Page 46 - Satan: The Sworn Enemy of Mankind

SATAN: THE SWORN ENEMY OF MANKIND
vate parts that had been concealed from them. He said,
"Your Lord has only forbidden you this tree lest you be-
come angels or among those who live for ever." He swore to
them, "I am one of those who give you good advice." (Surat
al-A`raf, 20-21)
Satan brought about the expulsion of the Prophet Adam (as)
and his wife from Paradise by deception. The Prophet Adam (as)
was able only to return to the true path by repentance, and seeking
forgiveness from Allah.
The way the Prophet Adam (as), who had been warned by
Allah that Satan was his enemy, but was nevertheless deceived by
Satan, demonstrates to what extent Satan is deceptive and cunning.
That suggested to the Prophet Adam (as) by Iblis, chief among
all the satans, that he was one giving sincere advice, is repeated to
others by the other deceptive satans. Pharaoh, who had told his own
people "I only show you what I see myself and I only guide you to
the path of rectitude." (Surah Ghafir, 29) in an attempt to prevent
them from following the path of Allah, is one such example.
Similar insinuations can be encountered frequently in societies
of the present-day that have veered from the true faith. The sugges-
tion made to one who wishes to live according to the religion, such
as, "you are still young, enjoy life, you can perform your religious
observances when you are older," is one such example. And, the one
offering such a suggestion maintains that he is doing so for the per-
son's own good. The fact is, though, that the road he is calling him to
is the one that leads to Hell.
In order to follow through with his strategy of "giving good ad-
vice," Satan will employ others already under his control. The
Qur'an refers, for example, to those who are marked out by Satan,

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