Makaid al-Shaytan
- Author died
- 281 AH
- Editions
- Makaid al-Shaytan
Makaid al-Shaytan (The Plots of Satan) is a hadith and narration-based treatise by the Baghdadi traditionist Ibn Abi al-Dunya (208–281 AH / 823–894 CE) dedicated to examining the nature of the devil and jinn, their schemes to mislead humanity, and the spiritual means of protection against them .
Subject and Content
The work compiles prophetic traditions (hadith), reports from the Companions and Successors (athar), and historical and pious anecdotes detailing the enmity between Satan and mankind . Among the core subjects treated in the text are:
- Categories and Nature of the Jinn: The opening chapter examines the classifications of jinn, reporting traditions that divide them into types such as those resembling serpents and earthly creatures, wind-borne spirits in the air, and those subject to divine reckoning and punishment . It also includes reports concerning shapeshifting spirits (ghilan), identifying them as the sorcerers among the jinn .
- Whisperings and Vulnerabilities of the Heart: The text addresses how Satan positions himself at the human heart, citing reports that describe how he retreats when God is remembered and seizes the heart when God is forgotten . It also records narrations on countering demonic doubts regarding faith and creation, such as responding with آمَنتُ بِاللَّهِ وَرَسُولِهِ ("I believe in God and His Messenger") .
- Encounters with Prophets and the Righteous: The book gathers accounts of Satan attempting to thwart prophets and righteous figures, including reports on the Prophet Muhammad ﷺ at Mecca, Dhul-Kifl, and Ayyub . It also relates encounters involving early Muslim figures, such as Umar ibn al-Khattab wrestling a devil and Zayd ibn Thabit confronting a jinni .
- Spiritual Defenses and Remedies: The work emphasizes protective practices against demonic harm, notably the recitation of Ayat al-Kursi, Surat al-Baqarah, the declaration of faith (la ilaha illa Allah), and calling the prayer (adhan) upon encountering spirits .
Method and Sources
Ibn Abi al-Dunya structures the work around transmitted narrations organized under thematic headings, documenting each report with an unbroken chain of transmission (isnad) . His primary sources include prominent 3rd-century AH traditionists and teachers such as Ali ibn al-Jad, Bishr ibn al-Walid, Abu Khaythama Zuhayr ibn Harb, Ishaq ibn Ismail, Muhammad ibn Idris, and his own father, Muhammad ibn Ubayd .
Reception
The treatise served as an early source on demonology and spiritual ethics, cited by later classical traditionists and commentators. Material from the work is referenced by Badr al-Din al-Zarkashi, Jalal al-Din al-Suyuti in al-Durr al-manthur, Muhammad al-Shawkani in Fath al-qadir, and Muhammad ibn Ismail al-Sanani in al-Tanwir, as well as by Badr al-Din al-Shibli in his specialized study on the jinn, Akam al-marjan fi ahkam al-jan .
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