Page 42 - Why Do You Deceive Yourself ?

40 WHY DO YOU DECEIVE YOURSELF?

matter how much Satan tries to drive him onto the wrong path, a per-
son has the opportunity to ignore his call and follow the path of Allah.
The only means of doing this is sincere faith and trust in Allah. In the
Qur'an we are told that every effort Satan directs towards people with
these characteristics and every promise he makes will prove futile:
[Allah said:] "Stir up any of them you can with your voice and
rally against them your cavalry and your infantry and share
with them in their children and their wealth and make them
promises! The promise of Satan is nothing but delusion. But

as for My servants, you will not have any authority over
them." Your Lord suffices as a guardian. (Surat al-Isra': 64-65)
Be careful and do not let Satan make you forget the place for
which you really need to prepare by having you pursue worldly ambi-
tions and long term plans. Do not deceive yourself by adopting
worldly ideals and fleeting ambitions and believing that you are doing
something worthwhile. Apply the following instruction of Allah with-
out ever letting it slip your mind at any moment of your life:
You who believe! Fear Allah and let each self look to what it
has sent forward for tomorrow. Fear Allah. Allah is aware of
what you do. Do not be like those who forgot Allah so He
made them forget themselves. Such people are the deviators.
(Surat al-Hashr: 18-19)