Page 42 - Satan: The Sworn Enemy of Mankind

SATAN: THE SWORN ENEMY OF MANKIND
rank of prophethood, had asked Allah to inspire him to give thanks
(Surat an-Naml, 19), serves as an example for all believers. Because,
Satan ambushes people from in front, back, and from the right and
the left, and seeks to prevent them giving thanks to Allah, by such
means as deceptive as inspiring in them to take things for granted or
preventing them from recognizing the value of the blessings con-
ferred on them.

He Inspires Fear
Believers' nearness to Allah is like a spiritual shield against
Satan. Surrender to Allah, calling on Him by His beautiful names,
knowing that everything in the world is under His control, and turn-
ing wholeheartedly towards Him, instills believers with spiritual
fortitude. Satan tries, by all means, and at all times, to destruct that
spiritual strength. One such method is to inspire "fear" other than the
fear of Allah.
There is a specific reason why Satan employs this weapon. Fear
can limit the expansion of one's awareness, the weakening of convic-
tion in Allah, and the interruption of one's submission to Him. Such a
condition is impossible for a true believer. Satan can only influence
those who are weak of conscience, who are heedless, and whose
minds are for the time being, or totally, shut off from reality. A verse of
the Qur'an recalls that Allah is the only power that ought to be feared:
That was only Satan who intimidated his adherents. But do
not fear them—fear Me if you are believers. (Surah Al
`Imran, 175)
For the believers, the world is a temporary place, the experience
through which is governed according to a specific destiny. That only
which they must fear is Allah, the Sole Commander of fate and of
this world.

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