Page 92 - Satan: The Sworn Enemy of Mankind

SATAN: THE SWORN ENEMY OF MANKIND
pear on the surface to be obeying the messenger along with the
other believers, and are able to conceal the sickness in their hearts,
though only as long as there is opportunity to excite their base de-
sires. As has been revealed in a verse of the Qur'an, during the pe-
riod of the Prophet (saas), in the event of war, the wickedness of the
hypocrites then became evident:
When the hypocrites and people with sickness in their
hearts said, "What Allah and His Messenger promised us
was mere delusion." (Surat al-Ahzab, 12)
Satan's obstinacy in his rebellion, present despite his knowledge
of the existence of Allah, can also be discovered in other actions of the
hypocrites. For example, there were hypocrites who, in addition to ac-
cepting the messenger of Allah, also witnessed Allah's revelation to
him. These hypocrites were certain of the truth of that revelation.
Indeed, so certain of that truth were they, that they feared that the mes-
senger would be informed of the sickness in their hearts, again by
means of revelation:
The hypocrites are afraid that a sura may be sent down about
them, informing them of what is in their hearts. Say: "Go on
mocking! Allah will expose everything you are afraid of."
(Surat at-Tawba, 64)
Another example of the sickness of the hypocrites is given in
Surat al-Ma´ida. The hypocrites among the people of the Prophet
Musa (as) were so corrupt as to tell him "… So you and your Lord go
and fight. We will stay sitting here..." (Surat al-Ma´ida, 24) when they
received the command to go to war. Although they recognized Allah
and His Prophet (saas), these people, too, shamelessly rebelled against
His commandments. Similarly, another group of hypocrites, from the
time of our Prophet (saas), are referred to as having been terrified by
and resisting the call to wage holy war against the unbelievers:

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