Page 65 - Satan: The Sworn Enemy of Mankind
P. 65
Satan's Tactics
the deviators. (Surat al-Hashr, 18-19)
As a precaution against a forgetfulness and absent-mindedness,
believers must never forget to have Allah in mind, fear Him and aim
for His good pleasure, and not be deluded by the transient allure-
ments of this world. Unless a person constantly bears these truths in
mind, he will become defenseless against Satan.
He Encourages Sentimentality
Sentimentality is the instance of a person's emotions becoming
carried to a level beyond that prescribed in the Qur'an, to the point
of being ruled by one's emotions instead of his reason.
One who behaves emotionally is not rational. All that he does
results from his particular state of mind at that moment. His level of
patience, or fairness, the decisions he takes, and the responses he
has, are all entirely dictated by his emotions. Ill-conceived and con-
flicting decisions invariably result when Satan intervenes. The tak-
ing of such decisions are then followed by regret. The lives of those
who tend to act emotionally are full of regret.
The mind of a believer, however, is balanced and his reason un-
clouded. His every action is governed by Allah's commands. One
who behaves rationally makes his choices keeping in mind that he
will be called to account in the presence of Allah on the Day of
Judgment. Whatever the situation, he acts in light of the Qur'an,
with no compromise.
Satan will at times seek to tempt the believers by encouraging
sentimentality. Every action contrary to the Qur'an, such as harbor-
ing love for unbelievers, or allowing oneself to become upset under
adverse circumstances, are indications of Satan's attempt to inspire
sentimentality subconsciously. These sentiments can be neutralized
only through wholehearted commitment to implementing the stipu-
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