The Meaning and Virtue of 'أَعُوْذُ بِٱللَّهِ مِنَ ٱلشَّيْطَانِ ٱلرَّجِيْمِ' in Islamic Tradition

The virtue of the phrase "أَعُوْذُ بِٱللَّهِ مِنَ ٱلشَّيْطَانِ ٱلرَّجِيْمِ" (Audhubillahir minash shaitanir rajim) lies in its ability to remind Muslims of the presence of Satan and his attempts to lead them astray from the path of righteousness. It is a way of seeking Allah's protection from Satan's harmful influences and whispers, and acknowledging one's dependence on Allah.  This phrase is commonly used by Muslims before reciting the Quran or before beginning any task, as a way to seek Allah's protection from the accursed Satan. It translates to "I seek refuge in Allah from the cursed Satan."

In Surah An-Nahl, verse 98, it is mentioned: 

فَإِذَا قَرَأْتَ الْقُرْآنَ فَاسْتَعِذْ بِاللَّهِ مِنَ الشَّيْطَانِ الرَّجِيمِ

"So when you recite the Qur'an, [first] seek refuge in Allah from Satan, the expelled [from His mercy]." (16:98)

Satan: cunning, but ultimately a defeated one

The Quran describes Satan as an enemy to humans, who seeks to misguide them and lead them away from the path of righteousness. His ultimate goal is to cause humans to disobey Allah and to distance themselves from His mercy and guidance.In Islamic tradition, Satan is considered to be a powerful and cunning adversary, but ultimately a defeated one, as Allah's power and mercy are always present to protect those who seek it. 

Muslims believe that Satan's arrogance and disobedience led to his downfall and that his story is a warning to humans not to follow his example. 

The story of Satan (Shaitan)

According to Islamic belief, the story of Satan (Shaitan) goes back to the time of the creation of Adam (peace be upon him) and Eve (Hawa). Allah created Adam (peace be upon him) and commanded the angels to prostrate before him as a sign of respect and honor. All of the angels obeyed this command except for Iblis, who was one of the jinn and had been elevated to the rank of angels due to his piety and devotion.

Iblis refused to prostrate before Adam (peace be upon him) and instead showed arrogance and disobedience. When Allah asked him why he did not prostrate, he replied, "I am better than him. You created me from fire and You created him from clay." (Quran 7:12)

Allah then expelled Iblis from His mercy and cursed him, and Iblis became known as Satan. Satan, now filled with envy and hatred for Adam (peace be upon him), vowed to mislead and deceive humans and lead them away from the path of righteousness. He promised to Allah that he would try his best to misguide humanity, except for those who are true believers.

قَالَ فَبِمَا أَغْوَيْتَنِي لَأَقْعُدَنَّ لَهُمْ صِرَاطَكَ الْمُسْتَقِيمَ ثُمَّ لَآتِيَنَّهُم مِّن بَيْنِ أَيْدِيهِمْ وَمِنْ خَلْفِهِمْ وَعَنْ أَيْمَانِهِمْ وَعَن شَمَائِلِهِمْ ۖ وَلَا تَجِدُ أَكْثَرَهُمْ شَاكِرِينَ

[Satan] said, 'Because You have put me in error, I will surely sit in wait for them on Your straight path. Then I will come to them from before them and from behind them and on their right and on their left, and You will not find most of them grateful [to You].(Quran 7:16)

قَالَ ٱخۡرُجۡ مِنۡهَا مَذۡءُومࣰا مَّدۡحُورࣰاۖ لَّمَن تَبِعَكَ مِنۡهُمۡ لَأَمۡلَأَنَّ جَهَنَّمَ مِنكُمۡ أَجۡمَعِینَ

[Allah] said, 'Get out of Paradise, reproached and expelled. Whoever follows you among them - I will surely fill Hell with you, all together.(Quran 7:17)

Muslims also believe in the concept of personal responsibility. It is ultimately up to the individual to choose whether to follow the guidance of Allah or the whispers of Satan, and they will be held accountable for their actions in the Hereafter.

وَقَالَ ٱلشَّیۡطَـٰنُ لَمَّا قُضِیَ ٱلۡأَمۡرُ إِنَّ ٱللَّهَ وَعَدَكُمۡ وَعۡدَ ٱلۡحَقِّ وَوَعَدتُّكُمۡ فَأَخۡلَفۡتُكُمۡۖ وَمَا كَانَ لِیَ عَلَیۡكُم مِّن سُلۡطَـٰنٍ إِلَّاۤ أَن دَعَوۡتُكُمۡ فَٱسۡتَجَبۡتُمۡ لِیۖ فَلَا تَلُومُونِی وَلُومُوۤا۟ أَنفُسَكُمۖ مَّاۤ أَنَا۠ بِمُصۡرِخِكُمۡ وَمَاۤ أَنتُم بِمُصۡرِخِیَّ إِنِّی كَفَرۡتُ بِمَاۤ أَشۡرَكۡتُمُونِ مِن قَبۡلُۗ إِنَّ ٱلظَّـٰلِمِینَ لَهُمۡ عَذَابٌ أَلِیمࣱ

And Satan will say when the matter has been decided, “Indeed Allah had given you a true promise – and the promise I gave you, I made it untrue to you; and I had no control over you except that I called you and you obeyed me; so do not accuse me, blame only yourselves; neither can I help you, nor can you help me; I have no concern with your ascribing me as a partner (to Allah); indeed for the unjust is a painful punishment. (Quran 14:22)