Can Satan assume the form of a human and steal, as he did with Abu Hurairah, or was that exclusive to the Companion?
Satan can take the form of a human or an animal, and he can also steal and deceive. However, he cannot open doors, untie waterskins, or uncover vessels, due to the Prophet's (peace and blessings be upon him) saying: "Close the doors, tie up the waterskin, overturn the vessel, and extinguish the lamp, for Satan does not open a closed door, untie a tied knot, or uncover a vessel." To protect oneself from them, a Muslim can fortify himself with adhkar (remembrances of Allah) and by reciting the Quran, especially Ayat al-Kursi, Surat al-Baqarah, and the two surahs of refuge (al-Mu'awwidhatayn).
Summarized from the full answer at Ftawy · reviewed Sep 2, 2026
Read the full answer on Ftawyhttps://ftawy.com/en/questions/146460