Page 104 - The Silent Language Of Evil

THE SILENT LANGUAGE OF EVIL

of the major signs of disbelief:
... Do not despair of solace from Allah. No one despairs of
solace from Allah except for people who are unbelievers.'
(Surah Yusuf: 87)

Aware of this, satan uses despair as a weapon against those
whose hearts are sick. But as with all his other tricks, he resorts to all
sorts of stratagems to keep them from sensing the danger he's
drawn them into. If he openly urges them to abandon their hope in
Allah's mercy and pardon, he knows that his stratagems may be dis-
covered and fail in their purpose. Any person with faith knows that
being caught up in such thoughts may mean that he has lost his
faith. In this situation, satan makes him experience despair by con-
cealing it behind other thoughts and covering it up with excuses
that appear rational and legitimate. In such a situation, a person
may feel that he has lost faith and hope; and these ideas may be re-
flected in his whole moral behavior and direct his life. Finally, he
may end up by getting what satan already wants, by any means nec-
essary—to be drawn toward the pangs of punishment.
To achieve his aim, satan plans his tactics systematically and
subtly. Stage by stage he employs various methods to lead a person
to where he wants them to be. People shroud their consciences and,
looking for excuses to follow the desires of their lower selves, are
easily persuaded to submit to the way that satan shows them. Satan
especially gives them the excuse that there are plainly many difficul-
ties and serious drawbacks in any situation. Those who take refuge
in this excuse try to comfort their consciences by saying that their
problems are almost insurmountable and would take much effort to
overcome. They candidly claim that they have done everything in
their power and tried every means, but could find no way over their

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