That is Satan who is known as Khinzab. If you perceive his effect, seek refuge with Allah from him and spit three times to your left
Narrator in the source: ‘Uthmān ibn Abi al-‘Ās
‘Uthmān ibn Abi al-‘Ās (may Allah be pleased with him) reported: I came to the Prophet (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) and said: "O Messenger of Allah, Satan intervenes between me and my prayer and my recitation of the Qur'an, confounding me." So, the Messenger of Allah (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) said: "That is Satan who is known as Khinzab. If you perceive his effect, seek refuge with Allah from him and spit three times to your left." He said: I did that, and Allah caused him to depart from me.- Grade in the source
- Authentic
- Reported by
- Narrated by Muslim
- Source entry
- HadeethEnc · 65105 ↗
Original Arabic wording
عن عُثْمَانَ بْنَ أَبِي الْعَاصِ رضي الله عنه: أنه أَتَى النَّبِيَّ صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ فَقَالَ: يَا رَسُولَ اللهِ، إِنَّ الشَّيْطَانَ قَدْ حَالَ بَيْنِي وَبَيْنَ صَلَاتِي وَقِرَاءَتِي يَلْبِسُهَا عَلَيَّ، فَقَالَ رَسُولُ اللهِ صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ: «ذَاكَ شَيْطَانٌ يُقَالُ لَهُ خِنْزَِبٌ، فَإِذَا أَحْسَسْتَهُ فَتَعَوَّذْ بِاللهِ مِنْهُ، وَاتْفُلْ عَلَى يَسَارِكَ ثَلَاثًا»، قَالَ: فَفَعَلْتُ ذَلِكَ فَأَذْهَبَهُ اللهُ عَنِّي.Understand this hadith
‘Uthmān ibn Abi al-‘Ās (may Allah be pleased with him) came to the Prophet (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) and said: O Messenger of Allah, Satan intervenes between me and my prayer and prevents me from offering it with Khushū‘ (humility and focus) and makes me confused and doubtful about my recitation in it. Thereupon, the Messenger of Allah (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) said to him: That is Satan, who is known as Khinzab. If you perceive that and feel it, seek refuge with Allah from him and blow three times to your left with a bit of saliva. 'Uthmān said: I did what the Prophet (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) commanded me to do, and Allah caused him to depart from me.
Lessons from the hadith
- The Hadīth demonstrates the significance of humility and presence of mind in prayer and that Satan strives to make one confused and doubtful about it.
- It is recommended to seek refuge with Allah Almighty from Satan when he whispers in prayer, along with spitting three times to the left.
- It points out how the Companions (may Allah be pleased with them) used to go to the Prophet (may Allah’s peace and blessings be upon him) and present their problems to him so that he could solve their problems for them.
- The Companions possessed living hearts, and their principal concern was the Hereafter.
References (original Arabic)
صحيح مسلم (4/ 1728) (2203)، إكمال المعلم (7/110)، شرح النّووي على مسلم (14/190)، البحر المحيط الثجاج في شرح صحيح الإمام مسلم بن الحجاج (36/ 136).