Musnad Ahmad 14587

I heard Allah's Messenger (way peace be upon him) as saying: The throne of Iblis is upon the ocean and he sends detachments (to different parts) inorder to put people to trial and the most important figure in his eyes is one who is most notorious in sowing the seed of dissension.

إِنَّ عَرْشَ إِبْلِيسَ عَلَى الْبَحْرِ فَيَبْعَثُ سَرَايَاهُ فَيَفْتِنُونَ النَّاسَ فَأَعْظَمُهُمْ عِنْدَهُ أَعْظَمُهُمْ فِتْنَةً ‏"

Narrated by Jābir ibn ‘Abdullāh

The Satan sends detachments of his own in order to put people to trial and the highest in rank, in his eyes, is one who is most notorious in sowing the seed of dissension.

يَبْعَثُ الشَّيْطَانُ سَرَايَاهُ فَيَفْتِنُونَ النَّاسَ فَأَعْظَمُهُمْ عِنْدَهُ مَنْزِلَةً أَعْظَمُهُمْ فِتْنَةً ‏"

Narrated by Jābir ibn ‘Abdullāh

Satan places his throne upon water; he then sends his troops; the nearer to him in rank are those who are most skillful in creating mischief

Jābir (may Allah be pleased with him) reported that the Messenger of Allah (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) said: "Satan places his throne upon water; he then sends his troops; the nearer to him in rank are those who are most skillful in creating mischief. One of them comes and says…

إِنَّ إِبْلِيسَ يَضَعُ عَرْشَهُ عَلَى الْمَاءِ ثُمَّ يَبْعَثُ سَرَايَاهُ فَأَدْنَاهُمْ مِنْهُ مَنْزِلَةً أَعْظَمُهُمْ فِتْنَةً يَجِيءُ أَحَدُهُمْ فَيَقُولُ فَعَلْتُ كَذَا وَكَذَا فَيَقُولُ مَا صَنَعْتَ شَيْئًا قَالَ…

Narrated by Jābir ibn ‘Abdullāh + 2 other versions Explained