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made small like a small sparrow or a small fly. This is why it is called the withdrawing whisperer. In other words, it whispers into the souls of men, but when Allah is remembered it is turned away. Ibn Abbas said that Satan perches in the heart of the son of Adam. If he is forgetful or neglectful, Satan whispers to him. If he remembers Allah, Satan withdraws.Â’ According to ibn al-Qayyim, the devils enclose humans and are their greatest enemies. What do you think of a person who is surrounded by his greatest enemies who are bent on his destructi on. All of them attack him with whatever evil and harm they can. The only way to be safe is to be safe from all of them, and that is through the remembrance And ibn al-Qayyim records the hadith that was related by of Abdurahman ibn Samra. He said that the Prophet (peace be upon him) went out to them. He stood among them and said, I saw something amazing yesterday. I saw a man from my community having the angel of death coming to him to take his soul. Then came good dealings with his parents (to intercede for him) and the angel of death left him. And I saw a man whose punishment in the grave was being laid out for him. Then came his ablutions and he was rescued by them. Then I saw a man from my community who had been surrounded by devils. Then came the remembrance of Allah and the devils were driven away from him. And I saw a man of my community who was surrounded by the angels of punishment, then there came his prayers and he was rescued from their hands. And I saw a man from my community who was panting from thirst. When he got close to them, he was prevented from every jug of water and they were taken away from him. Then came his fasting of the month of Ramadhan and, therefore, he drank and was satisfied. I saw a man from my community and I saw prophets sitting in groups. Every time the man went to the circles he was driven away. Then al-Qayyim, al-Waabil 60. al-Qayyim, al-Waabil al-Sayib, p. 144.
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