the man does with his mount; once the animal quietens he either hobbles it or puts a bit in its mouth.’

Abū Hurayrah added, ‘You can observe this yourselves: the one who has been “hobbled” is bent over like this, oblivious to the remembrance of Allah, whereas the one who has been “bridled” sits with his mouth hanging open, likewise heedless of Allah, exalted is He.’ This report is related only by Aḥmad.

Imām Aḥmad also said: Ibn Numayr narrated to us; Thawr—meaning Ibn Yazīd—narrated to us, from Makḥūl, from Abū Hurayrah, who said: The Messenger of Allah ﷺ said, ‘The evil eye is real. With it come Satan’s presence and the envy of the son of Adam.’

He further said: Wakīʿ narrated to us, from Sufyān, from Manṣūr, from Dharr ibn ʿAbd Allāh al-Ham­dānī, from ʿAbd Allāh ibn Shaddād, from Ibn ʿAbbās, who said: A man came to the Prophet ﷺ and said, ‘Messenger of Allah, thoughts occur to me; falling from the sky would be dearer to me than uttering them.’ [He related:] The Prophet ﷺ replied, ‘Allāhu akbar! Praise be to Allah, who has reduced Satan’s plot to mere whispering.’

Abū Dāwūd and al-Nasāʾī likewise recorded it through the narration of Manṣūr; al-Nasāʾī added the name of al-Aʿmash. Both chains go back to Abū Dharr.

Al-Bukhārī said: Yaḥyā ibn Bukayr narrated to us; al-Layth narrated to us, from ʿUqayl, from Ibn Shihāb, who said: ʿUrwah informed me that Abū Hurayrah said: The Messenger of Allah ﷺ said, ‘Satan comes to one of you and asks, “Who created this? Who created that?” until he finally says, “Who created your Lord?” When he reaches that point, let him seek refuge with Allah and desist.’ Muslim transmitted the same narration from al-Layth, and also from al-Zuhrī and Hishām ibn ʿUrwah, all of them from ʿUrwah.

Allah the Exalted says:
‘Indeed, those who are mindful of Allah—when a visitation from Satan touches them, they remember, and then they see clearly.’ (al-Aʿrāf 7:201)

He says:
‘And say, “My Lord, I seek refuge in You from the promptings of the devils, and I seek refuge in You, my Lord, lest they draw near to me.”’ (al-Muʾminūn 23:97–98)

He says:
‘If a prompting from Satan should stir you, seek refuge with Allah; surely He is All-Hearing, All-Knowing.’ (al-Aʿrāf 7:200)

And He says:
‘So when you recite the Qur’an, seek refuge with Allah from the accursed Satan. He has no authority over those who believe and put their trust in their Lord; his authority is only over those who take him as an ally and those who, through him, ascribe partners to Allah.’ (al-Naḥl 16:98–100)