Devils Locked Up in Ramadan

7/28/2019 Devils Locked Up in Ramadan

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After further clarication, IbnḤajr continues by quoting the statement of al-Qāḍī‘Iyāḍ:‘...and it is possible that this alludes to the abundance of reward and forgiveness (inRamaḍān), and that the temptation of theShayā t ī n is decreased, so they become as if they arelocked up.’ He (‘Iā yd) says: ‘And what supports this second view is his statement in the

narration of Yūnus on the authority of Ibn Shihāb inṢaḥīḥMuslim, ‘the gates of mercy areopened,’ and it is possible that the opening of the gates of Paradise means what Allāh hasfacilitated for His worshippers from the acts of obedience, and these are the reasons forentering Paradise; and the closing of the gates of the Hell-re means a diversion from thedesire to commit sins, which leads the sinner to the Hell-re, and the chaining of the devilmeans the weakening of their ability to tempt and beautify desires.’”

He (Ibn Hajar) then quotes al-Qurtub ī, may Allāh bestow his Mercy upon him, when hesays: “If it is asked, how do we see so much evil and sin occurring inRamaḍā n? Since theShayā t ī n are chained up, why does this still occur? The answer to this is that few of thosewho fast do so in a manner that meets these conditions, or that those intended [in thenarration] are only some of theShayā t ī n, specically the evil ones from among them, not allof them, as has proceeded in some of the narrations; or that what is intended is a reduction evil during it (Ramaḍā n). And this can be felt, for indeed this (evil) occurs less duringRamaḍān than at any other time. Yet, the chaining of all of the devils would not necessitatethat evil and sin would not occur, because there are other reasons for this besides theShayā t ī n,like evil natures, wicked customs, and theShayā t ī n from the humans.’ And others have said,‘The chaining up of theShayā t ī n in Ramaḍā n points to the removal of the person’s excuse; it

is as if it is said to him, ‘TheShayā t ī n have been restrained, so do not use them as an excusefor the abandonment of acts of obedience or the commitment of sin.’”6

al-Imām al-Nawaw ī, may Allāh bestow his Mercy upon him, says in the explication of Ṣaḥīḥ Muslim, “...the gates of Paradise are opened and the gates of the Hell-re are closed and theShayā t ī n are locked up. Al-Qāḍī‘Iyāḍsays: ‘It is possible that this is literal, and that theopening of the gates of Paradise, the closing of the gates of the Hell-Fire, and the chaining the Shayā t ī n are signs of enteringRamaḍā n and magnication of its sanctity; and that they(theShayā t ī n) are chained up to prevent them from harming the believers and inciting them.

He also said: ‘And it is possible that what is intended is a gurative meaning, and that itmeans an abundance of reward and forgiveness, and that the temptation and harm of Shayā t ī n

The Chaining of the Shayāt īn duringa Month of Mercy

al-Raḥmāniyyah Publishing

6 Fat ḥ al-Bā r ī (4/706, 707)



is decreased so they become as if they are locked up; and that they are locked away from sothings as opposed to others, and some people as opposed to others...’”7

In his explication of Sunan al-Nasā 'ī , Shaykh Muḥammad ibnĀdam al-Ithyūb ī says: “From

the benets of this narration: 1) The chapter title of the author (i.e. al-Nasā' ī ), clarifying thevirtue of Ramaḍā n. 2) The affirmation of Paradise and the Hellre, that they presently existand that they have gates that open and close. 3) The affirmation of the existence of theShayāṭī n and that they possess bodies which can be chained and the rebellious from them arlocked up during the month of Ramaḍā n to prevent them from nullifying the deeds of thosewho are fasting. 4) Clarication of Allah's great Compassion and abundant Generosity toHis worshippers by protecting their fast and repelling the harm of the rebelliousShayāṭī n sothey are not able to corrupt the worshippers during this blessed month when good deeds armultiplied.”8

In summary, we discover in this narration myriad blessings and glad tidings for those whobelieve.Ramaḍā n is a month of forgiveness wherein Allah, the Most Merciful, has opened thegates of mercy and locked shut the gates of punishment. It is therefore crucial that people ofasting seize the advantage of the shackling of the devils, the malevolent troops of al-Shaytan,and pray that Allah, the Granter of Favor, rewards them with entry through the gate of al-Rayyā n.9 Indeed Allah is the Bestower of Mercy, Hearer of supplication. Written by the one in need of his Lord’s Favor,

Abū al-Ḥasan MālikĀdam al-Akhḍar

The Chaining of the Shayāt īn duringa Month of Mercy

al-Raḥmāniyyah Publishing

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7 Shar ḥ Ṣahih Muslim(7/186-187)8 Shar ḥ Sunan al-Nasā ’ ī (20/255)

9 This refers to the narration collected by al-Bukhari in his Sahih (no. 1762) in the “Book of Fasting” andMuslim in hisṢaḥīḥ in the “Book of Fasting” on the authority Sahl ibn Sa’d from the Messenger of Allāh :“Verily, in Paradise there is a gate calledal-Rayyā n; the people of fasting will enter through it on the Day of Judgement, and no one besides them will be permitted entry. It will be said, ‘Where are the people of fasting?They will stand, and no one besides them will enter through it. Once they enter, it will be locked.”

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Devils Locked Up in Ramadan