The Chaining of the Shayatin during a Month of Mercy

The Messenger of Allah (sallallahu alayhi wa sallam) said, “When Ramadan begins, the gates of the heavens are opened, and the gates of the Hell-fire are closed, and the Shayatin (devils) are chained.”

The questioner may ask, “If the Shayatin are chained up during the blessed month of mercy, Shahr Ramadan, 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 Hadith, we begin by mentioning its derivation in the books of Sunnah. It is collected by Imam al-Bukhari[1], Imam Muslim[2], Imam al-Nisa’i[3]   and Imam Ahmad.[4]

The great scholar of Hadith Ibn Hajr, may Allah bestow His Mercy upon him, says in the explication of this narration, found in his classical work Fath al-Bari: “And the Shayatin [here] are those from amongst them who eavesdrop [on the revelation], and their being chained up takes place during the nights (of Ramadan), 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 Shayatin are not as determined to tempt the Muslims as they are able to outside of it (i.e. Ramadan), 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 Shayatin here are some of them, and they are the evil ones from amongst them…’”

After further clarification, Ibn Hajr continues by quoting the statement of al-Qadi ‘Iyad: ‘…and it is possible that this alludes to the abundance of reward and forgiveness (in Ramadan), and that the temptation of the Shayatin 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 Yunus on the authority of Ibn Shihab in Sahih 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-Qurtubi, may Allah bestow his Mercy upon him, when he says: “If it is asked, how do we see so much evil and sin occurring in Ramadan? Since the Shayatin 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 Shayatin, 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 (Ramadan). And this can be felt, for indeed this (evil) occurs less during Ramadan 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 Shayatin, like evil natures, wicked customs, and the Shayatin from the humans.’ And others have said, ‘The chaining up of the Shayatin in Ramadan points to the removal of the person’s excuse; it is as if it is said to him, ‘The Shayatin have been restrained, so do not use them as an excuse for the abandonment of acts of obedience or the commitment of sin.’” [5]

Al-Imam al-Nawawi, may Allah bestow his Mercy upon him, says in the explication of Sahih Muslim, “…the gates of Paradise are opened and the gates of the Hell-fire are closed and the Shayatin are locked up.

Al-Qadi ‘Iyad 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 Shayatin are signs of entering Ramadan and magnification of its sanctity; and that they (the Shayatin) 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 Shayatin 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…’”[6]

In summary, we discover in this narration myriad blessings and glad tidings for those who believe. Ramadan 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-Shaytan, and pray that Allah, the Granter of Favor, rewards them with entry through the gate of al- Rayyan.[7]

Indeed Allah is the Bestower of Mercy, Hearer of supplication.