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Tafseer -
Explanation of the Qur'aan |
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Isti’aadhah
(Seeking Refuge) - “A’udhoo
billahi min ash-Shaytaan ar-rajeem.”
Meaning of
the word a`oodhu (I take refuge)
-
Al-Haafidh ibn al-Qayyim, (rahimahullah), explained the meaning of a`oodhu (I
take refuge) in a beautiful way. He said:
“Know
that the verb `aadha and its derivatives carry the meaning of being careful
and alert, guarding and fortifying (strengthening), being rescued (saved) and
victorious. Its essential meaning is to flee from that which you fear will
harm you to that which will safeguard you from it. This is why the one you
seek refuge with is named m`aadh and malja` (the source of refuge and
recourse).
Therefore
the meaning of a`oodhu is “I take refuge, guard myself and take
precaution.”
Meaning
of the Word Shaytaan -
It is said that the word ‘Shaytaan’ is derived from shatana, which means
to be distanced (detached, separated), and indeed Shaytaan is far removed from
any good whatsoever. .
The
Ruling of Isti’aadhah (Seeking Refuge) -
“A’udhoo
billahi min ash-Shaytaan ar-rajeem.”
It
is legislative to recite Isti’aashah in every Rak’aah of all sorts of
prayers, as Allah ordered in His Book:
"When
you wish to read the Qur`aan then seek refuge with Allah from the accursed
Shaytaan. Indeed he has no power over those who believe and put their trust
only in their Lord. His power is only over those who follow him and join
partners with Him."
[Soorah An-Nahl (16): 99-100]
The
majority of scholars are of the opinion of that isti`aadha is recommended and
not obligatory. However it is reported from `Ataa bin Abee Rabaah that it is
obligatory to say it within the prayer and outside the prayer when one desires
to recite the Book of Allaah. [Tafseer Ibn Katheer]
It
is reported by many sources that the Prophet of Allah practiced this act of
seeking refuge:
Abu
Sa`eed al-Khudree narrated that “When the Messenger of Allaah (sallallahu
alahi wa-sallam) stood at night [for prayer, he would commence the prayer] by
saying the takbeer and then saying, "Subhaanak Allaahumma wa bihamdika,
wa tabarrakasmuka, wa ta`aalaa jadduka, wa laa ilaaha ghayruk." (You are
glorified O Allaah and praised! Your Name is Blessed; Your Majesty is Exalted
and none has the right to be worshipped save You.) Then he would say "laa
ilaaha illAllaah" three times, then , "Allaahu Akbar" three
times and then say "A`oodhu billaahi as-Samee` al-Aleem min
ash-Shaytaanir Rajeem – min hamzihi wa nafkhihi wa nafthihi" (I take
refuge with Allaah, the All-Seeing, the All-Knowing from the accursed
Shaytaan: from his madness, arrogance and poetry.) [Saheeh Abu Daawood’ no.
701]
Naafi`
bin Jubair narrated from his father, who said: “I saw the Messenger of
Allaah (sallallahu alahi wa-sallam) saying when he entered into prayer,
"Allaahu Akbar Kabeera" three times, "Alhamdulillaahi
Katheera” (Praise and thanks be to Allaah, again and again) three times and
"Subhaan Allaahi Bukratan wa Aseela"(Glorified is Allaah, morning
and evening) three times. Then he said, "Allaahumma innee A`udhubika mina
ash-Shaytaan, min hamzihi wa nafkhihi wa nafathi" (O Allaah! I take
refuge with You from Shaytaan – from his madness, arrogance and poetry)
[Sahih ibn Maajah’ no.658 and ‘Irwaa`’ [2/55]
A
Virtue of Isti’aadah
Means
of relieving Anger -
Reported Sulaymaan ibn Sarad (radiyallahu anhu) that: “Two men abused each
other in the presence of the Prophet while we were sitting with him. One of
the two abused the other while in a state of rage, his face red. The Prophet
(SAW) said, "I know a statement that if he were to say, what he is
experiencing would leave him. If only he were to say, ‘I take refuge with
Allaah from the accursed Shaytaan.’" [Saheeh
Bukhaaree [Eng. Trans. 8/87 no. 136]
There are two opinions concerning the basis of this verb. The first is
that it is derived from the meaning of as-satar, covering or protection,
and the second is that it is derived from the meaning of luzoom
al-mujaawara, firmly adhering (clinging, sticking) to that which adjoins
it. (1) As for the first opinion then the Arabs used to say with regards
to a house that is in the shade of a tree - `uwwadha. Therefore when this
house did `aadha with this tree by being built under its shade the Arabs
named it `uwwadh. The same applies to the one who takes refuge for he
seeks protection and cover from his enemy with the one he seeks refuge
with. (2) As for the second opinion then the Arabs used to say regarding
flesh that was stuck to a bone and could not be removed, `uwwadha, because
of its refusal to be dislodged from the bone. The same applies to the one
taking refuge for he sticks firmly to the one he is seeking refuge with
and refuses to be distanced. Both of these opinions are correct for
seeking refuge includes both.
It is also said that the name is derived from shaata, which means to burn
because he is made from fire. Others said that both meanings are correct.
However the first meaning is more correct.
Allah explained to us the extreme enmity of Shaytaan with His words: “ "Indeed
Shaytaan is an open enemy to you so take him as an enemy. He invites his
followers only that they may become the denizens of the blazing
Fire." [Faatir (35): 6] "Will you then take him and his
offspring as friends and protectors besides Him while they are open
enemies to you? Wretched it is as an exchange for the wrong-doers."
[Al-Kahf (18): 50] Indeed Shaytaan took an oath saying: "By Your
Might! I will surely misguide them all, except Your chosen slaves amongst
them." [Saad (38): 82-83] It
is for this reason that we have been encouraged to seek refuge with Allaah
from the accursed Shaytaa
