By
Dr. Hira Mateen – Hiba magazine team writer
Every day we can feel the struggle and difficulty to counter the tricks and tactics of Shaitan as the devils are unchained after Ramadan. Performing good deeds and staying alert from the whispers of our Nafs & evil of Shaitan seemed relatively easier in Ramadan by Allah’s (swt) mercy.
Shaitan’s goal is to keep us away from the righteous path of Islam and create an unrest within ourselves, our homes and our society in general. Though we can’t completely eliminate his influence from our lives, we can surely weaken his hold over our hearts and minds. The Quran and Sunnah are full of powerful strategies and ways to weaken the plots and whispers of Shaitan.
Amongst many, here are seven easy and practical ways rooted in the Sunnah that we all can adopt in our daily life. This will help reclaim our inner peace, peace within our homes and society, and strengthen our connection with Allah (swt) as we battle against the ‘Adoowun Mubin’, the open enemy. It is our Lord’s great mercy that He has exposed our actual enemy in the Quran, so we take guard. Allah (swt) protects us when we follow His guidance and also rewards us for our efforts against Shaitan.
- Blowing the nose
When we wake up from sleep, we must blow out each nostril three times alternatively.
Our beloved Prophet (ﷺ) said: “When one of you wakes up from his sleep, he must blow of his nose three times, for the Shaitan spends the night inside one’s nostrils.”
(Bukhari and Muslim)
- Reciting Dua upon entering the house & before eating
We must make it a compulsory habit to recite the Masnoon Dua while entering the house and saying Bismillah before eating a meal.
Our beloved Prophet (ﷺ) said: “If a person mentions the Name of Allah upon entering his house or eating, Satan says, addressing his followers: ‘You will find nowhere to spend the night and no dinner.’ But if he enters without mentioning the Name of Allah, Satan says (to his followers); ‘You have found (a place) to spend the night in, and if he does not mention the Name of Allah at the time of eating, Satan says: ‘You have found (a place) to spend the night in as well as food.’” (Riyad-us-Salihin: 729)
- Saying Bismillah when stumbling
We must make it a habit to say Bismillah when we trip/slip/stumble as it reduces Shaitan to the size of a fly.
Abu Al-Malih narrated that a man said: “I was riding behind the Prophet (ﷺ) and his mount stumbled. I said: May the Shaitan perish! The Prophet (ﷺ) said: “Do not say May the Shaitan perish, because when you say that, he swells up so much that he becomes like a house and says, By my power. Rather say Bismillah. If you say that, the Shaitan shrinks until he transforms into the size of a fly.” (Abi Dawud)
- Saying Bismillah while closing doors
While closing doors, we must say Bismillah and have Tawakkul (trust) as harmful devils whether from among humans, Jinn and harmful animals/insects cannot unlock it.
Our beloved Prophet (ﷺ) said: “…And close the doors and mention the name of Allah, for the Shaitan does not open a closed door…” (Bukhari)
- Covering the mouth while yawing
Always remember to cover your mouth while yawing and do not let Shaitan enter it and laugh at you.
Our beloved Prophet (ﷺ) said: “When one of you yawns, he should keep his mouth shut with the help of his hand, for it is the devil that enters therein.” (Muslim)
“When one of you yawns let him cover his mouth with his hand. For when he says ‘Ah, Ah’, Shaitan laughs from inside his opening.” (Tirmidhi)
- Reciting Ta’wuz when angry
When you are angry, or see someone else lose his temper or witness people fighting, say instantly اعوذ بااله من الشيطن الرجيم. You won’t believe but it diffuses the negative emotion.
Muadh bin Jabal (rta) narrated that one of the two men cursed the other in presence of the Prophet (ﷺ), until anger could be recognized in the face of one of them. The Prophet (ﷺ) said: “Verily, I know a statement, that if he were to say it, his anger would leave:
اعوذ بااله من الشيطن الرجيم
‘I seek refuge in Allah from Shaitan, the rejected.’” (Tirmidhi)
- Reciting Dua upon entering the toilet
Spend less time in the toilet knowing that the devils (Shaitan/Jinns) reside in there. Do not take books, toys for kids, entertainment gadgets, cell phones, lap tops, etc to spend leisure/play time inside the bathroom. Recite the Dua of entering toilet for protection which our beloved Propeht (ﷺ) taught us.
اللَّهُمَّ إِنِّي أَعُوذُ بِكَ مِنَ الْخُبُثِ وَالْخَبَائِثِ
“Allah, I seek refuge with You from male & female devils.” (An Nisai)
Understand that we live in the physical world where we cannot see Shaitan by Allah’s (swt) mercy. But there is an unseen parallel world which contains Allah (swt), hell, heaven, the angels, the Jinn and Shayateen, etc.
Allah (swt) Al Hafeez, the best Protector has informed us about the existence of Shaitan, his goal to hurt us and hence provided possible solutions to protect ourselves. It is up to us to take this warning seriously and take Allah’s (swt) powerful refuge.
About author
