What is the extent of shaytaan’s influence and what causes human sin during Ramadan?

Wa ‘Alaykum-us-Salaam wa Rahmatullaahi wa Barakaatuh.

1) Shaytaan is a term used for all evil Jinn. Iblees is the orgin of all the Jinn, just as Adam (‘alayhis-salaam) is the origin of all Ins (mankind). All of the evil Jinn are followers of Iblees, and thus termed Shayaateen (plural of shaytaan).

2) Sheikh-ul-Hadeeth, Moulana Zakariyya (rahmatullaahi ‘alayh) writes in his famous book, Fadhaail-e-A’maal, under the commentary of the Hadeeth in question, that there can be two explanations for this. The first is that it could be that only the rebellious and chief Shayaateen are chained and thrown into the oceans. In this case, the evil factors that instigate human sin during Ramadhaan will be the smaller shayaateen that are with man all the time. The second is that although all the Shayaateen are chained, some people become so accustomed to sinning during the other months of the year, that when Ramadhaan arrives, they sin out of habit.

3) “And so We have appointed for every Prophet enemies – Shayateen (devils) among mankind and jinns, inspiring one another with adorned speech as a delusion (or by way of deception). (Al-Anaam 6:112)

“Say: ‘I seek refuge with (Allah) the Lord of mankind, The King of mankind, The Ilaah (God) of mankind, From the evil of the whisperer (devil who whispers evil in the hearts of men) who withdraws (from his whispering in ones heart after one remembers Allah) , Who whispers in the breasts of mankind, Of jinns and men.'” (An-Naas, 114:1-6)

The aformentioned verses indicate that “waswasah” can be given by Jinn and by Man. Allaah Ta’aala instructed His beloved Messenger (sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam) to seek refuge with Allaah from the evil of both human and jinn shayaateen. Human Shayaateen refers to any human being who insitgates one to do evil. It also refers to the nafs within yourself, that creates evil thoughts and desires in the heart, and inclines the heart towards evil actions.

The recitation of Surah An-Naas, infact all the four ‘Quls’ is very effective in repelling these thoughts and instigations.

The Hadith of the Messenger (sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam) teaches us the following duas:

“Allaahumma a’oothu bika min sharri nafsee wa sharr-ish-shaytaani wa shirkih.”
O Allaah I seek refuge in Thee from the evil of my nafs (carnal self), and from the evil of Shaytaan and from Shirk.

“Allaahummaj’al wasaawisa qalbee khashyataka wa zhikrak”
O Allaah make the thoughts (waswasahs) of my heart Thy fear and Thy remembrance.

And Allaah knows best.

Wassalaam.

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A. Z. Pandor