who are mindful of Him. In reality, these are deceptions practised by devils upon their allies who have incurred divine wrath and gone astray.

An unjust aggressor deserves to be repelled, whether he is a Muslim or an unbeliever. The Prophet, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, said:

“Whoever is killed defending his property is a martyr; whoever is killed defending his life is a martyr; and whoever is killed defending his religion is a martyr.”

If a wronged person is entitled to defend a wronged person’s property, even by killing the unjust aggressor, how could he not defend his mind, body and honour? For the devil corrupts his mind, torments his body, and may commit with him the same sexual indecency that one human being commits with another. If the devil cannot be repelled except by killing it, then killing it is permissible.

As for abandoning the afflicted person and leaving him without help, this is like abandoning any other victim of injustice. Helping him is a collective obligation when one has the ability. In the two Sahīh collections, the Prophet, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, is reported to have said:

“A Muslim is a Muslim’s brother: he neither abandons him nor wrongs him.”

If a person is unable to provide this help, is occupied with a more pressing obligation, or someone else has undertaken it, then it is not obligatory upon him. But if he is able, the duty has become his individual responsibility, and it does not distract him from a more pressing obligation, then he must undertake it.

As for the questioner’s words, “Is this prescribed in Islam?”—this is among the finest deeds and is among the deeds of the prophets and the righteous, for the prophets and the righteous have always