Author: Abdul Hai Lay'yan
The Divine Education Model in the Family of the Prophets (Part 8)
Satan’s Tools for Misleading Man
2. Among Satan’s manifestations for man is the embellishment of Bid’ah (innovations) in religion so that the individual acts upon them, propagates them, and perseveres in them. This leads to man’s misguidance and poses a great danger to him because the individual closes the door to repentance by this innovation. One of the requirements of repentance is that the repentant individual knows that he is disobeying Allah and opposing the Sharia in his action so that he may turn away from it, but the innovator thinks that he is right and worships Allah Almighty in the form of his innovation, without considering it to be against the Sharia, so how can he repent? Hence, some scholars have said, “Innovation is worse than sin.” The meaning is that the sinner has hope of repentance because he knows that disobeying Allah Almighty is punishable and he is expected to give up the sin and return to Allah, but the innovator does not see himself as disobeying Allah in his innovation; therefore, he does not repent. [1]
Also, innovators are included in part of the meaning of this verse: “قُلْ هَلْ نُنَبِّئُكُمْ بِالْأَخْسَرِينَ أَعْمَالاً الَّذِينَ ضَلَّ سَعْيُهُمْ فِي الْحَيَاةِ الدُّنْيَا وَهُمْ يَحْسَبُونَ أَنَّهُمْ يُحْسِنُونَ صُنْعاً.” Translation: “Say (O Prophet! To the disbelievers): Shall I inform you of the most losers of the people? They are those whose efforts and strivings (due to the destruction of their beliefs) are wasted (and become useless) in the life of this world, and they think that they are doing the best of good deeds (and their polytheistic obedience and worship will lead to their salvation).” [2]
Ibn Kathir, in his commentary on this verse, says, “This verse is general and includes anyone who worships Allah Almighty in an unacceptable way and thinks that he is right, while he is in error and his action is rejected. [3]
3. Satan frightens the believer with the fear of poverty so that he refrains from spending his wealth in good ways. Allah says: “الشَّيْطَانُ يَعِدُكُمُ الْفَقْرَ وَيَأْمُرُكُم بِالْفَحْشَاء وَاللّهُ يَعِدُكُم مَّغْفِرَةً مِّنْهُ وَفَضْلاً وَاللّهُ وَاسِعٌ عَلِيمٌ” Translation: “Satan threatens you with poverty and orders you to sin, but Allah promises you forgiveness from Him and an increase in bounty. And Allah is All-aware and All-Knowing.” [4]
Satan, through his temptations, suggests to the believer that spending in the way of Allah will destroy wealth and lead to poverty; as a result, he forces him to be stingy and greedy for wealth so that he fears future needs [5], but it is obligatory on the believer not to listen to Satan’s temptations and to remember that Allah says in the continuation of the same verse: “وَاللّهُ يَعِدُكُم مَّغْفِرَةً مِّنْهُ وَفَضْلاً وَاللّهُ وَاسِعٌ عَلِيمٌ.” Translation: “But Allah promises you forgiveness from Him and abundance, and Allah is All-aware, All-Knowing.” [6]
4. Among the tricks of Satan to deceive people is to frighten the believers from his friends (his friends and followers), in such a way that he instills fear in their hearts of his supporters, subjects, and lovers. This causes the believers to refrain from fulfilling their religious duties towards them, duties such as enjoining good and forbidding evil or refusing to confront them and repel their transgressions; as a result, the believers fall into the trap of cowardice and neglect to implement the laws of the Sharia. Allah Almighty says in this regard: “إِنَّمَا ذَلِكُمُ الشَّيْطَانُ يُخَوِّفُ أَوْلِيَاءهُ فَلاَ تَخَافُوهُمْ وَخَافُونِ إِن كُنتُم مُّؤْمِنِينَ” Translation: It is only Satan who makes you fear his friends (by spreading rumors and baseless words); so (since you believe in Allah), be fearless and courageous and do not fear them, but fear Me if you are (true) believers.” [7]
That is, Satan tries to frighten you by means of his friends or through them and instill in you the illusion that they have invincible power and might, but when he does so, do not fear them and rely on Me and seek refuge in Me, for I am sufficient and your helper against them. If you are believers, then fear Me alone and be careful of disobeying My command. [8]
5. Among Satan’s temptations to man is the instilling of false desires in his heart. These desires vary and differ depending on different people and circumstances. Almighty Allah says: “وَلأُضِلَّنَّهُمْ وَلأُمَنِّيَنَّهُمْ وَلآمُرَنَّهُمْ فَلَيُبَتِّكُنَّ آذَانَ الأَنْعَامِ وَلآمُرَنَّهُمْ فَلَيُغَيِّرُنَّ خَلْقَ اللّهِ وَمَن يَتَّخِذِ الشَّيْطَانَ وَلِيّاً مِّن دُونِ اللّهِ فَقَدْ خَسِرَ خُسْرَاناً مُّبِيناً” [9] Translation: “I (Satan) will certainly mislead them and follow their desires and fancies, and (when I have made them obedient to Me, I will do whatever I want), and they (perform superstitious acts, including cutting off the ears of cattle, and I will order them, and they will change the creation of Allah (and even change the religion of Allah and tarnish the nature of monotheism with polytheism!)) And whoever takes the devil as his protector and helper instead of Allah has indeed suffered a clear loss.”
Imam Qurtubi (MABH) says in his interpretation of this verse, “These desires are not limited to one type, because Satan makes every person hope for a type of desire, in accordance with his desires and carnal desires.” [10] For example, Satan entices those who are tempted to gamble with wealth and freedom from need, and he tempts those who are tempted to commit adultery with hope of future repentance. Thus, he deceives with empty and false promises. Allah the Almighty says: “يَعِدُهُمْ وَيُمَنِّيهِمْ وَمَا يَعِدُهُمُ الشَّيْطَانُ إِلاَّ غُرُورا” Translation: “Satan promises them and makes them wish, and Satan promises them nothing but delusion.” [11]
That is, Satan promises his followers that they will be successful in this world and the Hereafter and that they will enjoy abundant good. But this enemy of Allah lies and slanders, his promises are vacuous, and his desires are deceptive; therefore, these promises are of no benefit to man except “pride.” “Pride” is said to be something that has a deceptive and pleasant appearance, but inwardly it is empty and unpleasant, or when a man considers something beneficial and enjoyable, but after the truth is revealed, he realizes that it is full of great suffering and loss, and then the pain of his regret doubles. [12]
To be continued…
[1]. Abdul Karim, Zidan, Lessons from the Stories of the Quran for Dawah and Callers, Vol. 1, p. 51.
[2]. Al-Kahf / 103-104.
[3]. Imad al-Din Abi al-Fida Ismail, Ibn Kathir, The Great Commentary of the Quran, Vol. 2, p. 107.
[4]. Al-Baqarah / 268.
[5]. Muhammad Rashid Rida, Tafsir al-Manar, Vol. 3, p. 73.
[6]. Al-Baqarah / 268.
[7]. Al-Imran / 175.
[8]. Muhammad ibn Ahmad al-Ansari, Al-Qurtubi, The Compendium of the Rules of the Quran, Vol. 4, p. 282.
[9]. An-Nisa / 119.
[10]. Muhammad ibn Ahmad al-Ansari, Al-Qurtubi, The Compendium of the Rules of the Quran, Vol. 5, p. 389.
[11]. An-Nisa / 120.
[12]. Imad al-Din Abi al-Fida Ismail, Ibn Kathir, The Great Commentary of the Quran, Vol. 1, p. 556; Muhammad Jamal al-Din al-Qasimi, The Beauties of Interpretation, Vol. 5, p. 488.
