Shiavault - a Vault of Shia Islamic Books Isti'adha: Seeking Allah's Protection from Satan The Seventh Talk بِسْمِ اللهِ الرَّحْمنِ الرَّحِيمِ In the Name of Allah, the Beneficent, the Merciful إِنَّ الَّذِينَ اتَّقَواْ إِذَا مَسَّهُمْ طَائِفٌ مِّنَ الشَّيْطَانِ تَذَكَّرُواْ فَإِذَا هُم مُّبْصِرُونَ Verily those who guard (themselves against evil) when an evil thought from Satan afflicts them, they become mindful (of God and get awakened) then lo! They see (aright).
(Sura al-A’raaf, 7:201) Be Satan’s antagonist We have said that till a person doesn’t maintain a distance from Satan, the true spirit of Isti’adha will not manifest in him. The person who indulges in sinning is Satan’s subordinate. Allah (S.w.T.) says: إِنَّ الشَّيْطَانَ لَكُمْ عَدُوٌّ فَاتَّخِذُوهُ عَدُوًّا Surely the Shaitan is your enemy, so take him for an enemy.. (Sura al-Fatir, 35:6) He is your enemy from the beginning. You too should reciprocate with enmity. Don’t befriend him.
But if you commit sins, it will be obedience to your enemy, Satan. And obedience is a component of friendship. Always beware that your treacherous enemy is keeping an eye on you. No man is safe from him for a single moment. If you think that you are safe from him, it is nothing but complaisance. Does Satan sleep? Someone asked a pious scholar whether it is mentioned in any traditions about Satan sleeping and taking rest.
The learned scholar smiled and gave a very interesting reply, “If that accursed creature ever slept, I would have some respite!” When you sleep, the accursed Satan is fully awake. He never sleeps. He always guards over men and looks for opportunities to bring harm them. إِنَّهُ يَرَاكُمْ هُوَ وَقَبِيلُهُ مِنْ حَيْثُ لاَ تَرَوْنَهُمْ He, and his retainers, watch over you from such a place that they can see you and you can’t see them.
(Sura al‑A’raaf, 7:27) You must remain fortified What shall men do, then? When the enemy is so powerful and stealthy and can attack through hidden means, it becomes our duty to become fully armed and fortified against Satan. When the enemy is looking for your slightest fault or negligence, then you too must guard against him fully armed. The ammunition for men against Satan is taqwa or piety. Adopt piety to meet the onslaughts of Iblis!