Satan (Shaytaan) is Your Avowed Enemy

Your Avowed Enemy
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Have you ever heard the phrase, “keep your friends close, and your enemies closer”? This phrase was coined by Sun-Tzu, a Chinese military general and strategist around 400 BC. The phrase emphasizes the awareness of your enemies, their tactics and characteristics in order to be a step ahead of their deceitful and plotting ways.

Consider this: your enemy is closer than you would expect. The Prophet, sallalahu alayhi wasalaam, said: “The Shaytaan flows through the son of Adam as the blood flows through his veins.”

So are you aware of his tactics? Are you aware of his devious plans and plots? “Surely, Shaytaan is an enemy to you, so take (treat) him as an enemy. He only invites his Hizb (followers) that they may become the dwellers of the blazing Fire.” (Faatir:6)

So that we better know our enemy in order to divert ourselves from his evil ways, let’s examine his characteristics and traits:

KNOW YOUR ENEMY

HE IS ARROGANT
Arrogance was the first characteristic that brought Iblis to his downfall. When he was commanded to prostrate to Adam, he refused. “((Allah)) said: ‘What prevented thee from bowing down when I commanded thee?’ He said: ‘I am better than he: Thou didst create me from fire, and him from clay.’" (Al A-raf:12) Arrogance is not an attribute of the Muslim; rather, those who share similar qualities such as being conceited and condescending will be punished too. “But to those who believe and do deeds of righteousness, He will give their (due) rewards - and more, out of His bounty: But those who are disdainful and arrogant, He will punish with a grievous penalty; Nor will they find, besides Allah, any to protect or help them. (An-Nisaa:173)

HE PLOTS
He plotted long ago against mankind. "He said: "Because thou hast thrown me out of the way, lo! I will lie in wait for them on thy straight way: Then will I assault them from before them and behind them, from their right and their left: Nor wilt thou find, in most of them, gratitude (for thy mercies). ((Allah)) said: "Get out from this, disgraced and expelled. If any of them follow thee - Hell will I fill with you all." (Al A’raf:16-18)

His plotting started as soon as you entered this world. It was narrated by Abu Huraira that Abu Huraira reported Allah's Messenger, sallalahu alayhi wasalaam, as saying: “The crying of the child (starts) when the satan begins to prick him.” [Muslim, Book 30, Number 5839]
His plotting will continue till the Day of Judgment. Allah, subhanahu wa t’ala, has given him a period of time in which he invites others in deceiving ways so that they will be his companions of the Hellfire. “He said: ‘Give me respite till the day they are raised up. ((Allah)) said: ‘Be thou among those who have respite." (Al A’raf:14-15)

HE ENCOURAGES STINGINESS
Muslims are encouraged to be charitable with the rizq in which Allah has provided them. But shaytaan whispers to mankind, persuading them to refrain from being charitable for fear of becoming poor. “The Evil one threatens you with poverty and bids you to conduct unseemly.” (Baqara:268)

HE IS DECEITFUL
His schemes are calculated - preying upon man’s deluded whims; but they are hollow and without substance. “Satan makes them promises, and creates in them false desires; but satan's promises are nothing but deception.” (An-Nisaa:120)

HIS PROMISES ARE FRUITLESS
“And Satan will say when the matter is decided: "It was Allah 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 ye listened to me: then reproach not me, but reproach your own souls. I cannot listen to your cries, nor can ye listen to mine. I reject your former act in associating me with Allah. For wrong-doers there must be a grievous penalty." (Ibrahim:22)

HE HAS NO CONTROL OVER THE FAITHFUL
“Behold, he has no power over those who have attained to faith and in their Sustainer place their trust: he has power only over those who are willing to follow him, and who [thus] ascribe to him a share in God's divinity.” (An-Nahl:99-100) Allah also revealed in the Quran: "(And yet,) behold, thou shall have no power over [such of] My servants [as place their trust in Me]: for none is as worthy of trust as thy Sustainer." (Al Isra:65)

EVEN HE FEARS ALLAH
“the like of [what happens] when Satan says unto man, ‘Deny the truth!’ - but as soon as [man] has denied the truth, [Satan] says, ‘Behold, I am not responsible for thee: behold, I fear God, the Sustainer of all the worlds!’” (Hashr:16)

OVERCOME YOUR ENEMY

Seek refuge with Allah immediately when you feel him near. "Verily, they who are conscious of God bethink themselves [of Him] whenever any dark suggestion from Satan touches them - whereupon, lo! they begin to see [things] clearly" (Al A'raf:201)

Before you sleep at night, recite ayat al kursi. It was reported that the Prophet, sallalahu alayhi wasalaam, said: "When you are about to sleep recite aayat-ul-kursiyy till the end of the verse for there will remain over you a protection from Allaah and no devil will draw near to you until morning."

Know your enemy. Know his moves, know his characteristics, know his personality. By knowing his ways in which he devises your downfall, you will know the ways to overcome him.