Sīrīn, from Abū Hurayrah, who said: “The Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) entrusted me with guarding the Ramadan zakat. Someone came and began scooping up the food. I seized him and said, ‘I will certainly take you to the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him).’”—He then related the hadith up to the words:—“He said, ‘When you go to bed, recite Āyat al-Kursī. A guardian from Allah will remain over you, and no devil will approach you until morning.’ The Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) said, ‘He told you the truth, although he is a habitual liar. That was Satan.’”

Allah Most High willing, we shall explain why this magnificent verse has such a powerful effect in protecting against Satan and affording refuge to its reciter, in a separate discussion devoted to it, its secrets, and its treasures, with Allah’s help and support.

The fourth means of protection is reciting Surah al-Baqarah.

In the Sahīh, Sahl ibn ‘Abd Allāh narrates from Abū Hurayrah that the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) said:

“Do not turn your homes into graves. Satan does not enter a house in which Surah al-Baqarah is recited.”

The fifth means of protection is the closing verses of Surah al-Baqarah.

It is established in the Sahīh, through Abū Mas‘ūd al-Ansārī, that the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) said:

“Whoever recites the last two verses of Surah al-Baqarah at night, they will suffice him.” «1»

Al-Tirmidhī also narrates from al-Nu‘mān ibn Bashīr that the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) said:

“Allah wrote a book two thousand years before creating creation. From it He sent down two verses with which He concluded Surah al-Baqarah. If they are recited in a home for three nights, no devil will approach it.” «2»

The sixth means of protection is the opening of Surah Hā Mīm al-Mu’min up to His words, “To Him is the final return,” together with Āyat al-Kursī.

Al-Tirmidhī narrates through ‘Abd al-Rahmān ibn Abī Bakr, from Ibn Abī Mulaykah, from Zurārah ibn Mus‘ab, from Abū Salamah, from Abū Hurayrah, who said that the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) said:

“Whoever recites Hā Mīm al-Mu’min up to ‘To Him is the final return,’ together with Āyat al-Kursī, in the morning