Page 55 - Satan: The Sworn Enemy of Mankind

Satan's Tactics
refuge in Allah from the accursed devil." Then he recited the
verse: "The devil shows you fear of poverty and enjoins evil
upon you." (Tirmidhi)

He Fosters Pride
Pride is Satan's primary vice. It was for his pride and disobedi-
ence that he was expelled from the presence of Allah:
Except for Iblis who was arrogant and was one of the unbe-
lievers. He said, "Iblis, what prevented you prostrating to
what I created with My own Hands? Were you overcome by
arrogance or are you one of the exalted?" (Surah Sad, 74-75)
This ailment in Satan also poses a serious threat to human be-
ings. Because, Satan's primary purpose is to infect this same ailment
on others, to render them the more like him. For anyone who con-
tracts this sickness, his reason will become clouded, and his con-
science thwarted. It is on account of this menace that believers are
warned in the Qur'an to remain humble:
Do not strut arrogantly about the Earth. You will certainly
never split the Earth apart nor will you ever rival the moun-
tains in height. (Surat al-Isra´, 37)
Do not avert your face from people out of haughtiness, and
do not strut about arrogantly on the Earth. Allah does not
love anyone who is vain or boastful. [Luqman said to his
son,] "Be moderate in your tread and lower your voice. The
most hateful of voices is the donkey's bray." (Surah
Luqman, 18-19)
The believer must expend the greatest care to avoid pride,
Satan's ultimate vice. Otherwise, he will lose the reward for his
deeds, and incur a grave affliction on his faith.

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