Page 24 - Satan: The Sworn Enemy of Mankind

SATAN: THE SWORN ENEMY OF MANKIND
Beware of Satan, for the sake of your religion. He has lost all hope
that he will ever be able to lead you astray in grave issues, so beware
of following him in minor aspects. (Sahih Bukhari)
In conclusion, like all other beings, Satan has been charged with
a role by Allah. That role is to be a means by which the believers,
whom Allah has created for His Paradise, and others, created for
Hell, may be distinguished from each another. Therefore, this means
serves as a purging. Those with diseased or corrupt hearts are kept
from or separated from the believers, by means of Satan. A verse of
the Qur'an has revealed that Satan's influence will effect only the fol-
lowing sort of people:
[It is] so that He can make what Satan insinuates a trial for
those with sickness in their hearts and for those whose
hearts are hard—the wrongdoers are entrenched in hostil-
ity. (Surat al-Hajj, 53)
Furthermore, the difficulties which Satan seeks to inflict upon
believers also offer an opportunity by which they may draw closer
to Allah in this world, and increase their faith:
And [it is] so that those who have been given knowledge
will know it is the truth from their Lord and believe in it
and their hearts will be humbled to Him. Allah guides
those who believe to a straight path. (Surat al-Hajj, 54)

22