The Recitations and Prayers Which Makes Satan Flees From ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ One of the ways of avoiding falling into riyaa' is to know the things which Shaytaan fears and flees from: 1. When you say: La ilaha il-Allah - wahdahu laa shareeka lahu-lahul-mulku wa lahul-hamdu - wa huwa 'ala kulli shay'in qadeer. [There is none worthy of worship except Allah alone. He has no partners. To Him belongs the Dominion, to Him belongs all praise and He is capable over all things] a hundred times a day. The evidence is what has been reported in the Saheeh of al Bukhaari and Muslim from Abu Hurayrah (ra) that Allah's Messenger Sall-Allahu alayhi wa sallam mentioned the above words and then said: "He will receive the reward of setting free ten slaves, a hundred good deeds will be written for him and a hundred bad deeds will be erased from him. It will be a sanctuary from Shaytaan for him on that day until he reaches the evening. No one will come with something better except one who increases beyond that". 2. Recitation of Ayaat ul-Kursi (Surah Al Baqarah 2:255) when you go to bed. Abu Hurayrah (ra) reported that the Messenger Sall-Allahu alayhi wa sallam put him in charge of guarding the zakaah of Ramadan and someone would come and take handfuls from the zakaah for two nights in succession. On the third night, he (Abu Hurayrah) grabbed him and said: "I will take you to Allah's Messenger Sall-Allahu alayhi wa sallam ". He (the thief) said: "Leave me alone and I will teach you some words by which Allah Subhanahu wa Ta'ala will benefit you". He then said, "When you depart to go to your bed recite aayaat ul-Kursi until you complete it. There will never cease to be from Allah Subhanahu wa Ta'ala a guardian to protect you and Shaytaan will not approach you until you wake up". When he explained this to Allah's Messenger Sall-Allahu alayhi wa sallam , he said, "He has told you the truth although the is a great liar". (al-Bukhaari). 3. When you spit on your left three times and seek refuge in Allah from the evil of what you see in a dream. Abu Salamah bin 'Abdur-Rahman said: "I heard Abu Qataadah ibn Rab'iyy say: "I heard Allah's Messenger Sall-Allahu alayhi wa sallam say, "The good dream is from Allah and the bad dream is from Shaytaan. When one of you sees what he dislikes, let him spit on his left three times when he awakens and let him seek refuge in Allah Subhanahu wa Ta'ala from its evil and then it will not harm him"". Abu Salamah said, "I used to see in my dream that which wouldbe more burdensome to me than a mountain and when I heard this hadeeth I considered it as nothing." In another narration he said, "I used to see in my dream which would make me concerned until I heard Abu Qataadah say: "I used to have dreams which would make me ill until I heard Allah's Messenger Sall-Allahu alayhi wa sallam say, "The righteous dream is from Allah. If one of you sees what he loves then let him not inform anyone about it except one whom he loves. And if he sees what he dislikes, let him not inform anyone about it. Let him spit on his left three times and let him seek refuge in Allah from Shaytaan, the accursed from the evil of what he saw and it will not harm him."" 4. Upon saying, when leaving the house "Bismillah tawakaltu 'ala Allah, la hawla wa la quwata illaa bilLah" [In the Name of Allah, I place my trust upon Allah, There is no power nor movement except by Allah]. Anas (ra) reports that Allah's Messenger Sall-Allahu alayhi wa sallam said, "Whoever says (when he leaves his house): "In the Name of Allah, I place my trust upon Allah, There is no power nor movement except by Allah" it is said to him: "You have been sufficed, you have been protected and you have been guided". Then one of the devils turns to another and says, "How can you get to a man who has been sufficed, protected and guided". (Abu Dawud, at-Tirmidhi, hasan saheeh). Umm Salamah (ra) said, "Allah's Messenger Sall-Allahu alayhi wa sallam never left my house except that he raised his sight to the sky and said, "Allahumma innee a'oodhu bika an adil aw udal, aw azil aw uzal, aw azlima aw uslam, aw ajhal aw yujhal 'aleeyy (O Allah I seek refuge in you from leading others astray and being led astray, from causing others to slip and being made to slip, from oppressing others or being oppressed and from making others ignorant, and being kept ignorant."" (at-Tirmidhi, Abu Dawood, an-Nasa'ee, Ibn Majah. at-Tirmidhi said "hasan saheeh", al-Albaani agreed with him in al-Kalim ut-Tayyib, no.59). 5. Remembering Allah Subhanahu wa Ta'ala, the Sublime and Exalted when entering the house and before eating. Jaabir (ra) said: "I heard the Prophet Sall-Allahu alayhi wa sallam say: "When a man enters his house and remembers Allah the Exalted upon entering and before eating, Shaytaan says: "There is no place for you to spend the night and there is no supper for you." When he enters the house and does not remember Allah, Shaytaan says: "You have found a place to spend the night" and when he does not remember Allah upon eating his food, Shaytaan says: "You have found a place to stay and some supper"". (Muslim). 6. Saying "A'oodhu bilLahil-'adheem wa bi wajhil-kareemi wa bi sultaanihil-qadeemi min ash-Shaytaani-rajeem" [I seek refuge with Allah the Mighty, with His Noble Face and with His Eternal Authority from Shaytaan, the Accursed] when entering the mosque. 'Abdullah ibn 'Umar (ra) said, "When the Prophet Sall-Allahu alayhi wa sallam used to enter the mosque he would say, "I seek refuge with Allah the Mighty, with His Noble Face and with His Eternal Authority from Shaytaan, the Accursed". He then said, "When (a man) says this, Shaytaan says: "He has been protected from me for the whole day"". (Abu Dawud, al-Albaani declared it saheeh in Saheeh Abu Dawood, no. 458, and an-Nawawee and Ibn Hajr declared it hasan). 7. Upon pronouncing the adhaan. This is due to what has been reported from Abu Hurayrah (ra) that Allah's Messenger Sall-Allahu alayhi wa sallam said, "When the call to prayer is made, Shaytaan flees on his heels and passes wind with noise during his flight so that he does not hear the adhaan. When the adhaan is completed he comes back. When the iqaamah is pronounced he takes to his heels again until it is completed. Then he returns again and whispers into the heart of the praying person and says to him: "Remember this and remember that". So the person remembers those things which were not in his mind before the prayer began and as a result, he forgets how much he has prayed". (al-Bukhaari, Muslim). Pronouncing the adhaan can be done at any time to repel Shaytaan. This is due to what has been reported by Muslim from Abu Saheel bin Abu Saalih who said: "My father sent me to Bani Harithah and there was a young boy with me. Someone called him by his name from a wall, so he went to have a look at the wall but did not see anything". I mentioned that to my father and he said: "If I had known that you would encounter this I would not have sent you". However, when you hear a voice then make the call for prayer since I heard Abu Hurayrah (ra) saying the Prophet (saw) said, "When the call for prayer is made, Shaytaan flees". 8. When seeking refuge in Allah Subhanahu wa Ta'ala due to the Exalted's saying: "And when an incitement to evil comes to you from Shaytaan, seek refuge in Allah. He is the All Hearing, the All Knowing". (Al-Fussilat 41:36) 9. When you say "A'oodhu billah minka, al'anuka bi l'anatillaah" [I seek refuge in Allah from you, I curse you with the curse of Allah] three times during the prayer. Abu Dardaa' (ra) reports that "Allah's Messenger Sall-Allahu alayhi wa sallam stood for prayer and we heard him saying, "I seek refuge in Allah from you". Then he said, "I curse you with the curse of Allah" three times. At the same time, he was stretching out his hand, trying to grab hold of something. When he finished his prayer we said to him: "O Messenger of Allah! We heard you say something in the prayer which we have never heard from you before and we saw you stretching out your hand". He said, "That was the enemy of Allah, Iblees". He came with a flame of fire and tried to throw it in my face. I said, "I seek refuge in Allah from you" three times and then (I said), "I curse you with the curse of Allah" three times and he did not hesitate. Then I desired to capture him. By Allah! If it had not been for the supplication of our brother (the Prophet) Sulaymaan, he would have been tied up and the children of Madinah would have played about with him"". (Muslim). In another hadeeth from 'Uthmaan bin Abul-Aas (ra) who said, "I said, "O Messenger of Allaah! Shaytaan comes in between me and my prayer and my recitation, confusing me." He said, "That is a Shaytaan called Khunzub. When you feel his presence, seek refuge in Allah from him and spit on your left three times." I did as he said and Allah took that (distraction) away from me." (Muslim) 10. When the servant finds something in his soul that concerns him and says "huwal-awwalu wal-aakhiru wadh-dhaahiru wal- baatinu wa huwa bi kulli shay'in 'aleem" {He is the First and the Last, the Outermost and the Innermost, and He has Knowledge of every single thing.] Abu Zameel (ra) said, "I said to Ibn 'Abbas (ra), "What is this thing which I find in my soul?" - meaning doubt. He said, "When you find something like that in your soul, then say, "He (Allah) is the First and the Last, the Outermost and the Innermost and He has knowledge of every single thing."" (Abu Dawood, al-Albaani declared it hasan in al-Kalim ut-Tayyib no.135). 11. When a calamity befalls you and you say "QadrAllahu wa ma sha' Allahu fa'ala" {Allah has decreed (this) and He does whatever He wills]. Abu Hurayrah (ra) reports that Allaah's Messenger Sall-Allahu alayhi wa sallam said, "The strong believer is more loved by Allah than the weak believer, but in both there is good. Be zealous for what will benefit you. Seek help from Allah the Mighty and Majestic and do not become incapacitated. If something afflicts you, do not say: "If only I had done such and such" but say, "Allah hasdecreed (this) and He does whatever He wills". Indeed saying "if.." opens up the doorway of Shaytaan's handiwork." (Muslim). 12. When you say "Bismillah, Allahumma janibna ash-Shaytaan wa janibish-Shaytaana maa razaqtna" (in the Name of Allah), O Allah! Make us distant from Shaytaan and make Shaytaan distant from what you bestow upon us". Ibn 'Abbaas (ra) reports that the Prophet Sall-Allahu alayhi wa sallam said, "If one of you says, when approaching his wife (for intercourse): "In the Name of Allah. O Allah! Make us distant from Shaytaan and make Shaytaan distant from what you bestow upon us" and offspring is decreed for you, Shaytaan will never be able to harm it (i.e. the offspring)". (al-Bukhaari, Muslim). 13. When you say in a state of anger "A'oodhu bilLaahi min ash-Shaytaan ir-Rajeem" {I seek refuge with Allah from Shaytaan the Accursed}. Sulaymaan bin Sard (ra) said, "I was sitting with Allah's Messenger Sall-Allahu alayhi wa sallam and two men were abusing each other. The face of one of them had become red (out of anger) and his veins had become inflated. Allah's Messenger Sall- Allahu alayhi wa sallam said, "I know a word which, if he was to say, his anger would leave him. If he said: "I seek refuge in Allah from Shaytaan the Accursed", his anger would leave him"" (al-Bukhaari, Muslim). 14. Upon saying "Bismillah" [in the Name of Allah] Abul-Maleeh (ra) reports that a man said, "I was behind the Messenger Sall-Allahu alayhi wa sallam and his riding animal stumbled. I said, "May Shaytaan perish", and he said, "Do not say, "May Shaytaan perish". If you say that he will grow in size until he becomes the size of a house and says, "By my strength". Instead say, "Bismillah" (In the Name of Allah). When you say that, he reduces in size until he is like a fly." (Abu Dawood, saheeh isnad). 15. When you supplicate for blessings for something which wins your admiration. Allah's Messenger Sall-Allahu alayhi wa sallam said, "When one of you sees something in his self or in his possessions which amazes him (or wins his admiration) he should invoke blessings upon it as the (evil) eye is indeed true and real". 16. When you recite the M'uwadhdhataan [Surah al-Falaq and Surah an-Naaz]. Abu Sa'eed (ra) said, "Allah's Messenger Sall-Allahu alayhi wa sallam used to seek refuge from the jinn and from the effects of the (evil) of men until the m'uwwadhdhataan were revealed. When they were revealed he clung to them and abandoned what was besides them." (at-Tirmidhi, hasan; an-Nasa'ee and Ibn Maajah - saheeh). 17. When you make the prostration of recitation. Allah's Messenger Sall-Allahu alayhi wa sallam said, "When you read a verse of prostration then prostrate, Shaytaan departs crying and says: "Woe be to him. He was ordered with prostration and he prostrated - so for him is Paradise. I was ordered with prostration and I refused - so for me is the Fire." (Muslim, Ahmad and Ibn Maajah). 18. When you recite Surah al-Baqarah. Abu Hurayrah (ra) reports that Allaah's Messenger Sall-Allahu alayhi wa sallam said, "Do not turn your houses into graves. Indeed Shaytaan flees from a house in which Surah al-Baqarah is recited." (Muslim). 19. When reciting the Qur'an. The Messenger of Allah, Sall-Allahu alayhi wa sallam went out one night and passed by Abu Bakr (ra) who was praying with a lowered voice. Then he passed by 'Umar ibn al-Khattaab (ra) who was praying with a raised voice When they came together with the Prophet Sall-Allahu alayhi wa sallam, he said, "O Abu Bakr! I passed by you while you were praying with a lowered voice." Abu Bakr (ra) said, "I made the one with whom I was conversing with (i.e Allah Subhanahu wa Ta'ala) hear it, O Messenger of Allah." He then said to 'Umar (ra), "I passed by you while you were praying with a raised voice". 'Umar (ra) said, "O Messenger of Allah! I was incitng those who were asleep and driving away the Shaytaan." The Prophet Sall- Allahu alayhi wa sallam then said, "O Abu Bakr! Raise your voice somewhat" and he said to 'Umar, "lower your voice somewhat". (Abu Dawood, al Haakim, who declared it saheeh as did adh-Dhahabi). 20. When you move the finger during the prayer. It is established that Allah's Messenger, Sall-Allahu alayhi wa sallam used to move his finger, supplicating with it (Abu Dawood, an-Nasaa'i, Ibn al_Jaarud in al-Muntaqa and others) and the Messenger of Allah, Sall-Allahu alayhi wa sallam said, "It is more powerful against the Shaytaan than iron" - meaning the forefinger. (Ahmad and others). Imaam Ahmad was asked, "Should a man point with his finger in the prayer?" He replied, "Yes, vigorously". (Ibn Haani mentioned it in Masaa'il of Imaam Ahmad). Allahumma, 'authu bi 'izzatillah wa qudrati min sharri ma ajid wa uhaathir. (Sahih Muslim) ("O Allah, I seek in the power of Allah and His ability from evil that is present and from that which I fear." Ameen.)

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