I was speaking to my cousin the other day, and they mentioned that they wanted to learn cybersecurity. Apparently, to be able to defend against an attack, you have to learn how people actually hack and attack. Which makes sense.
But there’s that moral compass that keeps you as a defender, and stops you from straying towards becoming an attacker.
Anyway, it made me think of Shayṭān and how he attacks.
So, in theory, our “method” or “formula” to defend ourselves should be easier once we understand how he attacks.
And the answer to that is in the Qur’an:
مِن شَرِّ الْوَسْوَاسِ الْخَنَّاسِ الَّذِي يُوَسْوِسُ فِي صُدُورِ النَّاسِ مِنَ الْجِنَّةِ وَالنَّاسِ
“From the evil of the lurking whisperer, who whispers into the hearts of humankind, from among jinn and humankind.”
(Sūrat al-Nās 114:4–6)
So, if one of his main methods of attack is waswasah, whispers, then we need to learn how to guard our hearts from those whispers.
There is a ḥadīth narrated by Sayyidinā Abū Hurayrah رضي الله عنه regarding Shayṭān visiting the Companion who had been appointed to guard the zakāh. After a few encounters, Shayṭān eventually taught him to recite Āyat al-Kursī, saying that whoever recites it will have protection from him until morning.
The Prophet ﷺ later confirmed that what Shayṭān had said was true in this instance, despite being a liar.
(Ṣaḥīḥ al-Bukhārī, 5010)
So perhaps our formula is simpler than we think.
We may slip a few times. Our yaqīn may not be as strong as that of the Ṣaḥābah. But we can still reap the benefits of making Āyat al-Kursī part of our daily and nightly routine.
Have you read yours for today?
- Bint al-Qalm (عفي عنها )