The Things Which Shaytan Flees From (PART4)

1. When you say in a state of anger "A'oodhu bilLaahi min ash-Shaytaan ir-Rajeem" [I seek refuge with Allah from Shaytaan the Accursed].
Sulaymaan bin Sard (ra) said, "I was sitting with Allah's Messenger (Sal Allahu Alayhi Wa Salam) and two men were abusing each other.  The face of one of them had become red (out of anger) and his veins had become inflated.  Allah's Messenger (Sal Allahu Alayhi Wa Salam) said, "I know a word which, if he was to say, his anger would leave him.  If he said: "I seek refuge in Allah from Shaytaan the Accursed", his anger would leave him"" (al-Bukhaari, Muslim).

2. Upon saying "bismillah" [in the Name of Allah]
Abul-Maleeh (ra) reports that a man said, "I was behind the Messenger (Sal Allahu Alayhi Wa Salam) and his riding animal stumbled.  I said, "May Shaytaan perish", and he said, "Do not say, "May Shaytaan perish".  If you say that he will grow in size until he becomes the size of a house and says, "By my strength".  Instead say, "In the Name of Allah".  When you say that, he reduces in size until he is like a fly." 
(Abu Dawood, saheeh isnad).

3.  When you supplicate for blessings for something which wins your admiration.
Allah's Messenger (Sal Allahu Alayhi Wa Salam) said, "When one of you sees something in his self or in his possessions which amazes him (or wins his admiration) he should invoke blessings upon it as the (evil) eye is indeed true and real".

4. When you recite the M'uwadhataan [Surah al-Falaq and Surah an-Naaz].
Abu Sa'eed (ra) said, "Allah's Messenger (Sal Allahu Alayhi Wa Salam) used to seek refuge from the jinn and from the effects of the (evil) of men until the m'uwwadhataan were revealed.  When they were revealed he clung to them and abandoned what was besides them."  
(at-Tirmidhi, hasan; an-Nasa'ee and Ibn Maajah - saheeh).

5. When you make the prostration of recitation.
Allah's Messenger (Sal Allahu Alayhi Wa Salam) said, "When you read a verse of prostration then prostrate, Shaytaan departs crying and says: "Woe be to him.  He was ordered with prostration and he prostrated - so for him is Paradise. I was ordered with prostration and I refused - so for me is the Fire."  
(Muslim, Ahmad and Ibn Maajah).


6. When you recite Surah al-Baqarah.
Abu Hurayrah (ra) reports that Allah's Messenger (Sal Allahu Alayhi Wa Salam) said, "Do not turn your houses into graves. Indeed Shaytaan flees from a house in which Surah al-Baqarah is recited." 
(Muslim).

7.  When reciting the Qur'aan.
The Messenger of Allah (Sal Allahu Alayhi Wa Salam) went out one night and passed by Abu Bakr (ra) who was praying with a lowered voice.  Then he passed by 'Umar ibn al-Khattaab (ra) who was praying with a raised voice  When they came together with the Prophet (saw), he said, "O Abu Bakr! I passed by you while you were praying with a lowered voice."  Abu Bakr (ra) said, "I made the one with whom I was conversing with (i.e Allah) hear it, O Messenger of Allah."   He then said to 'Umar (ra), "I passed by you while you were praying with a raised voice".  'Umar (ra) said, "O Messenger of Allah! I was incitng those who were asleep and driving away the Shaytaan." The Prophet (Sal Allahu Alayhi Wa Salam) then said, "O Abu Bakr! Raise your voice somewhat" and he said to 'Umar, "lower your voice somewhat". 
(Abu Dawood, al Haakim, who declared it saheeh as did adh-Dhahabi).

8. When you move the finger during the prayer.
It is established that Allah's Messenger (Sal Allahu Alayhi Wa Salam) used to move his finger, supplicating with it (Abu Dawood, an-Nasaa'i, Ibn al_Jaarud in al-Muntaqa and others) and the Messenger of Allah said, "It is more powerful against the Shaytaan than iron" - meaning the forefinger. 
 (Ahmad and others).
Imam Ahmad was asked, "Should a man point with his finger in the prayer?" He replied, "Yes, vigorously".
 (Ibn Haani mentioned it in Masaa'il of Imam Ahmad).