BENEFIT 382: The ruling on calling someone a "shayṭān" (devil)

Sheikh Yūsuf Al-Jazaa’iri hafidahullāh said: It is permissible to use this term for those who promote falsehood and misguidance. Allāh Almighty says: ﴿شَیَـٰطِینَ ٱلۡإِنسِ وَٱلۡجِنِّ یُوحِی بَعۡضُهُمۡ إِلَىٰ بَعۡضࣲ زُخۡرُفَ ٱلۡقَوۡلِ غُرُورࣰا﴾ "Devils from among mankind and jinn, inspiring one another with adorned speech as delusion." [Surah Al-Anʿām: 112] The people of innovation are among the human devils. Ash-Shāṭibī stated: «فإن ضرر هؤلاء على المسلمين كضرر إبليس، وهم من شياطين الإنس» "The harm these individuals cause to Muslims is akin to the harm of Iblīs himself; they are among the human devils." Bakr ibn Al-‘Alā’, when commenting on the ḥadīth “These are paths, and on each of them is a devil calling to it,” said: «أحسبه أراد شيطانا من الإنس وهي البدع» "I believe he meant a human devil, referring to innovators." [Al-I‘tiṣām] Similarly, Yahya ibn Ma‘īn said about Abu Sa‘d Al-Ṣaghānī: «كان جهميا وليس بشيء كان شيطانا من الشياطين» "He was a Jahmi and of no worth—he was one of the Shaytan." [Tārīkh Al-Dūrī] Among the extremist sects of the Shia, there is even a group called Ash-Shayṭāniyyah. Thus, the Rāfiḍah are the most lowly of the human devils. Moreover, some muhaddiths have used the term shayṭān for certain narrators to indicate the excellence of their narrations. For example, Shu‘bah said about Aws ibn Ḍam‘aj: «والله ما أراه إلا شيطانا» "By Allāh, I think he is nothing but a Shaytan." Al-Mizzi commented: «يعني لجودة حديثه» "He meant this as praise for the precision of his ḥadīth." [Tahdhīb Al-Kamāl] Source: https://t.me/youssefalgazairi/100