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TRAPS OF IBLEES (SHAYTAN)
From At-Tafseer Al-Qayyim of Shaikh Ibn Al-Qayyim
It is not possible to encompass one of Iblees' evils, let alone all of them. Since Iblees' evil is of six types, Iblees remains behind the son of Adam until he gets him to do one or more of these six evils.
THE FIRST EVIL IS THE EVIL OF KUFR AND SHIRK and enmity to Allaah and His Messenger (sallallaahu 'alaihi wa sallam). If he gains this from the son of Adam, his moaning is eased, and he rests from his ordeal with this man. Further, this is the first thing Iblees wants from the worshipper (al-'Abd). If Iblees gains this, he makes this person part of his army, one of his soldiers, and he appoints him as a deputy or agent against other human beings. Then, this person becomes one of the deputies or callers of Iblees.
If he despairs of enticing him with the first evil, and if this person is one of those for whom it was written that he would be a Muslim in his mother's womb, Iblees tries the SECOND CLASS OF EVIL. THIS IS BID'AH (innovation). Iblees loves Bid'ah more than debauchery and disobedience because the harm of Bid'ah is in the essence of the religion. Moreover, it is an unrepentable sin and is against the call of the messengers and is a call to a message different from the one conveyed by Ar-Rasool. Bid'ah is a gate to Kufr and Shirk. Therefore, if Iblees gains the performance of Bid'ah from a person and makes him one of the people of Bid'ah, he also becomes one of his agents and a caller of his.
If Iblees fails and is unable to trap Al-'Abd at this class, and if he is one of those who were granted by Allaah the gift of As-Sunnah and hatred of the people of Bid'ah and error, he proceeds to the THIRD CLASS OF EVIL, which is the class of MAJOR SINS in their various forms.
Iblees is very covetous of letting a person fall into major sin, especially if he is a scholar who is followed. Iblees is covetous of that, so that he may repel people from him and spread his sins and disobedience amongst the people. He uses some people as his agents to spread this person's sins under the false pretence that this will help them to get closer to Allaah. But in fact this person is the deputy of Iblees without knowing it. For those who would like abomination to be spread amongst the believers there is a great torment in this life and in the Hereafter especially if they take charge of spreading about enormities, not out of advice, but by obeying Iblees and being his agent. All this is to repel people from the Scholar and from his benefit.
Furthermore, the sins of this person (scholar), even if they reach the sky, are less to Allaah than the sins of those who would like to spread his sins about. The scholar's sins are wrongdoing to himself. If he seeks forgiveness from Allaah and repents, Allaah will accept his repentance, and He will change his bad deeds to good deeds. However, the sin of those who spread about abominations are doing wrong to the believers by looking for their mistakes and by intending to expose them. Allaah is in close observation, and He knows about this ambuscade. Nothing hidden in the chest or soul is hidden to Allaah.
If Iblees is unable to snare Al-'Abd at this degree he moves him to the FOURTH CLASS, or the MINOR SINS. These sins may ruin a person if they accumulate. That is why Ar-Rasool (sallallaahu 'alaihi wa sallam) said, Be aware of the minor sins, because the simile of the minor sin is like the people who went to a desert. Then he (sallallaahu 'alaihi wa sallam)mentioned a Hadeeth the meaning of which is that every one of them brought a stick of wood until they had kindled a huge fire (just as the minor sins add up little by little until they become a major sin). The person continues taking the matter of minor sins easily until he considers them inconsequential. Therefore, a person who commits major sins but fears their effect is in a better condition than he is.
If the Al-'Abd has prevented Iblees from trapping him at this level, he moves him to the fifth level. The FIFTH LEVEL IS TO OCCUPY HIM WITH PERMISSIBLE THINGS that do not gain him reward or punishment. However, the punishment of this level is caused by passing the reward missed by being occupied with these deeds. If Al-'Abd has kept Iblees from succeeding at this level, and if he is careful about his time, being covetous with it, knows the value of moments, and knows the value of what comes of comfort or torment, Iblees transfers him to the sixth level. The SIXTH CLASS is to OCCUPY HIM WITH DEEDS OF LESSER REWARD to keep virtue away from him and to prevent him from attaining the reward of the favoured deed.
Therefore, he orders him to do a good action with less reward if that includes leaving a better action. Very few people are aware of this. Because if a person feels a strong urge to some kind of obedience, he does not doubt that it is true obedience and that he is getting closer to Allaah. He never thinks that this call is from Iblees because he believes that Iblees never calls one to do good. Therefore, he thinks that this call is from Allaah. Actually he is excused because he never knew that Iblees would call one to seventy doors of good deeds either to get him to one door of evil or to let a better deed than these seventy deeds pass away from him.
This cannot be known except by a light from Allaah, a light he instils in the heart of Al-'Abd. The source of this type of knowledge is following the way of Ar-Rasool (sallallaahu 'alaihi wa sallam) and taking care of the levels of deeds with Allaah, the deeds of His favoured ones, the deeds more pleasing to Him, and those more beneficial to Al-'Abd, and deeds that have more Naseehah (guidance) from Allaah, His Rasool, His Book, and His believing worshippers. No one has this type of knowledge except the inheritors of Ar-Rasool (sallallaahu 'alaihi wa sallam), his deputies in the Ummah, and his successors on earth. In addition, most of the creation is screened from this. This call does not come to their hearts. Allaah gives His favour to whomever He wills from among His worshippers.
If Al-'Abd prevents Iblees from trapping him at any of these six levels, and if it becomes difficult for Iblees, he empowers his party of jinn and human beings with different kinds of harm, IMPUTING DISBELIEF TO HIM, CALLING HIM MISGUIDED AND AN INNOVATOR, WARNING PEOPLE AGAINST HIM, and intending to weaken him and to disturb his heart. Iblees, by using this method, tries to confuse this person's thinking and tries to PREVENT PEOPLE FROM BENEFITING FROM HIM. Therefore Iblees expends his utmost effort to empower the defenders of falsehood, from human beings and from jinn, against him. Then the believer is at war until death. Whenever he gives up, he is hurt or is taken captive. Hence the believer is in Jihad until he meets with Allaah.
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THE THINGS WHICH SHAYTAN FLEES FROM
Author Unknown
One of the ways of avoiding falling into riyaa' is to know the things which Shaytaan flees from:
1. When you say: La ilaha illAllaah - wahdahu laa shareeka lahu - lahul-mulku wa lahul-hamdu - wa huwa 'ala kulli shay'in qadeer. [There is none worthy of worship except Allah alone. He has no partners. To Him belongs the Dominion, to Him belongs all praise and He is capable over all things] a hundred times a day.
The evidence is what has been reported in the Saheeh of al Bukhaari and Muslim from Abu Hurayrah (ra) that Allaah's Messenger (saw) mentioned the above words and then said: "He will receive the reward of setting free ten slaves, a hundred good deeds will be written for him and a hundred bad deeds will be erased from him. It will be a sanctuary from Shaytaan for him on that day until he reaches the evening. No one will come with something better except one who increases beyond that".
2. Recitation of Ayaat ul-Kursi when you go to bed.
Abu Hurayrah (ra) reported that the Messenger (saw) put him in charge of guarding the zakaah of Ramadan and someone would come and take handfuls from the zakaah for two nights in succession. On the third night, he (Abu Hurayrah) grabbed him and said: "I will take you to Allaah's Messenger (saw)". He (the thief) said: "Leave me alone and I will teach you some words by which Allaah will benefit you". He then said, "When you depart to go to your bed recite aayaat ul-Kursi until you complete it. There wil never cease to be from Allaah a guardian to protect you and Shaytaan will not approach you until you wake up". When he explained this to Allaahs Messenger (saw), he said, "He has told you the truth althought he is a great liar". (al-Bukhaari).
3. When you spit on your left three times and seek refuge in Allaah from the evil of what you see in a dream.
Abu Salamah bin 'Abdur-Rahman said: "I heard Abu Qataadah ibn Rab'iyy say: "I heard Allaah's Messenger (saw) say, "The good dream is from Allaah and the bad dream is from Shaytaan. When one of you sees what he dislikes, let him spit on his left three times when he awakens and let him seek refuge in Allaah from its evil and then it will not harm him"". Abu Salamah said, "I used to see in my dream that which wouldbe more burdensome to me than a mountain and when I heard this hadeeth I considered it as nothing." In another narration he said, "I used to see in my dream which would make me concerned until I heard Abu Qataadah say: "I used to have dreams which would make me ill until I heard Allaah's Messenger (saw) say, "The righteous dream is from Allaah. If one of you sees what he loves then let him not inform anyone about it except one whom he loves. And if he sees what he dislikes, let him not inform anyone about it. Let him spit on his left three times and let him seek refuge in Allaah from Shaytaan, the accursed from the evil of what he saw and it will not harm him.""
4. Upon saying, when leaving the house "Bismillah tawakaltu 'ala Allah, la hawla wa la quwata illaa bilLah" [In the Name of Allah, I place my trust upon Alaah, There is no power nor movement except by Allaah].
Anas (ra) reports that Allaah's Messenger (saw) said, "Whoever says (when he leaves his house): "In the Name of Allah, I place my trust upon Alaah, There is no power nor movement except by Allaah" it is said to him: "You have been sufficed, you have been protected and you have been guided". Then one of the devils turns to another and says, "How can you get to a man who has been sufficed, protected and guided". (Abu Dawud, at-Tirmidhi, hasan saheeh).
Umm Salamah (ra) said, "Allaah's Messenger (saw) never left my house except that he raised his sight to the sky and said, "Allahumma innee a'oodhu bika an adil aw udal, aw azil aw uzal, aw azlima aw uslam, aw ajhal aw yujhal 'aleeyy (O Allaah I seek refuge in you from leading others astray and being led astray, from causing others to slip and being made to slip, from oppressing others or being oppressed and from making others ignorant, and being kept ignorant."" (at-Tirmidhi, Abu Dawood, an-Nasa'ee, Ibn Majah. at-Tirmidhi said "hasan saheeh", al-Albaani agreed with him in al-Kalim ut-Tayyib, no.59).
5. Remembering Allaah the Sublime and Exalted when entering the house and before eating.
Jaabir (ra) said: "I heard the Prophet (saw) say: "When a man enters his house and remembers Allaah the Exalted upon entering and before eating, Shaytaan says: "There is no place for you to spend the night and there is no supper for you." When he enters the house and does not remember Allaah, Shaytaan says: "You have found a place to spend the night" and when he does not remember Allaah upon eating his food, Shaytaan says: "You have found a place to stay and some supper"". (Muslim).
6. Saying "A'oodhu bilLahil-'adheem wa bi wajhil-kareemi wa bi sultaanihil-qadeemi min ash-Shaytaani-rajeem" [I seek refuge with Allaah the Mighty, with His Noble Face and with His Eternal Authority from Shaytaan, the Accursed] when entering the mosque.
'Abdullah ibn 'Umar (ra) said, "When the Prophet (saw) used to enter the mosque he woul say, "I seek refuge with Allaah the Mighty, with His Noble Face and with His Eternal Authority from Shaytaan, the Accursed". He then said, "When (a man) says this, Shaytaan says: "He has been protected from me for the whole day"". (Abu Dawud, al-Albaani declared it saheeh in Saheeh Abu Dawood, no. 458, and an-Nawawee and Ibn Hajr declared it hasan).
7. Upon pronouncing the adhaan.
This is due to what has been reported from Abu Hurayrah (ra) that Allaah's Messenger (saw) said, "When the call to prayer is made, Shaytaan flees on his heels and passes wind with noise during his flight so that he does not hear the adhaan. When the adhaan is completed he comes back. When the iqaamah is pronounced he takes to his heels again until it is completed. Then he returns again and whispers into the heart of the person and says to him: "Remember this and remember that". So the person remembers those things which were not in his mind before the prayer began and as a result, he forgets how much he has prayed". (al-Bukhaari, Muslim).
Pronouncing the adhaan can be done at any time to repel Shaytaan. This is due to what has been reported by Muslim from Abu Saheel bin Abu Saalih who said: "My father sent me to Bani Harithah and there was a young boy with me. Someone called him by his name from a wall, so he went to have a look at the wall but did not see anything. I mentioned that to my father and he said: "If I had known that you would encounter this I would not have sent you. However, when you hear a voice then make the call for prayer since I heard Abu Hurayrah (ra) saying the Prophet (saw) said, "When the call for prayer is made, Shaytaan flees".
8. When seeking refuge in Allaah due to the Exalted's saying: "And when an incitement to evil comes to you from Shaytaan, seek refuge in Allaah. He is the All Hearing, the All Knowing". (41:36)
9. When you say "A'oodhu billah minka, al'anuka bi l'anatillaah" [I seek refuge in Allah from you, I curse you with the curse of Allah] three times during the prayer.
Abu Dardaa' (ra) reports that "Allaah's Messenger (saw) stood for prayer and we heard him saying, "I seek refuge in Allaah from you". Then he said, "I curse you with the curse of Allaah" three times. At the same time, he was stretching out his hand, trying to grab hold of something. When he finished his prayer we said to him: "O Messenger of Allaah! We heard you say something in the prayer which we have never heard from you before and we saw you stretching out your hand". He said, "That was the enemy of Allaah, Iblees. He came with a flame of fire and tried to throw it in my face. I said, "I seek refuge in Allah from you" three times and then (I said), "I curse you with the curse of Allaah" three times and he did not hesitate. Then I desired to capture him. By Allaah! If it had not been for the supplication of our brother (the Prophet) Sulaymaan, he would have been tied up and the children of Madinah would have played about with him"". (Muslim).
In another hadeeth from 'Uthmaan bin Abul-Aas (ra) who said, "I said, "O Messenger of Allaah! Shaytaan comes in between me and my prayer and my recitation, confusing me." He said, "That is a Shaytaan called Khunzub. When you feel his presence, seek refuge in Allaah from him and spit on your left three times." I did as he said and Allaah took that (distraction) away from me." (Muslim)
10. When the servant finds something in his soul that concerns him and says "huwal-awwalu wal-aakhiru wadh-dhaahiru wal-baatinu wa huwa bi kulli shay'in 'aleem" {He is the First and the Last, the Outermost and the Innermost, and He has Knowledge of every single thing.]
Abu Zameel (ra) said, "I said to Ibn 'Abbas (ra), "What is this thing which I find in my soul?" - meaning doubt. He said, "When you find something like that in your soul, then say, "He (Allaah) is the First and the Last, the Outermost and the Innermost and He has knowledge of every single thing."" (Abu Dawood, al-Albaani declared it hasan in al-Kalim ut-Tayyib no.135).
11. When a calamity befalls you and you say "QadrAllahu wa ma sha' Allaahu fa'ala" {Allah has decreed (this) and He does whatever He wills].
Abu Hurayrah (ra) reports that Allaah's Messenger (saw) said, "The strong believer is more loved by Allaah than the weak believer, but in both there is good. Be zealous for what will benefit you. Seek help from Allaah the Mighty and Majestic and do not become incapacitated. If something afflicts you, do not say: "If only I had done such and such" but say, "Allaah has decreed (this) and He does whatever He wills". Indeed saying "if.." opens up the doorway of Shaytaan's handiwork." (Muslim)
12. When you say "Bismillah, Allahumma janibna ash-Shaytaan wa janibish-Shaytaana maa razaqtna" {in the Name of Allaah, O Allaah! Make us distant from Shaytaan and make Shaytaan distant from what you bestow upon us". Ibn 'Abbaas (ra) reports that the Prophet (saw) said, "If one of you says, when approaching his wife (for intercourse): "In the Name of Allaah. O Allaah! Make us distant from Shaytaan and make Shaytaan distant from what you bestow upon us" and offspring is decreed for you, Shaytaan will never be able to harm it (i.e. the offspring)". (al-Bukhaari, Muslim).
13. When you say in a state of anger "A'oodhu bilLaahi min ash-Shaytaan ir-Rajeem" {I seek refuge with Allaah from Shaytaan the Accursed[.
Sulaymaan bin Sard (ra) said, "I was sitting with Allaah's Messenger (saw) and two men were abusing each other. The face of one of them had become red (out of anger) and his veins had become inflated. Allaah's Messenger (saw) said, "I know a word which, if he was to say, his anger would leave him. If he said: "I seek refuge in Allaah from Shaytaan the Accursed", his anger would leave him"" (al-Bukhaari, Muslim).
14. Upon saying "bismillah" [in the Name of Allah]
Abul-Maleeh (ra) reports that a man said, "I was behind the Messenger (saw) and his riding animal stumbled. I said, "May Shaytaan perish", and he said, "Do not say, "May Shaytaan perish". If you say that he will grow in size until he becomes the size of a house and says, "By my strength". Instead say, "In the Name of Allaah". When you say that, he reduces in size until he is like a fly." (Abu Dawood, saheeh isnad).
15. When you supplicate for blessings for something which wins your admiration.
Allah’s Messenger (saw) said, "When one of you sees something in his self or in his possessions which amazes him (or wins his admiration) he should invoke blessings upon it as the (evil) eye is indeed true and real".
16. When you recite the M'uwadhdhataan [Surah al-Falaq and Surah an-Naaz].
Abu Sa'eed (ra) said, "Allaah's Messenger (saw) used to seek refuge from the jinn and from the effects of the (evil) of men until the m'uwwadhdhataan were revealed. When they were revealed he clung to them and abandoned what was besides them." (at-Tirmidhi, hasan; an-Nasa'ee and Ibn Maajah - saheeh).
17. When you make the prostration of recitation.
Allah’s Messenger (saw) said, "When you read a verse of prostration then prostrate, Shaytaan departs crying and says: "Woe be to him. He was ordered with prostration and he prostrated - so for him is Paradise. I was ordered with prostration and I refused - so for me is the Fire." (Muslim, Ahmad and Ibn Maajah).
18. When you recite Surah al-Baqarah.
Abu Hurayrah (ra) reports that Allaah's Messenger (saw) said, "Do not turn your houses into graves. Indeed Shaytaan flees from a house in which Surah al-Baqarah is recited." (Muslim).
19. When reciting the Qur'aan.
The Messenger of Allaah (saw) went out one night and passed by Abu Bakr (ra) who was praying with a lowered voice. Then he passed by 'Umar ibn al-Khattaab (ra) who was praying with a raised voice When they came together with the Prophet (saw), he said, "O Abu Bakr! I passed by you while you were praying with a lowered voice." Abu Bakr (ra) said, "I made the one with whom I was conversing with (i.e Allaah) hear it, O Messenger of Allaah." He then said to 'Umar (ra), "I passed by you while you were praying with a raised voice". 'Umar (ra) said, "O Messenger of Allaah! I was incitng those who were asleep and driving away the Shaytaan." The Prophet (saw) then said, "O Abu Bakr! Raise your voice somewhat" and he said to 'Umar, "lower your voice somewhat". (Abu Dawood, al Haakim, who declared it saheeh as did adh-Dhahabi).
20. When you move the finger during the prayer.
It is established that Allaah's Messenger (saw) used to move his finger, supplicating with it (Abu Dawood, an-Nasaa'i, Ibn al_Jaarud in al-Muntaqa and others) and the Messenger of Allaah said, "It is more powerful against the Shaytaan than iron" - meaning the forefinger. (Ahmad and others).
Imam Ahmad was asked, "Should a man point with his finger in the prayer?" He replied, "Yes, vigorously". (Ibn Haani mentioned it in Masaa'il of Imaam Ahmad).
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Sahih Al-Bukhari 4.242, Narrated Ibn 'Umar: The Prophet said, "If the people knew what I know about traveling alone, then nobody would travel alone at night."
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There was a young man who went overseas to study for quite a long time. When he returned, he asked his parents to find him a religious scholar or any expert who could answer his 3 questions. Finally, his parents were able to find a Muslim scholar.
Young man: Who are you? Can you answer my questions?
Scholar: I am one of Allah (swt)'s slaves and insha-Allah (God willing), I will be able to answer your questions.
Young man : Are you sure? A lot of Professors and experts were not able to answer my questions.
Scholar: I will try my best, with the help of Allah (swt).
Young Man: I have 3 questions:
1. Does God exist? If so, show me His shape.
2. What is takdir (fate)?
3. If shaitan (Devil) was created from the fire, why at the end he will be thrown to hell that also created from fire. It certainly will not hurt him at all, since Shaitan (Devil) and the hell were created from fire. Did God not think of it this far?
Suddenly, the Scholar slapped the young man's face very hard.
Young Man (feeling pain): Why do you get angry at me?
Scholar: I am not angry. The slap is my answer to your three questions.
Young Man: I really don't understand.
Scholar: How do you feel after I slapped you?
Young Man: Of course, I felt the pain.
Scholar: So do you believe that pain exists?
Young Man: Yes.
Scholar: Show me the shape of the pain!
Young Man: I cannot.
Scholar: That is my first answer. All of us feel God's existence without being able to see His shape.
Scholar: Last night, did you dream that you will be slapped by me?
Young Man: No.
Scholar: Did you ever think that you will get a slap from me, today?
Young Man: No.
Scholar: That is takdir (fate).
Scholar: My hand that I used to slap you, what is it created from?
Young Man: It is created from skin.
Scholar: How about your face, what is it created from?
Young Man: Skin.
Scholar: How do you feel after I slapped you?
Young Man: In pain.
Scholar: Even though Shaitan (Devil) and also the hell were created from the fire, if Allah wants, insha-Allah (God willing), the hell will become a very painful place for Shaitan (Devil).
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WHEN YOU DISOBEY SHAITAN
It is reported that 'Abdullah bin Mas'ood forbade his wife to utter such jahili incantations. She told him, "I went out one day and saw such and such person. One of my eyes then began to water (meaning that it was the effect of his evil eye and envy). But when I recited an incantation it stopped watering, and when I left off reciting it, the eye started watering again." Ibn Mas'ood said, "That is Satan. When you obey him he leaves you alone, but when you disobey him he stabs your eye with his finger. But if you do as the Prophet (saws) did, it will be better for you and will most probably cure your eye. Bathe your eye with water and say, Remove the hurt, O Lord of mankind. Heal me; Thou art the Healer. There is no cure except Thy cure which leaves behind no disease.” (This is Ibn Majah's wording. Abu Daoud has a shorter version of this hadith, and al-Hakim a shorter one than either of the preceding.)
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ONE OF THE TEACHINGS OF SATAN: DEMAGOGY
By Harun Yahya
Ignorant people often resort to demagogy to justify themselves. This is a method by which they maintain their rights, or prestige, by using emotional, dishonest or oblique arguments rather than reason. Apart from these ploys, the way people conduct themselves is also an efficient element of demagogy. Interrupting, shouting and telling lies are well-known methods of demagogy. Disbelievers demonstrate a remarkable capacity for this 'art'. To justify their point of view or to establish superiority over others, they resort to inconceivable methods. The main purpose of all these efforts is to oppose the truth. They make all these efforts to justify themselves and thereby to find a pretext to ease their remorse.
This, however, is not a method developed by the individuals themselves. As in many other issues, Satan guides them. The statement of Satan in the following verses shows that Satan was the first demagogue in history.
(God) said: "O Iblis! What prevents you from prostrating yourself to one whom I have created with My own hands? Are you haughty? Or are you one of the high (and mighty) ones?" He replied : "I am better than him. You created me from fire, while him You created from clay." He said: "Go forth from hence, for you are outcast." (Surah Sad: 75-77)
When he was told to prostrate himself before Adam, Satan arrogantly refused, and offered wicked explanations. This was typical demagogy; his pretext for not following the command of God is stated in the following statement of Satan: "You created me from fire, while you created him from clay." However his main purpose is to revolt against God. The comparison between fire and clay is only a pretext.
The attitude of ignorant people is exactly the same. They first decide to disobey and then find excuses for their disobedience. At this point, they do what Satan did and employ the various methods of demagogy to cover their dishonesty and to comfort themselves.
Satan indoctrinates them by stealth and constantly whispers methods of demagogy to their souls. Meanwhile, the individual struggles to choose between the voice of his common sense whispering the truth and the voice of his soul, that speaks for Satan. In this way, Satan approaches man in all circumstances and tempts him.
That is why for ages people all around the world employ exactly the same tactics and methods against religion. This fact is underlined in the Qur'an: But they say what the ancients said before them. (Surah al-Mumenoon: 81)
However, one point deserves mention here: Satan is a being completely under the control of God like all other creatures, such as the jinns, the angels and human beings. Contrary to the commonly held view, Satan is not a separate being, apart from and independent of God. He is in the service of God to test man in this world. This fact is explained in the following verse: He said: Then you are of those reprieved till The Appointed Day. He said: My Lord! Because You have sent me astray, I shall truly make pleasant the path of error for them on the earth, and shall mislead them every one. Save such of them as are Your perfectly devoted slaves. He said: This is a right course incumbent upon Me. As for My slaves, you have no power over any of them, save such of the sinners as follow you. (Surah al-Hijr: 36-42)
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