Understand Islam The Way Of The Salaf

Satan is our clear enemy because he never stops commanding us to sin with his whispers as Allah says in Surah Al-Baqarah verse 168-169:

“O mankind! Eat of that which is lawful and good on the earth, and follow not the footsteps of Satan. Verily, he is to you a clear enemy. He only orders you to evil and immorality and to say about Allah what you do not know.”

Many people think that Satan cannot be seen. What they meant is the Satan among the jinn. But there are also Satans of the human race who live among us. They whisper with the Satans among the jinn with the aim of deceiving us. Allah says in Surah Al-An’am verse 112-113:

“And thus We have appointed for every Prophet enemies – Satans among mankind and jinn, inspiring one another with adorned speech as a delusion (or by way of deception). If your Lord had so willed, they would not have done it, so leave them alone with their fabrications. (And this is in order) that the hearts of those who disbelieve in the Hereafter may incline to such (deceptive speech), and that they may remain pleased with it, and that they may commit what they are committing (all kinds of sins and evil deeds, etc.).”

In Surah An-Nas verse 6, it is also stated that there are Satans of mankind living among us. Allah says:

“(That is, whisperers and instigators) from among the jinn and mankind.”

We cannot identify for sure the Satans that live among us, therefore we must be careful when choosing friends. Prophet Muhammad ﷺ (may Allah send Blessings and Peace upon him) said:

“A person follows the way of life, character and religion of his close friend. So let one of you look at whom he befriends.” [Sunan Abi Dawud (4833)]

Iblis and his army of Satans will never stop trying to mislead us from the straight path. That was the promise of Iblis to Allah after he refused to prostrate to Prophet Adam عليه السلام (may Peace be upon him). Following are the verses in Al-Quran that narrate the promises of Iblis to Allah:

Iblis said, “Because You (O Allah) caused me to go astray (so) surely I will take a place to prevent them (from following) Your straight path. Then I will come to them, from before them and from behind them, and from their right and from their left; and You will not find most of them grateful.” [Surah Al-‘Araf verse 16-17]

Iblis said, “My Lord! Because You have led me astray, (then) I will surely make all kinds of sins seem fair to them in this world, and I will mislead them all. Except Your chosen servants from among them.” [Surah Al-Hijr verse 39-40]

Iblis said, “Tell me, is this the one whom You have preferred over me? If You give me respite until the Day of Resurrection, I will certainly lead his descendants astray, except a few (of them).” [Surah Al-Isra’ verse 62]

Iblis said, “By Your power (O my Lord), I will mislead them all. Except Your chosen servants from among them.” [Surah Sad verse 82-83]

Satan will succeed in misleading many people just as he promised Allah. This will happen with Allah’s permission. Many people who are ungrateful will be thrown into Hell. Allah says in Surah Saba verse 13:

“…and few of My servants are grateful.”

Prophet Muhammad ﷺ once said:

“The first man to be called on the Day of Resurrection will be Adam who will be shown his offspring, and it will be said to them: ‘This is your father, Adam.’ Adam will say (responding to the call): ‘Here I am and at Your service.’ Then Allah will say (to Adam): ‘Take out of your offspring, the people of Hell.’ Adam will say: ‘O Lord, how many should I take out?’ Allah will say: ‘Take out ninety-nine out of every hundred.’” They (the Prophet’s companions) said: “O Allah’s Apostle! If ninety-nine out of every one hundred of us are taken away, what will remain out of us?” He said: “My followers in comparison to the other nations are like a white hair on a black ox.” [Sahih al-Bukhari (6529)]

Very few of Allah’s servants are chosen to be the inhabitants of Paradise compared to the inhabitants of Hellfire. Who among us are the chosen ones? They are those who believe sincerely and put their trust (tawakkul) in Allah; they surrender completely to Him. Satan has no power and influence over them. Satan only has power and influence over those who take him as an ally and also those who associate partners with Allah. Allah says in Surah An-Nahl verse 99-100:

“Indeed, he (Satan) has no power and influence over those who believe and put their trust in their Lord. Indeed, his power and influence is only over those who take him as an ally and those who (through his incitement) associate partners with Allah.”

Allah loves His servants who put their trust in Him. Allah says in Surah Ali ‘Imran verse 159:

“…then when you have decided (to do something) then put your trust in Allah. Indeed, Allah loves those who put their trust in Him.”

Satan does not like those who put their trust in Allah because one of Satan’s tasks is to frighten people with poverty. Allah says in Surah Al-Baqarah verse 268:

“Satan threatens you with poverty and orders you to commit immorality, while Allah promises you forgiveness from Him and abundant bounty. And (remember), Allah is All-Sufficient for his creatures’ needs, All-Knower.”

Therefore, we should not put our hope in the creations of Allah for sustenance. Only put our hope in Allah. Try our best to find sustenance and then put our trust in Allah. What is true tawakkul (relying on and putting trust in Allah)? Prophet Muhammad ﷺ said:

“If you truly put your trust in Allah, Allah will provide you with sustenance just as the birds get sustenance. The birds go out in the morning hungry and return in the evening full.” [Jami’ at-Tirmidhi (2344)]

This hadith guides us to put effort as much as possible seeking sustenance and only then do we surrender to Allah. Allah will surely provide for our needs as Allah says in Surah At-Talaq verse 3:

“…And whoever puts his trust in Allah, He will suffice him.”

Satan will fail to mislead the servants of Allah who always rely on Him and sincerely believe in Him. They are the ones who always follow the guidance of Allah and believe in His verses. Allah has promised His servants who follow His guidance that there will be no fear on them from anything bad that will happen and they will not grieve. For those who disbelieve and deny the verses of Allah, the fire of Hell is their abode and they will abide therein forever. This is the promise of Allah as stated in Al-Quran, Surah Al-Baqarah verse 38-39:

“…Then if there comes to you guidance from Me, then whoever follows My guidance, there will be no fear on them, nor will they grieve. As for those who disbelieve and deny Our verses, they are the companions of the Fire. They will abide therein forever.”

Allah promises us again in Surah Taha verse 124:

“Then if there comes to you guidance from Me, then whoever follows My guidance, he will not go astray nor will he grieve.”

Follow the guidance of Allah, Al-Quran, and As-Sunnah of Prophet Muhammad ﷺ, so that we may be protected from the misguided path of Satan. Pay attention to the people we associate with; do they lead us to the straight path or deviate from it. It is possible that we are befriending Satan if we do not choose the right friends who invite us only to goodness. Hold on to the teachings of Al-Quran because it is a guide to the Straight Path for those who want to be among Al-Muttaqoon (the pious and righteous ones who fear Allah much and abstain from all kinds of sins and evil deeds which He has forbidden and love Allah much and perform all kinds of good deeds which He has ordained); who want success in this world and the Hereafter.

I conclude with the formula for success in the beginning of Surah Al-Baqarah verse 1-5:

“Alif, Laam, Miim. This Book (Al-Quran), there is no doubt about it (about coming from Allah and about its perfection); it is also a guide for Al-Muttaqoon. They are those who believe in the unseen, and establish prayer and spend (donate) part of the sustenance We have provided for them. And those who believe in what has been revealed to you (O Muhammad), and what was revealed before you, and in the Last Day they are certain. It is they who are upon guidance from their Lord, and it is they who are the successful.”