• The Seven Obstacles set by Satan to Mankind
• Protecting Oneself Against The Devil
• Kinds Of Companions
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In the name of Allah
Most Gracious, Most Merciful

All praise is for Allah Subhana Wa Ta'ala, Lord of all the worlds. Peace and blessings of Allah Subhana Wa Ta’ala be upon the last prophet Habeebuna (our beloved) Mohammad Sallallahu Alaihi Wasallam...

This article is presented before us to ponder over it and to live by it so that we are protected and well prepared to take this journey by the will of Allah Subhana Wa Ta'ala and there is no strength, ability and power except from Allah Subhana Wa Ta'ala. The following text is an extract from Tafseer Al-Mu'awwidhatayn (Sura Khalaq and Sura Naas) by Imam Ibn-Qayyim Al Jawziyyah RA.

The Seven Obstacles set by Satan to Mankind

It is not possible to put together all of Satan's evil, because all the wickedness in the world is caused by him. However, his evil can be listed as seven main types, which persist on a believer until he/she is affected by one of them.

Satan broadcasts whatever sin a scholar may have committed, using his army, who pretend to be simply raising people's awareness about that scholar, but in fact are delegates of Iblis.

Allah Subhana Wa Ta'ala promises a painful torment to those who love to spread fahishah; so what about those who decide to propagate fahishah. Not of their own will but in obedience to Satan or on his behalf? They take all this trouble to drive people away from a scholar, whose personal sins, whatever level they have reached, are less significant to Allah Subhana Wa Ta'ala than the sins of those evil people.

The personal sins of that scholar are a transgression upon himself, yet if he repents to Allah Subhana Wa Ta'ala for them, Allah Subhana Wa Ta'ala would accept his repentance. However, the sins of those evil people who work for Satan are a transgression against the believers.

If Satan cannot make a believer commit great sins, he leads him/her to small ones, which once they gather upon a Muslim, could probably ruin him/her. The Prophet Sallallahu Alaihi Wasallam said: "Avoid (even those) sins which are considered insignificant."

If Satan feels unable to take a believer to the world of sins, he distracts him/her with legal matters, which neither lead to reward nor punishment, but instead to missing good rewards by doing other activities.

If the faith of a believer is too strong to be distracted by trivial things, as he/she spends his/her time in obedience to Allah Subhana Wa Ta'ala, then Satan tries to influence the good activities of a believer by making him/her devote his time to the superfluous, so as to miss out on excellence, which would gain him/her even higher rewards.

This cannot be achieved except with the Light of Allah Subhana Wa Ta'ala, which He Subhana Wa Ta'ala plants into the heart of His Beloved Believer. Many people are unaware of this, but it is the Grace of Allah Subhana Wa Ta'ala, which He bestows on whomsoever He wills among His Servants.

If Satan feels unable to achieve anything with the believer at all these levels, he sets his party, among the Jinn and mankind, to accuse him/her of all kinds of abuse, such as takfeer, misguidance, innovating in religion. So they warn people agains him/her, to prevent them from learning his/her knowledge.

In this situation, the believer would need to wear his/her fighting gear and not remove it until death; for once he/she shows any reluctance, he/she would be likely to fall victim to Satan's ploy. Therefore, he/she must do jihad (strive) until he/she meets Allah Subhana Wa Ta'ala.

Think deeply about this chapter to understand its great benefit for you as a believer. Take it as your scale by which you judge people and their actions; it discloses the reality of existence and the different levels people are at; this chapter alone should be enough for anyone who understands it properly!

Allah Subhana Wa Ta'ala said: (If an evil whisper from Satan tries to turn you away, then seek refuge in Allah Subhana Wa Ta'ala. Verily, He is the All-Hearing, the All-Knowing.) and in another Verse: (He is All-Hearing, All-Knowing.)

We have previously mentioned that the "Hearing" referred to in the above verses is that of responding (to the supplication of thebeliever), and not just the process of hearing.

These have an amazing effect in repelling evil and being shielded from it, and are the best possible way for anyone to express his wish to take refuge in Allah Subhana Wa Ta'ala.

The Prophet Sallallahu Alaihi Wasallam also said: "He who recites Surat al-Ikhlas and the Mu 'awwidhatayn, in the evening and in the morning, it would make everything suffice him."

Muhammad bin Sirin reported that Abu Hurayrah RA said: "The Messenger of Allah Subhana Wa Ta'ala ordered me to guard the Zakat revenue of Ramadan. Then somebody came to me and started stealing of the food stuff.

I caught him and said: 'I will take you to the Allah's Messenger Sallallahu Alaihi Wasallam!' Then Abu Hurairah described the rest of the narration and finally said: "That person said (to me): 'Please don't take me to Allah's Messenger Sallallahu Alaihi Wasallam, for I will tell you a few words by which Allah Subhana Wa Ta'ala will benefit you.

When you go to your bed, recite Ayat-al-Kursi, (Quran 2: 255) for then there would be a guard from Allah Subhana Wa Ta'ala, who would protect you all night long, and Satan would not be able to come near you till dawn.' When the Prophet heard the story, he told me: 'He who came to you at night told you the truth, although he is a liar; for it was Satan."

An-Nu'man bin Bashir reported that Allah's Messenger Sallallahu Alaihi Wasallam said: "Two thousand years before creating the Creation, (in the Hadith of At-Tirmidhi: 'Before creating the heavens and the earth'), Allah Subhana Wa Ta'ala inscribed a book of which He Subhana Wa Ta'ala sent down the two verses with which He Subhana Wa Ta'ala concluded Surat al-Baqarah. The Devil would not come near a house in which they are recited for three nights."

Abu Hurayrah RA reported that the Prophet Sallallahu Alaihi Wasallam said: "None has the right to be worshipped but Allah Subhana Wa Ta'ala, Alone, without associate, to Him belongs Sovereignty, and to Him belong all Praise, and He has Power over all things (i.e. is Omnipotent)",

One would get ther reward of manumitting ten slaves, and a hundred good deeds will be written in his account, and a hundred bad deeds would be wiped off (or erased) from his account, and on that day he would be protected from the morning till evening from Satan, and nobody would be superior to him, except one who has done more than that which he has done."

AI-Harith AI-Ash'ari RA reported that the Prophet Sallallahu Alaihi Wasallam said: "Allah Subhana Wa Ta'ala commanded Yahya AS, son of Zakariya AS, to do five things, and to order the 'Children of Israel' to observe them.

He Yahya AS was about to convey them, then 'Isa (Jesus AS) said: "Allah Subhana Wa Ta'ala has commanded you with five things to do, and to order the Children of Israel to do; so either you command them or I will do it myself." To which Yahya replied: "I fear that if you precede me with it, I would be punished.'

Yahya AS called people to gather in Bait Al-Maqdis (the Holy Mosque in AI-Quds) and they filled the mosque.

Then he said:"Allah Subhana Wa Ta'ala has commanded five things to do, and commanded you to observe them:"

1. To worship Allah Subhana Wa Ta'ala Alone: without associating any partner with Him. Associating a partner to Allah Subhana Wa Ta'ala is like when someone buys a slave with his own money and says to him: 'This is my house and my land. Work for me and bring me the goods.' But the slave worked and brought the goods to another. Who among you would like to have a slave like that?'.
2. To perform salah: and when you are praying, do not turn around, for Allah Subhana Wa Ta'ala directs His face towards the face of His Servant when he is performing salah as long as he does not turn around.
3. To fast: For, the breath that comes from the mouth of a fasting person is better in Allah's sight than the smell (fragrance) of musk.
4. To give sadaqah (charity).
5. To remember Allah Subhana Wa Ta'ala constantly: For, a person cannot protect himself well against satan, except with the remembrance of Allah Subhana Wa Ta'ala.

The Prophet Sallallahu Alaihi Wasallam informed us in this Hadith that a person cannot shield himself from the devil, except with the remembrance of Allah Subhana Wa Ta'ala, which is exactly what is conveyed in the surah: (Say: I take refuge with Allah Subhana Wa Ta'ala, the Lord of mankind).

Allah Subhana Wa Ta'ala described the devil in this Surah as the one who withdraws when the name of Allah Subhana Wa Ta'ala is mentioned. But when a person neglects remembering Allah Subhana Wa Ta'ala, the devil pounces on his/her heart and fills it with all his evil whisperings, which are the introductory steps to all kinds of evil.

Abu Sa'id Al-Khudri RA reported that the Prophet Sallallahu Alaihi Wasallam said: "Beware of anger, for it is a live coal in the heart of the descendant of Adam. Do you not notice the swelling of the veins of his neck and the redness of his eyes? So when anyone experiences anything of that nature he should lie down and cling to the ground. "

In another Hadith: "The devil was created of fire, and fire is extinguished with water". There is nothing better to extinguish the live coal of anger and passion than Wudu' and Salah. The water of Wudu quenches the fire of the live coal, while Salah, when performed with submission and humiliation before Allah Subhana Wa Ta'ala removes all effects of anger.

1. Excessive and curious gazing, which leads to unlawful gazing at a picture, which could become a fitnah and obsession in one's heart.

   The Prophet Sallallahu Alaihi Wasallam said: "A gaze is one of the poisonous arrows of Iblis (Satan), so whoever lowers his eyes from looking at a woman's beauty, Allah Subhana Wa Ta'ala would produce an act of worship for whose sweetness he would experience." The greatest and most evil incidents are all caused by curious gazing, and many a look has been followed by much regret.

2. Excessive and curious talking, opens all the doors of evil upon a person, as these are all entry points of Satan into man. To block all these entries, one needs to abstain from excessive talking. Many a war was waged because of a single word uttered.

   The Prophet Sallallahu Alaihi Wasallam said to Mu'adh RA: "Will anything else besides (irresponsible) talk cause people to be thrown into the Hell-Fire upon their faces or on their nostrils?"!

   Anas bin Malik RA said: "When one of the Companions (an Ansari man) died, a man said: "Rejoice over his Paradise. "Allah's Messenger Sallallahu Alaihi Wasallam said: "Do you say this when you do not know whether he perhaps spoke about what did not concern him, or was niggardly about something which would cause him no loss?"
   
   
3. Excessive eating is a motive which leads to many evils; it makes the limbs commit sins, and discourages them from obeying Allah Subhana Wa Ta'ala. Many a sin was incited by excessive food, and many religious duties were lost because of it.

   Satan often controls a man when his stomach is full. The Prophet Sallallahu Alaihi Wasallamsaid: "No man fills a pot worse than his stomach." Fullness of one's stomach distracts one from remembering Allah Subhana Wa Ta'ala.
   
   And when one's heart is diverted from remembering Allah Subhana Wa Ta'ala for an hour, Satan swoops on it, and promises to help it fulfil many kinds of wishes and desires. Indeed, when one's stomach is full, one's mind may consider all aspects of desires and passions, butwhen one is hungry, one may stay calm and composed.

4. Excessive mixing with people could become an ailment in its nature, attracting nothing but evil. Unrestricted companionship with different types of people may generate many problems and enmities. One's company with others should be according to one's need, soone should divide one's companions into four kinds:
   

People for whom their company is essential, just as one's need for food. One may take whatever one needs from them, and then leave them, and when one needs them again, one returns to their company in a habitual cycle.

This essential type of people represents the scholars who know about Allah Subhana Wa Ta'ala and the evil nature of Allah's Enemy; they are aware of the ailments of the heart and their cure; they call people to Allah Subhana Wa Ta'ala, His Book and the Sunnah of His Prophet Sallallahu Alaihi Wasallam. There could only be success in the company of these people.

Keeping company with this type of people is an ailment of different types, levels, strengths and weaknesses. One type whose company is like a continuous incurable disease, and could lead one to losing one's world and religion.

Another type whose company is like a headache; once he/she leaves, the pain goes away! Yet another type causes a fever in one's spirit, because of his/her heaviness and his/her loathsome mind.

He/she neither speaks well to benefit you, nor listens well to benefit from you. He/she is not aware of his low standard, and his/her speech is irritating to most listeners, yet he/she is pleased with himself.

The company of this type of people leads to one's destruction; it is like poisonous food. There are too many of this type (may Allah Subhana Wa Ta'ala stop their increasing number and their influence!) They are the people of innovation (in Religion) and misguidance, who stand against the Sunnah of the Prophet Sallallahu Alaihi Wasallam 'They hinder men from the Path of Allah Subhana Wa Ta'ala and seek wickedness therein. They may turn a bid'ah (innovation in religion) into Sunnah, and turn a Sunnah into a bid'ah.

If you try to call them exclusively to follow Monotheism, they would say: "You have dishonoured pious and righteous people:'

If you try to call them exclusively to follow the Sunnah of the Messenger of Allah Subhana Wa Ta'ala, they would say: "You have disrespected the followed scholars."

If you should describe Allah Subhana Wa Ta'ala with what He has described Himself, or with what He has been described by His Messenger, Muhammad Sallallahu Alaihi Wasallam without any excess or negligence, they would say: "You are one of those who resembles Allah Subhana Wa Ta'ala among His Creatures."

If you try to enjoin the good that is enjoined by Allah Subhana Wa Ta'ala and His Messenger, and forbid the evil that is forbidden by Allah Subhana Wa Ta'ala and His Messenger, they would say: "You are one of those who cause fitnah (tribulation and trouble).

"If you try to follow the Sunnah and stay away from those who oppose it, they would say: "You are among the innovators in Religion and mislead people.

"If you try to devote yourself solely to Allah Subhana Wa Ta'ala and break with themand their world, they would say: "You are confused, and your life is ambiguous." But, if you should leave the True Path you are following to follow their desires, you would become a loser in Allah's Sight, while in their sight you would be seen as a hypocrite.

Therefore, I call on everyone to be strongly determined to please Allah and resent the enemies of the Sunnah of the Prophet Sallallahu Alaihi Wasallam. When you ignore their censure, and do not waste your time in censuring or blaming them, you display the perfection of your path.

Whoever should adopt the ten above mentioned precautious against Satan, he/she has indeed taken his/her share of success from Allah. He/she has closed all the doors to Hell and opened up all doors of Allah's Mercy for him/herself. In fact, there is no success, except with Allah and there is no other deity, but Him, Alone. May the Prayers of Allah be upon His Prophet, Muhammad the Companions RAA and those who follow them with perfection until the Last Day. And all Praise is due to Allah Subhana Wa Ta'ala.

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