Satan

1-Satan: Substantial Nature

What is Satan? This is a fundamental question in Islamic Faith. Some 
believe that the word 'Satan' refers to those scruples with which one can 
be obsessed; others claim that it denotes the so many microorganisms 
living around us. Others yet hold that it symbolizes evil
In the Islamic Faith , however, Satan is a member of the jinn that 
constitute a world of their own, created with the ability to obscure 
themselves from human sight. Allah says in the Holy Qur'an:  "And 
(remember) when We said to the angels: 'Prostrate yourselves unto 
Adam.' So they prostrated themselves except 'Iblis' (Satan). He was one 
of the jinn; he disobeyed the command of his Lord." (18: 50
We Muslims believe in the existence of the jinn, including Satan; and 
according to what the Prophet (salla Allahu alayhi wa sallam, m ay Allah 
exalt his mention) is reported to have said, every single human being does 
have an associate from among the jinn as well as one from among the 
angels. This can be inferred from the following Verses from the Holy 
Qur'an: "Say: 'I seek refuge with ( Allah) the Lord of mankind, the King 
of mankind, the Ilah (God) of mankind, from the evil of the whisperers 
(devil who whispers evil in the hearts of men) who withdraws (from his 
whispering in one's heart after one remembers Allah). Who whispers in 
the breasts of mankind. Of jinn and men."(114: 1-6)
Satan also multiplies, and thus has his own offspring. Allah says in the 
Holy Qur'an: "Will you then take him (Satan) and his offspring as 
protectors and helpers rather than Me while they are enemies to you?"
(18: 50)
In this way, Satan's offspring and followers are striving hard to seduce 
mankind and mislead them in worldly life



2-Satan: Approaching Mankind

Satan approaches mankind by stealthy degrees. His ultimate goal is to 
make men go astray in the sense that they eventually become disbelievers 
or at least polytheists. But if they prove to be stuck fast to their faith, he 
moves to tempt true believers into heterodoxy; that is making them 
innovate principles and deduce rulings that are alien to genuine Is lamic 
doctrines. If they still resist, he tries to make them err by committing 
major sins. When the believers are found to be unlikely to commit major 
sins, Satan never gives up, and begins to adorn the way leading to those 
seemingly less serious sins; tha t is by keeping them engaged in trivial 
matters. Finally, when Satan's efforts come to a 'blind alley', he attempts 
to make lawful 'recommended' deeds appear more inviting than 
'obligatory' duties
In his 'struggle' to take advantage of human weaknesses, S atan follows a 
step-by-step procedure against which we have been warned by Allah in 
the Holy Qur'an: "Eat of what Allah has provided for you, and follow 
not the footsteps of 'Shaitan' (Satan). Surely he is to you an open 
enemy."(6: 142)
The way Satan approaches his victims varies and adapts in accordance 
with their major interests and inclinations. He uses piety to attack the 
pious; scholarly disciplines to attack scholars; and ignorance to attack the 
ignorant

By: Abdullah Al-Khater