah’s Apostle (sallallaahu `alayhi wasallam) said, “Satan comes to one of you and says, ‘Who created so-and-so? ’till he says, ‘Who has created your Lord?’ So, when he inspires such a question, one should seek refuge with Allah and give up such thoughts.”

We’ve thought about this at least once in our lives – “If Allah created everything, who created Him?” This question is inherently false and self-contradictory. If we were to say – for the sake of argument – that someone created Allah, then you would ask, who created the creator of the Creator? Then, who created the creator of the creator of the creator?! And so on, ad infinitum. This is irrational and impossible.

All of creation goes back to the Creator Who created all things. No one created Him; He created everything other than Himself. This is what makes sense and is logical. This Creator is Allah, may He be glorified and exalted.

Read more on this here.

Volume 4, Book 54, Number 497 :
Narrated by Abu Huraira (radiallaahu `anhu)
Allah’s Apostle (sallallaahu `alayhi wasallam) said, “When the month of Ramadan comes, the gates of Paradise are opened and the gates of the (Hell) Fire are closed, and the devils are chained.”

Volume 4, Book 54, Number 498 :
Narrated by Ubai bin Kab (radiallaahu `anhu)
That he heard Allah’s Apostle (sallallaahu `alayhi wasallam) saying, “(The prophet) Moses said to his attendant, “Bring us our early meal’ (18.62). The latter said, ‘Did you remember when we betook ourselves to the rock? I indeed forgot the fish and none but Satan made me forget to remember it.” (18.63) Moses did not feel tired till he had crossed the place which Allah ordered him to go to.”

Volume 4, Book 54, Number 499 :
Narrated by ‘Abdullah bin ‘Umar (radiallaahu `anhu)
I saw Allah’s Apostle (sallallaahu `alayhi wasallam) pointing towards the east saying, “Lo! Afflictions will verily emerge hence; afflictions will verily emerge hence where the (side of the head of) Satan appears.”

Know Your Enemy II (Ahadith 2892 – 2894)

Bismillah.

Chapter: The characteristics of Iblis (Satan) and his soldiers

Volume 4, Book 54, Number 493 :
Narrated by Ibn ‘Abbas (radiallaahu `anhu)
The Prophet (sallallaahu `alayhi wasallam) said, “If anyone of you, when having sexual relation with his wife, say: ‘In the name of Allah. O Allah! Protect us from Satan and prevent Satan from approaching our offspring you are going to give us,’ and if he begets a child (as a result of that relation) Satan will not harm it.”

This enemy is not just after you, it’s after your children as well. Do you do enough to protect them?

Volume 4, Book 54, Number 494 :
Narrated by Ibn Umar (radiallaahu `anhu)
Allah’s Apostle (sallallaahu `alayhi wasallam) said, “When the (upper) edge of the sun appears (in the morning), don’t perform a prayer till the sun appears in full, and when the lower edge of the sun sets, don’t perform a prayer till it sets completely. And you should not seek to pray at sunrise or sunset for the sun rises between two sides of the head of the devil (or Satan).”

Volume 4, Book 54, Number 495 :
Narrated by Abu Said Al-Khudri (radiallaahu `anhu)
The Prophet (sallallaahu `alayhi wasallam) said, “If while you are praying, somebody intends to pass in front of you, prevent him; and should he insist, prevent him again; and if he insists again, fight with him (i.e. prevent him violently e.g. pushing him violently), because such a person is (like) a devil.”

Narrated Muhammad bin Sirin:
Abu Huraira (radiallaahu `anhu) said, “Allah’s Apostle (sallallaahu `alayhi wasallam) put me in charge of the Zakat of Ramadan (i.e. Zakat-ul-Fitr). Someone came to me and started scooping some of the foodstuff of (Zakat) with both hands. I caught him and told him that I would take him to Allah’s Apostle.” Then Abu Huraira (radiallaahu `anhu) told the whole narration and added “He (i.e. the thief) said, ‘Whenever you go to your bed, recite the Verse of “Al-Kursi” (2.255) for then a guardian from Allah will be guarding you, and Satan will not approach you till dawn.’ ” On that the Prophet (sallallaahu `alayhi wasallam) said, “He told you the truth, though he is a liar, and he (the thief) himself was the Satan.”

Know Your Enemy (Ahadith 2888 – 2891)

Bismillah.

Volume 4, Book 54, Number 489 :
Narrated by Abu Wail
Somebody said to Usama (radiallaahu `anhu), “Will you go to so-and-so (i.e. ‘Uthman) and talk to him (i.e. advise him regarding ruling the country)?” He said, “You see that I don’t talk to him. Really I talk to (advise) him secretly without opening a gate (of affliction), for neither do I want to be the first to open it (i.e. rebellion), nor will I say to a man who is my ruler that he is the best of all the people after I have heard something from Allah s Apostle (sallallaahu `alayhi wasallam).” They said, What have you heard him saying? He said, “I have heard him saying, “A man will be brought on the Day of Resurrection and thrown in the (Hell) Fire, so that his intestines will come out, and he will go around like a donkey goes around a millstone. The people of (Hell) Fire will gather around him and say: O so-and-so! What is wrong with you? Didn’t you use to order us to do good deeds and forbid us to do bad deeds? He will reply: Yes, I used to order you to do good deeds, but I did not do them myself, and I used to forbid you to do bad deeds, yet I used to do them myself.”

Chapter: The characteristics of Iblis (Satan) and his soldiers

Volume 4, Book 54, Number 490 :
Narrated by ‘Aisha (radiallaahu `anhaa)
Magic was worked on the Prophet (sallallaahu `alayhi wasallam) so that he began to fancy that he was doing a thing which he was not actually doing. One day he invoked (Allah) for a long period and then said, “I feel that Allah has inspired me as how to cure myself. Two persons came to me (in my dream) and sat, one by my head and the other by my feet. One of them asked the other, “What is the ailment of this man?” The other replied, ‘He has been bewitched” The first asked, ‘Who has bewitched him?’ The other replied, ‘Lubaid bin Al-A’sam.’ The first one asked, ‘What material has he used?’ The other replied, ‘A comb, the hair gathered on it, and the outer skin of the pollen of the male date-palm.’ The first asked, ‘Where is that?’ The other replied, ‘It is in the well of Dharwan.’ ” So, the Prophet (sallallaahu `alayhi wasallam) went out towards the well and then returned and said to me on his return, “Its date-palms (the date-palms near the well) are like the heads of the devils.” I asked, “Did you take out those things with which the magic was worked?” He said, “No, for I have been cured by Allah and I am afraid that this action may spread evil amongst the people.” Later on the well was filled up with earth.

Volume 4, Book 54, Number 491 :
Narrated by Abu Huraira (radiallaahu `anhu)
Allah’s Apostle (sallallaahu `alayhi wasallam) said, “During your sleep, Satan knots three knots at the back of the head of each of you, and he breathes the following words at each knot, ‘The night is, long, so keep on sleeping’. If that person wakes up and celebrates the praises of Allah, then one knot is undone, and when he performs ablution the second knot is undone, and when he prays, all the knots are undone, and he gets up in the morning lively and gay, otherwise he gets up dull and gloomy. “

Volume 4, Book 54, Number 492 :
Narrated by ‘Abdullah (radiallaahu `anhu)
It was mentioned before the Prophet (sallallaahu `alayhi wasallam) that there was a man who slept the night till morning (after sunrise). The Prophet (sallallaahu `alayhi wasallam) said, “He is a man in whose ears (or ear) Satan had urinated.”

Your enemy is out to get you. He has numberless armies at his disposal that watch your every move without being seen. They don’t get tired for a moment yet you sleep for hours unaware of yourself and your surroundings. Are you well-protected? Are you prepared to put up a fight and show your enemy who’s boss? Your strongest weapon is dhikr of Allah. It’ll protect you from all kinds of evils and troubles.

In the hadeeth (narration) it says that Allaah commanded Yahya (peace be upon him) to enjoin five things upon the Children of Israel, one of which was: “I command you to remember Allaah, for this is like a man who is being pursued by the enemy, then he comes to a strong fortress and saves himself from them. Similarly a man cannot save himself from his enemy except by means of dhikr.”
Narrated by al-Haafiz Abu Moosa al-Madani in al-Targheeb fi’l-Khisaal al-Hameedah wa’l-Tarheeb min al-Khilaal al-Murdiyyah.