Page 34 - The Importance of Patience in the Qur’an

32 THE IMPORTANCE OF PATIENCE IN THE QUR'AN

Satan meets them in unexpected places. He provides them with false
hopes and fears, all of which are designed to lead people into
heedlessness, idleness, and postponing good works. For example,
those who are trying to help the poor for Allah's approval may face
such suggestions as: "If you spend what you have, later on you will

have problems." Or, Satan may try to make people forget a task that
will benefit Islam and the Muslims. However, they must not forget
that "Satan's scheming is always feeble." (Surat an-Nisa', 76).
Satan cannot influence those who display patience in maintaining
their faith in our Lord, because Allah has declared that Satan can
deceive and divert only those who rebel against Allah, as he himself
did. In "If an evil impulse from Satan provokes you, seek refuge in
Allah. He is All-Hearing, All-Seeing" (Surat al-A'raf, 200), Allah calls
on the faithful to take refuge in Him from Satan's wiles and
deceptions.
The faithful who follow this advice spend their lives fighting
Satan's games and tricks, for they understand that just as Satan's
whispering is a full-time job designed to lead people to Hell, it is their
full-time job to resist his whispering. If they feel any hesitation or
slackness about doing something that will bring good, they take

refuge in Allah and concentrate on the task with great enthusiasm.
Such an understanding is mentioned in the following verse:
As for those who believe, when they are bothered by visitors
from Satan, they remember and immediately see clearly. (Surat
al-A'raf, 201)

Heeding Allah's advice, "O you who believe, seek help in
steadfastness and prayer. Allah is with the steadfast" (Surat al-
Baqara, 153), in order to guard themselves against Satan, they ask for
our Lord's help and set their faces against Satan's deceptions, saying: