إِنَّ عِبَادِي لَيْسَ لَكَ عَلَيْهِمْ سُلْطَانٌ
Certainly, you shall have no authority over My servants,
meaning, `you will have no way to reach those for whom I have decreed guidance.'
إِلاَّ مَنِ اتَّبَعَكَ مِنَ الْغَاوِينَ
except those of the astray who follow you.
Ibn Jarir mentioned that Yazid bin Qusayt said;
"The Prophets used to have Masjids outside their cities, and if a Prophet wanted to consult with his Lord about something, he would go out to his place of worship and pray as Allah decreed. Then he would ask Him about whatever was concerning him.
Once while a Prophet was in his place of worship, the enemy of Allah - meaning Iblis - came and sat between him and the Qiblah (direction of prayer).
The Prophet said, `I seek refuge with Allah from the accursed Shaytan.'
The enemy of Allah said, `Do you know who you are seeking refuge from? Here he is!'
The Prophet said, `I seek refuge with Allah from the accursed Shaytan', and he repeated that three times.
Then the enemy of Allah said, `Tell me about anything in which you will be saved from me.'
The Prophet twice said, `No, you tell me about something in which you can overpower the son of Adam?'
Each of them was insisting that the other answer first, then the Prophet said, Allah says,
إِنَّ عِبَادِي لَيْسَ لَكَ عَلَيْهِمْ سُلْطَانٌ إِلاَّ مَنِ اتَّبَعَكَ مِنَ الْغَاوِينَ
Certainly, you shall have no authority over My servants, except those of the astray who follow you.
The enemy of Allah said, `I heard this before you were even born.'
The Prophet said, `and Allah says,
وَإِمَّا يَنَزَغَنَّكَ مِنَ الشَّيْطَـنِ نَزْغٌ فَاسْتَعِذْ بِاللَّهِ إِنَّهُ سَمِيعٌ عَلِيمٌ
And if an evil whisper comes to you from Shaytan then seek refuge with Allah. Verily, He is All-Hearing, All-Knowing. (7;200)
By Allah, I never sense that you are near but I seek refuge with Allah from you.'
The enemy of Allah said, `You have spoken the truth. In this way you will be saved from me.'
The Prophet said, `Tell me in what ways you overpower the son of Adam.'
He said, `I seize him at times of anger and times of desire.'
وَإِنَّ جَهَنَّمَ لَمَوْعِدُهُمْ أَجْمَعِينَ