Abu Ayyub and the thing taking his dates
It kept coming back to the same store room.
فَإِذَا رَأَيْتَهَا فَقُلْ بِسْمِ اللَّهِ أَجِيبِي رَسُولَ اللَّهِ
Fa-idhā raʾaytahā fa-qul: bismi-Llāh, ajībī rasūla-Llāh
“When you see her, say: in the name of Allah, answer the Messenger of Allah.”
Where this comes from
Abu Ayyub had a store room with dates in it and something was taking from it. He complained. He was given the words, caught her, and she swore she would not come back, so he let her go. He returned and was asked what happened to his prisoner. He was told she had lied and would do it again. And she did.
The full narration
Narrated 'Abdur-Rahman bin Abi Laila:that Abu Ayyub Al-Ansari had a store house in which he kept dates. A ghoul would come and take from it, so he complained about that to the Prophet (ﷺ). So he said: "Go, and when you see her say: 'In the Name of Allah, answer to the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ).'" He said: "So I caught her, and she swore that she would not return, so I released her." He went to the Prophet (ﷺ) and he said: "What did your captive do?" He said: "She swore not to return." He said: "She has lied, and she will come again to lie." He said: "I caught her another time and she swore that she would not return, so I released her, and went to the Prophet (ﷺ)." He said: "What did your captive do?" He said: "She swore that she would not return." So he said: "She lied and she will come again to lie." So he caught her and said: "I shall not let you go until you accompany me to the Prophet (ﷺ)." She said: "I shall tell you something: If you recite Ayat Al-Kursi in your home, then no Shaitan, nor any other shall come near you." So he went to the Prophet (ﷺ) and he said: "What did your captive do?" He said: "I informed him of what she said, and he said: 'She told the truth and she is a continuous liar
Source
Jāmiʿ at-Tirmidhī · 2880
- Ahmad Muhammad Shakir: Sahih
- Al-Albani: Sahih
- Zubair Ali Zai: Daif
Note on the chain. Scholars differ on this chain. Zubair Ali Zai grades it Daif. The majority (2 of 3) authenticate it.
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