The stepping stone of guidance and the route to eternal prosperity begins with being alert to enemies that threaten our chances of admission to paradise.
Satan is the most dangerous of these enemies. He is always vigilant and never ceases attempts to mislead us from the straight path. Thus, the Qur’an and the Sunnah warned against Satan repeatedly, detailing his plots and explaining his ways to influence the ego (nafs). For example, the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) said, “Satan is present by any one of you in all of his affairs, even at the time he eats” (Muslim)
Imam Ibn Al-Qayyim expounded that Satan is even a greater threat than our own egos (nafs): “One who reflects on the Qur’an and Sunnah will discover that they mentioned Satan, his plotting and enmity more than they mentioned the ego (nafs). That is because the wickedness and corruption of the ego result from his whispers.
Hence, Allah commanded that we seek refuge in Him from Satan at the time of recitation and other acts, although he has never once commanded that we seek refuge from the ego (nafs).
Imam Abu Hamid Al-Ghazali advised: “Be keen, my brother, to struggle against Satan and to subdue him because of two reasons:
Firstly, he is an evident enemy set on distracting you, and there is no hope in achieving a settlement with him or in him leaving you alone; rather, he will be satisfied only by your destruction. Hence, there is no room to be heedless of such an enemy.
Secondly, he is your innate enemy and is forever persistent in his struggle against you. He casts you with his arrows throughout the day and night while you are heedless.”
