The epidemic of fatigue and depression are caused by Shaytan.
Millions of people around the world today are complaining of fatigue and tiredness. The feeling of being sluggish prevents people from performing to their potential.
This epidemic of fatigue has no physical causes in majority of the cases. Our prophet (ﷺ) informs fatigue and depression is caused by Shaytan.
The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) as saying: When one of you sleeps, the devil ties three knots at the back of his neck, sealing every knot with, "You have a long night, so sleep." So if one awakes and mentions Allah, a knot will be loosened; if he performs ablution another knot will be loosened; and if he prays, the third knot will be loosened; and in the morning he will be active and in good spirits; otherwise he will be in bad spirits and sluggish.
عَنْ أَبِي هُرَيْرَةَ، أَنَّ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم قَالَ " يَعْقِدُ الشَّيْطَانُ عَلَى قَافِيَةِ رَأْسِ أَحَدِكُمْ إِذَا هُوَ نَامَ ثَلاَثَ عُقَدٍ يَضْرِبُ مَكَانَ كُلِّ عُقْدَةٍ عَلَيْكَ لَيْلٌ طَوِيلٌ فَارْقُدْ فَإِنِ اسْتَيْقَظَ فَذَكَرَ اللَّهَ انْحَلَّتْ عُقْدَةٌ فَإِنْ تَوَضَّأَ انْحَلَّتْ عُقْدَةٌ فَإِنْ صَلَّى انْحَلَّتْ عُقْدَةٌ فَأَصْبَحَ نَشِيطًا طَيِّبَ النَّفْسِ وَإِلاَّ أَصْبَحَ خَبِيثَ النَّفْسِ كَسْلاَنَ " .
Shaytan casts a spell on people every time they go to sleep. The ancient magic trick of blowing in knots is one of the classic forms of witchcraft. The Shaytan targets the neck as it is a weak point. It is through the neck that the brain is supplied blood. The back of the neck is a bridge for the spinal cord know as the cervical vertebrae which supports the skull, moves the spine, and protects the spinal cord, a bundle of nerves connected to the brain.
The Prophet has ordered us to take preventative measures before sleeping by reading the three last surahs in the Quran.
Narrated 'Aisha:
Whenever the Prophet (ﷺ) went to bed every night, he used to cup his hands together and blow over it after reciting Surat Al-Ikhlas, Surat Al-Falaq and Surat An-Nas, and then rub his hands over whatever parts of his body he was able to rub, starting with his head, face and front of his body. He used to do that three times.
It is worth mentioning the relevance of this verse "And from the evil of the blowers in knots" in order to comprehend the wisdom in the Sunnah to counter attack the spell of shaydan when one goes to sleep.
Also reading ayatul Kursi before going to sleep is another form of protection mentioned in another Hadith. (Sahih al-Bukhari 3275)
Do not allow shaydan to spiritually paralyze you and prevent you from performing worship for Allah. Pray fajr to feel good and energetic throughout the day.
Another dimension of this Hadith is the feeling of bad spirit and despondency the bedrock of depression. We will discuss this in another article inshallah.
Sayeed Yusuf Mohamed.
