All praise is due to Allah, and may peace and blessings be upon the Messenger of Allah.
First: The meaning of the plague and the poking of jinn
It is reported in a hadith that the Prophet ﷺ said:
“The destruction of my nation will be through killing and plague.” When he was asked about the plague, he said: “It is the poking of your enemies from among the jinn, and in both cases there are martyrs.” Narrated by Ahmad.
The word “poking” means piercing with something sharp without penetrating deeply. The hadith indicates that the plague is a form of harm caused by disbelieving jinn, and that whoever dies from it is hoped to receive the reward of martyrdom.
Second: The meaning of Satan’s affliction through possession
Allah, the Exalted, says:
“Those who consume usury will not stand except as one stands who is being beaten by Satan into insanity through possession.” [Al-Baqarah: 275]
The majority of Qur’anic commentators have explained that this verse describes the condition of those who consume usury on the Day of Resurrection when they emerge from their graves. They will rise in a disordered manner, like someone suffering from a seizure due to being afflicted by Satan.
The word “beaten” refers to striking and moving in an unsteady, disordered manner. Here, “possession” means being afflicted with madness and seizures as a result of Satan’s influence over a person.
Third: The difference between the plague and possession
The plague mentioned in the hadith is a form of harm that afflicts a person in this worldly life. As for the possession mentioned in the verse, it refers to Satan’s influence over a person, causing seizures and convulsive movements.
Therefore, not everyone afflicted by possession is afflicted by the plague; these are two different matters.
Conclusion: The hadith about the poking of jinn discusses the plague and its harm in this worldly life. However, the verse in Surah Al-Baqarah discusses Satan causing a person to suffer from possession and convulsions. They are not the same thing, although both attribute the harm to Satan.
And Allah knows best.