Page 67 - Satan: The Sworn Enemy of Mankind

Satan's Tactics
tred for ever unless and until you believe in Allah alone."…
(Surat al-Mumtahana, 4)
This matter is again referred to in other stories of the prophets.
For example, the way in which the Prophet Ibrahim (as) absolved
himself from his father, when he learned that he had chosen to be-
come an enemy of Allah, is described as exemplary behavior (Surat
at-Tawba, 114). Another example is found in the story of the Prophet
Nuh (as). Due to the fact that his son was an unbeliever, Allah called
to him, "… Nuh, he is definitely not of your family…" (Surah Hud,
46). Because, the true family of a believer is other believers. Those
who seek friends elsewhere eventually find that their only friend is
Satan.

He Influences People to Fixate on Details
A believer must select the most proper and correct means to
earn the good pleasure of Allah. He must not waste time in triviali-
ties. In accordance to the verse, "So when you have finished, work
on..." (Surat al-Inshirah, 7), when he has fulfilled a good action, im-
mediately he undertakes the next.
However, if he performs his actions without seeking the good
pleasure of Allah, then he may become vulnerable to another little
recognized ploy of Satan. One who falls into this trap becomes con-
fused, fixated on thousands of details, totally removed from what
ought to be his true aim, and, even, unable to remember what that
aim is.
Allah provides an example of this condition in a story about the
Prophet Musa (as). The Prophet Musa (as) told his people, that is,
the Children of Israel, that Allah commanded them to sacrifice a
cow. In response, his people asked a great many unnecessary ques-

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