وَقُل رَّبِّ أَعُوذُ بِكَ مِنْ هَمَزَٰتِ ٱلشَّيَـٰطِينِ 97
Translations
And say, "My Lord, I seek refuge in You from the incitements of the devils,
Transliteration
Wa qul rabbi a'udhu bika min hamzati ash-shayatin
Tafsir (Explanation)
This ayah instructs the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) to seek refuge in Allah from the whispers and temptations of the devils. According to classical scholars like Ibn Kathir and Al-Qurtubi, 'hamzat ash-shayatin' (the whispers of devils) refers to the satanic provocations that incite evil thoughts, doubts, despair, and harmful actions in human hearts. This verse emphasizes complete reliance on Allah's protection as the only true defense against spiritual harm.
Revelation Context
This ayah appears in Surah Al-Mu'minun, which was revealed in Mecca and focuses on the characteristics of true believers. The verse comes at the end of the surah (23:97-118) as a concluding set of protective supplications, emphasizing that believers should constantly seek Allah's refuge from evil influences, particularly the insinuations of Satan that threaten their faith and moral integrity.
Related Hadiths
The Prophet (peace be upon him) taught: 'Satan runs through the son of Adam like blood runs through his veins' (Sahih Bukhari 3175). Additionally, in Sunan Ibn Majah, the Prophet taught the du'a: 'I seek refuge in You from the whispers of the devils' as part of morning and evening remembrances.
Themes
Key Lesson
Believers should develop a constant awareness of satanic whispers and actively seek Allah's protection through sincere du'a rather than passively accepting evil thoughts. This teaches us that spiritual vigilance and regular supplication are essential tools in maintaining our faith and moral character in daily life.