The Enmity of Shaytan towards Man

Praise be to Allah.

When Iblees refused to prostrate to Adam, Allah expelled him from heaven and the curse of Allah is upon him until the Day of Resurrection. Allah said to him:

"Then get out from here; for verily, you are outcast. And verily, My Curse is on you till the Day of Recompense." [Surah Saad, 38:77-78 _ interpretation of the meaning]

Then he asked Allah to grant him respite until the Resurrection, and He granted him that:

"(Iblees) said: `Allow me respite till the Day they are raised up (i.e. the Day of Resurrection).' (Allah) said: `You are of those respited'." [Surah al-A'raaf, 7:14-15 _ interpretation of the meaning]

When Iblees felt safe from destruction, he rebelled and transgressed:

"(Iblees) said: `Because You have sent me astray, surely, I will sit in wait against them (human beings) on Your straight path. Then I will come to them from before them and behind them, from their right and from their left, and You will not find most of them as thankful ones (i.e. they will not be dutiful to You)'." [Surah al-A'raaf, 7:16-17 _ interpretation of the meaning]

When Iblees said that, Allah said to him:

"(Allah) said: `Go, and whosoever of them follows you, surely, Hell will be the recompense of you (all) an ample recompense.

And befool them gradually those whom you can among them with your voice (i.e. songs, music, and any other call for Allah's disobedience), make assaults on them with your cavalry and your infantry, share with them wealth and children (by tempting them to earn money by illegal ways usury, or by committing illegal sexual intercourse), and make promises to them.' But Satan promises them nothing but deceit.

`Verily, My slaves (i.e. the true believers of Islamic Monotheism) — you have no authority over them. And All Sufficient is your Lord as a Guardian'." [Surah al-Israa', 17:63-65 _ interpretation of the meaning]

Hence the Shaytan declared his evil and his enmity towards the children of Adam, so he started to make sin attractive to them and to tempt them with haram and evil things, and to enjoin evil and immoral actions upon them. Thus most of the people were deceived by him and they fell into those sins and haram things:

"And indeed Iblees (Satan) did prove true his thought about them, and they followed him, all except a group of true believers (in the Oneness of Allah)." [Surah Saba', 34:20 _ interpretation of the meaning]

Everything that happens among the sons of Adam of kufr, murder, enmity, hatred, the spread of immorality and zina, the wanton display of women's beauty, drinking alcohol, worshipping idols and other major sins, is all the work of the Shaytan, in order to prevent people from following the way of Allah and to corrupt mankind and drag them to the Fire of Hell with him:

"O you who believe! Intoxicants (all kinds of alcoholic drinks), and gambling, and Al-Ansaab (stone altars), and Al Azlaam (arrows for seeking luck or decision) are an abomination of Shaytan's (Satan's) handiwork. So avoid (strictly all) that (abomination) in order that you may be successful.

Shaytan (Satan) wants only to excite enmity and hatred between you with intoxicants (alcoholic drinks) and gambling, and hinder you from the remembrance of Allah and from As Salah (the prayer). So, will you not then abstain?" [Surah al-Maa'idah 5:90-91 _ interpretation of the meaning]

Allah has warned us against following the Shaytan and walking in his footsteps, as He says (interpretation of the meaning):

"O you who believe! Follow not the footsteps of Shaytan (Satan). And whosoever follows the footsteps of Shaytan (Satan), then, verily, he commands Al Fahshaa' [i.e. to commit indecency (illegal sexual intercourse)], and Al Munkar [disbelief and polytheism (i.e. to do evil and wicked deeds; and to speak or to do what is forbidden in Islam)].” [Surah al-Noor, 24:21]

When a person turns away from Allah, the Shaytan gains control over him and encourages him to commit sin and transgression:

"See you not that We have sent the Shayaateen (devils) against the disbelievers to push them to do evil.”[Surah Maryam, 19:83 _ interpretation of the meaning]

Everyone who turns away from Allah and follows the Shaytan is only destroying his own self and is a loser in this world and in the Hereafter:

"And whoever takes Shaytan (Satan) as a Wali (protector or helper) instead of Allah, has surely, suffered a manifest loss.” [Surah al-Nisa', 4:119 _ interpretation of the meaning]

The Shaytan uses strange ways to tempt people; he has corrupted many of mankind and made their evil deeds attractive to them, so he is the cause of their going to Hell, what a terrible fate!

"He [Shaytan (Satan)] makes promises to them, and arouses in them false desires; and Shaytan's (Satan) promises are nothing but deceptions. The dwelling of such (people) is Hell, and they will find no way of escape from it.” [Surah al-Nisa', 4:120-121 _ interpretation of the meaning]

The enmity of the Shaytan towards Adam and his descendants is ancient. Allah caused Adam and his wife to dwell in Paradise, then the Shaytan came to Adam and made sin attractive to him, so Adam obeyed him, thinking that he was sincere. Thus Adam disobeyed his Lord and was expelled from Paradise, then Allah accepted his repentance. Allah warns us against obeying the Shaytan, as He says (interpretation of the meaning):

"O Children of Adam! Let not Shaytan (Satan) deceive you, as he got your parents [Adam and Hawwa' (Eve)] out of Paradise.” [Surah al-A'raaf, 7:27]

Because the enmity of Shaytan towards mankind is so clear and obvious, Allah tells us to beware of him and to declare war on him and to show enmity to him, as He says (interpretation of the meaning):

"Surely, Shaytan (Satan) 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.” [Surah Faatir, 35:6]

Allah has told us to seek refuge with Allah from the outcast Shaytan every time we think of sinning. He says (interpretation of the meaning):

"And if an evil whisper from Shaytan (Satan) tries to turn you away (O Muhammad) (from doing good), then seek refuge in Allah. Verily, He is the All Hearer, the All Knower.” [Surah Fussilat, 41:36]

On the Day of Resurrection, the Day of truth and justice, the Shaytan will confess to his crimes and will declare before all of creation that Allah is the One Who tells the truth and that he is a liar. He will say that there is no blame on him; rather the blame is on those who followed him. Then everyone who followed him will regret it, but at that time regret will be of no avail:

"And Shaytan (Satan) will say when the matter has been decided: `Verily, Allah promised you a promise of truth. And I too promised you, but I betrayed you. I had no authority over you except that I called you, and you responded to me. So blame me not, but blame yourselves. I cannot help you, nor can you help me. I deny your former act in associating me (Satan) as a partner with Allah (by obeying me in the life of the world). Verily, there is a painful torment for the Zaalimoon (polytheists and wrongdoers).'" [Surah Ibraheem, 14:22 _ interpretation of the meaning]