Those with iman continuously resort to the recitation of the Qur’an and remembering Allah (عَزَّوَجَلَّ) with their azkar, fasting during the day in Ramadan and their qiyam ul layl (night prayers) prevent Shayateen to misguide them or attack them. All of the above acts as shields to protect the believer and those with iman from all forms of corruption during these days of Ramadan.
In a hadith we learn:
The Messenger of Allahﷺ : “When Ramadan begins, the gates of Paradise are opened and the gates of Hell are closed, and the devils are put in chains.”
(Al-Bukhaari : 3277 and Muslim: 1079)
The question that arises is that when Shaytan is “chained” during the month of Ramadan, then why do people sin?
Scholars say that the meaning of “put in chains,” is not to be taken literally. Rather, the ability that the Shayateen has been given by Allah (عَزَّوَجَلَّ) to cause waswas (cause a person to be susceptible to sin) has been taken away or made ineffective so much so that even if Shaytan tries to misguide a person through waswas, it will be in vain.
Another meaning scholars derive from this “chaining up,” is that it does not refer to all Shayateen, rather certain types of Shayateen who are the most rebellious in nature. They are also known as Shaytan Maarid as mentioned in the Qur’an. These are the ones who ascend to the heavens from the earth to steal information only to bring them back to this world. These are the ones who have been chained up during this month of Ramadan.
In the Qur’an we learn:
وَحِفْظًا مِّن كُلِّ شَيْطَانٍ مَّارِدٍ
Repelled; and for them is a constant punishment
[As-Safaat: 9]
If we take into account all the meanings, what cannot be ignored is the fact that Allah (عَزَّوَجَلَّ)’s Messenger ﷺ has said they are “chained up.” Hence, it is our iman to believe that Shayateen are chained. The Messenger ﷺ has mentioned how Allah (عَزَّوَجَلَّ) chains them and how their efforts to misguide mankind are made ineffective. Therefore, we are not to question this.
The person who continues to do evil and sin during these months of Ramadan, then we know that there is a shaytan with the believers. Additionally, the nafs plays a role as is defined in the Qur’an:
إِنَّ النَّفْسَ لَأَمَّارَةٌ بِالسُّوءِ
the soul is a persistent enjoiner of evil,
[Yousuf: 53]
This proves that the person who continues to sin is listening to his own nature which is inclined towards the wrong. This person is used to sinning. The hadith mentions the shayateen being chained but nothing is said of people being innocent of sins. They continue on.
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