Is the saying authentic that, "Satans are chained during the Holy Month of Ramadan”?
Concise answer
In some authentic traditional sources like Al-Kafi and Tahzib, a tradition has been mentioned regarding the blessings of the Holy Month of Ramadan from the Holy Prophet (PBUH) as follows, “When the Holy Month of Ramadan enters, the outcast Satans are chained."
Detailed Answer
In some authentic traditional sources like Al-Kafi and Tahzib, there has been mentioned a tradition regarding the blessings of the Holy Month of Ramadan from the Holy Prophet (PBUH) as follows, “When the Holy month of Ramadan enters, the outcast Satans are chained." This tradition has been narrated by Imam Baqir (AS) by his grandfather. The Arabic version of the hadith is as follows:
«أَحْمَدُ بْنُ مُحَمَّدٍ عَنِ الْحُسَیْنِ بْنِ سَعِیدٍ عَنِ الْحُسَیْنِ بْنِ عُلْوَانَ عَنْ عَمْرِو بْن شِمْرٍ عَنْ جَابِرٍ عَنْ أَبِی جَعْفَرٍ (ع) قَالَ کَانَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ص یُقْبِلُ بِوَجْهِهِ إِلَى النَّاسِ فَیَقُولُ یَا مَعْشَرَ النَّاسِ إِذَا طَلَعَ هِلَالُ شَهْرِ رَمَضَانَ غُلَّتْ مَرَدَةُ الشَّیَاطِینِ وَ فُتِحَتْ أَبْوَابُ السَّمَاءِ وَ أَبْوَابُ الْجِنَانِ وَ أَبْوَابُ الرَّحْمَةِ وَ غُلِّقَتْ أَبْوَابُ النَّارِ وَ اسْتُجِیبَ الدُّعَاءُ وَ کَانَ لِلَّهِ فِیهِ عِنْدَ کُلِّ فِطْرٍ عُتَقَاءُ یُعْتِقُهُمُ اللَّهُ مِنَ النَّارِ وَ یُنَادِی مُنَادٍ کُلَّ لَیْلَةٍ هَلْ مِنْ سَائِلٍ هَلْ مِنْ مُسْتَغْفِرٍ اللَّهُمَّ أَعْطِ کُلَّ مُنْفِقٍ خَلَفاً وَ أَعْطِ کُلَّ مُمْسِکٍ تَلَفاً...»[1]
When the Holy Prophet (PBUH) sighted the moon, he stood in the direction of the Qiblah and said:
"«اللهم اهله علینا بالامن و الایمان و السلامة و الاسلام و العافیة المجللة و الرزق الواسع و دفع الاسقام و تلاوة القرآن و العون على الصلاة و الصیام اللهم سلمنا لشهر رمضان و سلمه لنا و تسلمه منا حتى ینقضى شهر رمضان و قد غفرت لنا"
"O Allah, let this moon (month) pass over us with blessings, Iman (faith), safety, obedience, complete health, abundant sustenance, removing illnesses, reciting the Holy Qur”an, offering prayers and fasting. O Allah, keep us healthy for the Holy Month of Ramadan and keep it healthy for us as well, accept our fasting and forgive our sins when the month is finished.”
The Prophet (PUBH) faced toward the people and said, "O Muslims! When the Holy Month of Ramadan enters, the accursed Satans are chained, the doors of heaven, sky and blessings are opened and the doors of the hell are closed. Every wish will come true and Allah, save those people who fast from hell at the time of Iftar (breaking a fast), and a harbinger call every night: Is there any volunteer? Is there anyone who wants to be forgiven? O Allah! Grant each donator reward, but each miser corruption."
Therefore, one of the blessings of the Holy Month of Ramadan is that the Satans who always try to mislead us, are chained in this month.
It doesn’t mean that he is unable to mislead us at all. Perhaps, the reason behind the saying of the Holy Prophet (PBUH) is that the Satans ability of misleading us, is just limited during the Holy Month of Ramadan not they can never do any evil things, instead. It is likely that one who is in jail, but able to establish his communication through different ways, even by pointing others. The Satans are trying to mislead us go astray by every ability they have such as Beautification of ugly deeds, False promises, Fear and etc. Therefore, they never neglected in carrying out their duties of misleading us go astray, even if they are chained during the Holy Month of Ramadan.
It should be noted that it doesn’t mean that satan is completely responsible for our sins. There are so many sins human beings commit by themselves. As we know, the satan doesn’t force human beings to obey him. In the Holy Qur”an, the satan has said, “I had no authority over you, except that I called you and you responded to me.[2]” The human can accept and obey the Holy Prophets’ (PBUTH) invitations.
Therefore, the saying of the Holy Prophet (PBUH) doesn’t mean we never commit any sin by thinking the satan is chained in the Holy Month of Ramadan! Thus, if we commit sin, can you answer this question: “What does it mean by Satan is chained in this month?
For further information in this regards, please refer to the following answers:
Index: Satan influence our thoughts, answer 15805.
[1] . Kulayni, Kafi, Vol. 4, Pg. 67, Darel Kutobel Islamiyah, Tehran 1986.
[2] . “When the matter is all over, Satan will say," Indeed Allah made you a promise that was true and I [too] made you a promise, but I failed you. I had no authority over you, except that I called you and you responded to me. So do not blame me, but blame yourselves. I cannot respond to your distress calls, neither can you respond to my distress calls. Indeed I disavow your taking me for] Allah”s [partner aforetime. There is indeed a painful punishment for the wrongdoers."” Surah Ibrahim, verse 22.
