SATAN'S GUILE - DARK FORCES OF EVIL

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"Corrupt doctrines are embraced as the very truth of God by the deluded; and one way or other, directly or consequentially, they lead on practice, and that with the highest security and confidence, as if they were very truths indeed.

The devil then hath this great advantage by error, that if he can but corrupt the minds of men, especially in the more weighty and fundamental points of religion, then by a great ease and without any more labour he hath gained them to the practice of whatsoever these corrupted principles lead unto.

... Thus he conquers parties and multitudes, as a victorious general takes cities and whole countries, by surrender ..."      [1]

 

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Any good translation will most likely capture the essence of the verses quoted below. For ease, I have only made use of a popular translation (Yusuf Ali) for the purposes of the theme of this particular article. Please refer to your own favourite translations if required.

Some archaic words have been replaced in the following translations for modern reading and are highlighted in red. Please see end of article.       [2]

 

 

BACKGROUND

PERMISSION SOUGHT

 

015:036

"(Iblis) said: "O my Lord! give me then respite till the Day the (dead) are raised." 

 

 

TEMPORARY PERMISSION GRANTED
 

015.037-38 
"(God) said: "Respite is granted you. Till the Day of the Time appointed." 

 

007:015

"(God) said: "Be thou among those who have respite." 

 

 

AN UNSUSPECTING YET UNRELENTING ATTACK ENSUES - ONE FULL OF GUILE

 

007:017

 "Then will I assault them from before them and behind them, from their right and their left: Nor will you find, in most of them, gratitude (for thy mercies)." 

MANIFESTATION

DISSENSIONS WILL BE CREATED BETWEEN US

 

012:100 (Part)

"...after Satan had sown enmity between me and my brothers...."

 

043:062

"And let not the Shaitan prevent you; surely he is your open enemy"

 

 

A FOCUSED MISSION - TO LEAD US OFF THE STRAIGHT PATH

 

007:016

"He said: "Because you have thrown me out of the way, lo! I will lie in wait for them on thy straight way"

RECOGNISE THE ENEMY

WHAT REMIT HAS BEEN GRANTED?

 

017:064-65

"Lead to destruction those whom you can among them, with thy (seductive) voice; make assaults on them with your cavalry and your infantry; mutually share with them wealth and children; and make promises to them." But Satan promises them nothing but deceit. As for My servants, no authority shall you have over them:" Enough is thy Lord for a Disposer of affairs" 

 

 

AN ATTEMPT TO REVERSE THE TRUE DEEN  - PROHIBIT THINGS THAT ARE LAWFUL AND MAKE LAWFUL THAT WHICH IS FORBIDDEN.

 

002.168-169 
"O you people! Eat of what is on earth, Lawful and good; and do not follow the footsteps of the evil one, for he is to you an avowed enemy. For he commands you what is evil and shameful, and that you should say of God that of which you have no knowledge" 

 

034.018-19 
"Between them and the Cities on which We had poured our blessings, We had placed Cities in prominent positions, and between them We had appointed stages of journey in due proportion: "Travel therein, secure, by night and by day. But they said: "Our Lord! Place longer distances between our journey-stages": but they wronged themselves (therein). At length We made them as a tale (that is told), and We dispersed them all in scattered fragments. Verily in this are Signs for every (soul that is) patiently constant and grateful"

 

 

AN AVOWED ENEMY

 

018:050 (Part)

"... Will you then take him and his progeny as protectors rather than Me? And they are enemies to you! Evil would be the exchange for the wrong-doers!" 

 

006:142 (Part)

"... and follow not the footsteps of Satan: for he is to you an avowed enemy" 

 

002:208 (Part)

"...and follow not the footsteps of the evil one; for he is to you an avowed enemy" 

 

 

UNTRUSTWORTHY, LYING AND DECEITFUL

 

014:022

"And Satan will say when the matter is decided: "It was God Who gave you a promise of Truth: I too promised, but I failed in my promise to you. I had no authority over you except to call you but you listened to me: then reproach not me, but reproach your own souls. I cannot listen to your cries, nor can you listen to mine. I reject your former act in associating me with God. For wrong-doers there must be a grievous penalty." 

 

059:016

(Their allies deceived them), like the Evil One, when he says to man, "Deny God": but when (man) denies God, (the Evil One) says, "I am free of you: I do fear God, the Lord of the Worlds!" 

 

 

THE CAPACITY TO CAUSE ONE TO FORGET GOOD THINGS

 

006.068 
"When you see men engaged in vain discourse about Our signs, turn away from them unless they turn to a different theme. If Satan ever makes you forget, then after recollection, sit not thou in the company of those who do wrong" 

 

012.042 (Part) 
"...Mention me to thy lord." But Satan made him forget to mention him to his lord: and (Joseph) lingered in prison a few (more) years" 

 

018.063 
"He replied: "Saw thou (what happened) when we betook ourselves to the rock? I did indeed forget (about) the Fish: none but Satan made me forget to tell (you) about it: it took its course through the sea in a marvellous way!" 

 

GRADUAL ATTACK IN SLOW FOOTSTEPS
 

024.021 
"O ye who believe! follow not Satan's footsteps: if any will follow the footsteps of Satan, he will (but) command what is shameful and wrong: and were it not for the grace and mercy of God on you, not one of you would ever have been pure: but God does purify whom He pleases: and God is One Who hears and knows (all things)" 

 

002.168 
"O ye people! Eat of what is on earth, Lawful and good; and do not follow the footsteps of the evil one, for he is to you an avowed enemy" 

 

002.208 
"...and follow not the footsteps of the evil one; for he is to you an avowed enemy" 

 

006.142 
"...and follow not the footsteps of Satan: for he is to you an avowed enemy" 

 

INSTIL EVIL AND SHAMEFUL DEEDS AND ATTRIBUTE THINGS TO GOD WITHOUT KNOWLEDGE

 

002.168-169 
"...For he commands you what is evil and shameful, and that you should say of God that of which you have no knowledge" 

 

006:142

"Of the cattle are some for burden and some for meat: eat what God has provided for you, and follow not the footsteps of Satan: for he is to you an avowed enemy" 

 

INSTIL FEAR, LOSS OF BOUNTY AND ENTICE LEWDNESS

 

002.268 
"The Evil one threatens you with poverty and bids you to conduct unseemly. God promises you His forgiveness and bounties. And God cares for all and He knows all things"

 

 

INSTIL PRIDE, VANITY AND ARROGANCE (A REFLECTION OF HIS OWN CHARACTERISTICS)

 

 

007:012

"...He said: "I am better than he: You did create me from fire, and him from clay." (God) said: "Get thee down from this: it is not for thee to be arrogant here: get out, for you are of the meanest (of creatures)."" 

 

002:034

"Not so Iblis: he refused and was haughty: He was of those who reject faith" 

 

 

INSTIL JEALOUSY

 

012.005 
"Said (the father): "My (dear) little son! relate not thy vision to thy brothers, less they concoct a plot against you: for Satan is to man an avowed enemy!" 

 

INSTIL SUPERSTITIONS

 

004:118-119 (Part)

"...and he said "Most certainly I will take of Your servants an appointed portion: I will surely mislead them, and I will create in them false desires; I will order them to slit the ears of cattle, and to deface the creation of God..."

 

(Please see related article [1] below)

 

 

LEAD TO IDOLATRY

 

(Please see related article [2] below)

 

 

FALSE PRACTICES AND BELIEFS

 

(Please see related articles [3] & [4] below)

THE INEVITABLE

THE MAJORITY WILL BE LED ASTRAY

 

017:062 (Part)

"... I will surely bring his descendants under my sway - all but a few!" 

 

036.061 
"And that you should worship Me, (for that) this was the Straight Way? But he did lead astray a great multitude of you. Did you not, then, understand?" 

 

034:020

"And on them did Satan prove true his idea, and they followed him, all but a party that believed" 

SATAN'S LIMITATIONS

NO KNOWLEDGE OF THE UNSEEN

 

018.051 
"I called them not to witness the creation of the heavens and the earth, nor (even) their own creation: nor is it for helpers such as Me to take as lead (men) astray!" 

 

034:020

"And on them did Satan prove true his idea, and they followed him, all but a party that believed" 

 

 

Please note that Satan's claim in verse 7:17 was based on a surmise. It was not ratified by God in the same verse nor was this a claim of the unseen. The claim was also not ratified in verses 17:62-63. In some cases Satan's claim did proven true, see 34:20. Verse 36:61 is the only indication that Satan's calculation overall may be substantiated on the Day of Judgment. In the end, only God knows best.
 

 

NO POWER OVER TRULY COMMITTED SERVANTS OF GOD

 

 

016.099 
"No authority has he over those who believe and put their trust in their Lord" 

 

017:065

"As for My servants, no authority shall you have over them:" Enough is thy Lord for a Disposer of affairs" 

 

038.083 
"Except Thy Servants amongst them, sincere and purified (by Thy Grace)." 

THE ONLY PROTECTION

ONLY GOD CAN PROTECT US.

 

023:097

"And say "O my Lord! I seek refuge with You from the suggestions of the Evil Ones. And I seek refuge with You O my Lord! less they should come near me."  

 

015.042 
"For over My servants no authority shall you have, except such as put themselves in the wrong and follow you." 

 

016.098-100 
"When you do read the Qur'an, seek God's protection from Satan the rejected one. No authority has he over those who believe and put their trust in their Lord. His authority is over those only, who take him as patron and who join partners with God"