the Sustainer. When you go to bed at night, recite it; Allah will place a guardian over you and no devil will come near you until dawn. They are only a few simple words that safeguard you—were you to station a hundred sentries, they would still be unable to keep the devils away, whereas these brief words secure Allah’s protection.

When morning came, he went to the Prophet ﷺ and told him what had happened. The Prophet ﷺ said, “He has told you the truth on this occasion, though he is an inveterate liar. Do you know with whom you have been speaking these three nights?” I replied, “Messenger of Allah, I do not know.” He said, “That was a devil who had assumed the form of a human being.”

This ḥadīth contains many benefits.