Alhassanain(p) Network for Heritage and Islamic Thought

Translator’s Note

In my early childhood my grandmother used to tell us that when we had any fear of darkness or we found ourselves in any lonely place, we should recite:

أَعُوْذُ بِاللٌّهِ مِنَ الشَّيْطَانِ الرَّجِيمِ

I seek refuge from Satan, the cursed one

She told us that when we recited this, the Shaitan or the evil spirits, if they were around, would run away. She asked us to recite this whenever we came out of our home, while going to school or any other place. She also asked us to say these words before we said:

بِسْمِ اللهِ الرَّحْمنِ الرَّحِيمِ

In the Name of Allah, the Beneficent, the Merciful

Before eating our food or commencing any work. Later on, during our theology classes at the school I learnt about the basics of Isti’adha.

Recently I have read a compendium of transcripts of 30 lectures, Sermons, given by the Shahīd al-Mihrab Ayatullah Dastaghaib Shirazi. The erudite scholar has very skilfully encompassed all the aspects of Isti’adha drawing references from the authentic traditions and the Holy Book.

Without going into the technicalities, which are for the scholars and the researchers to delve in, the Ayatullah has give a very apt explanation of the concept for the layman to understand. What really surprises me is that every individual Muslim, from the very childhood, gets used to seeking, Isti’adha - Allah (S.w.T.)’s Protection against the machinations of Satan. This is done as a force of habit cultivated through the instruction of the elders at home. But the details of the need for doing it are known, to but a few.

A reading of the transcripts of the 30 lectures convinced me that they must be available to as wide a group of Muslims as possible.

Hence this translation! I pray to Allah (S.w.T.) that the translation gets published, gets widely circulated, and the spiritual reward (ajr) goes to the Shahīd Dastaghaib. Insha Allah (S.w.T.)!

Preface

Real protection can come only from the Force that is All-Pervading!

This work of Shahīd al-Mihraab Ayatullah Dastaghaib is presented under the title and style of “Isti’adha”.

As is very evident from the title, the subject of the presentation is about seeking Allah (S.w.T.)’s protection against the manoeuvrings of Satan. With his high learning and knowledge of the Verses of the Holy Book and the Traditions of the Infallibles of the Prophet’s Family, he has delivered as many as thirty-five lectures on the intricate subject. He has elucidated the five aspects of Isti’adha, namely piety or taqwa, Remembrance of Allah (S.w.T.) or Dhikr, resignation on the wishes of Allah (S.w.T.) or Tawakkul, honesty of purpose or Ikhlas and humility in supplication or Tadarrau.

The Ayatullah’s discourses on these topics are highly illuminating and interesting for those who peruse them. To support his arguments, the author referred to the Verses, Traditions and tales with great skill. He has presented the facts in a very lucid language that the readers of all intellectual levels understand what he has conveyed to them.

The fact that has to be recognized is that the Ayatullah was the people’s guide (Marja’ at-Taqlid) in his lifetime and therefore the world mourned him at the time of his martyrdom and thereafter too. The great works of the martyred Ayatullah are like the petals of a fragrant flower. These publications people have been buying for themselves and to gift to friends for deriving benefit from their reading.

The Martyr was himself a true practitioner of Isti’adha. Throughout his life he struggled against the baser instincts (nafs al-ammara) and to practice self- denial. This struggle of his was against the machinations of Satan. In this struggle he was victorious. Therefore he introduces Satan to his audiences in a very lucid and effective manner. He gives to the audience the ways of protecting themselves and seeking Allah (S.w.T.)’s Help to this end. The talks in this compendium are studded with thought provoking references. They are so interesting that the narrative retains the interest of the reader throughout the narrative and doesn’t tire them for a while! The interest increases as one makes progress with the reading!

I remember that once when an offset technician was photographing one of the Ayatullah’s books, he got engrossed in reading the contents. He has himself confessed that he was lost so much in reading the book that he forgot that the time for the closure of the studio that day had already come. Throughout the day he had not photographed even a page of the book! He said that on later days too, many a time he got engrossed in the contents of the book during the process of photographing it.

O Allah (S.w.T.)! Keep the Martyr’s spirit under the shadow of Your Munificence and also bless the spirit of his grandson with those of other martyrs!

Sayyid Muhammad Hashim Dastaghaib

05-12-1360

24-02-1982

The First Talk

The Importance of Isti’adha in the Qur’an and the Traditions

The topic that has received the maximum attention in the Holy Qur’an and the traditions of the Prophet (S) and his Vicegerents (a.s.) is Isti’adha or seeking Allah (S.w.T.)’s help to protect one against the manoeuvrings of Satan.

This is done by saying the words audhu billahi min ash-shaitanir rajeem. But it is necessary that one should seek this protection from the depths of one’s heart. That is true Isti’adha.

To highlight the importance of Isti’adha, Allah (S.w.T.) says in the Holy Book:

فَإِذَا قَرَأْتَ الْقُرْآنَ فَاسْتَعِذْ بِاللّهِ مِنَ الشَّيْطَانِ الرَّجِيمِ

So when you recite the Qur’an, seek refuge with Allah from the accursed Shaitan. (Sura an-Nahl, 16:98)

During a prayer, it is mandated, that after saying the takbirat al-ihraam (Allahu Akbar) one should say the Isti’adha in a low tone. The commentators are of opinion that the Isti’adha in this situation has to be in a low tone because it will be like the person wishing to keep himself hidden and at the same time escape from the machinations of the enemy (Satan)! The pointer is towards the fact that the supplicant should seek protection against his mortal enemy who is waiting for an opportunity to overpower him. This is done best by quietly tapping the door of the Great Place of Succor!

Isti’adha before commencing a Prayer

One most important time for Isti’adha is the moment of commencement of a prayer. Whenever a person has to offer prayer to Allah (S.w.T.), he should seek protection from Him against Iblīs who is always bent on misguiding and taking him astray from the right path. Iblīs makes his utmost efforts to destroy the good deeds of the human being that he is deprived of the rewards that he might earn. At least, Iblīs or Satan tries to make the person proud or deceitful about prayers.

For example, if one wishes to do the ablutions, he must do the Isti’adha before commencing to do it by asking for Allah (S.w.T.)’s Protection against the accursed Satan. The ablution should be done only after doing Isti’adha. You must have noticed that many a time the same ablution becomes Satan’s area of operation that he puts many lurking fears or temptations in the mind of the person that make his entire prayer null and void.

Therefore, Isti’adha is one of the most important aspects of prayer that has to be performed in the truest sense, and implicitly, that Allah (S.w.T.)’s protection from the accursed Satan is assured.

Absolute necessity of Isti’adha in permissible affairs

In permissible (mustahab), or day-to-day, affairs like eating food, drinking water or wearing the clothes, Isti’adha is mandated. For example, at the time of wearing the clothes one should recite:

Allahummas-stur awrati wa laa taj’al ash-shaitan lahu naseeba

(O Allah! Keep my private parts hidden and save them from the interference of shaitan)

In every situation, however lowly and futile, or elevated and likeable, one should seek protection from Satan. While entering into the mosque, one should do the Isti’adha lest the persistent Satan chases you even at that threshold! Even while going to a washroom it is required to do the Isti’adha as follows:

Allahumma inni audhu bika minal khabeesil khabs ar-rijs al-khabs ash-shaitanir rajeem

(O Allah I seek Your Protection from the accursed Satan and the defiled impurities)

Satan at the Threshold of the Mosque

One pious person said that he noticed Satan, in apocalyptic revelation, standing at the threshold of the mosque. He asked him “O accursed one! What are you doing here?” Satan replied, “Some of my associates have been missed in these environs and I am waiting for them!” The pious person understood that they must be intelligent persons who have gone into the mosque and the accursed Satan was unable to follow them inside. They must have taken care to say the Isti’adha before entering the mosque.

Reciting the Isti’adha before starting out of one’s House

Isti’adha is absolutely essential when one is going out of the residence. At that time Satan awaits for the person outside. One should do the Isti’adha and recite the following supplication at the moment of emerging out of the house:

Bismillahi wa billahi aamantu billahi tawakkaltu ‘alal laahi wa la hawla wa la quwawata illa billaah

(In the name of Allah (S.w.T.) and with His Help; I believe in Allah and place my trust in Him. And there is no power besides Him)

In the Holy Qur’an it is said with great emphasis that:

إِنَّهُ يَرَاكُمْ هُوَ وَقَبِيلُهُ مِنْ حَيْثُ لاَ تَرَوْنَهُمْ إِنَّا جَعَلْنَا الشَّيَاطِينَ أَوْلِيَاء لِلَّذِينَ لاَ يُؤْمِنُونَ

He (shaitan) surely sees you, he as well as his host, from whence you cannot see them; surely We have made the shaitans to be the guardians of those who do not believe. (Sura al-A’raaf, 7:27)

Only one thing can save you from Satan the accursed. That is Isti’adha. Besides Allah (S.w.T.)’s Protection there is no way of saving oneself from the tricks and deceptions of Satan.

The Prophet of Islam (S) exhorted by Allah (S.w.T.) to do Isti’adha

Man wishes to have access to the Presence of Allah (S.w.T.), but Satan tries his best to prevent him from achieving this end. He puts so many hurdles and impediments in the way of men that it becomes impossible to reach the desired destination. The one and only way of precluding this risk is to seek Allah (S.w.T.)’s protection against Satan.

Allah (S.w.T.) has ordered the Prophet (S):

وَقُل رَّبِّ أَعُوذُ بِكَ مِنْ هَمَزَاتِ الشَّيَاطِينِ وَأَعُوذُ بِكَ رَبِّ أَن يَحْضُرُونِ

And say: O my Lord! I seek refuge in Thee from the evil suggestions of the Shaitans; and I seek refuge in Thee! O my Lord from their presence. (Sura al-Muminun, 23:97-8)

Similarly elsewhere in the Qur’an, Allah (S.w.T.) says:

مِن شَرِّ الْوَسْوَاسِ الْخَنَّاسِ

Say I seek refuge from the evil of the whisperings of the slinking (Shaitan). (Sura an-Naas, 114:4)

Therefore when the enemy is so powerful and strong, we should not be complacent and unmindful of him. We should gather all our faculties and plan to save ourselves by seeking the Protection of Allah (S.w.T.). Otherwise, one would find to his surprise that the place where he was prostrating himself for long was, in fact, Satan’s abode and in his ignorance he thought that he was prostrating to god. When, in such a situation, he uttered ‘O god!” in actual fact he had been submitting himself to Satan!

Worshipping Satan the whole Life

An incident is narrated in Muntakhab al-Tawareekh. My mentor, Ustadh ‘Ali al-Haeri, told in one of his lectures, “In a village of the Isfahan province a rustic villager was in the last throes of his life. The pious person of the village was requested to say the talqeen, or pronounce the creed to the dying person to repeat it. During the talqeen when the sick person said la ilaha illa Allah to bear witness to the Unity of Allah (S.w.T.), from a corner of the room a sound came - Sadaqat ‘abdi – ‘My creature says the truth!’ When the sick man said, ‘Ya Allah - O God!’ Then again the sound came from the same corner of the room, ‘labbayk ‘abdi’- ‘My creature I am here!’ The pious person asked, ‘Who are you that calls?’ The reply was, ‘I am the one whom this person had worshipped all his life! I am Satan!’

Yes! It is a fact that the man worshipped Satan his entire life. He was always responding to the call of Satan. His tongue spoke at Satan’s orders. His eyes saw things in response to Satan’s wishes. His heart responded to Satan’s wishes. When throughout his life the person was at the beck and call of Satan, then at the time of the talqeen whether he said ‘Ya Rabb’ or ‘Ya Iblīs’ his respondent can only be Satan. Even if the curtains got raised in the person’s last moments, and he was repentant, even then he would get only disappointment! Of what use will be this repentance!

O believers! Try to be steadfast in doing the Isti’adha. Don’t underestimate your enemy, Satan! Don’t be under the illusion that only repeating the words ‘Audhu billahi minash-shaitanir rajeem’ is sufficient. Remember! Unless you understand the purport of these words and mould your actions as per the Commandments of Allah (S.w.T.), the Isti’adha will not be of any utility.

Isti’adha during the execution of Justice (Qadhawat), when in privacy with non-Mahram and while in a frenzy of anger

In the traditions of the Ahl al-Bayt, particular attention is drawn for Isti’adha in the following delicate situations:

Qadawat: The qadi or judge has to say the Isti’adha when he adjudicates a case and gives his judgment.

Khalwat ba na-mahram: When a person is alone with a stranger from the opposite gender (such as a man with a young woman), it is imperative that he seeks Allah (S.w.T.)’s protection from Satan (Isti’adha) because in such a situation the accursed Satan makes his utmost effort to lead the person astray.

Frenzy of anger: When a person is in a frenzy of anger, his blood boils and Satan dominates him with full force. Because Satan is created fiery and subtle (latīf), he enters into the person of the man with great stealth. We quote here the example of Hadrat Nuh (a.s.) to explain our point. Satan says, ‘In his frenzy of anger a man for me is like a ball in a child’s hand!’ You must have seen that a child throws the ball whichever way he wants, wherever he wants! In the same Satan overpowers men in frenzy of anger and makes them commit prohibited (Haram) acts. There is no wonder if Satan makes persons commit acts of kufr (infidelity) in a frenzy of anger! Only those lucky persons escape from such situations that have Allah (S.w.T.)’s particular Blessing because they say the Isti’adha in such situations.

The Second Talk

بِسْمِ اللهِ الرَّحْمنِ الرَّحِيمِ

In the Name of Allah, the Beneficent, the Merciful

وَقُل رَّبِّ أَعُوذُ بِكَ مِنْ هَمَزَاتِ الشَّيَاطِينِ

And say: O my Lord! I seek refuge in Thee from the evil suggestions of the Shaitans. (Sura al-Muminun, 23:97)

To summarize the last talk, believers must give importance to Isti’adha and, in accordance with the Nass al-Qur’ani (the categorical Qur’anic Injunction), in all conditions, seek Allah (S.w.T.)’s Protection from the machinations of Satan. Satan, and his ilk, has never left man to his own scruples, nor will they ever do it. They always strive to prevent man from doing any good deed. Whenever man tries to do good, they create impediments in his efforts.

In certain circumstances the efforts of the satanic forces are redoubled. These situations are when one delivers justice, when one is alone with a young strange woman and at the moment when a person is in a rage of anger. As illustrated in the previous talk, Satan tries all forms of deceptions to destroy the human being.

Satan’s Trap or Bait

This evening we shall consider three good deeds of men that Satan makes the best efforts to nullify. They are:

Ahad : Promises or resolutions

Nadhr : Or offerings

Sadaqa : Or charity

When a person resolves to Allah (S.w.T.) for performing a certain act and to give a nadhr (offering) after its fulfillment in accordance with the norms of fiqh, Satan tries all the deceptions at his command to prevent him from offering the promised nadhr!

Similarly when one wants to give a sadaqa in Allah (S.w.T.)’s way, Satan tries his level best to prevent the person from giving it. It has been oft recorded that when a person puts his hand in his pocket then Satan, and his numerous retainers, cling to the person’s hand and put all sorts of fears in his mind. As the Holy Qur’an warns:

الشَّيْطَانُ يَعِدُكُمُ الْفَقْرَ وَيَأْمُرُكُم بِالْفَحْشَاء

Shaitan threatens you with poverty and enjoins on you lewdness. (Sura al-Baqara, 2:268)

They will put a fear in the mind of the person that after doing the charity he will be left with nothing and render him penurious. Sometimes they put a fear in the mind of the person that after doing the charity if he gets some urgent need for personal expense, then from where he will get help! Therefore they persuade the person to refrain from giving charity in the way of Allah (S.w.T.).

Don’t brag after giving charity

And, despite everything, after one has given in charity, then Satan tries his level best to render the good deed null and void and thus the person doesn’t qualify to get reward for the good turn. To achieve this end, Satan would use all his skills to persuade the person to publicly brag about his charitable act. For example, Satan will put in the mind of the person to tell to the beneficiary of the charity, ‘It was I who came to your rescue in time of need! None else would have helped you!’ Or Satan would make him belittle the receiver of the charity by saying, ‘Take this money now. But please don’t come to me for help again!”

Therefore, Allah (S.w.T.) categorically says in the Holy Qur’an:

لاَ تُبْطِلُواْ صَدَقَاتِكُم بِالْمَنِّ وَالأذَى

Do not make your charity worthless by reproach and injury. (Sura al-Baqara, 2:264)

In a nutshell, Satan is a mortal enemy of men and always schemes to make their good turns go in vain. Therefore, they too have to render Satan’s mean efforts ineffective!

Satan sets his sight on the hearts of people

In all commentaries, and particularly in Majma al-Bayan, it is narrated from the Holy Prophet (S) that Satan always has an eye on the heart of a believer. When he finds the person busy in prayer, he flees. The Prophet (S) has said, ‘Satan has put a halter on the hearts of men. But when man remembers Allah (S.w.T.), Satan escapes from him. When a person ignores remembrance of Allah (S.w.T.), Satan would swallow his heart.’ ‘Satan plans to swallow the heart of a believer. But when the believer remembers Allah (S.w.T.), Satan runs away from him.’

Satan chases a person till the end. This subject has received great importance in the Holy Book. Allah (S.w.T.) takes an oath from man that he will not become a follower of Satan. In clear terms Allah (S.w.T.) has described Satan as the sworn enemy of man:

أَلَمْ أَعْهَدْ إِلَيْكُمْ يَا بَنِي آدَمَ أَن لَّا تَعْبُدُوا الشَّيْطَانَ إِنَّهُ لَكُمْ عَدُوٌّ مُّبِينٌ

Did I not charge you, O children of Adam! that you should not serve the Shaitan? Surely he is your open enemy. (Sura Ya Sin, 36:60)

Allah (S.w.T.) has thus forbidden man not to befriend, Satan, his enemy since creation and warned from becoming his follower.

What is Satan? Why he has been Created?

Two topics have always been the subjects of discussion- what is Satan and what is the purpose of his creation? Also, what could be the strategy to save oneself from his machinations and to dispel the fears that Satan creates in the hearts of human beings. These topics need discussion at length, the dissertations on the topics are neither comprehensible for the layman nor are necessary for him. Therefore, they are dealt here in brief to give the basic understanding to the common man.

What is the use of knowing about Satan

Researchers are of opinion that if there is fear of a housebreak in a neighborhood, then the person with good commonsense would look for as many persons as possible to confront the brigands. He will also ensure that the doors and windows are securely locked from inside the house. He will place suitable hurdles on the way by which the burglars might access the house. But, to the contrary, if the person spends lot of time in investigating about the brigands about their numbers instead of fortifying his place, it might become too late to meet their assault.

Therefore, what is necessary for you is to find the ways of guarding against Satan. Trying to find out about his creation, his ways of creating fears in the human beings would be a purposeless exercise. The duty of a person is to guard against Satan in all events.

Now that the Mukhbir as-Sadiq (the Truthful Messenger) has informed that Satan is the sworn enemy of the humans since creation of man, you should not waste time in futile talk and, instead, search for ways of warding him away.

However, since these questions about Satan are oft repeated, the matter is dealt here in brief:

Satan has been created with fire and he is a rare creature

Although man is made of the four elements - fire, water, soil and air - but the content of soil is prominent in his make-up. This gives volume and weight to the human body. Therefore the power of comprehension and action in a human being are limited.

Contrary to this, Satan is made of fire, with the fire and air being predominant components in his make-up. Therefore Satan is absolutely subtle (latif) and light and, therefore, has a very wide range of actions and mobility in his control.

Man thinks that he has great faculties at his command but Satan has such incredible capabilities that he can become so small as to easily pass through a tiny crevice. He can also become so huge as to entirely encompass a vast place! The distances that a man can travel over a month with difficulty, Satan can traverse in the time taken to blink the eyes once! The heavy weights that man is incapable of lifting, Satan can lift effortlessly!

In Sura an-Naml Allah (S.w.T.) has made a reference towards this fact while narrating the story of Hadrat Sulaiman (a.s.) the throne of Bilqees:

قَالَ عِفْريتٌ مِّنَ الْجِنِّ أَنَا آتِيكَ بِهِ قَبْلَ أَن تَقُومَ مِن مَّقَامِكَ وَإِنِّي عَلَيْهِ لَقَوِيٌّ أَمِينٌ

One audacious among the jinn said: I will bring it to you before you rise up from your place; and most surely I am strong (and) trusty for it. (Sura an-Naml, 27:39)

Satan can see us

There is an objection that if Satan exists, then why men are unable to see him? This is an invalid objection. Human eyes cannot see rare things. They can only visualize things that have volume. Can we see the air that is absolutely rare? Can we see the waves of the wind, although we feel them blowing. The human eye is made of soil and it can only see the voluminous things. Therefore the Holy Qur’an says:

إِنَّهُ يَرَاكُمْ هُوَ وَقَبِيلُهُ مِنْ حَيْثُ لاَ تَرَوْنَهُمْ

he (shaitan) surely sees you, he as well as his host, from whence you cannot see them. (Sura al-A’raaf, 7:27)

Yes! At certain times the satans can make themselves visible to people. Many prophets such as Hadrat Nuh (a.s.), Hadrat Yahya (a.s.), Hadrat Muhammad (a.s.) and many men of high piety have seen Satan and even now some pious persons must be there who have this experience.

The creation of Satan and the felicity of Man

As far as the purpose for Satan’s creation, the Omnipotent Allah (S.w.T.) creates whatever He desires to. The raison d’être (hikmat) for creation of Satan requires a detailed discussion that will be out of place here. But, in a nutshell, the creation of Satan (and his ilk) is to test the felicity of the human beings. When men ward away the deceptions of Satan, they ear a place in the Heaven and those who are misled by him, will be Hell bound!

Allah (S.w.T.) has ordered men to do charity. Satan asked people not to do charity lest their horde of wealth diminishes! Those who have wisdom and strong faith snub Satan and tell him,’ Allah (S.w.T.) says:

وَمَا أَنفَقْتُم مِّن شَيْءٍ فَهُوَ يُخْلِفُهُ وَهُوَ خَيْرُ الرَّازِقِينَ

And whatever thing you spend, He exceeds it in reward, and He is the best of Sustainers. (Sura Saba, 34:39)

If you are steadfast in determination and patience like a mountain, then wisdom and knowledge will take you to such a place that it becomes evident if you were irresolute, the Satanic fears would sway your feet! It is the existence of Satan that proves the felicity of men of piety and wisdom who are steadfast despite all the stratagems of the accursed one!

The purpose to create Satan is to put Man to test

We all talk of Allah (S.w.T.) and the Day of Judgment. But do we really have a strong faith is a moot question! It is only Satan (and his ilk) that is a touchstone for testing the humans.

If you take Allah (S.w.T.)’s name with implicit faith, then why you don’t have confidence in His promises. If, unfortunately, you have accepted the fears that Satan has put in you mind, then you will be rendered a mu’min only in the namesake. If you have a strong belief in the existence of the Heaven, then why you don’t make a sincere effort to earn a place in it! Why don’t you try to avoid going to the Hell as Retribution for the evil deeds committed under the spell of Satan!

وَمَا كَانَ لَهُ عَلَيْهِم مِّن سُلْطَانٍ إِلَّا لِنَعْلَمَ مَن يُؤْمِنُ بِالْآخِرَةِ مِمَّنْ هُوَ مِنْهَا فِي شَكٍّ

And he has no authority over them, but that We may distinguish him who believes in the hereafter from him who is in doubt concerning it; and your Lord is the Preserver of all things. (Sura Saba, 34:21)

You see that a particular lady has claims of piety. Satan approaches her in the garb of a human being and says, ‘Madam! You have become old-fashioned and retrograde! You have covered yourself in such a clumsy chadar (shawl)’. When you happen to see the lady a second time, she will not look much different from gentlemen! Satan creates such doubts, fears and changes in the human beings.

Definitely, the purpose of the creation of Satan is to test the human beings as to their determination to be steadfast on the right path. Those who are fickle minded and susceptible to be led astray by Satan are also tested by Satan! Thus Allah (S.w.T.) gets a proof of who is mu’min (believer) and who is fajir (immoral).

Allah (S.w.T.)’s promise and Satan’s promise

It is a human failing that man gives more credence to Satan’s promises. Satan prevents him from spending in the way of Allah (S.w.T.) by creating unfounded fears in his heart. The thought is generated in the man’s mind that what he would do if a more important need for expenditure arises soon and he would be without the money that he was giving for the good cause now.

But man forgets Allah (S.w.T.)’s promise and goes back on spending on good causes. He remains in the service of Satan and is carried away, spending huge amounts for name and fame, hearing his name mentioned on the radio, television and the newspapers!

When Allah (S.w.T.) exhorts people to be kind to their poor neighbors, needy relatives and to help them monetarily, they make an excuse that their financial status doesn’t permit doing any such charity. But when Satan dictates about expense on worldly activities, they spend without giving a second thought!

Allah (S.w.T.)’s call and the call of Satan

Satan has been created with the sole purpose of testing the human beings. He encourages opening of cinema houses and trains satanic men and entangles the two- legged animals in his bait.

Doesn’t the call of ‘Hayya ‘alal falaah’ (come for the good act) emanate from the mosque in the vicinity of cinema halls at the time of Maghrib Prayer? These two situations are in the immediate neighborhood of each other to test the people as to who are righteous and who are going astray!

Who knows The Day of Reckoning might be tomorrow! For that Day the right to get Reward and Retribution is being earned by men today!

Satan never thrusts his will on people forcibly

Satan can never force anyone to do misdeeds. He has no such faculties. He can only operate through creating doubts in the minds of persons and tempting them to go astray with his deceptions. Satan says:

وَمَا كَانَ لِيَ عَلَيْكُم مِّن سُلْطَانٍ

And I had no authority over you… (Sura Ibrahim, 14:22)

Satan’s job is only to create doubts and fears in the human mind. If a person goes to the mosque, it is with his own conviction and decision. When he goes to the cinema theatre, it is his own choice and decision. It is the fault of the man who is tempted by Satan to make decisions that make him a sinner. On the Day of Judgment when people surround Satan and blame him for leading them astray, he will give a simple and clear reply that he did not drag them into the Hell. They had themselves decided to act the way they did! Satan would then ask men to curse themselves rather than cursing him!

وَمَا كَانَ لِيَ عَلَيْكُم مِّن سُلْطَانٍ إِلاَّ أَن دَعَوْتُكُمْ فَاسْتَجَبْتُمْ لِي فَلاَ تَلُومُونِي وَلُومُواْ أَنفُسَكُم

And I had no authority over you, except that I called you and you obeyed me, therefore do not blame me but blame yourselves. (Sura Ibrahim, 14:22)

The Third Talk

بِسْمِ اللهِ الرَّحْمنِ الرَّحِيمِ

In the Name of Allah, the Beneficent, the Merciful

وَقُل رَّبِّ أَعُوذُ بِكَ مِنْ هَمَزَاتِ الشَّيَاطِينِ وَأَعُوذُ بِكَ رَبِّ أَن يَحْضُرُونِ

And say: O my Lord! I seek refuge in Thee from the evil suggestions of the Shaitans; And I seek refuge in Thee! O my Lord from their presence. (Sura al-Muminun, 23:97-8)

The jealous nature of Iblīs

Because of his jealous nature, Iblīs has been exiled from the Heaven. He cannot bear man, whom he thought inferior in comparison to himself, attaining nearness to Allah (S.w.T.). Satan has expressed to Allah (S.w.T.), ‘You have made me with fire and have created Adam (a.s.) with soil. Fire is superior to soil and your ordering me to prostrate before Adam (a.s.) is gross injustice!’

Despite all this, man reaches august position and Satan has been repudiated by Allah (S.w.T.) thus, ‘Get away from here! You are inferior and contemptible. You have no right to brag about your superiority here!’

The human being wishes to achieve nearness to the Creator through prayer. But Satan tries with all his faculties and stratagems to create hurdles in the way of the person’s progress towards the goal. This he does to satisfy his instinct of jealousy. Satan is such an accursed creature that if he is unable to cause major impediments to the efforts of the person, he will satisfy himself even with small disturbances to the man. For example, if Satan is unable to turn a person into an infidel or hypocrite, he will satisfy himself with making the person commit lesser sins.

Jealousy and pride have nothing to do with Heaven

Hadrat Amir al-Mu’minin (a.s.) says in the Sermon of Qaasiya quoted in the Nahj al-Balaagha:

“O people! Satan has rendered himself accursed because of his jealousy. Beware, you too might get involved in jealousy meet the same fate as Satan. Allah (S.w.T.) banished Satan from the Heaven because of his jealousy. He earned the displeasure and ire of Allah (S.w.T.) because of his pride and jealousy. How will you expect to achieve Heaven if you too are proud and jealous! When the mentor of the angels, Iblīs, was sent out of the Heaven because of his pride and jealousy, how can ordinary mortals like you dream of entering the Heaven if they practice these undesirable traits.”

Satan was busy supplicating to Allah (S.w.T.) for long years but for one act of pride he earned the displeasure of Allah (S.w.T.) to be banished from the Heaven for all time. It must be remembered, therefore, that pride and greatness is only for Allah (S.w.T.)! Allah (S.w.T.) says, ‘Magnificence and Greatness only suit Me! You humans! What use your bragging? Conceit and pride are not your raiment. Talking big doesn’t suit you. All men in the eyes of Allah (S.w.T.) are beggars and needy. Allah (S.w.T.) says, ‘Worship Me that there is no god other than Me!’

If man becomes proud and conceited, he will become a partner of Satan!

The Wish of Iblis Fulfilled

It is narrated that when Satan was ordered out of the Heaven, he submitted to Allah (S.w.T.) in the following manner:

‘O Allah (S.w.T.)! What has happened to my supplications offered over a long span of seven thousand years?’

Allah (S.w.T.) replied, ‘We shall reward you what you ask for as a compensation for your prayers.’

Satan said, ‘O Allah (S.w.T.)! Give me respite till the Day of Judgment.’

Allah (S.w.T.) replied, ‘You are given the respite!’

Satan said, ‘My second wish is that I am given the faculty to create doubts and fears in the hearts of the human beings.’

This wish of Satan too was also granted. In granting this wish Allah (S.w.T.) had a strategy in view.

Hadrat Adam (a.s.) beseeched Allah (S.w.T.) thus, ‘O Creator! You have not only provided respite to this formidable enemy of my progeny till the Day of Judgment, you have also given him faculty to cause fears and temptations in the hearts of poor progeny! They will be helpless at the mercy of Satan!

Allah (S.w.T.) said, ‘O Adam (a.s.)! Don’t be disturbed! With every Satan there will be an angel created by us. These angels will help your progeny to guard against the trap set by Satan.’

Angels too have Power of Inspiration (Ilhām)

Whenever Satan creates doubts in the hearts of men, the angels inspire virtue in their heart. Satan says, ‘Don’t go to the mosque!’ The angel encourages the person to go there. Satan encourages the person to commit certain sins that he can make reparation later on. The angel says that the person might die before he expresses his repentance for the sins. And even if he expresses repentance there is no guarantee of acceptance by Allah (S.w.T.).

Give attention to your own hearts! Whether there are thoughts of good or of evil in your heart, you will always have doubts about these thoughts! When Satan upbraids you to commit a sinful act, the angels guide you against it. If Satan tries to prevent you from doing a good turn, the angels encourage you to go ahead with it.

At the Cross-roads

Man is therefore at the cross-roads! Either he loses himself in the valley of greed and vanity or is guided by the angels to the path of virtue and salvation. Allah (S.w.T.) has created man with the faculty of making his own decisions for his actions. Allah (S.w.T.) has categorically said in the Holy Qur’an,

فَكُلًّا أَخَذْنَا بِذَنبِهِ فَمِنْهُم مَّنْ أَرْسَلْنَا عَلَيْهِ حَاصِبًا وَمِنْهُم مَّنْ أَخَذَتْهُ الصَّيْحَةُ وَمِنْهُم مَّنْ خَسَفْنَا بِهِ الْأَرْضَ وَمِنْهُم مَّنْ أَغْرَقْنَا وَمَا كَانَ اللَّهُ لِيَظْلِمَهُمْ وَلَكِن كَانُوا أَنفُسَهُمْ يَظْلِمُونَ

...and it did not beseem Allah that He should be unjust to them, but they were unjust to their own souls. (Sura al‑´Ankabut, 29:40)

The door for repentance is always open

Allah (S.w.T.) has further said, ‘If We had imposed Iblīs over your progeny and has given him respite till the Day of Reckoning, we have kept the doors of repentance open for you progeny too’. If men are caught in the web of the accursed Satan, they can express repentance like their ancestor, Adam (a.s.) and seek forgiveness from Allah (S.w.T.). Remember that Adam (a.s.) after doing repentance reached the august status of Prophet-hood and was one of the choicest of Allah (S.w.T.). Allah (S.w.T.) says:

إِنَّ اللّهَ اصْطَفَى آدَمَ وَنُوحًا وَآلَ إِبْرَاهِيمَ وَآلَ عِمْرَانَ عَلَى الْعَالَمِينَ

Surely Allah chose Adam and Nuh and the descendants of Ibrahim and the descendants of Imran above the nations (Sura Aal-´Imran, 3:33)

Repentant men too can achieve the status of tawwabeen (penitents) and become the dear ones of Allah (S.w.T.). Allah (S.w.T.), as such says:

إِنَّ اللّهَ يُحِبُّ التَّوَّابِينَ

…surely Allah loves the penitent. (Sura al-Baqara, 2:222)

Allah (S.w.T.)’s blessing is for men till the end

All the people of the previous epochs had the doors of repentance open for them. But the conditions for acceptance of their penitence were very severe. It is the felicity of the presence of the Last of Prophets (a.s.) that his people, who are called the Ummat al-Marhooma (The Nation Dealt with Mercy), have a very wide door for repentance available to them. This concession is because their Prophet (S) is Rahmat lil Aalameen (A Mercy for All the Worlds) and Tauba, and its acceptance, too is one of the aspects of blessing.

Bihar al-Anwār, volume three, quotes a tradition of the Prophet (S),” Every person who repents for his past sins one year before his death, will be pardoned.” Then said, “One year is too long a period. If a person repents for his sins a month before his death, he may be pardoned.” The Prophet (S) further added, “One month too is rather a long period. If the person repents a day prior to his death, his sins might be pardoned.” The Prophet (S) then said, “A day too is a long time. If the person repents at the moment of death, in the Barzakh (the Purgatory) or before Izrael looks into his eyes, the person might be pardoned by Allah (S.w.T.).” It proves that if a Muslim repents even while he is dying, he stands a chance of getting pardoned for his sins.

Blessed is the heart that is busy in the Remembrance of Allah (S.w.T.). Can the Blessing be more encompassing than what the Ummat al-Marhooma has been endowed with. Despite the evil presence of Satan and his temptations to men to commit sins, Allah (S.w.T.)’s Blessings are unfathomable!

Hasan Basri asks a question and Imam Zayn al-Abidīn (a.s.) replies

It is narrated that once during the Hajj Hasan Basri said:

Al-‘ajab kul al-ajab, man najaa kaifa najaa?

The most amazing thing is the one who gets saved; how does he get saved?

It is very surprising that man escapes from the clutches of the powerful Iblīs.

This talk of Hasan Basri reached Imam Zayn al-Abidīn (a.s.) He said:

Al-‘ajab kul al-ajab, man halaka kaifa halaka?

The most amazing thing is the one who gets ruined; how does he get ruined?

It is surprising that the unlucky person was deprived of the all pervading Blessing of Allah (S.w.T.) that spreads over the entire Universe.”

Illness before death is a blessing

After spending a long life the time for departure has come nigh. Perhaps it is the kindness of Allah (S.w.T.) that men get afflicted with disease and remain in this stage for some time before death. In this time they prepare themselves to meet their Creator. This is, perhaps, the reason that sudden deaths are considered a calamity. One who remains in the deathbed for a period, say a month, and doesn’t awake to the fact and forgets to express penitence for his past sins before dying will be a very unfortunate person.