Spiritual Refinement: Seeking Refuge from the Devil Through Prayer
In the quiet sanctity of prayer, we are invited to lift the veil of distraction and enter the sanctuary of divine magnificence. As Imam Zayn al-Abidin (AS) teaches us in the Sahifa Sajjadiyyah, we must actively 'seek refuge from...
Satan's gaining mastery over us.' This is not merely a ritualistic formality, but a profound spiritual stance of protection against the mischief of the devil, who lies in wait on our path to God.
The text reveals a beautiful depth in our worship: the act of raising hands to revile the devil during prayer is considered more perfect than the physical throwing of pebbles at the Jamarat during pilgrimage. While the latter uses instruments, the former relies on pure conviction and spiritual annihilation of evil.
By turning our backs to the devil through sincere supplication, we demonstrate that our true refuge lies in the Greatest Name of Allah.
Thus, let every prayer be a fortress of purity.
﷽
اللَّهُمَّ صَلِّ عَلَى مُحَمَّدٍ وَآلِهِ، وَاجْعَلِ الْقُرْآنَ لَنَا فِي ظُلَمِ اللَّيَالِي مُونِساً، وَمِنْ نَزَغَاتِ الشَّيْطَانِ وَخَطَرَاتِ الْوَسَاوِسِ حَارِساً، وَلِأَقْدَامِنَا عَنْ نَقْلِهَا إِلَى الْمَعَاصِي حَابِساً، وَلِأَلْسِنَتِنَا عَنِ الْخَوْضِ فِي الْبَاطِلِ مِنْ غَيْرِ مَا آفَةٍ مُخْرِساً، وَلِجَوَارِحِنَا عَنِ اقْتِرَافِ الْآثَامِ زَاجِراً، وَلِمَا طَوَتِ الْغَفْلَةُ عَنَّا مِنْ تَصَفُّحِ الِاعْتِبَارِ نَاشِراً، حَتَّى تُوصِلَ إِلَى قُلُوبِنَا فَهْمَ عَجَائِبِهِ، وَزَوَاجِرَ أَمْثَالِهِ الَّتِي ضَعُفَتِ الْجِبَالُ الرَّوَاسِي عَلَى صَلَابَتِهَا عَنِ احْتِمَالِهِ
O God, bless Muhammad and his Household and appoint the Qur'an for us an intimate in the shadows of nights and a guardian against the instigations of Satan and confusing thoughts, for our feet an obstruction from passing to acts of disobedience, for our tongues a silencer without blight preventing a plunge into falsehood, for our limbs a restrainer from committing sins, and for the scrutiny of heedfulness rolled up in heedlessness an unroller, such that You attach to our hearts the understanding of the Qur'an's wonders and its restraining similitudes which immovable mountains in all their solidity were too weak to carry!
— Sahifa Sajjadiyyah, Prayer 42: His Supplication upon Completing a Reading of the Qur'an, Verse 11