Is it prescribed to seek refuge in Allah from Satan when yawning, and is it true that the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) never yawned?
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The questioner : May Allah reward you with good. He says:The questioner : It is said that the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) never yawned, and that yawning is from Satan. Since yawning is from Satan, what prevents a person from seeking refuge in Allah from Satan? Because I have heard people say that seeking refuge from Satan after yawning is a religious innovation (bid'ah)?
The Shaykh : Yes. As for the claim that the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) did not yawn, I do not know about this; whether he yawned or did not yawn, I do not know.
And as for seeking refuge in Allah from Satan when yawning, no, we do not seek refuge in Allah from Satan when yawning. This is because the teacher of the Ummah, Muhammad (peace and blessings be upon him), did not guide us to do so. Rather, he said:Sahih Muslim 2994 and the meaning of "hold it back" is to prevent it like this. He did not say, "Let him seek refuge in Allah from the accursed Satan." And when the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) remains silent about something while the reason for it exists, it indicates that it is not prescribed.
And as for His saying, the Exalted:[Al-A'raf 7:200] This includes the whispers and disturbances that occur for the one praying in his prayer. When one of the Companions complained to the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) that he was afflicted with much whispering during his prayer, he ordered him to spit to his left three times and to seek refuge in Allah from the accursed Satan.
The questioner : May Allah reward you with good.
The Shaykh : Do you not know about spitting? There is no harm. He turns in his prayer and spits and says, "I seek refuge in Allah from the accursed Satan." But if he is in the row, spitting becomes difficult here, because if he spits, it will affect the person next to him. However, seeking refuge is sufficient here in place of spitting. Yes.
The Shaykh : Yes. As for the claim that the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) did not yawn, I do not know about this; whether he yawned or did not yawn, I do not know.
And as for seeking refuge in Allah from Satan when yawning, no, we do not seek refuge in Allah from Satan when yawning. This is because the teacher of the Ummah, Muhammad (peace and blessings be upon him), did not guide us to do so. Rather, he said:
So when one of you yawns he should try to restrain it as far as it lies in his power.
إذا تثاءب أحدكم فليكظم ما استطاعIf he is unable to do so, let him place his hand over his mouth.
فإن لم يستطع فليضع يده على فمهAnd as for His saying, the Exalted:
And if an evil suggestion comes to you from Satan, then seek refuge in Allah
وإما ينزغنك من الشيطان نزغ فاستعذ باللهThe questioner : May Allah reward you with good.
The Shaykh : Do you not know about spitting? There is no harm. He turns in his prayer and spits and says, "I seek refuge in Allah from the accursed Satan." But if he is in the row, spitting becomes difficult here, because if he spits, it will affect the person next to him. However, seeking refuge is sufficient here in place of spitting. Yes.