“Do not drink water from the broken portion of the vessel...

“Do not drink water from the broken portion of the vessel nor from the portion of the handle, for surely, the Shaytan sits upon the handle and the broken portion.”[^3] Imam as-Sadiq (a.s.) has also said: وَ لاَ يُشْرَبُ مِنْ أُذُنِ الْكُوزِ وَ لاَ مِنْ كَسْرِهِ إِنْ كَانَ فِيهِ فَإِنَّهُ مَشْرَبُ الشَّيَاطِينِ.

“(Water) should not be drunk from the handle (side) of a jug and nor from the broken portion of it, if present, for these are the drinking-place of the 'Shaytans'.” ^4 The Noble Prophet (S) has said: “Do not lengthen (the hair of) your moustaches, for the Shaytan makes it a haven for himself and conceals himself there!” ^5 Thus, it becomes clear that one of the meanings of Shaytan is 'harmful microbes'.

Nevertheless, this does not mean that it possesses this meaning on all occasions and in all instances. Rather, it means that Shaytan has several meanings, one of the most obvious of them being 'Iblis and his assistants'; another being 'corrupt humans'; while at times it is also employed to refer to 'harmful bacteria'.[^6] [^1]: Suratul Maidah (5), Verse 91 [^2]: Suratul An'am (6), Verse 112 [^3]: al-Kafi, vol. 6, Kitab al-Ati'mah wa al-Ashribah, Chapter Bab al-Awani. [^6]: Tafsir-e-Namuna, vol.

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