Mu' meneen Brothers and Sisters,

As Salaam Aleikum wa Rahmatullahi wa Barakatuh.  (May Allah's Peace, Mercy and Blessings be upon all of you)

One of our brothers/sisters has asked this question:

AslamuAlaikum Brother Burhan,

Ramazan MUbarak.

I have a question regarding ramazan:

In the holy month of ramazan it is said that shaitan is locked away to prevent mischief and temptations for the muslims, however if this is so then why is it that a person can still think mischief and do wrong?

Is this because the person is not firm in their iman?

Also when a muslim prays during this holy month, if his concentration diverts to other matters like personal grudges, finances, other worldly matters etc does this mean he is at fault with himself as shaitan is not there to tempt him, or does shaitan's accomplices continue their evil work to mislead muslims during ramazan?

Please could advise on this matter.

Wasalaam

ur brother in islam.

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Answer:

Shaitaan chained in ramadhan

In the name of Allah, We praise Him, seek His help and ask for His forgiveness. Whoever Allah guides none can misguide, and whoever He allows to fall astray, none can guide them aright. We bear witness that there is no one (no idol, no person, no grave, no prophet, no imam, no dai, nobody!) worthy of worship but Allah Alone, and we bear witness that Muhammad(saws) is His slave-servant and the seal of His Messengers.

Your Question: In the holy month of ramazan it is said that shaitan is locked away to prevent mischief and temptations for the muslims, however if this is so then why is it that a person can still think mischief and do wrong?

Al-Tirmidhi Hadith 1962 Narrated by Abu Hurayrah

Allah's Messenger (saws) said, "Ramadan, a blessed month, has come to you during which Allah has made it obligatory for you to fast. In it the gates of Heaven are opened, the gates of al-Jahim are locked, and the rebellious devils are chained. In it Allah has a night which is better than a thousand months. He who is deprived of its good has indeed suffered deprivation."

Beloved brother in Islam, the guidance of the authentic hadith of the Messenger of Allah (saws) is that in the holy month of Ramadan, the Shayaateen are chained. It means that their power to inspire evil and mischief is reduced to a considerable extent as compared to the other times of the year. It does not in any way mean that they are destroyed or stopped completely from creating their mischief.

Your Question: Is this because the person is not firm in their iman?

Sahih Al-Bukhari Hadith 3.255 (part) Narrated by Ali bin Al Husain from Safiya

The Messenger of Allah (saws) said: ‘The Shaytaan circulates in the body of Adam's offspring, as one’s blood circulates in it."

The Messenger of Allah (saws) said that the Shaytaan circulates in the body of man just like ones blood circulates in it; thus this avowed enemy of man is constant in his whispering and instigation of evil whenever he is given an opportunity.

Indeed, the one who has faith in Allah, His Messenger (saws) and the Last Day recognizes the evil mischief and whispering of the Shaytaan; and the more faith one has in Allah and the Last Day, the more he will be able to recognize and tackle the mischief of the Shatyaan.

Allah Says in the Holy Quran Chapter 35 Surah Fatir verses 5-6:

5 O mankind! Certainly the promise of Allah is true. Let not then this present life deceive you, nor let the Chief Deceiver (Shaitaan) deceive you about Allah.

6 Verily Satan is an enemy to you: so treat him as an enemy! He only invites his adherents that they may become Companions of the Blazing Fire.

Allah Says in the Holy Quran Chapter 7 Surah Aaraaf verses 16-18:

16 He (Shaitaan) said: "because Thou (Allah) hast thrown me out of the way, Lo! I will lie in wait for them on Thy Straight Way.

17 "Then will I assault them; from before them, and behind them, from their right, and their left: nor wilt Thou find in most of them gratitude (for Thy

Mercies).

18 (Allah) said: "Get out from here! Disgraced and expelled. If any of them follow thee, Hell will I fill with you all.

Beloved brother, indeed Shaitaan is the avowed enemy of man, and especially the believers! He hates nothing more than to see a believing slave of Allah Subhanah remember his Merciful Lord and worship Him; and he will do everything in his power to beguile and dissuade this believer and take him away from the Remembrance and Worship of Allah Subhanah!

The Shaitaan’s main target are indeed the true believers and worshippers of Allah Subhanah; and he will not rest until he has taken them away from Allah’s Remembrance and Worship!

Your Question: Also when a muslim prays during this holy month, if his concentration diverts to other matters like personal grudges, finances, other worldly matters etc does this mean he is at fault with himself as shaitan is not there to tempt him, or does shaitan's accomplices continue their evil work to mislead muslims during ramazan?

The Shaytaan, even though he is chained and his power is minimized in the holy month of Ramadan; because of his ardent hatred and enmity towards the believers and worshippers of Allah Subhanah will continue to try his mischief in whatever way he can!

Narrated Uthman ibn Abi al-'Aas who said to the Prophet (saws): "O Messenger of Allah (saws), the Shaitaan comes between me and my prayers and my recitation, confusing me therein!" The Prophet (saws) said: "That Shaitaan is called ‘Khanzab’. If he affects you, seek refuge in Allah from him, and 'spit out' on your left side three times."

Allah Says in the Holy Quran Chapter 7 Surah Aaraaf verses 200-202:

200 If a suggestion from Shaitaan assail thy (mind), seek refuge with Allah; for He heareth and knoweth (all things).

201 Those who fear Allah, when a thought of evil from the Shaitaan assaults them, bring Allah to remembrance and lo! they see (aright)!

202 But their brethren (the evil ones) plunge them deeper into error and never relax (their efforts).

Thus, the believers who truly fear Allah and the Last Day, must recognize the tactics and ploys of Shaitaan, and immediately arm themselves in defense against Shatiaan’s strategy by seeking refuge in Allah Subhanah. Whenever a believer gets a feeling that the Shaitaan is upto his tricks again and trying to dissuade him from the Remembrance of Allah Subhanah, he must immediately seek refuge in Allah from the Shaytaan, and that will be his defense against this accursed enemy of man.

The Shaytaan hates nothing more than when he sees a slave of Allah worshipping the Lord of the Worlds; and he will do anything in his power to dissuade the slave because of the condition that overtakes him.

Sahih Muslim Hadith 144 Narrated by Abu Hurayrah

The Messenger of Allah (saws) said: ‘When the son of Adam recites the Ayat of Sajdah (Prostration) and then falls down in prostration, the Shaytaan goes into seclusion and weeps and says: “Alas! Woe unto me, the son of Adam was commanded to prostrate, and he prostrated and Paradise was entitled to him; and I was commanded to prostrate, but I refused and am doomed to Hell.’”

Whatever written of Truth and benefit is only due to Allah’s Assistance and Guidance, and whatever of error is of me. Allah Alone Knows Best and He is the Only Source of Strength.

Your Brother in Islam,

Burhan