Q: What is Mufti's opinion on the premise of shaitaan (the devil) residing in our bodies, and the removal thereof? It has been mentioned that Sufis have the ability to remove these shaitaan from a person using certain fruits and salt and becoming overtaken by a Pious Peer saheb. Or is there a straight forward manner to remove these shaitaan?
A. It is indeed true that Shaytaan runs through the body of a human being like the blood that flows in his veins. The Hadeeth mentions this. When Rasulullah (Sallallaahu Alayhi wa Sallam) said this, someone asked him whether this applied to him also. He replied in the affirmative but said that Allah assisted him against Shaytaan and that his Shaytaan accepted Islam. (Kanzul Ummaal V5 P320).
There is no basis for this method of removal that you have mentioned. This is the claim of the fraudulent Peers and not of the genuine Peers who follow the Sunnah. There is no mention of the above-mentioned remedy or any other remedy in any Hadeeth. Whenever making Du'aa, ask Allah Ta'aala to protect you from the effects of Shaytaan. This Du'aa will suffice. Ignore the deceptive remedies of the false Peers.
Allah Ta'aala knows best.
Moulana Yusuf Laher
Checked and approved by: Mufti Siraj Desai