Page 26 - The Alliance of the Good

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THE ALLIANCE OF THE GOOD

The Evil Ones Follow Satan's Way

The majority of people believe Satan to be an "imaginary"
being with no real existence, and merely a concept
symbolising evil. However, God also created the jinn, angels
and Satan, as He created man and all the other living beings
on earth, though in another dimension.
The most obvious characteristics of Satan are his
disobedience to God and his arrogance. These aside, from the
time God created the first human being, namely Prophet
Adam (as), on earth, Satan set himself to lead people astray
and hinder them from the right path. This is revealed in the
Qur'an as follows:

He said, 'By Your might, I will mislead all of them
except for Your chosen servants among them.' (Surah
Sad: 82-83)
Satan has various methods he uses to prevent people
from following their conscience and from the righteous way
of God. He may instil in them apprehensions or direct people
to what is wrong by way of his friends. Take, for instance, a
person who recently started performing his regular prayers
or complying with the commandments of God. Some of his
friends, who are under the influence of Satan, may ridicule
this person or draw his attention to some other temptation at
prayer times. If this person fails to have a strong will and
commitment to his conscience, then Satan may, within a short
time, make this person stop practising his prayers by way of
his friends. Alternately, a person helping the poor may be
called a "fool" by his immediate circle and be convinced into
spending his money instead on a new car or a holiday. Satan,
using the people around him, may make this person see