opinions of theknowledgeablescholars on the meaning of shackling, we
deduce thefollowing:
First:The meaning of shackling may beinterpreted according to its
apparent or intended meaning. It could mean that all the devils
arechained up or it could mean that only the most rebellious and evil
ones are shackled. Moreover, it may also mean that Satan ]Iblees[ and
his descendants are chained up duringRamadanor it could mean that the
disbelievers among theJinnare the ones who are chained. All these
opinions were mentioned by the scholars.
Whatsupports this interpretation is that the nature of the devils is
different from that of humankind. It was mentioned in
authenticHadeeths that the devil does not approach the one who recites
theverseofAl-Kursibeforesleeping until he wakes up. How is the devil
prevented from approaching this sleeping person?
Add to that, reciting theBasmalah)sayingBismillaah( serves as a shield
against theJinn. How is this possible?
The devils are influenced by theRuqyah)healing with the recitation of
theQuran( of a confident person more than that ofa less confident
person; how does this happen?
Glory be to Allaah The Exalted who perfectly created this world and
wisely and skilfully manages It.
Second:Shackling may indicate the inability of the devils to tempt and
incite people through narrowing the channels of blood, in which the
devils circulate due to fasting, asthe devil flows through the son of
Adam just as blood flows through him. While fasting, the veins in the
body become narrow due to hunger and thirst,which causes the
passageways of the devil in the human body to become narrower.
Therefore, by fasting, thewhispers of the devil are held back and the
strength of our desires and anger is controlled. The devils become
unable to incite fasting people as they do with non-fasting ones.
Thus, they are restrained from tempting people who carry out acts of
worship,good deeds, and various actsthat bring one closer to Allaah
The Almighty.
This meaning ]that shackling indicates the inability of the devils to
incite people while fasting inRamadan[ is backed by the following:
·The devil is far from a fasting person and unable to control him
during the month ofRamadanor at any other time. However, the devil's
inability to incite fasting people is far greater inRamadan, depending
upon the person'scompliance withthe conditions and etiquette of
fasting.Shaykhul-Islam Ibn Taymiyyahsaid, "Whoever observes the due
conditions and etiquette of fasting and perfects his fasting, he will
be able to ward off the devils completely in away that one whose
fasting isdeficientcannot."
A fasting person devotes his days to carrying out acts of worship
inRamadan, which wards off the devil. Indeed, fasting is ashield,
unlike other acts of worship that have limited times during which
thelurkingdevil waits for the worshipper to finish his worship act in
order to incite him. In fact, fastingis a shield against the devil
during the month ofRamadanor any other month of the year.
A fasting person refrains from satisfying his lustful and sinful
cravings of theflesh with which the devil controls him, harming or
inciting him to commit what is forbidden. If a person shields himself
against his enemy, the devil, he will be able to weaken and vanquish
him. This is not exclusive to the month ofRamadan.
Besides, fasting is an act of worship that involves endurance,
will-power, and determination. If one attains an elevated spiritual
rankand sharpens his faith and determination, he can overpower the
devil andfrustratehis evil plots and whispers. Indeed, the devil is
weak. This is not exclusively for fastinginRamadan– and Allaah knows
best.
For some people, it may be acurious paradoxthatpeople continue to
commit sins inRamadan, during which it is said the devils are chained
up. There may be others who experience the whispers of the devil, and
still others maygo into convulsions due to being possessed byJinn.
The paradox that some people continue to commit sins inRamadandoes not
contradict the shackling of the devils. Dissolute evildoers among
theJinnand humans, who are not chained, may incite people to commit
sins. Moreover, it could be dueto people's base desires, their souls
that incline to evil, or the fact that they are used to committing
sins.
Imaam Al-Qurtubisaid,"The fact that all thedevils are shackled does
not necessarily mean thatno man would commit sins or evil acts. People
sin due to other factors, aside from the devils, such as souls that
are persistent enjoiners of evil, bad habits and the devilish people
)devils of humankind(."
Shaykh 'Abdullaah ibn Jibreensaid,
"Many people who are accustomed to sin may keep doing what they are
habitually used to doing even during the month of Ramadan. Although
the devils are chained up, still, old habits die hard. Therefore, we
may witness many sins committed in Ramadan such as drinking alcohol,
adultery, listening to songs and so on. The urges for such evil
practices are bad habits, whims, souls inclined to evil, devils among
humankind, base desires,temptations, the spread of lewd pictures and
movies, and the like. It is not surprising to witness these sins
during the month of Ramadan, even though the devils are shackled."
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