O my Lord from their presence.

O my Lord from their presence.’ (Sura al-Muminun, 23:97-98) Particularly in privacy and loneliness, saving oneself from the fears and temptations created by Satan is rather difficult. In such a situation one must call: Ya Ghiyath al-mustaghitheen Ya Malaadh al-laaedheen O listener of the plaint of the plaintiff O provider of succor to the refuge seeker!

‘Save me from the machinations of Satan.’ If there is no protection of Allah (S.w.T.), one cannot save himself from the onslaught of Satan’s deceptions. Isti’adha should emanate from the heart and not merely from the lips To gauge the reality of Isti’adha , only saying audhu billahi min ash-shaitanir rajeem or saying its translation in one’s own language is absolutely insufficient. Isti’adha is a meaningful and spiritual condition that is conveyed by the words noted above.

If Isti’adha is prompted from the heart of the person, then only it will be effective. Otherwise, just uttering the words would make one the play-thing of Satan. The three types of Isti’adha There are three ways the Isti’adha is done: There are persons who neither have the right spirit of doing Isti’adha nor are they aware of the meaning of the words of Isti’adha. But, all the same, as a force of habit, they utter the words: audhu billahi min ash-shaitanir rajeem.

Unless the Isti’adha comes with feelings, understanding and from the heart, it becomes a satanic joke! There are persons who know the meanings and purport of the words of Isti’adha and are capable of saying them properly, but they haven’t the right feelings in their heart and also their actions are in obedience of Satan. Such Isti’adha will be for Satan rather than a submission to Allah (S.w.T.) for His protection against Satan!

There is a third group of persons who say the words of Isti’adha from the depths of their hearts and are fully aware of their meaning, purport and spirit. These persons will be fully aware of the Greatness and Omnipotence of Allah (S.w.T.). The Isti’adha of these persons will always get the accepted by Allah (S.w.T.). Seeking protection in Allah (S.w.T.)’s obedience The deity of the sinners and Allah (S.w.T.)’s disobedient persons is always Satan.

Such persons might curse Satan a thousand times to make a hypocritical show to others.