If the devils are chained in Ramadan, why do I still sin?

The short answer

The hadith is authentic: when Ramadan begins, the gates of Paradise are opened, the gates of Hell are closed and the devils are chained. But Shaitan is not the only source of sin. Our own desires (the nafs), habits and bad company remain, and scholars explain that the chaining weakens the devils rather than removing every cause of sin.

Evidence 1 2 3 4 5 6

Explanation

The Prophet ﷺ said: "When the month of Ramadan starts, the gates of the heaven are opened and the gates of Hell are closed and the devils are chained" 1. The same is narrated in Muslim, with "the gates of mercy are opened" 2. In a version in Ibn Majah whose chain graders differ over, "the satans and mischievous jinns are chained up" and a caller cries out: "O seeker of good, proceed, O seeker of evil, stop" 3.

So why do people still sin? The Quran shows that humans have their own inner pull towards evil. Allah "inspired it [the soul with discernment of] its wickedness and its righteousness", and success belongs to the one who purifies it 4. Iblis himself will say on the Day of Judgment that he only invited, and people responded 5. Many sins come from desires, habits and friends we built up over the other eleven months.

What scholars said. Scholars offered several explanations: that the chaining is of the most rebellious devils (as one narration specifies the mischievous among them); that it weakens their effect on those who fast properly, guarding the fast's conditions and manners; or that it means the causes of sin are reduced, not removed. All agree the hadith is true and that people remain responsible.

The opportunity. This makes Ramadan the perfect test of your real self. Whatever you still struggle with when the devils' influence is weakened shows you where your nafs needs work. The Prophet ﷺ said even he was safe from his own companion devil because Allah helped him against it 6, so ask Allah for help, and use the month to build habits that last after it ends.

The evidence

  1. 1
    Hadith Sahih al-Bukhari 1899
    Sahih Bukhari

    When Ramadan begins, the gates of heaven open, the gates of Hell close and the devils are chained.

    Narrated Abu Huraira:Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) said, "When the month of Ramadan starts, the gates of the heaven are opened and the gates of Hell are closed and the devils are chained

    العربية

    حَدَّثَنِي يَحْيَى بْنُ بُكَيْرٍ، قَالَ حَدَّثَنِي اللَّيْثُ، عَنْ عُقَيْلٍ، عَنِ ابْنِ شِهَابٍ، قَالَ أَخْبَرَنِي ابْنُ أَبِي أَنَسٍ، مَوْلَى التَّيْمِيِّينَ أَنَّ أَبَاهُ، حَدَّثَهُ أَنَّهُ، سَمِعَ أَبَا هُرَيْرَةَ ـ رضى الله عنه ـ يَقُولُ قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم ‏ "‏ إِذَا دَخَلَ شَهْرُ رَمَضَانَ فُتِّحَتْ أَبْوَابُ السَّمَاءِ، وَغُلِّقَتْ أَبْوَابُ جَهَنَّمَ، وَسُلْسِلَتِ الشَّيَاطِينُ ‏"‏‏.‏

  2. 2
    Hadith Sahih Muslim 1079
    Sahih Muslim

    In Ramadan the gates of mercy are opened, Hell's gates locked and devils chained.

    Abu Huraira reported Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) as saying:When there comes the month of Ramadan, the gates of mercy are opened, and the gates of Hell are locked and the devils are chained

    العربية

    حَدَّثَنَا يَحْيَى بْنُ أَيُّوبَ، وَقُتَيْبَةُ، وَابْنُ، حُجْرٍ قَالُوا حَدَّثَنَا إِسْمَاعِيلُ، - وَهُوَ ابْنُ جَعْفَرٍ - عَنْ أَبِي سُهَيْلٍ، عَنْ أَبِيهِ، عَنْ أَبِي هُرَيْرَةَ، - رضى الله عنه - أَنَّ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم قَالَ ‏ "‏ إِذَا جَاءَ رَمَضَانُ فُتِّحَتْ أَبْوَابُ الْجَنَّةِ وَغُلِّقَتْ أَبْوَابُ النَّارِ وَصُفِّدَتِ الشَّيَاطِينُ ‏"‏ ‏.‏

  3. 3
    Hadith Sunan Ibn Majah 1642
    Sahih graded by Al-Albani
    Graders differ
    • Al-Albani: Sahih
    • Muhammad Fouad Abd al-Baqi: Sahih
    • Shuaib Al Arnaut: Daif
    • Zubair Ali Zai: Daif

    The satans and mischievous jinn are chained; a caller calls the seeker of good and of evil.

    It was narrated from Abu Hurairah that the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) said:“When the first night of Ramadan comes, the satans and mischievous jinns are chained up, and the gates of the Fire are closed, and none of its gates are opened. The gates of Paradise are opened and none of its gates are closed. And a caller cries out: ‘O seeker of good, proceed, O seeker of evil, stop.’ And Allah has necks (people) whom He frees (from the Fire), and that happens every day.”

    العربية

    حَدَّثَنَا أَبُو كُرَيْبٍ، مُحَمَّدُ بْنُ الْعَلاَءِ حَدَّثَنَا أَبُو بَكْرِ بْنُ عَيَّاشٍ، عَنِ الأَعْمَشِ، عَنْ أَبِي صَالِحٍ، عَنْ أَبِي هُرَيْرَةَ، عَنْ رَسُولِ اللَّهِ ـ صلى الله عليه وسلم ـ قَالَ: ‏ "‏ إِذَا كَانَتْ أَوَّلُ لَيْلَةٍ مِنْ رَمَضَانَ صُفِّدَتِ الشَّيَاطِينُ وَمَرَدَةُ الْجِنِّ وَغُلِّقَتْ أَبْوَابُ النَّارِ فَلَمْ يُفْتَحْ مِنْهَا بَابٌ. وَفُتِحَتْ أَبْوَابُ الْجَنَّةِ فَلَمْ يُغْلَقْ مِنْهَا بَابٌ. وَنَادَى مُنَادٍ: يَا بَاغِيَ الْخَيْرِ أَقْبِلْ. وَيَا بَاغِيَ الشَّرِّ أَقْصِرْ. وَلِلَّهِ عُتَقَاءُ مِنَ النَّارِ. وَذَلِكَ فِي كُلِّ لَيْلَةٍ ‏"‏ ‏.‏

  4. 4
    Quran Ash-Shams · 91:7–10

    The soul was inspired with its wickedness and righteousness; success is in purifying it.

    وَنَفۡسࣲ وَمَا سَوَّىٰهَا ۝٧ فَأَلۡهَمَهَا فُجُورَهَا وَتَقۡوَىٰهَا ۝٨ قَدۡ أَفۡلَحَ مَن زَكَّىٰهَا ۝٩ وَقَدۡ خَابَ مَن دَسَّىٰهَا ۝١٠

    7 And [by] the soul and He who proportioned it 8 And inspired it [with discernment of] its wickedness and its righteousness 9 He has succeeded who purifies it 10 And he has failed who instills it [with corruption]

  5. 5
    Quran Ibrahim · 14:22

    Satan only invited; people responded and must blame themselves.

    وَقَالَ ٱلشَّيۡطَٰنُ لَمَّا قُضِيَ ٱلۡأَمۡرُ إِنَّ ٱللَّهَ وَعَدَكُمۡ وَعۡدَ ٱلۡحَقِّ وَوَعَدتُّكُمۡ فَأَخۡلَفۡتُكُمۡۖ وَمَا كَانَ لِيَ عَلَيۡكُم مِّن سُلۡطَٰنٍ إِلَّآ أَن دَعَوۡتُكُمۡ فَٱسۡتَجَبۡتُمۡ لِيۖ فَلَا تَلُومُونِي وَلُومُوٓاْ أَنفُسَكُمۖ مَّآ أَنَا۠ بِمُصۡرِخِكُمۡ وَمَآ أَنتُم بِمُصۡرِخِيَّ إِنِّي كَفَرۡتُ بِمَآ أَشۡرَكۡتُمُونِ مِن قَبۡلُۗ إِنَّ ٱلظَّٰلِمِينَ لَهُمۡ عَذَابٌ أَلِيمࣱ‏ ۝٢٢

    And Satan will say when the matter has been concluded, "Indeed, Allah had promised you the promise of truth. And I promised you, but I betrayed you. But I had no authority over you except that I invited you, and you responded to me. So do not blame me; but blame yourselves. I cannot be called to your aid, nor can you be called to my aid. Indeed, I deny your association of me [with Allah] before. Indeed, for the wrongdoers is a painful punishment

  6. 6
    Hadith Sahih Muslim 2814
    Sahih Muslim

    Even the Prophet ﷺ had a companion devil, and Allah helped him against it.

    Abdullah b. Mas'ud reported that Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) said:There is none amongst you with whom is not an attache from amongst the jinn (devil). They (the Companions) said: Allah's Messenger, with you too? Thereupon he said: Yes, but Allah helps me against him and so I am safe from his hand and he does not command me but for good

    العربية

    حَدَّثَنَا عُثْمَانُ بْنُ أَبِي شَيْبَةَ، وَإِسْحَاقُ بْنُ إِبْرَاهِيمَ، قَالَ إِسْحَاقُ أَخْبَرَنَا وَقَالَ، عُثْمَانُ حَدَّثَنَا جَرِيرٌ، عَنْ مَنْصُورٍ، عَنْ سَالِمِ بْنِ أَبِي الْجَعْدِ، عَنْ أَبِيهِ، عَنْ عَبْدِ اللَّهِ بْنِ مَسْعُودٍ، قَالَ قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم ‏"‏ مَا مِنْكُمْ مِنْ أَحَدٍ إِلاَّ وَقَدْ وُكِّلَ بِهِ قَرِينُهُ مِنَ الْجِنِّ ‏"‏ ‏.‏ قَالُوا وَإِيَّاكَ يَا رَسُولَ اللَّهِ قَالَ ‏"‏ وَإِيَّاىَ إِلاَّ أَنَّ اللَّهَ أَعَانَنِي عَلَيْهِ فَأَسْلَمَ فَلاَ يَأْمُرُنِي إِلاَّ بِخَيْرٍ ‏"‏ ‏.‏

This answer was compiled with the help of AI, using only the verified texts shown here. Every reference links to its source. If you find a mistake, please report it. Updated 2026-09-24

Report an issue

Tell us what is wrong. Every report is read.

What is the problem?