who has a pouch containing musk, and all of them admire—or are delighted by—its fragrance. Yet the scent of a fasting person is more pleasing to Allah than the fragrance of musk.
He has commanded you to give charity. The likeness of this is that of a man captured by the enemy, who bound his hand to his neck and brought him forward to be beheaded. He said, “I will ransom myself from you with whatever it takes, little or much,” and thus secured his release.
He has commanded you to remember Allah. The likeness of this is that of a man pursued swiftly by the enemy until he reaches a strong fortress and secures himself against them. Likewise, a servant can protect himself from Satan only through the remembrance of Allah.’
The Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) said, ‘I also command you to observe five things which Allah has commanded me to enjoin: listening and obedience, jihad, emigration, and remaining with the Muslim community. Whoever separates from the community by even a handspan has cast off the bond of Islam from his neck, unless he returns. Whoever raises the rallying cry of the age of ignorance will be among the throngs of Hell.’
A man asked, ‘O Messenger of Allah, even if he prays and fasts?’ He replied, ‘Even if he prays and fasts. So use the names Allah has given you: Muslims, believers, servants of Allah.’”
Al-Tirmidhī said, “This hadith is good, singular, and authentic.” Al-Bukhārī said, “Al-Hārith al-Ash‘arī was a Companion, and he narrated other hadiths besides this one.”
In this hadith, the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) tells us that a servant can protect himself from Satan only through the remembrance of Allah. This is precisely what is indicated by the surah beginning, “Say, ‘I seek refuge in the Lord of mankind.’” Satan is described there as the retreating whisperer: when the servant remembers Allah, he retreats, draws himself in, and shrinks away. But when the servant neglects the remembrance of Allah, Satan engulfs his heart and casts into it the whisperings from which all evil begins. Nothing protects a servant from Satan as effectively as the remembrance of Allah, Mighty and Majestic.
The ninth means of protection is ablution and prayer. These are among the greatest means of protection against him, particularly when anger and desire surge, for they are a fire boiling in the heart of the son of Adam.
As related by al-Tirmidhī, Abū Sa‘īd al-Khudrī narrated that the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) said:
“Indeed, anger is a burning ember in the heart of the son of Adam. Have you not seen the redness of his eyes and the swelling of his neck veins? Whoever feels any of this should press himself to the ground.”
Another report states, “Satan was created from fire, and fire is extinguished only with water.”
For never has