SUNNAH METHODS TO PROTECT ONESELF FROM SHAYTAAN

1.) Recital of istiaadha (أَعُوذُ بِاللهِ مِنَ الشَّيْطَانِ الرَّجِيمِ).

Allaah Jalla Jalaalahoo states,

وَإِمَّا يَنزَغَنَّكَ مِنَ الشَّيْطَانِ نَزْغٌ فَاسْتَعِذْ بِاللهِ إِنَّهُ سَمِيعٌ عَلِيمٌ

When a whispering arrives from Shaytaan, then seek the protection of Allaah. (A’raaf verse 200)

Abu Hurayrah RadhiyAllaahu Anhu narrates that Rasulullaah SalAllaahu Alayhi Wasallam said,
“Shaytaan comes to a person and asks him, “Who create such and such thing?”
Eventually Shaytaan asks him, “Who created your Sustainer?”
When this happens, then seek the protection of Allaah Jalla Jalaalahoo and terminate your thoughts.”
(Muslim no. 134)

2.) Recital of Bismillaah

a.) Entering and leaving the home - Jaabir RadhiyAllaahu Anhu narrates that he heard Rasulullaah SalAllaahu Alayhi Wasallam saying,
“When a person enters his house and takes the name of Allaah Jalla Jalaalahoo at the time of his entry and when he eats, then Shaytaan says to his friends, ‘There is no place here for you to spend the night, nor is there any food for you.’ And when he enters and does not take the name of Allaah Jalla Jalaalahoo at the time of entry, Shaytaan says, ‘You have found a place to spend the night.’ If he does not take the name of Allaah Jalla Jalaalahoo at the time of eating, Shaytaan says, ‘You have found a place to spend the night and there is food for you as well.’”
(Muslim no. 2018)

Rasulullaah SalAllaahu Alayhi Wasallam said,
“When a person emerges from his house door, two angels who have been appointed to accompany him join him. When he says ‘Bismillaah’, They say, “May you be rightly guided.”
When he says ‘Laa Hawla wa Laa Quwwata illaa Billah’, They say, “May you be protected.”
When he says ‘Tawakkaltu alAllaah’, They say, “May your needs be fulfilled and sufficed for.”
When the two devils who accompany him come to him, they say to one another, “What can we do with a person who has been rightly guided, protected and whose needs have be fulfilled and sufficed for.”
(Ibn Majah no. 3886)

b.) Eating - Hudhayfah RadhiyAllaahu Anhu narrates,
“When we joined Rasulullaah SalAllaahu Alayhi Wasallam for a meal, we would not place our hands (to commence eating) until he himself commenced. We joined him for a meal on one occasion. A (small) girl came forward who seemed to be pushed from behind. She went to place her hand in the food, but Rasulullaah SalAllaahu Alayhi Wasallam held her hand. Then a Bedouin came forward who also seemed to be pushed from behind. Rasulullaah SalAllaahu Alayhi Wasallam held his hand as well.

He then said, ‘When the name of Allaah Jalla Jalaalahoo is not taken over a meal, Shaytaan considers that food to be lawful for him. He sent this girl so that he may make the food lawful for himself through her. I therefore held her hand. He then sent this Bedouin so that he may make the food lawful for himself through him. I therefore held his hand as well. I take an oath in the name of that Being in whose control is my life, Shaytaan’s hand together with the hands of these two is in my hand.’

He then took the name of Allaah Jalla Jalaalahoo and began eating.”
(Muslim no. 2017)

c.) Entering the toilet – Ali RadhiyAllaahu Anhu narrates that Rasulullaah SalAllaahu Alayhi Wasallam said,
“The curtain which covers and screens man from the eyes of the Jinn when he enters the toilet is ‘Bismillaah’.
(Ibn Majah no.297)

Rasulullaah SalAllaahu Alayhi Wasallam would recite the following when entering the toilet,

بِسْمِ اللهِ اللَّهُمَّ إِنِّي أَعُوذُ بِكَ مِنَ الْخُبْثِ وَالْخَبَائِثِ

In the name of Allaah. I seek Allaah’s protection from the evil male and female jinns.

(Musannaf Ibn Abi Shaibah no. 5)

d.) Removing clothing - Anas RadhiyAllaahu Anhu narrates that Rasulullaah SalAllaahu Alayhi Wasallam said,
“The curtain which covers and screens man from the eyes of the Jinn when he intends to remove his clothing (to relieve himself, to bathe or for relationship with one’s spouse) is ‘Bismillaah’.”
(Al-Mu’jamul Awsat of Tabaraani no.2504). In another narration, the following duaa is recorded,

بِسْمِ اللهِ الَّذِيْ لَا اِلهَ إِلَّاهُوَ

In the Name of Allaah, apart from whom there is no deity.

 (Amalul-Yawn wal Laylah of Ibn Sunni no. 273)

e.) Doubts - A person came to Rasulullaah SalAllaahu Alayhi Wasallam and complained of waswasah (whisperings of Shaytaan) in his heart which creates doubts during his salaah.
Rasulullaah SalAllaahu Alayhi Wasallam advised him, “When you experience the onset of such whisperings, lift your right index finger and poke it into your left thigh, while reciting Bismillaah. This is a sharp knife to attack Shaytaan.”
(Al-Mu’jamul-Kabeer of Tabaraani no. 512, Bazzaar no. 2337 with slightly different wording)

f.) Travelling - Abdullaah ibn Masood RadhiyAllaahu Anhu said,
“When a man gets onto his conveyance and does not take the name of Allaah (recite Bismillaah), Shaytaan gets on behind him. Shaytaan then encourages him to sing (or involve himself in music). If he cannot do so, Shaytaan encourages him to while away his time in wishful thinking and imaginations.”
(Al-Mu’jamul-Kabeer of Tabaraani. 8781, Musannaf Abdur-Razzaq no. 20382, Shu’abul Imaan no. 4747, As-Sunanul-Kubra of Bayhaqi no. 10318)

g.) Retiring to bed – Rasulullaah SalAllaahu Alayhi Wasallam said,
“(At night, before going to bed) Close the doors and take the name of Allaah (recite Bismillaah). Shaytaan cannot open a closed door (upon which the name of Allaah has been taken, as in a narration of Musnad Ahmad no. 14434 and Abu Dawood no. 3731). Close the lid over your water-storage containers and take the name of Allaah (recite Bismillaah). Cover your containers and dishes, even if you have to place something (like a stick-Ibn Hibbaan no. 1272) over it, and take the name of Allaah (recite Bismillaah).”
(Bukhaari no. 3280, 5623, Muslim no. 2012)

h.) Having intercourse – Ibn Abbaas RadhiyAllaahu Anhu narrates that Rasulullaah SalAllaahu Alayhi Wasallam said,
“When a person intends having relations with his wife and he recites this duaa, then if a child is decreed, Shaytaan will not harm the child.”
(Bukhaari no.141, Muslim no. 1434)       

بِسْمِ اللهِ ، اللَّهُمَّ جَنِّبْنَا الشَّيْطَانَ وَجَنِّبِ الشَّيْطَانَ مَا رَزَقْتَنَا

3.) Zikr of Allaah:

Rasulullaah SalAllaahu Alayhi Wasallam said,
“Shaytaan places his noose on the heart of man. When man remembers Allaah, he withdraws. If man forgets Allaah, then Shaytaan takes control of his heart. That is why he is called Al-Waswaas (the Whisperer), and Al-Khannaas (the One who withdraws.)"
(Musnad Abu Ya’laa no. 4301)

To be Continued In Sha Allaah

مَوْلَاىَ صَلِّ وَ سَلِّمْ دَائِمًا أَبَداً  عَلىٰ حَبِيْبِكَ خَيْرِ الْخَلْقِ كُلِّهِم