The Qur’ān (16: 98-100) states: “Whenever you read the Qur’ān, seek refuge with Allah from Shaitan, the accursed. He certainly has no power over those who believe and place their trust in their Lord. He has power only over those who are willing to follow him, and thus ascribe to him a share in Allah’s divinity.”
The Ayat speaks about the Qur’ān and the values to be observed when reciting it. It also mentions some of the false assertions the unbelievers used to make about it. Seeking Allah’s refuge against Shaitan prepares the atmosphere so that it is more congenial for the recitation of Allah’s book. It gives a sense of purity that strengthens the reader’s bond with Allah, the Exalted, so that he is free from any other preoccupation that is with any aspect of the world of evil that Shaitan represents.
The ayah 16:98 teaches us to seek protection against Shaitan, the accursed – something needed in every good deed. But, it will be noticed that it has been mentioned particularly with the recitation of the Qur’ān. One reason for this particularisation could also be that the recitation of the Qur’ān is an act so unique that the Shaitan himself runs away from it. As said poetically: ‘Shaitan bolts from people who recite the Qur’ān!’
Despite this, when came the command to seek protection from the Shaitan in conjunction with the recitation of the Qur’an, it becomes all the more necessary with other deeds.
There is always the danger of Shaitanic instigations intruding into the recitation of the Qur’an itself. For instance, one may fall short in observing the etiquette due during the recitation or that it remains devoid of the essential spirit of deliberation, thinking, submission and humbleness. So, for this too, it was deemed necessary that protection from Shaitanic instigations should be sought. (Ibn Kathir, Mazhari and others)
This does not mean that we should merely repeat the Arabic words a udhu bil-lahi minash-shaitanir-rajim (I seek protection with Allah from Shaitan, the accursed). It means that we should have a sincere desire and do our utmost to guard against Shaitan’s evil suggestions when we are reciting the Qur’ān and should not allow wrong and irrelevant doubts and suspicions to enter our minds. We should try to see everything contained in the Qur’ān in its true light, and refrain from mixing it up with our self-invented theories or ideas foreign to the Qur’ān so as to interpret its meaning against the will of Allah.
Moreover, one should feel that the most sinister and avowed design of Shaitan is that the reader should not obtain any guidance from the Qur’ān. This is why Shaitan tries his utmost to delude the reader and pervert him from getting guidance from it, and mislead him into wrong ways of thinking. Therefore, we should be fully on our guard against Shaitan and seek Allah’s refuge for help so that Shaitan should not be able to deprive us of the benefits from this source of guidance, for if we fail to get guidance from this source, we will never be able to get guidance from anywhere else.
The context in which this ayah occurs here is to serve as an introduction to the answers to the questions which the polytheists (mushriks) of Makkah were raising against the Qur’ān. They have been warned that they could appreciate the blessing of the Qur’ān only if they would try to see it in its true light by seeking Allah’s protection against Shaitan’s misleading suggestions, and not by raising objections against it. Otherwise Shaitan does not let a man understand the Qur’ān and its teachings.
The reciting of ta’awwudh (a udhu bil-lahi minash-shaitanir-rajim) before recitation of the Qur’ān stands proved from the Messenger of Allah ﷺ in order that the command given in this ayah is carried out.
While reciting the Qur’ān – whether in prayers or out of it – the saying of ‘a udhu bil-lah’ is a Sunnah. The rule applies to both situations equally. But, after it has been said once, one may go on reciting as much as one wishes to, for the same single ta’awwudh (said at the beginning) is sufficient. Yes, if one abandons the recitation in the middle, gets busy with some routine task and then resumes it all over again, one should reinitiate the recitation by saying ‘a udhu bil-lah’ and ‘bismillah’ once again at that time.
However, the hadith teaches the saying of ta’awwudh during other things done and situations faced. For example, when someone gets very angry, so says the Hadith, the heat of the anger goes away by saying ta’awwudh. (Ibn Kathir)
It is made clear that Shaitan “has no power over those who believe and place their trust in their Lord.” (Ayah 99) Those who appeal to Allah alone and purge their hearts of any loyalty to any other bond are free of Shaitan’s power. Much as he may whisper to them, their bond with Allah protects them from toeing his line. They may slip and commit errors, but they do not submit to Shaitan. They will always purge their hearts of Shaitan’s influence and turn to Allah in repentance.
“He has power only over those who are willing to follow him, and thus ascribe to him a share in Allah’s divinity.” (Ayah 100) It is such people who make Shaitan their patron, who allow their desires to dictate their actions under Shaitan’s influence. Indeed, some of them make Shaitan their Lord. Some have even worshipped Shaitan, or a similar deity of evil. However, following Shaitan’s footsteps is a kind of associating him as a partner with Allah, the Exalted.
The way of Faith and Trust in Allah is the way of freedom from the power and control of the Shaitan. Ayat 99 and 100 make it clear that Allah has not given the Shaitan the kind of power which would disarm any human being and compel him to become helpless and take to evil. So, should one opt for not using his capability of choice and control because of sheer carelessness or some selfish motive, then, this would be his own fault. Therefore, it was said that people who have faith in Allah and who, rather than trust their will power in their states and actions, place their ultimate trust in Allah for He is the One who gives us the ability to do everything good and also the One who shields us from everything evil. The Shaitan cannot possess and dictate such people.
The same subject has been taken up in Surah 15 – Al-Hijr – Ayah 42 where Allah has Himself refuted the claim of the Shaitan by saying: “Surely, My servants (are such that) you have no power over them – except (over) the one who follows you from among the astray”.