The eternal enemy - I

Mu'aath came on time to meet Shaykh Yoosuf as usual to learn something
new about adherence to Islam. Shaykh Yoosuf met him with much
affection and cheerfulness and they sat together. ShaykhYoosuf began
to speak, saying, "How are you, Mu'aath?"
Mu'aath replied with a smile, "Very well, Shaykh Yoosuf. And you?"
Shaykh Yoosuf replied, "Praise be to Allaah! I am in the best of
conditions. We will go directly to ourtopic today because it is
serious and extremely important."
Mu'aath straightened up and said expectantly, "Shaykh Yoosuf, what is
this topic?"
Shaykh Yoosuf replied in a grave voice, "It is the barriers or
obstacles of adherence to Islam that the practising Muslim faces on
his way to AllaahThe Almighty. The first of these obstacles is the
devil. Listen, Mu'aath! It isan eternal enmity and everlasting hatred
and incessant temptation until the coming of the Hour. These words
brieflyexpress the feelings that the devil harbors for us since his
expulsion from Paradise. He was expelledfrom it, and rather expelled
from the Mercy of Allaah The Almighty when he refused to prostrate
himself to our ancestor Aadam (Adam) and behaved arrogantly. Ever
since that moment, Satan harbors enmity toward the children of Aadam
and tries his best to bar them from the path of their Lord and
overturn them in Hell, as will be done to him on the Day of
Resurrection – Allaah willing.
The devil has no direct authority over man, but he takes advantage of
man's ignorance and the ardent desire of his soul to gratify its
needs. So, the devil beautifies the ideas and actions that agree with
its inclination,persistently whispers andtempts it, which in turn
exerts pressure on the heart till it submits to it and takes the
decision that complies with its whim.
Therefore, Allaah The Almighty warned us against following the devil
and informed us that he beautifies the action for the soul gradually
so as not to confront stiff resistance. Allaah The Almighty says (what
means): } O you who have believed, do not follow the footsteps of
Satan. And whoever follows the footsteps of Satan - indeed, he enjoins
immorality and wrongdoing. { [Quran 24:21] Allaah The Almighty reminds
us of the role of the devil, saying (what means):
} And Satan had made pleasing to them their deeds and averted them
from the path. { [Quran 29:38]
} Satan promises them and arouses desire in them. But Satan does not
promise them except delusion. { [Quran 4:120]
} But Satan whispered to them to make apparent to them that which was
concealed from them of their private parts .} [Quran 7:20]
The Quran alerts us that the devil, in crucial moments and after
beautifying evil deeds forman until he commits them, deserts him.
Allaah The Almighty says (what means):
} And [remember] when Satan made their deeds pleasing to them and
said, "No one can overcome you today from among the people, and
indeed, I am your protector." But when the two armies sighted each
other, he turned on his heels and said, "Indeed, I am disassociated
from you. Indeed, I see what you do not see; indeed I fear Allaah. And
Allaah is severe in penalty." { [Quran 8:48]
} [The hypocrites are] likethe example of Satan when he says to
man,"Disbelieve." But when he disbelieves, he says,"Indeed, I am
disassociated from you. Indeed, I fear Allaah, Lordof the Worlds." {
[Quran 59:16]
On the Day of Judgment, the devil will remind his followers that he
had no authority over them, but he just invited their souls to evil
and they answered him. Allaah TheAlmighty says (what means): } And
Satan will say when the matter has been concluded, "Indeed,Allaah had
promised you the promise of truth. And I promised you, but I betrayed
you. But I had no authority over you except that I invited you, and
you responded to me. So do not blame me; but blame yourselves. I
cannot be called to your aid, nor can you be calledto my aid. Indeed,
I deny your association of me [with Allaah] before. Indeed, for the
wrongdoers is a painful punishment." { [Quran 14:22]

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