A supplication to ward off Satan

Q: Is it permissible to recite this Dhikr (Remembrance of Allah) which is said to drive away devils from a place? Abu Al-Nadr Hashim ibn Al-Qasim said that he used to see them (i.e., Jinn) in his house. They once said to him, "O Abu Al-Nadr! Leave our house," and it annoyed him greatly. So he wrote letters addressed to Al-Kufah discussing the matter with Ibn Idris, Al-Muhariby and Abu Usamah. So Al-Muhariby wrote back saying there was a well in Al-Madinah whose rope was constantly being cut. Some people came to the three scholars and complained of the matter. So they called for a bucket of water and recited a supplication over it. When they poured the water in the well, a fire came out of it and burnt the top of the well. Upon receiving this letter, Abu Al-Nadr took a vessel full of water, recited the same supplication over it and sprinkled it in the corners of the house. He heard shouting saying, "O Abu Al-Nadr! You have burnt us. We will leave you now." The supplication is, "In the Name of Allah! We have reached the evening by the Leave of the Omnipotent and by the Honor of Allah. We seek refuge with the Sovereignty of Allah and with all His Attributes from the devils, the evil of human and Jinn devils, from every public or private matter, from the evil of what comes out at night and hides during the day or hides by night and comes out during the day, from the evil of what He created, increased, and multiplied, from the evil of Satan and his soldiers, and from the evil of every creature whose forelock You hold. Verily, my Lord is on a Straight Path (the truth). I seek refuge in Allah from whatever (Part No. 24; Page No. 265) Musa, `Isa and Ibrahim (who fulfilled his covenant) have sought Your refuge from, from the evil of what He created, increased, and multiplied, from the evil of Satan and his soldiers and from the evil of any oppressor. I seek refuge in Allah, the All-Hearing and All-Knowing from the accursed Satan, and in the Name of Allah" and they recite Allah's words: By those (angels) ranged in ranks (or rows). By those (angels) who drive the clouds in a good way. By those (angels) who bring the Book and the Qur’ân from Allâh to mankind [Tafsir Ibn Kathîr]. Verily your Ilâh (God) is indeed One (i.e. Allâh): Lord of the heavens and of the earth, and all that is between them, and Lord of every point of the sun’s risings. Verily We have adorned the near heaven with the stars (for beauty). And to guard against every rebellious devil. They cannot listen to the higher group (angels) for they are pelted from every side. Outcast, and theirs is a constant (or painful) torment. Except such as snatch away something by stealing, and they are pursued by a flaming fire of piercing brightness. What is the Islamic ruling on this supplication said to drive away devils? Is it permissible to write it on a piece of paper and hang it inside the home?

A: The basic criterion for deeming any supplication lawful is to be supported by evidence from the Book of Allah or the Sunnah (whatever is reported from the Prophet). The supplication mentioned in the question is cited by Ibn Al-Qayyim (may Allah be merciful to him) in his "Al-Wabil Al-Sayyib fy Al-Kalim Al-Tayyib". The meanings of the supplication are true and some phrases are taken from Prophetic supplications. However, reciting the supplication over water and sprinkling it all over the house in this manner to drive away the devils has no origin in Shari`ah (Islamic law). There is no evidence to support this practice. It is safer for Muslims to limit themselves to the supplications (Part No. 24; Page No. 266) and invocations confirmed from the Prophet (peace be upon him), as they are very beneficial and they protect from the devils. It is related on the authority of Abu Hurayrah (may Allah be pleased with him) who narrated that the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) stated, "Do not make your houses graveyards. The devil flees from the house in which Surah Al-Baqarah is recited." (Related by Muslim in his "Sahih" (authentic) book of Hadith, Imam Ahmad in his "Musnad", Al-Tirmidhy and Al-Nasa'y). Al-Tirmidhy said that it is Hadith Hasan (good Hadith) and Sahih (authentic). Reciting Ayat-ul-Kursy (the Qur’anic Verse of Allah’s Chair, Surah Al-Baqarah, 2:255) is also confirmed from the Prophet (peace be upon him) who said that it protects a Muslim and gives them refuge from the devils. This is related on the authority of Abu Hurayrah (may Allah be pleased with him) who narrated that the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) put him in charge of the Zakat-ul-Fitr (obligatory charity paid before the Festival of Breaking the Fast). A man came and kept taking handfuls of food. So Abu Hurayrah took hold of him and said, "By Allah! I will take you to the Messenger of Allah." But the man said, "Let me go, for I am in need. I have many dependants and I am in dire need." So Abu Hurayrah let the man go. When it was the morning, the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) said, "O Abu Hurayrah! What did your prisoner do yesterday?" He replied, "O Messenger of Allah! He complained of being needy and on having dependants, so I showed him mercy and let him go." He (peace be upon him) said, "He has lied to you and he will come back..." Abu Hurayrah (may Allah be pleased with him) said that it happened again and he waited for the man on the third time. The man came and kept taking handfuls or food, so Abu Hurayrah took hold of him and said, "By Allah! I will take you to the Messenger of Allah. This will be the third and last time. You claim each time is the last and yet you come back." So the man said, "Let me (go and) I will teach you some words with which Allah will benefit you." So Abu Hurayrah asked, "What are they?" He replied, "Whenever you go to bed, recite (Part No. 24; Page No. 267) Ayat-ul-Kursy which starts with: Allâh! Lâ ilâha illa Huwa (none has the right to be worshipped but He), Al-Hayyul-Qayyum (the Ever Living, the One Who sustains and protects all that exists). Until you finish it. By doing so, Allah will appoint a guard for you and no devil will come near you until the morning." So Abu Hurayrah let the man go and when he told the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) about it, he said, "He told you the truth, although he is a liar. Do you know who you have been talking to for three nights, Abu Hurayrah?" He replied in the negative and the Prophet (peace be upon him) said, "It was Satan." (Related by Al-Bukhari in his "Sahih" (authentic) book of Hadith while asserting its authenticity in his comments, and it was also related by Al-Nasa'y in "`Amal Al-Yawm wa Al-Laylah"). Another important method of repelling the devils is by reciting Al-Mu`awwidhatayn (Surahs Al-Falaq and Al-Nas) starting with: Say: "I seek refuge with (Allâh), the Lord of the daybreak, and Say: "I seek refuge with (Allâh) the Lord of mankind, It is confirmed that the Prophet (peace be upon him) used to seek Allah's Refuge from the evil eye of Jinn and humans, and when Al-Mu`awwidhatayn were revealed, he held fast to them and left everything else. (Related by Al-Tirmidhy, Al-Nasa'i and Ibn Majah). Al-Tirmidhy said that it is Hadith Hasan (good Hadith) and Sahih (authentic). There are various supplications confirmed from the Prophet (peace be upon him). As for hanging this supplication in one's home to drive away the devils, this is not permissible as it takes the ruling of hanging amulets which is prohibited. The Prophet (peace be upon him) stated, "Illegal Ruqyah (saying supplications over the sick seeking healing), amulets, and love charms are Shirk (associating others with Allah in His Divinity or worship)." (Related by Ahmad, Abu Dawud and Ibn Majah on the authority of Ibn Mas`ud, may Allah be pleased with him). Hanging these forbidden things leads to (Part No. 24; Page No. 268) Shirk, if the person believes these objects themselves bring about good or avert evil. In addition, hanging supplications in an inappropriate place may wear or tear with time, or the owner of the house may leave them behind when moving out...Etc.May Allah grant us success. May peace and blessings be upon our Prophet Muhammad, his family, and Companions.