4 Ways to Protect Yourself from Shaytan in Islam
Allah the Almighty did not Create Shaytan in vain, but for a
profound wisdom through which the law of trial and testing in this universe is perfected.
Indeed, Iblis was once among the devout worshippers, until
pride led him to disobey the Command of his Lord Command when he refused to bow
to Adam (peace
be upon him). Thus, he failed, was disgraced, and was expelled from the mercy
of Allah the Exalted.
Since then, his fierce enmity towards the children of Adam
began, seeking to misguide them through countless ways. Yet, his existence
remains by the decree of Allah, so that the wicked may be distinguished from
the good, and so that the human will may be tested in its resistance to evil.
Shaytan’s Subtle War Against the Human Heart
This enmity against humans is continuous, as Shaytan creeps
secretly into the heart and mind, beautifying falsehood and luring with
deceptive hopes, until repentance fades
under the weight of procrastination.
He distracts man with the adornments of this world from
remembering the Hereafter, exploiting moments of weakness to cast doubt, fear,
and confusion into the heart.
He makes sin appear attractive, and obedience burdensome.
Sometimes, he even pushes a servant toward vanity and showing off
while performing acts of goodness. Allah the Almighty Said of Iblis: {I will lie in ambush for them on Your Straight Path.}
[Al-A`raf 7:16]
Thus, his battle against mankind is an ongoing one, it never
ceases until he shakes their faith or traps the heart in the snare of sin.
Shaytan’s Enmity Toward the Prophets (peace be upon them)
Among the most malicious of Shaytan’s hatred and enmity toward
mankind is his hatred for the Prophets (peace be upon them), for they are the
leaders of guidance and the beacons of faith.
His first act of hostility was against our father Adam (peace
be upon him), when he enticed him and his wife to disobey the Command of Allah,
Saying: { Your Lord has
forbidden this tree to you only to prevent you from becoming angels or
immortals.} [Al-A`raf 7:20] Thus, he caused them to fall from the bliss
of Paradise into the turmoil of trial.
His attempts continued with the Prophets of Allah throughout
history. He ignited the fire of envy in the hearts of Yusuf’s (peace be upon
him) brothers until they plotted against him. This was reflected in the words
of Ya`qub (peace be upon him) when he warned: {Surely
Satan is a sworn enemy to humankind.} [Yusuf 12:5]
He also sought to eat away the patience of Ayub
(peace be upon him) when affliction grew severe, as he said: {Satan has afflicted me with distress and suffering.}
[Sad 38:41]
There was no Prophet that the Shaytan hasn’t stood in his way,
whispering into hearts, casting doubts about the truth, and trying to distort
the divine message.
Yet Allah Protected His messengers from his deception and
guarded their hearts from deviation, and the Shaytan had no authority over
them, as Allah Said: {You will certainly have no
authority over My servants.} [Al-Hijr 15:42] Thus, Shaytan remained
powerless before the light of revelation, and his schemes vanished before
hearts illuminated by certainty.
How to Protect Oneself from Shaytan
1.
Seeking Refuge in Allah
Through Supplication
The first weapon a believer wields in
confronting Shaytan is to seek refuge in Allah the Almighty, taking shelter in
Him from Shaytan’s deceit and evil.
Seeking refuge is a sincere
acknowledgment of one’s utter dependence on Allah, an admission that there is
no power nor strength except through Him. It is the impenetrable fortress
before which the arrows of Iblis and his whispers shatter.
That is why the Quran commands this
defense in moments of trial and temptation: {If you
are tempted by Satan, then seek refuge with Allah. Surely He is All-Hearing,
All-Knowing.} [Al-A`raf 7:200]
Meaning, if you sense Shaytan’s
influence in your heart, or feel his whispers urging you toward sin or anger —
hasten to the door of Allah. For He alone hears your call and knows your need
and weakness.
The Prophet (peace be upon him) guided
us that remembrance of Allah
blocks Shaytan’s path and ruins his plots, saying: “I
know a word, the saying of which will cause him to relax, if he does say it. If
he says: 'I seek Refuge with Allah from Satan.' then all is anger will go away.”
As soon as the heart remembers its
Lord, Shaytan’s whispers fade, and he flees humiliated and defeated.
Thus, seeking refuge has been
prescribed in many moments of a Muslim’s life: when reciting the Quran, during
anger, sadness, or distress, and
even at birth.
Seeking refuge is an act of the heart
before it is of the tongue — and it is the greatest gate to fortifying hearts
and minds against the assaults of Shaytan.
2.
Resisting Shaytan’s Weapons
To be truly fortified against Shaytan after seeking refuge in
Allah, the believer must resist with defiance.
Shaytan does not face mankind openly; he seeps in secretly
through the cracks of heedlessness, desire,
and temptation. Hence, the believer must treat him as an ever-lurking and
persistent enemy, as Allah Commanded: {Surely Satan
is an enemy to you, so take him as an enemy.} [Fatir 35:6] Meaning, do
not listen to him, nor open your heart to him.
The first thing that weakens Iblis’s plot is when hearts
remain illuminated with the remembrance of Allah. If they forget, he gains control over them; if they
remember, he falls disgraced and defeated, as Allah Said: {Indeed, when Satan whispers to those mindful ˹of Allah˺, they remember ˹their Lord˺ then they start to see ˹things˺ clearly.} [Al-A`raf 7:201]
Constant repentance also destroys his efforts and burns him with rage, for his
greatest goal is to make man fall into sin and then block his path back to
Allah.
Keeping oneself busy with acts of worship is another
safeguard, for a heart occupied with Allah leaves Shaytan no room to enter: {As for those who struggle in Our cause, We will surely
guide them along Our Way.} [Al-`Ankabut 29:69]
Among his most dangerous entry points are evil companions —
those whom Shaytan turns into his soldiers to mislead others toward ruin.
Therefore, one of the greatest protections from his deception is to remain
among the community of believers.
As the Prophet (peace be upon him) said: “Adhere to the Jama'ah, beware of separation, for indeed
Ash-Shaitan is with one, and he is further away from two.”
Whoever holds firm to these defenses will stand steadfast
before Shaytan and break his chains: {
Indeed, Satan’s schemes are ever weak.} [An-Nisa’ 4:76]
3.
Following the Guidance of the
Quran
Another pillar of protection against Shaytan’s
tricks is clinging firmly to the light of the Quran — that divine guidance
revealed as salvation for humanity, where peace resides in this world and
eternal bliss in the next.
Allah Said: {Surely
this Quran guides to what is most upright.} [Al-Isra 17:9]
Whoever approaches the Book of Allah
with recitation, reflection, and action, then they will be saved from the
darkness of whispers, certainty will settle in their heart, and their soul will
be filled with tranquility and contentment with the promise of Allah: {There will be no fear for them, nor will they grieve.}
[Al-Baqarah 2:38]
The Quran directs
man toward all goodness, shields him from evil, and raises him to the ranks of
the truthful believers.
But whoever turns away from their Lord
and the guidance of His Book chooses to live in darkness in this life and the
next, as Allah Said: {But whoever turns away from
My Reminder will certainly have a miserable life.} [Taha 20:124]
4.
Avoiding the Steps of Shaytan
The Quran repeatedly warns us against
following the steps of Shaytan — that enemy who does not confront openly but
sneaks deceitfully and gradually into the heart of man. Thus, the divine
warning comes clear and direct: {Do not follow the
footsteps of Satan. Whoever follows Satan’s footsteps, then ˹let them know that˺ he surely bids ˹all to˺ immorality and wickedness.} [An-Nur
24:21]
Shaytan never pushes the servant into
sin all at once. Rather, he slowly nudges him off the path of truth — starting
with a whisper, then by beautifying sin and delaying repentance — until he
finds himself enslaved by desire and cut off from the light of guidance.
Scholars have explained that the “footsteps of Satan” include every path leading to
the forbidden — from consuming unlawful wealth to pursuing desires, from
neglecting minor sins to daring upon major ones. Sin, to him, is a ladder —
until the person reaches the depths of misguidance, and perhaps even disbelief,
as Allah Said: {˹They are˺ like Satan when he lures someone to
disbelieve.} [Al-Hashr 59:16]
Awareness of the first whisper is the
beginning of salvation. The path of Shaytan begins with a thought and ends with
destruction. The Quranic warning is not a restriction on man, but a protection
of his dignity, mind, and soul from an enemy who wishes him nothing but ruin.
Whoever closes the gates of his heart
to Shaytan is safe from ruin.
Thus, man’s struggle with Shaytan is
not a fleeting battle, but a constant one until the Day of Judgment.
Yet, the mercy of Allah has preceded
this enmity. Whoever sincerely seeks refuge in his Lord and perceives Shaytan’s
schemes with insight — his heart becomes fortified against all whispers and
temptations.
Read Also:
- Avoiding Riya’ in the Age of Social Media
- Supplication’s Role in Achieving Empowerment and Islamic Civilizational Witness
- Fellowship Rights in Islam
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Resources:
- Tafsir Maudu`i Encyclopedia.
- Mahasin Al-Islam
Encyclopedia.
