Satan’s Influence on the Bodies of Prophets

Attributing forgetfulness to Satan in Joshua’s words: “and none but Satan made me forget it” does not conflict with the infallibility of prophets from sin and Satan’s influence over them, because prophets are protected from what leads to disobedience to God, not from all of Satan’s harassment, even when it is not connected to sin. There is no evidence negating such satanic influences from the realm of the infallible ones. In fact, the Qur’an confirms such influences of Satan on prophets, as it addresses the Prophet: “And remember Our servant Job when he called upon his Lord: ‘Indeed Satan has afflicted me with hardship and torment’”.(72) Harming an infallible one in ordinary matters, such as harming their body and making them ill, is possible.(73)

Indeed! Satan had no effect on the blessed existence of Moses the Interlocutor who was among the Resolute Ones (Ulū l-ʿAzm), and only affected his accompanying servant, and even then in a matter that was neither contrary to religious law nor caused a forbidden act or the abandonment of an obligation. Therefore, attributing it to Joshua, assuming his infallibility, poses no problem.

It should be noted that jinn have external existence and are influential; like humans, they are of two types: unbelieving and Muslim.(74) Muslim jinn do not disturb anyone, but unbelieving jinn, like unbelieving humans, are troublesome and affect the bodies of believing humans and harm them. They do not only influence through thoughts, but just as unbelievers kill prophets: “and kill the prophets without right”(75), unbelieving jinn may also harm the bodies of prophets; however, they have no influence on the spirit and channel of revelation of the prophets.