Sayyiduna ‘Abdullah bin Mas‘ood (radhiyallahu ‘anhu) narrates the following incident:
A certain Sahaabi (radhiyallahu ‘anhu) of Rasulullah (sallallahu ‘alaihi wasallam) once encountered a male jinn. On meeting the jinn, the Sahaabi (radhiyallahu ‘anhu) engaged him in a wrestling match and beat him!
After beating the jinn, the Sahaabi (radhiyallahu ‘anhu) remarked, “I find you to be small and thin. Your small forearms seem to be the forearms of a dog! Are all the jinn like you (i.e. weak and thin) or are only you like this?” The jinn replied, “By Allah! I am actually one of the strong jinn! Let us wrestle a second time. If you beat me again, I will teach you something that will benefit you.”
The Sahaabi (radhiyallahu ‘anhu) agreed and beat the jinn once again. As the jinn had promised to teach the Sahaabi (radhiyallahu ‘anhu) something that would benefit him, he asked the Sahaabi (radhiyallahu ‘anhu), “Do you recite Aayatul Kursi?” When the Sahaabi (radhiyallahu ‘anhu) replied in the affirmative, the jinn responded, “You will not recite Aayatul Kursi in any home except that Shaitaan will leave that home while expelling wind (in fright) as a donkey expels wind. Thereafter, Shaitaan will not be able to enter that home until the morning.” (Sunan Daarimi #33381)
It has similarly been narrated that Sayyiduna ‘Umar (radhiyallahu ‘anhu) once wrestled a jinn and beat him. The jinn begged Sayyiduna ‘Umar (radhiyallahu ‘anhu) to release him saying, “Free me, and I will teach you something through which you will gain protection from us (the jinn).” When Sayyiduna ‘Umar (radhiyallahu ‘anhu) released the jinn, he said, “You will gain protection from us through reciting Aayatul Kursi.” (Tafseerul Qurtubi vol. 4, pg. 263)
Lesson:
When the topic of troublesome jinn is broached, many people feel that the solution or remedy will only be effective if it is complicated and exotic. They think that something as simple as reciting Aayatul Kursi is exactly that – too simple to have effect. This could not be further from the truth. After all, it takes only one small and simple bullet to bring down even the strongest of lions. Similarly, the power and effectiveness of Aayatul Kursi should not be underestimated on account of it being short and easy to recite. On the contrary, this actually contributes to the benefit that a person will derive from Aayatul Kursi, as it can be recited easily multiple times daily, at home, at work, or in any other place.