Why Do People Sin in Ramadan if Shaytan is Chained? | Q&A

Discover why sins still occur in Ramadan despite the devils (Shayatin) being chained. Learn the scholarly Salafi perspective on the Nafs and rebellious Jinn.

Praise be to Allah, and blessings and peace be upon the Messenger of Allah.


The reality of the devils (Shayatin) being chained during the blessed month of Ramadan is a matter of established Islamic belief (Aqeedah), proven by authentic narrations. However, many Muslims wonder: if the devils are locked away, why does evil still persist, and why do people continue to commit sins?


The Authentic Evidence for the Chaining of Devils


It is definitively proven from the Prophet Muhammad ﷺ that the devils are chained during Ramadan. Abu Hurayrah (رضي الله عنه) reported that the Messenger of Allah ﷺ said:

When Ramadan comes, the gates of Paradise are opened, the gates of Hell are closed, and the devils are chained up. 
Sahih al-Bukhari 1899; Sahih Muslim 1079

How Can Sins Occur if the Devils are Chained?


Scholars of the Sunnah have provided profound explanations to reconcile this authentic Hadith with the observable reality of sins occurring during Ramadan. The persistence of sin is attributed to several key factors:

  1. Only the Strongest Devils are Chained
    Many scholars emphasize that the chaining does not necessarily apply to every single devil. Al-Hafiz Ibn Hajar (رحمة الله عليه) transmits the explanation of Al-Qurtubi (رحمة الله عليه) regarding this phenomenon:

    The answer is that evil actions are reduced on the part of those who fast meeting all the conditions of fasting and taking care to observe the proper etiquette; or that only some of the devils are chained up, namely the marids (strong ones), and not all of them, as it says in some reports; or that evils are reduced in this month, which is something noticeable – fewer evils happen in this month than in others. If all of them were to be chained up that does not mean that evil and sin would not happen, because there are other causes of evil apart from the devils, such as evil souls, bad habits and human devils.
    Fath al-Bari

  2. The Influence of the Evil-Inclined Soul (Nafs)
    The human soul itself possesses an inclination toward desires. Allah mentions in the Quran regarding the soul:

    Indeed, the soul is a persistent enjoiner of evil, except those upon which my Lord has mercy.
    Quran, Surah Yusuf, 12:53

    Even without the active whispering of Shaytan, a person's inner desires, bad habits cultivated throughout the year, and lack of self-discipline can drive them to commit sins.

  3. Restriction of Movement, Not Complete Paralysis
    The chaining of the devils means their ability to deceive and ruin the believers is severely weakened, but it does not imply they are entirely immobilized or eradicated.

Shaykh Muhammad ibn Salih al-Uthaymin (may Allah have mercy on him) brilliantly clarified this when asked in about how to reconcile the chaining of devils with the occurrence of sins. He replied:

The fact that sin happens in Ramadan does not contradict the report that the devils are chained up in Ramadan, because the fact that they are chained up does not prevent them from moving. Hence it says in the hadith: 'And the strong devils are chained up, and they cannot achieve what they usually achieve (at other times).' ... It does not mean that the devils do not move at all, rather they can move and lead people astray, but their activities during Ramadan are not like their activities at other times.
Fatawa al-Siyam (p. 466)

Conclusion


The chaining of the Shayatin is an immense mercy from Allah, making it significantly easier for believers to worship and repent. The visible reduction of evil during Ramadan compared to other months is undeniable proof of this reality. If a person commits a sin in Ramadan, they must realize that it largely stems from their own self (Nafs) and bad habits, which requires sincere introspection, repentance, and spiritual striving.


And Allah knows best.