Qarin - Syaithan in Our Shadow

Sharing a post by a local ustaz in Singapore. This is one of the many trials in our life that we have to strive against each and every day, gaining rewards when overpowering it and falling into sins when being overcame by its whispers..

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By: Mohd Kamal Mokhtar

What is qarin?

Qarin is an agent of iblis, placed in very human being whether they are Muslim or non-Muslim. The qarin would accompany that particular human wherever he/she goes from the moment of birth till death. The qarin would cooperate with the nafs, which is the wants or inclination of that person to perform evil and corruptive acts. The combination of qarin and a person's desire is like adding fuel to fire. A person with strong iman and faith could overpower the influence of the qarin while those with weak faith would follow his instructions.

Allah states in Surah Yusuf verse 53 :

وَمَا أُبَرِّئُ نَفْسِي إِنَّ النَّفْسَ لأَمَّارَةٌ بِالسُّوءِ إِلاَّ مَا رَحِمَ رَبِّيَ إِنَّ رَبِّي غَفُورٌ رَّحِيمٌ

And I would not absolve myself, verily the human soul is inclined towards evil, except that which my Lord shows mercy, verily my Lord is Most Forgiving Most Merciful.

Allah also states in Surah An Naas verse 5-6:

ٱلَّذِى يُوَسۡوِسُ فِى صُدُورِ ٱلنَّاسِ (٥) مِنَ ٱلۡجِنَّةِ وَٱلنَّاسِ (٦

The one that whispers in the hearts of man, from amongst the jinns and man. 



The qarin of the Prophet pbuh has embraced Islam


أَنَّ عَائِشَةَ زَوْجَ النَّبِيِّ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ حَدَّثَتْهُ أَنَّ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ خَرَجَ مِنْ عِنْدِهَا لَيْلًا قَالَتْ فَغِرْتُ عَلَيْهِ فَجَاءَ فَرَأَى مَا أَصْنَعُ فَقَالَ مَا لَكِ يَا عَائِشَةُ أَغِرْتِ فَقُلْتُ وَمَا لِي لَا يَغَارُ مِثْلِي عَلَى مِثْلِكَ فَقَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ أَقَدْ جَاءَكِ شَيْطَانُكِ قَالَتْ يَا رَسُولَ اللَّهِ أَوْ مَعِيَ شَيْطَانٌ قَالَ نَعَمْ قُلْتُ وَمَعَ كُلِّ إِنْسَانٍ قَالَ نَعَمْ قُلْتُ وَمَعَكَ يَا رَسُولَ اللَّهِ قَالَ نَعَمْ وَلَكِنْ رَبِّي أَعَانَنِي عَلَيْهِ حَتَّى أَسْلَمَ

'Urwah ibn Zubair ra narrates that 'Aisyah rha the wife of the Prophet pbuh informed him that the Prophet pbuh went out from her house one night and she felt jealous and when the prophet returned and saw what she did, he said : What is the matter with you, are you jealous? and I said : How could I not be jealous for people like me towards people like you. The Prophet pbuh then said: Did your syaithan come to you? She replied: Is with me a syaithan? The Prophet pbuh said : Yes. I then asked: Is it with every human? He answered: Yes. She asked again: And with you O Prophet of Allah? He answered: Yes, but my Lord has assisted me against it until he embraced Islam. ( Narrated by Muslim in his Sahih )



Qarin is imprisoned in Ramadhan

During the month of Ramadhan, the qarin is chained and prevented to be with human. It was reported by Abu Hurairah ra that the Prophet pbuh said :

إذا جاء رمضان فُتِّحت أبواب الجنة، وغُلِّقت أبواب النار، وصُفِّدت الشياطين

When the month of Ramadhan comes, the doors of paradise will be opened wide, and the doors of hell will be closed shut and the syaithans will be chained. ( Hadith narrated by Bukhari and Muslim )



Ways of Protecting ourselves from qarin

1. When there are feelings of doubts in doing acts of devotions, or feelings of encouragement to perform acts of transgression, we are encouraged to recite the ta'awwuz or isti'azhah ( ie to recite a'uzhubillahi minasyaithanir rajim ).

Allah states in Surah Al 'Araf verse 200 :

وَإِمَّا يَنزَغَنَّكَ مِنَ ٱلشَّيۡطَـٰنِ نَزۡغٌ۬ فَٱسۡتَعِذۡ بِٱللَّهِ‌ۚ إِنَّهُ ۥ سَمِيعٌ عَلِيمٌ

And if an evil whisper comes to you from syaithan, then seek refuge with Allah, verily He is All Hearer and All Knowing.

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Let's strive to consistently acquire as much good deeds as possible to counter this, insha Allah.. Allaah Almighty is All-Merciful upon his slaves,
Allaah Almighty says in the Noble Qur'aan,

{'He is the Irresistable (Supreme) over His slaves, and He sends guardians (angels guarding and writing all of one's good and bad deeds) over you..'} [Suurah Al-An'aam 6:61]

The following hadeeth explains, in conjunction with this verse regarding whoever intended to do a good deed or a bad deed.

Narrated Ibn 'Abbas (radhiallaahu'anhuma): The Prophet (sallallaahu'alaihi wasallaam) narrating about his Lord ('Azza wa Jalla) said,"Allaah ordered (the appointed angels over you) that the good and the bad deeds be written, and He then showed (the way) how (to write).

If somebody intends to do a good deed and he does not do it, then Allaah will write for him a full good deed (in his account with Him), and if he intends to do a good deed and actually did it, then Allaah will write for him (in his account) with Him (its reward equal) from ten to seven hundred times, to many more times:

and if somebody intended to do a bad deed and he does not do it, then Allaah will write a full good deed (in his account) with Him, and if he intended to do it (a bad deed) and actually did it, then Allaah will write one bad deed (in his account)." [Sahih Al-Bukhaari, 8/6491 (O.P. 498)]