CHAINING UP OF THE DEVILS IN RAMADAN

CHAINING UP OF THE DEVILS IN RAMADAN

ASSEMBLED BY MALLAM ABBA ABANA, KUBWA, ABUJA, NIGERIA

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Thursday 10 Ramadan 1442 AH and 22 April 2021 CE

Reminder Day 10

Bismillah Walhamdulillah Was Salaatu Was Salaam 'ala Rasulillah. As-Salaam Alaikum WA-Rahmatullahi Wa-Barakatuhu.

Praise be to Allaah; we seek His help and His forgiveness. We seek refuge with Allaah from the evil of our own souls and from our bad deeds. Whomsoever Allaah guides will never be led astray, and whomsoever Allaah leaves astray, no one can guide. I bear witness that there is no god but Allaah, and I bear witness that Muhammad (ﷺ) is His slave and Messenger.

Help us Answer the Ummah! Every second, everywhere someone needs an answer. The Prophet (ﷺ) said: “A person who leads others to doing what is good will earn the same reward as those who do it.” (Muslim, 1893).

“Do not lose hope, nor be sad. You will surely be victorious if you are true in Faith.” And do not mix the truth with falsehood or conceal the truth while you know [it].” [Holy Quran Chapter Al Imran Ayah 139]

“If Allah should aid you, no one can overcome you; but if He should forsake you, who is there that can aid you after Him? And upon Allah let the believers rely.”

[Holy Quran Chapter Imran Ayah 160]

Preamble

The month of Ramadan has come to you, the month of repentance and forgiveness, the month of doubling the rewards of deeds, and the month when sins are wiped out, so be diligent in acts of obedience and hasten to rewards.

It was proven that the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) said: "When Ramadaan begins, the gates of Paradise are opened, and the gates of Hell are closed, and the devils are chained up." Narrated by al-Bukhaari, 3277; Muslim, 1079. According to al-Nasaa'i: "The most evil jinn are chained up."

This does not mean that the devils have no influence at all, rather it indicates that they become weaker in Ramadaan and are not able to do what they are able to do at times other than Ramadaan.

Understanding the hadith: Heaven open, hell closes and devils chained

Prophet Muhammad, the Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him, once said: “When the month of Ramadan begins, the gates of the heaven are opened; the gates of Hell-fire are closed, and the devils are chained.” (Sahih Bukhari 1800)

Ramadan, the month of fasting is no different than any other month as far as crimes are concerned. Sins and crime continue to take place in this month all around the world. Does this hadith mean the deviations in this month would not count? Does it mean that every sin in this month would be forgiven or does it mean that people cannot commit sin in this month?

I believe this hadith explains some key concepts of Ramadan in an allegorical manner. If we consider the language as symbolic, the hadith offers a logical and viable rationale for developing a strong conviction and appreciation of the Prophetic wisdom.[ https://www.islamicity.org/10237/heaven-opens-hell-closes-devils-chained/]

We can infer from the opening of the gates of heavens to mean that God makes our journey to the heavenly state of utmost peace and happiness effortless and accessible under His divine grace in the month of Ramadan. During this month believers have a month long opportunity to change their life style and environment to attain a higher state of self-consciousness. Such a journey would help them enjoy every moment of the month and qualify for an uninterrupted mercy and blessings of the Divine in this life and the hereafter.

Closing the gates of hell means that the Creator is eager and ready to forgive every sin committed by anyone if sincere repentance is sought. The month invites us to self-evaluation and identifying weaknesses in character followed by actions to better ourselves. In other words, forgiveness is the divine offering for this month. However, one must realize that repentance and forgiveness has to be done in a manner that is genuine. It means a person is conscious of wrong actions and is willing to change the life style and never to repeat it. God says in the Quran "Except those who repent, make amends, and declare the truth. I will certainly accept their repentance: I am the Ever Relenting, the Most Merciful. Quran 2:160

Chaining the devils means that God makes it easier in this month for people to control their behavior in the wake of all temptations, physical, social and spiritual. In a moment of high self-consciousness an individual would ensure that he or she does not commit any act that would either defy the divine or reject his mercy. In other words, each believing person has to have personal battle with one's own ego, the biggest satanic whisper that sits in the sub-consciousness of each one of us.

Thus this month provides opportunities to earn the boundless bounties, limitless forgiveness and reigning one's own ego. The more intense a person becomes in seeking these goals, the more beneficial the month becomes to him or her. Humans have the capacity to change themselves and earn the blessings of God through their efforts and good deeds and they would always be supported by the Divine in this endeavor. But as for those who strive hard in Our cause -We shall most certainly guide them onto paths that lead unto Us: for, behold, God is indeed with the doers of good. (Quran 29:69)

Chaining up of the Devils in Ramadan

It may be interpreted as meaning that the ones who are chained up are the most evil devils, not all of them.

Al-Qurtubi said: If it is said, how come we see many evil actions and sins being committed in Ramadaan, for if the devils were chained up, that would not happen?

The answer is that (evil actions) are reduced on the part of those who fast meeting all the conditions of fasting and paying attention to the etiquette of fasting.

Or some of the devils - namely the most evil ones - are chained up, not all of them, as previously mentioned in some reports.

Or it may mean that evil actions are reduced in Ramadaan, which is something that we can see. Even though evil actions happen in Ramadaan, they are less than at other times. Even if all of the devils were to be chained up, that does not mean that no evil action would happen, because there are other causes of evil action besides the devils, such as evil souls, bad habits and the human devils. From Fath al-Baari.

The chaining up of the devils in Ramadan is proven in a number of hadiths, including the following.[ Islam Q&A, 221162]

The report in as-Saheehayn from Abu Hurayrah (may Allah be pleased with him) who said: The Messenger of Allah (blessings and peace of Allah be upon him) said: “When Ramadan begins, the gates of Paradise are opened and the gates of Hell are closed, and the devils are put in chains.” Narrated by al-Bukhaari (3277) and Muslim (1079).

According to a version narrated by Muslim, “the devils are chained up.”

Another such report is the hadith of Abu Hurayrah (may Allah be pleased with him) who said: The Messenger of Allah (blessings and peace of Allah be upon him) said: “When the first night of Ramadan comes, the devils and mischievous jinn are chained up, and the gates of Hell are closed, and none of its gates are opened. The gates of Paradise are opened and none of its gates are closed …” Narrated by at-Tirmidhi (682) and Ibn Maajah (1642). It was classed as hasan by al-Albaani in Saheeh al-Jaami‘ (759).

Opening Of The Gates Of Paradise:

With regard to the opening of the gates of paradise in Ramadan, the closing of the gates of Hell, and the chaining up of the devils, the correct view is that it is to be interpreted in a true sense, which is the apparent meaning of the hadith, and that the gates of paradise are opened in a real sense in Ramadan, and the gates of hell are closed, and the devils are put in chains.[ Islam Q&A, 221162]

The basic principle is that words are to be interpreted in accordance with their apparent meaning and in a real sense, unless there is evidence to suggest that they should be understood in a manner other than the apparent meaning.

Shaykh Taqiy ad-Deen Ibraaheem ibn Muflih (may Allah have mercy on him) said: The devils are put in chains and shackled in Ramadan, according to the apparent meaning of the hadith. Or it may be that what is meant is the mischievous devils, as was stated by Abu Haatim and other scholars. That does not mean that no evil is committed at all; rather evil is reduced, because they are weakened. Imam Ahmad also interpreted this according to the apparent meaning. ‘Abdullah ibn al-Imam Ahmad said: I said to my father: We sometimes see the majnoon [person who is possessed by jinn] having fits during the month of Ramadan.

He said: This is what the hadith says, and there is no need to argue about it.

Ahmad’s approach was that the hadith was not to be interpreted in a manner other than its apparent meaning, unless the early generations (salaf) interpreted it in a manner other than its apparent meaning; so long as that did not happen, it is not to be done.

End quote from his book Masaa’ib al-Insaan min Makaa’id ash-Shaytaan (p. 144).

Ibn al-Mulaqqin (may Allah have mercy on him) said: “The gates of Paradise are opened”… this is to be understood in a real sense, as is the rest of the hadith… we have noted above that it [i.e., the chaining up of the devils] is something real; they are put in chains and their harm and whispers are reduced, and their mischief is not at the same level as in months other than Ramadan.

What confirms the idea that the devils and mischievous jinn are shackled is the fact that, with the beginning of Ramadan, the sinners start to do acts of worship and obedience, and stay away from what they were doing of following whims and desires, and this is clear proof. End quote from at-Tawdeeh li Sharh al-Jaami‘ as-Saheeh (13/56).

Shaykh Ibn ‘Uthaymeen (may Allah have mercy on him) was asked: With regard to the days of Ramadan, the Messenger (blessings and peace of Allah be upon him) said, “in it the devils are chained up,” yet despite that we see some people having fits [which are attributed by some to the influence of the jinn or devils] during the day in Ramadan. How can it be that the devils are chained up yet some people have fits?

They replied: According to some hadith reports, the mischievous devils are chained up or shackled. This is according to an-Nasaa’i. Such hadiths speak of matters of the unseen, concerning which our attitude is to accept and believe, but we should not try to discuss it any further. That is more prudent in order to maintain our religious commitment and is better in consequences. Hence, when ‘Abdullah ibn al-Imam Ahmad said to his father: Some people may have fits in Ramadan, the Imam said: This is what the hadith says, and there is no need to discuss the matter further. Moreover, the apparent meaning indicates that the dvils are chained up and prevented from tempting people, based on the fact that there is much good and much turning to Allah, may He be exalted, in Ramadan.

Majmoo‘ Fataawa Ibn ‘Uthaymeen (20/75).

Based on that, the chaining up of the devils is chaining in a real sense, and Allah knows best about it. It does not mean that the devils have no impact at all, or that no one will have fits or be affected by the devils and the like, or that no sins will occur among people.

Rather what is meant is that they are weakened in Ramadan, and are not able to do what they are able to do in months other than Ramadan. Imam Abu’l-‘Abbaas al-Qurtubi (may Allah have mercy on him) said: If it is said, we often see evils and sins happening in Ramadan; if the devils were chained up no evil would happen,

This may be answered from several angles:

1. They are only shackled and restrained from those who observe the fast, fulfilling the necessary conditions and adhering to the appropriate etiquette. As for those who do not observe the fast in the proper manner, the Shaytaan is not restrained from them.

2. If we assume that they are chained up and kept away from every person who fasts, that does not necessarily mean that all the devils are chained up and no evil will happen, because there are other causes for the occurrence of evil, other than the devils, such as evil souls, bad customs and traditions, and the devils among mankind.

3. This is speaking of most of the devils and the mischievous ones among them; as for those who are not described as mischievous, they may not be chained up.

What is meant is that evil is reduced, and this does indeed happen during the month of Ramadan, because the incidence of evil and shameful deeds during this month is little compared to other months.

End quote from al-Mufhim lima Ushkila min Talkhees Kitaab Muslim (3/136).

Wisdom Behind The Chaining Up Of The Devils During Ramadan:

The scholars have mentioned the wisdom behind the chaining up of the devils during Ramadan: it is to reduce their evil and their ability to tempt people, and to prevent them from harming and disturbing the Muslims and spoiling their fast; and so that they will not do what they do at times other than Ramadan, such as misleading people away from the truth, and diverting them from goodness. That is so that people can focus on doing acts of worship and obedience and keep away from sins and whims and desires during the month of Ramadan.

Shaykh al-Islam Ibn Taymiyah (may Allah have mercy on him) said: That is only because in the month of Ramadan, people are motivated to do good and righteous deeds, through which and because of which the gates of Paradise are opened, and they are discouraged from doing evil, because of which the gates of Hell are closed. The devils are chained up, so they are not able to do what they usually do when people are not fasting, for the one who is chained up is restricted, and they are only able to gain control over the sons of Adam because of whims and desires, so if people refrain from whims and desires, the devils are chained up. End quote from Majmoo‘ al-Fataawa (14/167).

He also said:

Hence the Prophet (blessings and peace of Allah be upon him) said: “When Ramadan begins, the gates of Paradise are opened and the gates of Hell are closed, and the devils are chained up.” The channel through which the devils flow, which is the bloodstream, is restricted, and when it is restricted, people are motivated to do good deeds, because of which the gates of Paradise are opened, and they are motivated to refrain from evil deeds, because of which the gates of Hell are opened. The devils are chained up, and their strength and influence is weakened as a result of their being chained up, so they are not able to do during the month of Ramadan what they do at other times. He did not say that they are killed or that they die; rather he said that they are chained up, and the devil who is chained up can still do harm, but it is less and weaker than it may be at times other than Ramadan. It depends on how perfect or otherwise the fast is; if a person’s fast is perfect, then the Shaytaan is warded off in a manner that does not happen in the case of an imperfect fast. End quote from Majmoo‘ al-Fataawa (25/246).

Al-Haafiz Ibn Hajar (may Allah have mercy on him) said:

It was said: This indicates that the accountable adult has no excuse. It is as if it is said to him: The devils are restrained from you, so do not blame them for your failing to do acts of worship and obedience or for your doing acts of disobedience.

End quote from Fath al-Baari by Ibn Hajar (4/114).

Shaykh Ibn ‘Uthaymeen (may Allah have mercy on him) said:

This is a way in which Allah helps the Muslims, for He restrains their enemy who calls his party to be among the people of the blazing fire. Hence you will find among the righteous the desire to do good and refrain from evil during this month more than at other times.

End quote from Majaalis Sharh Ramadan by Ibn ‘Uthaymeen (p. 8)

See also: Sharh Saheeh al-Bukhaari, by Ibn Battaal (4/20); Ikmaal al-Mu‘lim bi Fawaa’id Muslim by al-Qaadi ‘Iyaad (4/5); al-Mufhim by Abu’l-‘Abbaas al-Qurtubi (3/136); at-Tawdeeh li Sharh al-Jaami‘ as-Saheeh by Ibn Mulaqqin (13/56); Mirqaat al-Mafaateeh by al-Mulla ‘Ali al-Qaari (4/1364); at-Tanweer Sharh al-Jaami‘ as-Sagheer by as-San‘aani (2/41). [Islam Q&A, 221162]

And Allah knows best.

Sources:

https://islamqa.info/en/answers/221162/the-wisdom-behind-the-chaining-up-of-the-devils-in-ramadan

https://www.islamcan.com/jinn-stories/chaining-up-of-the-devils-in-ramadan.shtml

https://www.islamicity.org/10237/heaven-opens-hell-closes-devils-chained/