Page 33 - The Secret Behind Our Trials

The Muslim of Difficult Times
the lower self, described as that which "commands to evil acts"
(Surah Yusuf, 53). This voice, which urges rebellion, immorality, self-
ishness, and cowardice, causes those who listen to it great loss and
attracts Satan's "friendship." To describe to people what they will
lose by making this bargain, it is necessary to know how Satan ac-
quired his influence over them. The Qur'an gives detailed informa-
tion about this and also warns people against his entrapments.
When Allah created Prophet Adam (as), He commanded the
angels and Satan to bow before him. The angels did so, but in his ar-
rogant pride, Satan refused to do so and was therefore driven out of
Paradise for this rebellion. He then asked Allah to allow him to in-
fluence people until the Day of Judgment. Allah granted this re-
quest, but said that he would have no influence over His believing
servants. Satan vowed that he would deceive human beings with
various promises, deceptions, and entrapments, and draw them
away from the true path. The Qur'an relates his oath, as follows:
He [Satan] said: "By Your misguidance of me, I will lie in
ambush for them on your straight path. Then I will come at
them, from in front of them and behind them, from their
right and from their left. You will not find most of them
thankful." He [Allah] said: "Get out of it, reviled and driven
out. As for those of them who follow you, I will fill up Hell
with every one of you." (Surat al-A`raf, 16-18)
He [Satan] said: "Do you see this creature you have honored
over me? If You reprieve me till the Day of Resurrection, I
will be the master of his descendants, except for a very few."
He [Allah] said: "Go! And as for any who follow you, your
repayment is Hell, repayment in full! Stir up any of them
you can with your voice, rally against them your cavalry and
your infantry, share with them in their children and their

31