The chaining of the Shayateen!

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The Messenger of Allāh (saws) said, “When Ramaḍaan begins, the gates of the heavens are opened, and the gates of the Hell-fire are closed, and the Shayateen (devils) are chained.”

The questioner may ask, “If the Shayateen are chained up during the blessed month of mercy, Shahr Ramaḍaan, then why does evil and sin still occur?” First, before elucidating the meaning of the narration, using the well-known explications of the Scholars of Ḥadīth, we begin by mentioning its derivation in the books of Sunnah. It is collected by Imaam al-Bukhari, Imaam Muslim, Imaam al-Nisa’ie and Imaam Aḥmad.

The great Scholar of Ḥadīth Ibn Ḥajr says in the explication of this narration, found in his classical work Fatḥ al-Bari: “And the Shayateen [here] are those from amongst them who eavesdrop [on the revelation], and their being chained up takes place during the nights (of Ramaḍaan), not its days, because they were forbidden from eavesdropping at the time of the Qur’an’s revelation; so they were chained up as an additional measure of protection (for the revelation). And it is possible that what is intended is that the Shayateen are not as determined to tempt the Muslims as they are able to outside of it (i.e. Ramaḍaan), because of them (the Muslims) being busy with fasting, which suppresses the desires, recitation of the Qur’an, and the remembrance [of Allah]. And others have said: ‘What is intended by Shayateen here are some of them, and they are the evil ones from amongst them…’”

After further clarification, Ibn Ḥajr continues by quoting the statement of al-Qaḍi ‘Iyaḍ: ‘…and it is possible that this alludes to the abundance of reward and forgiveness (in Ramaḍaan), and that the temptation of the Shayateen is decreased, so they become as if they are locked up.’ He (‘Iayd) says: ‘And what supports this second view is his statement in the narration of Yūnus on the authority of Ibn Shihab in Ṣaḥiḥ Muslim, ‘the gates of mercy are opened,’ and it is possible that the opening of the gates of Paradise means what Allah has facilitated for His worshippers from the acts of obedience, and these are the reasons for entering Paradise; and the closing of the gates of the Hell-fire means a diversion from the desire to commit sins, which leads the sinner to the Hell-fire, and the chaining of the devils means the weakening of their ability to tempt and beautify desires.’”

He (Ibn Hajar) then quotes al-Qurtubī when he says: “If it is asked, how do we see so much evil and sin occurring in Ramaḍaan? Since the Shayateen are chained up, why does this still occur? The answer to this is that few of those who fast do so in a manner that meets these conditions, or that those intended [in the narration] are only some of the Shayateen, specifically the evil ones from among them, not all of them, as has proceeded in some of the narrations; or that what is intended is a reduction in evil during it (Ramaḍaan). And this can be felt, for indeed this (evil) occurs less during Ramaḍaan than at any other time. Yet, the chaining of all of the devils would not necessitate that evil and sin would not occur, because there are other reasons for this besides the Shayateen, like evil natures, wicked customs, and the Shayateen from the humans.’ And others have said, ‘The chaining up of the Shayateen in Ramaḍaan points to the removal of the person’s excuse; it is as if it is said to him, ‘The Shayateen have been restrained, so do not use them as an excuse for the abandonment of acts of obedience or the commitment of sin.’”

[Fatḥ al-Bari (4/706, 707)]

al-Imaam al-Nawawi says in the explication of Ṣaḥīḥ Muslim, “…the gates of Paradise are opened and the gates of the Hell-fire are closed and the Shayateen are locked up. Al-Qaḍi ‘Iyaḍ says: ‘It is possible that this is literal, and that the opening of the gates of Paradise, the closing of the gates of the Hell-Fire, and the chaining of the Shayateen are signs of entering Ramaḍaan and magnification of its sanctity; and that they (the Shayateen) are chained up to prevent them from harming the believers and inciting them.’ He also said: ‘And it is possible that what is intended is a figurative meaning, and that it means an abundance of reward and forgiveness, and that the temptation and harm of Shayateen is decreased so they become as if they are locked up; and that they are locked away from some things as opposed to others, and some people as opposed to others…’” [Sharḥ Ṣahih Muslim (7/186-187)]

In summary, we discover in this narration myriad blessings and glad tidings for those who believe. Ramadaan is a month of forgiveness wherein Allah, the Most Merciful, has opened the gates of mercy and locked shut the gates of punishment. It is therefore crucial that people of fasting seize the advantage of the shackling of the devils, the malevolent troops of al-Shaytaan, and pray that Allah, the Granter of Favor, rewards them with entry through the gate of al-Rayyān. Indeed Allah is the Bestower of Mercy, Hearer of supplication.

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