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

The four schools agree on this.

Explanation

The hadith is authentic and well known. Abu Hurayrah reported that the Prophet ﷺ said: when Ramadan comes, the gates of Paradise are opened, the gates of Hell are closed and the devils are chained. In Tirmidhi's wording, the devils and the most rebellious of the jinn are shackled.

So why do people still sin? The scholars give several answers, which fit together:

• The nafs. Every person has a self that leans towards desires. Shaytan whispers, but the self also wants. In Ramadan you meet your own nafs more clearly.
• Habits. Eleven months of habits do not disappear in a night. Sins repeated all year carry on by themselves.
• Not every devil. The wording about the rebellious ones shows that the chaining applies to the worst of them, so lesser whispering remains.
• Human devils. The Quran speaks of devils among people as well as jinn: friends, media and settings that call to sin.
• For those who fast properly. Some scholars said the full effect is felt by those who keep the fast with its conditions and manners.

What this means for you. Ramadan is the easiest time of year to change, because one source of evil is restrained. If you still struggle, that shows you where your own self needs work. Make tawbah, cut the triggers, and build new habits that last after Eid. See does Allah forgive all sins and is Shaytan an angel.

The evidence

Checked by our team. For a more accurate answer to your own situation, consult a scholar. Quran translation by Sahih International. Hadith Arabic from the standard editions of the six books and the Muwatta, with gradings as recorded there; the English is our own rendering. Spotted a mistake? Tell us.