Man’s overt enemy called Shaytan (I)
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- Category: Philosofaith
- Written by M.U Ndagi
- Hits: 644
Last week on this page, we made comparisons and distinctions between Angels and Jinn. We explained in the piece how Iblis was elevated for his virtuous qualities to be among the angels but became accursed for refusing to obey Allah’s injunction which required him to bow before man; another of Allah’s creature made from clay.
When Allah informed the angels that he was to create a vicegerent on earth, they said: “Will Thou place therein one who will make mischief and shed blood?” Allah (SWT) told the angels that He knew that they know not. After creating the first man, Adam (AS), Allah (SWT) taught him the nature of all things which knowledge the angels did not have. Adam (AS) was able to tell the angels about the nature of all things when Allah (SWT) requested him to do so; placing man in that pure and innocent state (at that time) on a degree above the angels.Consequently, Allah (SWT) commanded the angels to bow in obeisance unto Adam (AS). The angels altogether bowed except Iblis who was naughty and thus became one of those who reject faith. Allah (SWT) narrates the episode that ensured from Shaytan’s waywardness in Qur’an 7:12 “(Allah) said: “what prevented thee from bowing when I commanded thee?’ He said: ‘I am better than he (man); Thou created me from fire, and he from clay”. It was this arrogance and brazen egotism that eventually led to Iblis’ expulsion from the angelic world in the heavens. Allah (SWT) states in Qur’an 38:77 “(Allah) said: ‘Then get thee out from here: for thou art rejected, accursed”.
It was at this point that Allah (SWT) declared Iblis and indeed his progeny under a collective name, the Shaytan, as man’s overt enemy. Allah (SWT) thus cautioned man to beware of the evil machinations of the Iblis; stating in Qur’an 20:117 “Then we said: ‘O Adam! Verily this is an enemy to thee and thy wife: so let him not get you both out of the Garden, so that thou art landed in misery”. Not only had Allah (SWT) warned that the devil, Shaytan, is an apparent enemy of man but had clearly pointed to Adam (AS) that all he and his wife needed in the Garden of Happiness have amply been provided for including food, drink and shelter.
When Allah (SWT) declared as in Qur’an 38:78 that Iblis shall continue to enjoy the wrath of His curse until the Day of Judgment, Iblis pledged to lead Adam (AS) and thereafter the entire mankind away from the path of guidance except those who proved to be truly righteous servants of Allah (SWT). Allah’s response to Iblis’ vow as contained in Qur’an 38:85 reads “That I will certainly fill Hell with thee and all those that follow thee”. In fulfillment of his pledge, Iblis began his treacherous escapade with Adam (AS) by whispering evil to him that he could lead him (Adam) to the Tree of Eternity and to a kingdom that never decays.
In the end, both Adam (AS) and his wife, Hawau (Eve), ate of the tree. That was how Iblis made them slip from the Garden and got them out of the state (of felicity) in which they had been. Hence, Allah (SWT) reminds man in Qur’an 35:6 to consider Shaytan as his worst enemy and treat him as such; stating “Verily Satan is an enemy to you: so treat him as an enemy. He only invites his adherents that they may become companions of the Blazing Fire”. Nonetheless, Allah (SWT) assured Adam (AS) and the entire race of mankind that whoever shuns Shaytan and follows His guidance when it comes shall have no cause to grieve.
Shaytan’s ultimate target in his destructive project is man. There are several snaring techniques employed by the Shaytan to get his victims off the track of guidance. The Shaytan uses intrigues to recruit or capture man in to his gang of rebellious hearts. Allah (SWT) quotes the Shaytan in Qur’an 4: 119 saying “I will mislead them, and I will create in them false desires; I will order them to slit the ears of cattle, and to deface the (fair) nature created by Allah…”
Slitting the ears of cattle is just one instance (from the snaring techniques) of superstitions to which men become slaves when they run after false gods. This is just the case in today’s world of fetish belief by contemporary men and women as manifest in their rampant use of charms, amulets, and other paranormal accessories of the sixth-sense. The act of believing in superstitions and in the false magical powers of charms actually leads man, in the long run, away from Allah (SWT) and from His guidance. To deface the (fair) nature created by Allah (SWT) finds expression today in the common trend among modernized men and women who either on account of superstition or on account of coveting the life of this planet engage in things that rather seek to deface their true nature.
To realize his mischievous goal of hoodwinking man in to destruction, the Shaytan, by Allah’s will, sneaks in to man’s body through the eyes, hair, ears, mouth, and other openings of the human body. When Shaytan tiptoes, creeps or slips in to man’s body; the victim comes under Shaytan’s hypnotist influence. The Shaytan manipulates the mind of his victim(s) towards evil and nothing but immorality. He does that as explained in the last chapter (surah) of the holy Qur’an, (Qur’an 114) by whispering evils in the hearts of mankind. The Shaytan prevents his victim(s) from engaging in virtuous deeds. We shall continue from here next week insha Allah. May Allah (SWT) protect us from the mischief of the whisperer of evil who withdraws after his whisper, amin.
Articles
Man’s overt enemy called Shaytan (I)
Category: Philosofaith Written by M.U Ndagi Hits: 644
Last week on this page, we made comparisons and distinctions between Angels and Jinn. We explained in the piece how Iblis was elevated for his virtuous qualities to be among the angels but became accursed for refusing to obey Allah’s injunction which required him to bow before man; another of Allah’s creature made from clay.
When Allah informed the angels that he was to create a vicegerent on earth, they said: “Will Thou place therein one who will make mischief and shed blood?” Allah (SWT) told the angels that He knew that they know not. After creating the first man, Adam (AS), Allah (SWT) taught him the nature of all things which knowledge the angels did not have. Adam (AS) was able to tell the angels about the nature of all things when Allah (SWT) requested him to do so; placing man in that pure and innocent state (at that time) on a degree above the angels.Consequently, Allah (SWT) commanded the angels to bow in obeisance unto Adam (AS). The angels altogether bowed except Iblis who was naughty and thus became one of those who reject faith. Allah (SWT) narrates the episode that ensured from Shaytan’s waywardness in Qur’an 7:12 “(Allah) said: “what prevented thee from bowing when I commanded thee?’ He said: ‘I am better than he (man); Thou created me from fire, and he from clay”. It was this arrogance and brazen egotism that eventually led to Iblis’ expulsion from the angelic world in the heavens. Allah (SWT) states in Qur’an 38:77 “(Allah) said: ‘Then get thee out from here: for thou art rejected, accursed”.
It was at this point that Allah (SWT) declared Iblis and indeed his progeny under a collective name, the Shaytan, as man’s overt enemy. Allah (SWT) thus cautioned man to beware of the evil machinations of the Iblis; stating in Qur’an 20:117 “Then we said: ‘O Adam! Verily this is an enemy to thee and thy wife: so let him not get you both out of the Garden, so that thou art landed in misery”. Not only had Allah (SWT) warned that the devil, Shaytan, is an apparent enemy of man but had clearly pointed to Adam (AS) that all he and his wife needed in the Garden of Happiness have amply been provided for including food, drink and shelter.
When Allah (SWT) declared as in Qur’an 38:78 that Iblis shall continue to enjoy the wrath of His curse until the Day of Judgment, Iblis pledged to lead Adam (AS) and thereafter the entire mankind away from the path of guidance except those who proved to be truly righteous servants of Allah (SWT). Allah’s response to Iblis’ vow as contained in Qur’an 38:85 reads “That I will certainly fill Hell with thee and all those that follow thee”. In fulfillment of his pledge, Iblis began his treacherous escapade with Adam (AS) by whispering evil to him that he could lead him (Adam) to the Tree of Eternity and to a kingdom that never decays.
In the end, both Adam (AS) and his wife, Hawau (Eve), ate of the tree. That was how Iblis made them slip from the Garden and got them out of the state (of felicity) in which they had been. Hence, Allah (SWT) reminds man in Qur’an 35:6 to consider Shaytan as his worst enemy and treat him as such; stating “Verily Satan is an enemy to you: so treat him as an enemy. He only invites his adherents that they may become companions of the Blazing Fire”. Nonetheless, Allah (SWT) assured Adam (AS) and the entire race of mankind that whoever shuns Shaytan and follows His guidance when it comes shall have no cause to grieve.
Shaytan’s ultimate target in his destructive project is man. There are several snaring techniques employed by the Shaytan to get his victims off the track of guidance. The Shaytan uses intrigues to recruit or capture man in to his gang of rebellious hearts. Allah (SWT) quotes the Shaytan in Qur’an 4: 119 saying “I will mislead them, and I will create in them false desires; I will order them to slit the ears of cattle, and to deface the (fair) nature created by Allah…”
Slitting the ears of cattle is just one instance (from the snaring techniques) of superstitions to which men become slaves when they run after false gods. This is just the case in today’s world of fetish belief by contemporary men and women as manifest in their rampant use of charms, amulets, and other paranormal accessories of the sixth-sense. The act of believing in superstitions and in the false magical powers of charms actually leads man, in the long run, away from Allah (SWT) and from His guidance. To deface the (fair) nature created by Allah (SWT) finds expression today in the common trend among modernized men and women who either on account of superstition or on account of coveting the life of this planet engage in things that rather seek to deface their true nature.
To realize his mischievous goal of hoodwinking man in to destruction, the Shaytan, by Allah’s will, sneaks in to man’s body through the eyes, hair, ears, mouth, and other openings of the human body. When Shaytan tiptoes, creeps or slips in to man’s body; the victim comes under Shaytan’s hypnotist influence. The Shaytan manipulates the mind of his victim(s) towards evil and nothing but immorality. He does that as explained in the last chapter (surah) of the holy Qur’an, (Qur’an 114) by whispering evils in the hearts of mankind. The Shaytan prevents his victim(s) from engaging in virtuous deeds. We shall continue from here next week insha Allah. May Allah (SWT) protect us from the mischief of the whisperer of evil who withdraws after his whisper, amin.