Repelling Shaytaan Through Congregation
Islaam as a way of life strives towards performing certain actions in the congregation with other Muslims because this serves as a repellent for Shaytaan. There are several forms of the Jamaa’ah, which are favored so that actions such as prayer are performed collectively.
(i) The Prayer in congregation (Jamaa’ah)
The Prophet (sallAllaahu alaihi wa sallam) said,
“If there are three men (or more) in a town or in the desert (open space) among whom prayer is not established in Jamaa’ah (congregation), except Shaytaan will overcome them. So cling to the jamaa’ah for indeed the wolf devours the lone sheep.” [1]
(ii) The Congregational prayer (Jamaa’ah) during a journey
The Prophet (sallAllaahu alaihi wa sallam) said,
” A single rider (on a journey) is a Shaytaan, and two riders (on a journey) are two Shaytaans, but three (or more on a journey) are a company of riders.” [2]
(iii) The community as a body (Jamaa’ah) of people
On the authority of Aboo Tha’labah Al-Khushnee who said,
“When the people stopped (and encamped) at a place they dispersed (and spread out from each other) in the woods and valleys, then the Messenger of Allaah (sallAllaahu alaihi wa sallam) said, Your dispersing in these woods and valleys is from Shaytaan.”
After that they did not stop (or encamp) at any place except that they kept so close together. They would be encamped to such an extent that it used to be said that if a cloth were spread over them, it would cover them all.” [3]
O Muslims, if this separating from one another is concerning everyday matters brought about by Iblees and his party, then what of the affairs concerning religion, or more so with serious issues like Tawheed, or its greatest pillar, the performance of prayer? Are these divisions not from Shaytaan? By my Lord, if only my people knew!
FOOTNOTES
[1]-Reported by Aboo Daawood in his sunan (547), An-Nisaa’ee in his sunan (2/106, 107), Ahmad in his musnad (5/196) and others.I (al-Hilaalee) say, Its chain is hasan.
[2]-Reported by Aboo Daawood in his sunan (2607); Haakim (2/102); Bayhaqee (5/267); Ahmad in his musnad (2/186, 214); also reported by way of Amr ibn Shu’ayb on the authority of his father and from his grandfather back to the Prophet (sallAllaahu alaihi wa sallam). I (al-Hilaalee) say, Its chain is hasan.
[3]-Reported by Aboo Daawood in his sunan and Ibn Hibbaan (1664), Haakim (2/115). Also reported by way of Bayhaqee (9/152), Ahmad in his musnad (4/193) and by way of al-Waleed ibn Muslim who heard it from Abdullaah (meaning Ibn Zubair). He heard it from Ibn Mushkim who said, It was narrated to us by Aboo Tha’labah Al-Khushnee.
Haakim said, its isnaad is Saheeh, adh-Dhahabee agreed with him. I (al-Hilaalee) say, It is as they both said.
Excerpt from: ”Protection Against the Plots of Shaytaan” by Shaykh Saleem Ibn Eed Al-Hilaalee, Pg. 62- 64.
