Protective Measures against the evil devils 

Saying Bismillah when eating and drinking

It was narrated that 'Umar ibn Abi Salamah (RA) said: The Messenger of Allah (Peace and Blessing upon Him) said:

"Say Bismillah and eat with your right hand." Fath Al-Bari, 7/88. Muslim, 3/1599, no. 108.

It was narrated that Jabir (RA) said: I heard the Messenger of Allah (Peace and Blessing upon Him) say:

"When a man enters his house and remembers Allah upon entering and when eating, the Shaytan says: 'You have no place to stay and no dinner.' If he enters and does not remember Allah upon entering, the Shaytan says: 'You have found a place to stay.' And if he does not remember Allah when eating, he says: 'You have found a place to stay and dinner.'" Sahih Muslim, 3/1598, no. 103.

It was narrated that Hudhayfah (RA) said: When we ate with the Prophet (Peace and Blessing upon Him), we would not stretch forth our hands until the Messenger of Allah (Peace and Blessing upon Him) stretched forth his hand first. We were going to eat with him one time, when a young girl came rushing as if she were being pushed. She went to stretch forth her hand to the food, but the Messenger of Allah (Peace and Blessing upon Him) took hold of her hand. Then a Bedouin came rushing as if he were being pushed, and he took hold of his hand. Then the Messenger of Allah (Peace and Blessing upon Him) said:

"The Shaytan regards food as permissible (for himself) if the Name of Allah is not mentioned over it. He brought this girl so that the food might become permissible for him through her, but I took her hand. Then he brought this Bedouin so that the food might become permissible for him through him, but I took his hand. By the One in Whose hand is my soul, his hand is in mine along with her hand." Sahih Muslim, Kitab Al-Ashribah, 3/1597, no. 102.

Then he mentioned the Name of Allah and began to eat.

It was narrated that the Sahabi Umayyah ibn Makhshi (RA) said: The Messenger of Allah (Peace and Blessing upon Him) was sitting and a man was eating who did not mention the Name of Allah until there was only one morsel left of his food. When he raised it to his mouth, he said: "In the Name of Allah at the beginning and at the end of it." The Prophet laughed and said: The Shaytan kept eating along with him, but when he mentioned the Name of Allah, he (the Shaytan) vomited what was in his belly." Sunan Abu Dawud, 3/140, no. 3768; Al-Nasa'i, 'Ami Al-Yawm Wa’l-Laylah, p. 102, no. 283.

Do you not see the importance of mentioning the Name of Allah when you start to eat or drink? The scholars (may Allah have mercy on them) are unanimously agreed that it is Mustahabb to mention the name of Allah when one starts to eat or drink, but if a person omits to do so for some reason then becomes able to do so whilst eating, it is Mustahabb to say "Bismillahi awwalahu wa akhirahu (In the Name of Allah at the beginning and at the end)." It is also Mustahabb to say it out loud so as to remind others and set an example for them.

What should be said when entering the house

It is Mustahabb to say when entering one's house:

‘Bismillah as-salamu 'alaykum’

(In the Name of Allah, peace be upon you),' whether there are any humans in the house or not, because Allah says:

"But when you enter the houses, greet one another with a greeting from Allah (i .e. say: As-salamu 'alaykum — peace be on you), blessed and good." (Al-Nur 24:61)

It was narrated that Anas said: The Messenger of Allah (Peace and Blessing upon Him) said:

"O my son, when you enter upon your family, greet them with Salam; it will be a blessing from Allah upon you and upon the people of your household.' Sunan Al-Tirmidhi, Bab Maja'a Fi'l-taslim Idha Dakhala Baytihi.

It was narrated that Abu Malik Al-Ash'ari (RA) said: The Messenger of Allah (Peace and Blessing upon Him) said: "When a man enters his home, let him say:

"Allahumma inni as aluka khayra Al-mawlij wa khayr Al-makhraj, bismillahi walajna wa bismillahi kharajna, wa 'ala Allahi rabbina tawakkalna (O Allah, I ask of You the best entering and the best exit. In the Name of Allah we have entered and in the Name of Allah we have exited, and in Allah our Lord have we put our trust) then let him greet his family with Salaam. Sunan Abi Dawud, Kitab Al-Adab, 5/328, no. 5096; classed as Sahih by Al-Albani (may Allah have mercy on him).

It was narrated that Jabir ibn 'Abdullah (RA) said: I heard the Messenger of Allah (Peace and Blessing upon Him) say:

"When a man enters his house and mentions Allah when he enters and when he eats, the Shaytan says: '(You have) no place to stay and no supper.' If he enters and does not mention Allah when he eats, (the Shaytan) says: 'You have found a place to stay and supper.'" Sahih Muslim, 3/1598, no. 103.

In the Muwatta of Imam Malik it is narrated that he heard that it is Mustahabb when entering an uninhabited house to say:

"As-salamu 'alayna wa 'ala 'ibad-illah il-salihin (Peace be upon us and upon the righteous slaves of Allah)." Al-Muwatta', Kitab Al-Salam, Bab Jami' Al-Salam, vol. 2, p. 962, no. 8.

What a person should do and say if he gets angry

Anger is one of the evil whispers of the Shaytan. Allah says:

(And if an evil whisper from Shaytan (Satan) tries to turn you away (O Muhammad) (from doing good), then seek refuge in Allah. Verily, He is the All Hearer, the All Knower.) (Fussilat 41:36)

It was narrated that the Companion of the Prophet (Peace and Blessing upon Him) Sulayman ibn Surad (RA) said: I was sitting with the Prophet (Peace and Blessing upon Him) and two men traded insults. One of them turned red in the face and became furious, and the Messenger of Allah (Peace and Blessing upon Him) said:

"I know a word which, if he said it, what he is experiencing would go away. If he said, A'udhu billahi min As-shaytan il-rajim (I seek refuge with Allah from the accursed Shaytan),' what he is experiencing would go away."

They said to him: "The Prophet (Peace and Blessing upon Him) said:

"Seek refuge with Allah from the accursed Shaytan."

He said: "Am I insane?" Fath Al-Bari, Kitab Bad' Al-Khalq, Bab Sifat Iblis, 6/151; Sahih Muslim, 4/5/20, no. 109

It was narrated that 'Aishah (RA) said: The Prophet (Peace and Blessing upon Him) entered upon me when I was angry. He took hold of the end my nose and tweaked it, then he said:

"O 'Uwayyish (diminutive form of 'Aishah), say: Allahumma aghfir li dhanbi wa adhhib ghayda qalbi, wa ajirni min As-Shaytan (O Allah, forgive my sin, take away the anger in my heart, and protect me against the Shaytan)."

It was narrated that the Companion of the Prophet (Peace and Blessing upon Him)  'Atiyyah ibn 'Urwah Al-Sa'di (RA) said: The Messenger of Allah (Peace and Blessing upon Him) said:

"Anger comes from the Shaytan, and the Shaytan was created from fire. Fire is extinguished by water, so if one of you becomes angry, let him do Wudu." Sunan Abi Dawud, Kitab Al-Adab, 5

It is Mustahabb for the one whom the Shaytan provokes to anger to suppress his anger and to seek refuge with Allah from the accursed Shaytan. Then he should hasten to do Wudu, and remember that the reward with Allah for suppressing his anger is great.

It was narrated from the Companion of the Prophet (Peace and Blessing upon Him) Mu'adh ibn Anas Al-Juhani (RA) that the Prophet (Peace and Blessing upon Him) said:

"Whoever suppresses his anger when he is able to act upon it, Allah will call him before all creatures on the Day of Resurrection and let him choose whoever he wants from among Al-Hur." Sunan Abi Dawud, Kitab Al-Adab, 5/137, no. 4777; Sunan Al-

Tirmidhi, Kitab Al-Birr, no. 2022. [2] Sahih Al-Bukhari, Kitab Al-Anbiya', 4/179. 

Prayer for protection for a child

It was narrated that Ibn 'Abbas (RA) said: The Prophet (Peace and Blessing upon Him) used to seek protection for Al-Hasan and Al-Husayn:

"A'udhu bi kalimat-Allah il-tammah min kulli shaytanin wa hammah wa min kulli 'aynin lammah

(I seek refuge in the perfect words of Allah from every devil and poisonous reptile, and from every envious evil eye)."

And he would say:

"Your father (i.e., Ibrahim) used to seek protection by means of them (these words) for Isma'il and Ishaq." Sahih Al Bukhari, Kitab al Anbiya, 4/179. 

What is to be said by one who is suffering from loneliness

It was narrated from Al-Walid ibn Al-Walid (RA) that he said: "O Messenger of Allah, I feel lonely." He said: "When you go to bed, say:

"A'udhu bi kalimat-illah il-tammati min ghada-bihi wa 'iqabihi wa min sharri 'ibadihi wa min hamazat As-shayatin wa an yahdurun (I seek refuge in the perfect words of Allah from His wrath and punishment, and from the evil of His slaves, and from the whispers of the devils and from their being present), then they (the devils) will not harm you or come near you." Ibn Al-Sunni: Ma Yaqul Idha Akhadha Madja'ahu, p. 201, no. 705.

It was narrated that Al-Bara' ibn 'Azib (RA) said: A man came to the Messenger of Allah (Peace and Blessing upon Him) and complained to him of loneliness. He said: "Repeat often (the words):

"Subhan Al-malik Al-quddus, rabb il-mala'ikati wa'l-ruh, jalalta Al-samawati wa'l-arda bi'l-'izzah wa'l-jabarut

(Glory be to the Sovereign, the Noble, Lord of the angels and of the Spirit, You have encompassed the heavens and the earth with glory and might)."

The man said it, and his loneliness disappeared. Ibn Al-Sunni, Bab my Yaqul Man Ubtuliya Bil-wahshah, p. 206, no. 633.

The best that can be said by one who is suffering from loneliness is:

"A'udhu billah il-sami' il-'alim min Al-shaytan il-rajim

(I seek refuge with Allah, the All-Hearing, All-Knowing, from the accursed Shaytan)."

Allah ('Azza wa Jalla) says:

(And if an evil whisper from Shaytan (Satan) tries to turn you away (O Muhammad (from doing good), then seek refuge in Allah. Verily, He is the All-Hearer, the All-Knower.) (Fussilat 41:36)

It was narrated that Abu Hurayrah (RA) said: The Messenger of Allah (Peace and Blessing upon Him) said:

"The Shaytan will come to one of you and say: 'Who created such and such? Who created such and such?" until he says, 'Who created your Lord?' If it comes to that, then seek refuge with Allah and stop thinking about it."

According to a version narrated in Al-Sahih:

"The people will continue to ask questions until it is said: 'This is the creation of Allah, but who created Allah?' Whoever sees any of that, let him say, I believe in Allah and His Messengers."[1] Fath Al-Bari, Bab Sifat Iblis, 4/149

It was narrated that 'Aishah (RA) said: The Messenger of Allah (Peace and Blessing upon Him)  said:

"Whoever experiences anything of this Waswas (whispers from the Shaytan), let him say: I believe in Allah and His Messengers' three times, then that will go away from him." Ibn Al-Sunni, Bab Ma Yaqul Man Ubtuliya Bi'l-waswasah, p. 181, no. 626.

It was narrated that 'Uthman ibn Abi'l-'As (RA) said: I said: "O Messenger of Allah, the Shaytan has interfered between me and my prayer and recitation, and has confounded me." The Messenger of Allah (Peace and Blessing upon Him) said:

"That is a devil called Khinzab. If you notice that, then seek refuge with Allah from him and spit drily to your left three times."

I did that, and Allah took that away from me. Sahih Muslim, Kitab As-Salam, Bab Al-Ta'awwudh Min Shaytan Al-waswasah Fil-salah, 4/1728, no. 68.

It was narrated that Abu Zamil said: I said to Ibn 'Abbas (RA): "There is something I find in my heart." He said: "What is it?" I said: "By Allah I cannot speak of it." He said to me: "Is it some sort of doubt?" He smiled and said: "No one was spared from that until Allah revealed the Words:

(So if you (O Muhammad) are in doubt concerning that which We have revealed unto you, then ask those who are reading the Book before you. Verily, the truth has come to you from your Lord. So be not of those who doubt (it).) (Yunus 10:94)

He said to me: "If you feel anything in your heart, then say:

(He is the First (nothing is before Him) and the Last (nothing is after Him), the Most High (nothing is above Him) and the Most Near (nothing is nearer than Him). And He is the All-Knower of every thing.) (Al-Hadid 57:3)

In Sahih Muslim it is narrated with his Isnad in the letter of Abu'l-Qaaim Al-Qushayri that Ahmad ibn 'Ata' Al-Rawdhabari Al-Sayyid Al-Jalil said to me: I am experiencing Waswas with regard to purification (Taharah); I felt anxious one night because I had used so much water, and my heart would not rest. I said: O Lord, Your forgiveness, Your forgiveness. Then I heard a voice crying out: Forgiveness is in knowledge. Then that (anxiety) left me.

One of the scholars said that it is Mustahabb for the one who suffers from Waswas with regard to Wudu or prayer to say La ilaha ill-Allah (there is no god but Allah), for if the Shaytan hears Dhikr (remembrance of Allah), he withdraws and goes away, and the phrase La ilaha ill-Allah (there is no god but Allah) is the best of Dhikr.

And they (the scholars) said that the most effective remedy for warding off waswas is to remember Allah a great deal (Dhikr).

One of the Imams said that that it is only those who are most perfect in faith who are tested with Waswas, for the thief does not target a ruined house.

Al-Sayyid Al-Jalil Ahmad ibn Abi'l-Hawari said: I complained to Abu Sulayman Al-Darani about Waswas and he said: If you want it to stop, then whenever you notice it, rejoice, for if you rejoice in it, it will stop, because there is nothing more annoying to the Shaytan than the happiness of the believer. 

What should be said by one to whom the Shaytan appears or who is frightened by him.

(And if an evil whisper from Shaytan (Satan) tries to turn you away (O Muhammad) (from doing good), then seek refuge in Allah. Verily, He is the All-Hearer, the All-Knower.) (Fussilat 41:36)

(And when you (Muhammad) recite the Qur'an, We put between you and those who believe not in the Hereafter, an invisible veil (or screen their hearts, so they hear or understand it not). (Al-lsra 17:45)

The one to whom the Shaytan appears should do the following:

1 - He should say:

"A'udhu billahi'l-sami' il-'alim min Al-shaytan il-rajim

(I seek refuge with Allah, the All-Hearing, All-Knowing, from the accursed Shaytan)."

2 - He should constantly read the Qur'an (he should have a daily Wird)

3 - He should give the Adhan as for prayer.

It was narrated that Abu'l-Darda' said: The Messenger of Allah (Peace and Blessing upon Him) stood up to pray, and we heard him say:

"I seek refuge with Allah from you." Then he said: "I curse you with the curse of Allah," three times, and he stretched out his hand as if to take something. When he had finished praying, we said: "O Messenger of Allah, we heard you say during the prayer something that we have never heard you say before, and we saw you stretching out your hand." He said:

"The enemy of Allah Iblis came with a brand of fire to throw it in my face, and I said, I seek refuge with Allah from you,' three times. Then I said: I curse you with the complete curse of Allah' and he retreated three times. Then I wanted to seize him, and by Allah, were it not for the prayer of my brother Sulayman, this morning he would have been tied up and the children of the people of Madinah would be playing with him." Sahih Muslim, Bab Jawaz La’n As Shaytan, 1/385

It was narrated from Sahl ibn Abi Salih that he said: My father sent me to Banu Harithah and there was a slave of ours —or a friend of ours—with me. Someone called him by name from behind a wall, and the one who was with me looked over the wall but did not see anything. I told my father about that and he said: "If I had realized that this would happen to you I would not have sent you. But if you hear a voice, give the call to prayer, for I heard Abu Hurayrah narrating that the Messenger of Allah (Peace and Blessing upon Him) said:

"If the call to prayer is given, the Shaytan runs away." Sahih Muslim, Kitab Al-Salah, Bab Fadl Al-Adhan wa Hurub Al-Shaytan, 1/290-291.  

What should be said by one who hears the crowing of a rooster, the braying of a donkey and the barking of a dog.

It was narrated from Abu Hurayrah (RA) that the Prophet (Peace and Blessing upon Him) said:

"If you hear the braying of a donkey then seek refuge with Allah from the Shaytan, for it has seen a devil. If you hear the crowing of a rooster, then ask Allah of His bounty, for it has seen an angel." Sahih Al-Bukhari, Kitab Bad' Al-khalq, 4/155.

It was narrated that Jabir ibn 'Abdullah (RA) said: The Messenger of Allah (Peace and Blessing upon Him) said:

"If you hear the barking of a dog and the braying of a donkey at night, then seek refuge with Allah, for they see what you do not see." Sunan Abi Dawud, Kitab Al-Adab, 5/332, no. 5103 

What should be said by one to whom ghouls appear.

Ghouls (Arabic Ghul, pl. Ghilan) are a type of jinn, and it is said that they are the sorcerers of the jinn. They may appear in various forms, but their evil may be warded off by the Adhan.

It was narrated from Jabir that the Prophet (Peace and Blessing upon Him) said:

"If the ghouls appear to you, then give the call to prayer." Ibn Al-Sunni, Bab Idha Taghawwalat Al-ghilan, p. 153, no. 524.

That is because the Adhan makes the Shaytan flee. 

What should be said by one who stops in a new place

It was narrated that Khawlah bint Hakim (RA) said: I heard the Messenger of Allah (Peace and Blessing upon Him) say:

"Whoever stops in a place and then says: A'udhu bi kalimat-illah il-tammaati min sharri ma khalaq (I seek refuge in the perfect words of Allah from the evil of that which He has created),' nothing will harm him until he moves on from that stopping-place." Sahih Muslim, 4/2080, no. 54.