What are the jinn/shayateen repulsed by?

What are jinns/shayateen repulsed by?

Answered by Shaikh Muhammad Al- Maliki

Taken from: http://albaseerah.org/forum/showthread.php?t=4377 

6. Question: Yaa Shaykh may Allaah Preserve you. Is it true that the jinn/shayateen are repulsed by frankincense (bakhoor) and the angels are attracted to it? Do angels accompany cats and do jinns occupy vacant places and if a person moves into a house that has been vacant for a period of time are there any procedures that the Muslims should take to free the house of jinns/shayateen? 

Answer: The Shaykh praised Allaah and sent salaah and salaam upon the Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم then said: First of all let me give you this information and glad tidings: "The jinn are a creation that fears the Believers most." The Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم said to 'Umar ibn al-Khattaab [26]:

يا عمر بن الخطاب ما سلكت طريقاً ولا دخلت فجاً شعبا إلا سلك شيطان طريقاً وشعبا غير الذي سلكت

So the shayateen – the jinn, they are scared of the Believers, but they have a sense, they can feel the fear and fright of mankind. So if you become scared of jinns, they become brave and they start scaring you. So what you need to do is what Allaah تعالى says – I am not bringing this from my mind but from what Allaah تعالى says and from my experience – Allaah تعالى says:

ذَلِكُمُ الشَّيْطَانُ يُخَوِّفُ أَوْلِيَاءهُ فَلاَ تَخَافُوهُمْ وَخَافُونِ إِن كُنتُم مُّؤْمِنِينَ
{It is only Shaitân (Satan) that suggests to you the fear of his Auliyâ' [supporters and friends (polytheists, disbelievers in the Oneness of Allâh and in His Messenger, Muhammad)]; so fear them not, but fear Me, if you are (true) believers.} [Aal-'Imraan 3:175]

So if you are a real Believer do not get scared of the Shayateen. 

Regarding incense this is not true – this is commonly known by the Sufis. The Sufis say that the shayateen run away from the bukhoor, the incense, but it's not true. The angels like any good smell whereas the shayateen doesn't like good smells, rather they like bad smells. That's why they whisper for one not to take a shower and they whisper for one not to clean up and that's why when the kuffar go to the toilet – when they urinate or pass stool, they clean with paper only and they don't clean well – that's why the shayateen control them. Allaah تعالى says to the Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم:

أَلَمْ تَرَ أَنَّا أَرْسَلْنَا الشَّيَاطِينَ عَلَى الْكَافِرِينَ تَؤُزُّهُمْ أَزًّا
{See you not that We have sent the Shayâtîn (devils) against the disbelievers to push them to do evil.} [Maryam 19:83]

And that's why Yaa Ikhwaan we need to always be clean and that's why the Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم encouraged us always have wudū' and to use perfume. The Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم said: 

حبب لي من دنياكم النساء والطيب

It was made more beloved to me from your life the woman (the wife) and perfume.[27] So it is good use perfume and incense, but don't think that the shayateen will run away and the angels will come. It's true that the shayateen do not like good smells and the angels like the good smells; but at the same time don't let this idea captivate your mind. I say this because some people will be captivated by this idea, then one day they will forget to perfume and then they will then thinking "O Shaytaan is here, Shaytaan is there, jinn is here and jinn is there" and if anyone whistles or anyone says something, (they say) "O that's Shaytaan" – this is bad. 

But what can turn Shayateen away? Akhi, remembrance of Allaah, remembrance of Allaah can turn Shaytaan away. Allaah تعالى says: 

الَّذِينَ إِذَا ذُكِرَ اللَّهُ وَجِلَتْ قُلُوبُهُمْ وَإِذَا تُلِيَتْ عَلَيْهِمْ آيَاتُهُ زَادَتْهُم إِيمَانًا 
{… when Allâh is mentioned, feel a fear in their hearts and when His Verses (this Qur'ân) are recited unto them, they (i.e. the Verses) increase their Faith; and they put their trust in their Lord (Alone) …} [Al-Anfal 8:2]

And the other ayah:

ألا بِذِكْرِ اللَّهِ تَطْمَئِنُّ الْقُلُوبُ 
{Verily, in the remembrance of Allâh do hearts find rest.} [Ar-Ra'd 13:28]

So do a lot of remembrance (adhkaar), the remembrance of the morning and evening, for entering the house, exiting the house, entering the toilet, exiting the toilet, entering the mosque, exiting the mosque, going into your car etc. You take all the remembrances that the Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم taught us. So Inshaa Allaah you will be protected. 

And when you get to the house, it's not true that a house that is abandoned for a while is captured (occupied) by the shayateen. No, the shayateen are everywhere – they are in every house, they are with everyone. Allaah تعالى says that everyone has aQareen as in Surah Qaaf:

قَالَ قَرِينُهُ 
{His companion (Satan/devil) will say…} [Qaaf 50:27]

So everyone has a qareen accompanying him from the jinn. So, how can you be protected from that? You can be protected by continuous remembrance – by continuously being with Allaah (having Him in your thoughts) all the time. 

قُلْ إِنَّ صَلاتِي وَنُسُكِي وَمَحْيَايَ وَمَمَاتِي لِلَّهِ رَبِّ الْعَالَمِينَ
{Say (O Muhammad صلى الله عليه وسلم): "Verily, my Salât (prayer), my sacrifice, my living, and my dying are for Allâh, 
the Lord of the 'Âlamîn (mankind, jinn and all that exists).} [Al-An'aam 6:162]

So you live for Allaah and Allaah will protect you.

إِنَّ اللَّهَ يُدَافِعُ عَنِ الَّذِينَ آمَنُوا
{Truly, Allâh defends those who believe.} [Al-Hajj 22:38]

And in the hadeeth Qudsi: [28] 

ولا يزال عبدي يتقرب إلي بالنوافل حتى أحبه فإذا أحببته كنت سمعه الذي يسمع به وبصره الذي يبصر به ويده التي يبطش بها ورجله التي يمشي بها
ولئن سألني لأعطينه وإن استعاذني لأعيذنه

Here Allaah تعالى is telling you that as much remembrance, worship and optional worship you do for Him, He will protect your eyes, your ears, your hands and your legs. That means you are surrounded by protection from Allaah تعالى and Allaah تعالى will send the angels around you. 

But when you go to a house whether it is an abandoned house or it is your house or it is someone's house – even if it is your house whether empty or occupied, what you should do is say as-Salaam:

لا تَدْخُلُوا بُيُوتًا غَيْرَ بُيُوتِكُمْ حَتَّى تَسْتَأْنِسُوا وَتُسَلِّمُوا عَلَى أَهْلِهَا
{O you who believe! Enter not houses other than your own, until you have asked permission and greeted those in them.}[An-Nur 24:27]

And in the other ayah:

فَإِذَا دَخَلْتُمْ بُيُوتًا فَسَلِّمُوا عَلَى أنْفُسِكُمْ تَحِيَّةً مِنْ عِنْدِ اللهِ
{But when you enter the houses, greet one another with a greeting from Allâh (i.e. say: السلام عليكم) As-Salâmu 'Alaikum - peace be on you)} 
[An-Nur 24:61]

So even if it is unoccupied you say Assalaamu 'Alaikum yourself as Allaah تعالى guides you. By doing that, there will be no shayateen because as in the hadith the shayateen will stand by the door, when the person comes they listen, if he says Assalaamu 'Alaikum – if he remembers Allaah the head Shaytaan will say 'go back, go back you have no place here.' But when you come into the house silent or saying any words other than the remembrance, He says 'Ok come here you have a place to sleep you have food come, come' and they come into your house.[29] This is the way you protect yourself from the shayateen, it is not related to the bukhoor or this or that – that is from Sufism. Wallaahu A'lam.