By the One in Whose hand my soul is, whenever the devil sees you walking on a path, he follows a path other than yours
Authentic hadithعن سعد بن أبي وقاص رضي الله عنه ، قال: استأذن عمرُ على رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم وعنده نساءٌ من قريش يُكَلِّمْنَه ويَسْتَكْثِرْنَه، عاليةً أصواتهن، فلما استأذن عمر قُمْنَ يَبْتَدِرْنَ الحجابَ، فأذِنَ له رسولُ الله صلى الله عليه وسلم ورسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم يضْحَك، فقال عمر: أضْحَكَ اللهُ سِنَّك يا رسولَ الله، قال: «عَجِبتُ من هؤلاء اللَّاتي كُنَّ عندي، فلمَّا سَمِعْنَ صوتَك ابْتَدَرْنَ الحجابَ» قال عمر: فأنت يا رسولَ الله كنتَ أحقَّ أنْ يَهَبْنَ، ثم قال: أيْ عَدُوَّاتِ أنفسِهن، أَتَهَبْنَني ولا تَهَبْنَ رسولَ الله صلى الله عليه وسلم ؟ قلن: نعم، أنت أَفَظُّ وأغلظُ مِنْ رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم ، قال رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم : «والذي نفسي بيدِه، ما لَقِيَكَ الشيطانُ قَطُّ سالكًا فَجًّا إلَّا سَلَكَ فَجًّا غيرَ فَجِّكَ».
Sa‘d ibn Abi Waqqās (may Allah be pleased with him) reported: ‘Umar once asked permission to see the Messenger (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) while he was hosting some women from Quraysh who were talking loudly to him and asking more from him. When ‘Umar asked permission to enter, the women hurried to screen themselves. Allah's Messenger (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) allowed ‘Umar in while he was smiling. Therefore, ‘Umar commented: "O Allah's Messenger, may Allah always make you happy!" The Messenger (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) said: "I am astonished at these women who were with me. As soon as they heard your voice, they hastened to screen themselves." ‘Umar said: "O Messenger of Allah, you are worthier of their awe!" Then he addressed them (those women) saying: "O enemies of yourselves, do you fear me and not the Messenger of Allah?" They replied: "Yes, for you are tougher and harsher than the Messenger." On that, the Messenger (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) said: "By the One in Whose hand my soul is, whenever the devil sees you walking on a path, he follows a path other than yours."
Explanation
‘Umar ibn al-Khattāb (may Allah be pleased with him) asked permission to see the Messenger of Allah (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) when some women from Quraysh were talking in a loud voice with the Prophet and asking for more responses or more financial support from him. When ‘Umar asked permission to come in, they heard his voice, so they hurried to screen themselves. The Prophet allowed him in, laughing at the women's reaction. Therefore, ‘Umar prayed that Allah would perpetuate the Prophet's happiness, inquiring about the reason for his laughing. The Prophet told him that he laughed at the women's reaction to hearing ‘Umar's voice. Before he came in, they were speaking loudly, but when he entered, they hastened to hide, in awe of him. So ‘Umar said that the Prophet was worthier of such respect and awe and addressed these women with that they were enemies of themselves, wondering how they could act thus in awe of him but not of the Prophet. They answered that they did so because ‘Umar was tough and harsh, unlike the Prophet (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him). Thereupon, the Prophet swore that whenever the devil saw ‘Umar walking on a specific path, he would escape that path and take a different one.
Source · Narrated by Bukhari & Muslim
From the Hadith Encyclopedia (hadeethenc.com).