Defeating Him: Mujāhadah and Discipline

Secondly, some of the ʿulamāʾ have suggested that Shayṭān may be turned away by mujāhadah — struggle, spiritual exercise, discipline. Imam al-Ghazālī says: in his own view, the best course is to take resort to both ways together. The nafs, the enemy and friend within, must be worked on and controlled, and refuge sought, at the same time, in Allah from the enemy without — two enemies. Struggle with the inner one through hunger, thirst, fasting, much spiritual exercise, strengthening the heart through dhikr of Allah: the outer devil may call, come out, let us go and play — but if the one within is sick, he has no wish to come out. Both ends are thereby controlled.

Even so, Shayṭān is not always defeated, and sometimes remains victorious no matter what is done — this too should be believed to be a trial, by which Allah tests a person's mujāhadah, resolve, sincerity, patience and steadfastness in the religion. He gives an example: Allah sometimes imposes the disbelievers as an outward enemy in battle, so that the struggle itself may earn martyrdom — a real and difficult mujāhadah, whose result may be that Allah raises the rank to martyrdom, and one becomes a shahīd. What a wonderful way to go. Allah says, in the third sūrah, verse one hundred and forty:

Such days are turned about between people, so that Allah may know those who believe and may choose witnesses from among them. And also:

Does one suppose he will enter Jannah while Allah has not yet made known those who strive in His path, nor those who are steadfast? It is a test from Allah, and may Allah help everyone in this regard.