The Deceptions of Satan

On the basis of these two principles, devils from among mankind and jinn, despite causing terrible destructive effects in the universe and producing all forms of unbelief, misguidance, evil, and ruin, do not have even an atom’s share in creating or bringing anything into existence, nor do they possess any share in the dominion of Allah. They do not do these things through power and strength; rather, in most cases, what is involved is not power and action, but abandonment and inactivity. By preventing good from being done, they bring about evil; that is, evils come into being in this way. For since calamities and evil belong to the category of destruction, their causes need not be an existent power or an active act of creation. Rather, through a non-existent matter and the absence of a single condition, vast destruction may occur.

Because this mystery was not understood among the Zoroastrians, they believed in a creator of good called Yazdān and a creator of evil called Ahriman. Yet the imaginary god of evil whom they called Ahriman is none other than the well-known Satan, who causes evil by leading the human being to misuse his limited free will.

O believers! Your most important weapon and your means of rectification against this terrible destruction caused by the devils is seeking forgiveness, and taking refuge in Allah by saying:

اَعُوذُ بِاللّٰهِ

And your fortress is the Sunnah of the Prophet (saw).

The Fifth Sign

Allah describes to mankind in the heavenly books immense rewards, such as Paradise, and terrifying punishments, such as Hell. Yet although He gives abundant guidance, warnings, admonitions, threats, and encouragements, the believers, despite all these causes of guidance and uprightness, are sometimes overcome by the rewardless, ugly, and weak deceptions of the followers of Satan. This once caused me to reflect deeply.

How can it be that, while īmān is present, such severe threats from Allah are disregarded? How does īmān not disappear?

They are taken in by the exceedingly weak deceptions of Satan, in accordance with the mystery of the verse:

إِنَّ كَيْدَ الشَّيْطَانِ كَانَ ضَعِيفًا

and they rebel against Allah.

Indeed, some of my friends, while having sincerely affirmed perhaps a hundred lessons of truth they had heard from me, and while also holding a very favourable opinion of me and having a close connection with me, were suddenly taken in by the worthless and hypocritical flattery of a heartless and corrupt person, and came to take a position in his favour and against me. I said, “FasubhānAllāh! Can a person fall to such a degree? How insincere he was!” In this way, I backbit that poor friend and fell into sin.