وَإِمَّا يَنزَغَنَّكَ مِنَ ٱلشَّيْطَـٰنِ نَزْغٌ فَٱسْتَعِذْ بِٱللَّهِ ۖ إِنَّهُۥ هُوَ ٱلسَّمِيعُ ٱلْعَلِيمُ 36
Translations
And if there comes to you from Satan an evil suggestion, then seek refuge in Allāh. Indeed, He is the Hearing, the Knowing.
Transliteration
Wa-immā yanzagannaka mina ash-shayṭāni nazghun fa-staʿidh bi-llāh; innahu huwa as-samīʿu al-ʿalīm
Tafsir (Explanation)
This ayah instructs believers that whenever Satan tempts or provokes them with evil whispers (waswās), they should immediately seek refuge in Allah by saying 'Aʿūdhu bi-llāh' (I seek refuge in Allah). The passage emphasizes that Allah is As-Samīʿ (All-Hearing) and Al-ʿAlīm (All-Knowing), meaning He hears the call of the distressed and knows the intentions and stratagems of Satan. According to Ibn Kathir and Al-Ṭabarī, this remedy is presented as a practical spiritual shield against satanic influence, demonstrating Allah's concern for His servants' spiritual well-being.
Revelation Context
Surah Fussilat was revealed in Mecca during the early Islamic period, a time when believers faced intense opposition and psychological warfare from the Quraysh. This ayah appears within a section addressing the psychological and spiritual challenges facing the Muslim community, offering divine guidance on combating satanic temptation—a universal struggle for believers of all times.
Related Hadiths
The Prophet (ṣallallāhu ʿalayhi wa-sallam) taught: 'If any of you feels anger, let him keep silent' (Ahmed and others), and he prescribed seeking refuge in Allah from Satan as a practical response. Also, Jābir reported that the Prophet said, 'Indeed Satan sits on the path of the son of Adam,' emphasizing Satan's constant threat and the necessity of seeking divine protection.
Themes
Key Lesson
When facing temptation or negative thoughts, believers should immediately turn to Allah through sincere refuge-seeking rather than entertaining or resisting evil whispers through willpower alone. This teaches that spiritual resilience comes through dependence on Allah's infinite power and knowledge, not merely through personal effort.