Verse of Isti'adha: Difference between revisions

The verse of ''Ista’adhah'' (verse 98 of Sura Nahl) states that when reciting the Qur’an, one should seek refuge in God from Satan’s temptations to be protected from mistakes. ''Ista’adhah'' means seeking refuge, and this refuge has been considered the refuge of the heart; that is, a person should feel in his heart that he has taken refuge in God.

Jurists, referring to this verse, consider saying, “I seek refuge in Allah against the outcast Satan” recommended when reciting the Qur’an and starting the prayer. In some hadiths, other expressions have also been mentioned for ''ista’adhah'', such as “I seek refuge in Allah, the All-Hearing, the All-Knowing, from the outcast Satan.”

 

Verse 98 of Sura al-Nahl, referred to as the verse of ''Ista’adhah'', states that one should seek refuge in God from Satan while reciting the Qur’an. Referring to this verse, Muslims start reciting the Qur’an and some other works with ''ista’adhah''.

 

Some exegetes of the Qur’an have considered the reason for mentioning the adjective “''rajim''” [“outcast”] for Satan to remember his arrogance and violation of God’s command, which implies that upon reciting the Qur’an, one should keep away arrogance, pride, and prejudice so that he does not suffer a fate like Satan.

 

 

Islamic scholars have considered the command of “''ista’idh''” in this verse to imply recommendation and therefore considered saying “''A’udh-u billah...''” recommended for reciting the Qur’an. Muqaddas Ardabili (d. 993 AH), one of the jurists of the 10th century AH, has considered the opinion of most scholars on non-obligation of ''ista’adhah'' and the lack of any command on the obligation of ''ista’adhah'' in hadiths as a proof for understanding recommendation from the mentioned verse. However, referring to the appearance of the command verb (''ista’idh''), some believe that making ''ista’adhah'' is obligatory upon reciting the Qur’an.

According to Shaykh Tusi (d. 460 AH) and ‘Allama Hilli (d. 726 AH), Shiite and Sunni jurists, citing this verse, consider it recommended to say “''A’udh-u billah…''” [“I seek refuge in God...”] in the first rak’ah of daily prayer (after ''Takbirat al-Ihram'' and before the recitation of suras). It has been reported that among Twelver Shiite jurists, only Abu Ali Tusi (son of Shaykh Tusi) believed in the obligation of saying ''ista’adhah'', and Malik b. Anas considered it permissible only in Nafila prayers. Observing ''ikhfat'' (whispering manner) when saying ''ista’adhah'' in prayer is considered recommended.

==Expressions of ''ista’adhah''==

They have mentioned different expressions for ''ista’adhah''. ‘Allameh Majlisi (d. 1110 AH) considered the most famous of them to be “''A’udh-u billah min ash-Shaytan ar-Rajim''” [“I seek refuge in Allah against the outcast Satan”] and “''A’udh-u billah as-Sami’ al-‘Alim min ash-Shaytan ar-Rajim''” [“I seek refuge in Allah, the All-Hearing, the All-Knowing, from the outcast Satan.”]. In some hadiths, other expressions have also been mentioned for ''ista’adhah'', including: “''Asta’idh-u billah min ash-Shaytan ar-Rajim''”, “''A’udh-u billah as-Sami’ al-‘Alim min ash-Shaytan ar-Rajim, wa a’udh-u billah an yahdarun''”, and “''A’udh-u billah min ash-Shaytan ar-Rajim, inn-Allah-a Huw-a-l-Fattah al-‘Alim''”.

Although in the verse of ''ista’adhah'', the phrase “''idha qara’t al-Qur’an-a fa-sta’idh billah…''” [“When you recite the Quran, seek the protection of Allah …”] is mentioned, but they have considered it to suggest that when you want to recite the Qur’an, say “''A’udh-u billah …''” [“I seek refuge in Allah…”]; the same as the verse “When you stand up for prayer, wash your faces…” (5:6) which means to perform wudu when you intend to perform prayer.