Traps of Iblees

Traps of Iblees

As Salamu Alaikum wa rahmatullahi wa barakatuh

Traps of Iblees

Imam Ibn Al-Qayyim

IslamicAwakening.com

It is not possible to encompass one of Iblees' evils, let alone all of them. Since Iblees' evil is of six types, Iblees remains behind the son of Adam until he gets him to do one or more of these six evils.

The first evil is the evil of kufr and shirk and enmity to Allah and His Messenger (sallallaahu 'alaihi wa sallam). If he gains this from the son of Adam, his moaning is eased, and he rests from his ordeal with this man. Further, this is the first thing Iblees wants from the worshipper (al-'Abd). If Iblees gains this, he makes this person part of his army, one of his soldiers, and he appoints him as a deputy or agent against other human beings. Then, this person becomes one of the deputies or callers of Iblees.

If he despairs of enticing him with the first evil, and if this person is one of those for whom it was written that he would be a Muslim in his mother's womb, Iblees tries the second class of evil.

This is bid'ah (innovation). Iblees loves Bid'ah more than debauchery and disobedience because the harm of Bid'ah is in the essence of the religion. Moreover, it is an unrepentable sin and is against the call of the messengers and is a call to a message different from the one conveyed by Ar-Rasool. Bid'ah is a gate to Kufr and Shirk. Therefore, if Iblees gains the performance of Bid'ah from a person and makes him one of the people of Bid'ah, he also becomes one of his agents and a caller of his.

If Iblees fails and is unable to trap Al-'Abd at this class, and if he is one of those who were granted by Allah the gift of As-Sunnah and hatred of the people of Bid'ah and error, he proceeds to the third class of evil, which is the class of major sins in their various forms.

Iblees is very covetous of letting a person fall into major sin, especially if he is a scholar who is followed. Iblees is covetous of that, so that he may repel people from him and spread his sins and disobedience amongst the people. He uses some people as his agents to spread this person's sins under the false pretence that this will help them to get closer to Allaah. But in fact this person is the deputy of Iblees without knowing it. For those who would like abomination to be spread amongst the believers there is a great torment in this life and in the Hereafter especially if they take charge of spreading about enormities, not out of advice, but by obeying Iblees and being his agent. All this is to repel people from the Scholar and from his benefit.

Furthermore, the sins of this person (scholar), even if they reach the sky, are less to Allah than the sins of those who would like to spread his sins about. The scholar's sins are wrongdoing to himself. If he seeks forgiveness from Allah and repents, Allah will accept his repentance, and He will change his bad deeds to good deeds. However, the sin of those who spread about abominations are doing wrong to the believers by looking for their mistakes and by intending to expose them. Allah is in close observation, and He knows about this ambuscade. Nothing hidden in the chest or soul is hidden to Allah.

If Iblees is unable to snare Al-'Abd at this degree he moves him to the fourth class, or the minor sins. These sins may ruin a person if they accumulate. That is why Ar-Rasool (sallallaahu 'alaihi wa sallam) said, Be aware of the minor sins, because the simile of the minor sin is like the people who went to a desert. Then he (sallallaahu 'alaihi wa sallam) mentioned a Hadeeth the meaning of which is that every one of them brought a stick of wood until they had kindled a huge fire (just as the minor sins add up little by little until they become a major sin). The person continues taking the matter of minor sins easily until he considers them inconsequential. Therefore, a person who commits major sins but fears their effect is in a better condition than he is.

If the Al-'Abd has prevented Iblees from trapping him at this level, he moves him to the fifth level. The fifth level is to occupy him with permissible things that do not gain him reward or punishment. However, the punishment of this level is caused by passing the reward missed by being occupied with these deeds.

If Al-'Abd has kept Iblees from succeeding at this level, and if he is careful about his time, being covetous with it, knows the value of moments, and knows the value of what comes of comfort or torment, Iblees transfers him to the sixth level. The sixth class is to occupy him with deeds of lesser reward to keep virtue away from him and to prevent him from attaining the reward of the favoured deed.

Therefore, he orders him to do a good action with less reward if that includes leaving a better action. Very few people are aware of this. Because if a person feels a strong urge to some kind of obedience, he does not doubt that it is true obedience and that he is getting closer to Allah. He never thinks that this call is from Iblees because he believes that Iblees never calls one to do good. Therefore, he thinks that this call is from Allah.. Actually he is excused because he never knew that Iblees would call one to seventy doors of good deeds either to get him to one door of evil or to let a better deed than these seventy deeds pass away from him.

This cannot be known except by a light from Allah, a light he instils in the heart of Al-'Abd. The source of this type of knowledge is following the way of Ar-Rasool (sallallaahu 'alaihi wa sallam) and taking care of the levels of deeds with Allah, the deeds of His favoured ones, the deeds more pleasing to Him, and those more beneficial to Al-'Abd, and deeds that have more Naseehah (guidance) from Allah, His Rasool, His Book, and His believing worshippers. No one has this type of knowledge except the inheritors of Ar-Rasool (sallallaahu 'alaihi wa sallam), his deputies in the Ummah, and his successors on earth. In addition, most of the creation is screened from this. This call does not come to their hearts. Allah gives His favour to whomever He wills from among His worshippers.

If Al-'Abd prevents Iblees from trapping him at any of these six levels, and if it becomes difficult for Iblees, he empowers his party of jinn and human beings with different kinds of harm, imputing disbelief to him, calling him midguided and an innovator, warning people against him, and intending to weaken him and to disturb his heart. Iblees, by using this method, tries to confuse this person's thinking and tries to prevent people from benefiting from him.

Therefore Iblees expends his utmost effort to empower the defenders of falsehood, from human beings and from jinn, against him. Then the believer is at war until death. Whenever he gives up, he is hurt or is taken captive. Hence the believer is in Jihad until he meets with Allah.

Finally, I hope you take note of this chapter and think about its great benefit. Moreover, make this knowledge your balance to weigh people and deeds. This shows you some universal realities and the level of people. Allah is the one from whom I seek aid, and on Him I depend.

Three who spoke in cradle

Three who spoke in cradle

As Salamu Alaikum wa rahmatullahi wa barakatuh

On the authority of Abu Hurayrah – may Allaah be pleased with him – who said that the Prophet {Pbuh} said:

"None spoke in the cradle except three:

1. ‘Eesa the son of Maryam,

2. Jurayj’s companion; Jurayj was a man of worship, he had a place of worship and while he was in it, his mother came in and called upon him. He said to himself; ‘My Lord, my mother or my prayer?’ So he continued praying and she left. The next day she also came and called upon him while he was in prayer, he said to himself; ‘My Lord, my mother or my prayer?’ So he continued praying and again she left. The following day she came again and called upon him while he was in prayer, he said to himself; ‘My Lord, my mother or my prayer?’ So he continued praying.

She said: ‘O Allaah, do not allow him to die until he sees the faces of prostitutes.’

The Children of Israel knew of Jurayj and his worship. There was a very beautiful prostitute who offered to seduce him. She attempted to do so but he did not pay her any attention to her. She then approached a herdsman who used to seek refuge in his place of worship, she offered herself to him and he slept with her. She became pregnant, and when she gave birth she claimed that it was the child of Jurayj. They went to him, invoked curses over him, destroyed his place of worship and attacked him.

He said: ‘Why are you doing this?’

They responded: ‘You fornicated with this woman and she bore you a child.’

He said: ‘Where is the child?’

So they brought him the child.

He said: ‘Leave me until I pray.’

When he finished praying he came to the boy and poked him in his stomach. He said: ‘O child, who is your father?’

The baby boy responded: ‘So and so the herdsman.’

So the people turned to Jurayj, kissing him and asking him for forgiveness. They offered to rebuild his place of worship in gold, but he refused and asked them to rebuild it from mud just as it was before, and so they did.

3. There was also a baby who was being breast fed by his mother when a rider in fine garments passed by on an agile animal.

His mother said: ‘O Allaah, make my child like him.’

The baby stopped suckling and looked at him, he said: ‘O Allaah, do not make me like him.’

He then continued suckling…"

Abu Hurayrah – May Allaah be pleased with him – said: ‘It is as if I can see Messenger of Allaah –{Pbuh} right now, as he is illustrating the scene of the baby’s suckling with his forefinger in his mouth.’

He continued: "They passed by a slave girl who was being beaten by people who were accusing her of committing fornication and theft.’

She was saying: `Sufficient is Allaah is for me, and the best of Guardians He is’

The mother said: `O Allaah, do not make my child like her.’

Again the baby stopped suckling, looked at her and said: ‘O Allaah! Make me like her.’ At this point they spoke to each other, the mother said: `A good looking man passed by and I asked Allaah to make my child like him, you asked Allaah not make you like him. We passed by this slave girl while she was being beaten and being accused of fornication and theft, I asked Allaah not to make my child like her, and you asked Allaah to make you like her.’

The child said: `That man was a tyrant, so I asked Allaah not to make me like him. They were accusing the girl of fornication, while she did not commit it, and they were accusing her of theft, while she did not steal, so I asked Allaah to make me like her" 

[Collected by both al Bukhaaree and Muslim.]

Temptation Island

Temptation Island

As Salamu Alaikum wa rahmatullahi wa barakatuh

Yes, its hard, especially when you are constantly bombarded with obscene images: that hot, scantily clad guy or gal in the magazine luring you; or the persistent emphasis on sex in the movies or the pervasive links to pornography while you may simply be checking your e-mail. How can you protect yourself from all of this?

Whats Wrong With A Lustful Gaze ?

Many of us who are used to watching Sinbad or Temptation Island, or are addicted to Bollywood movies, or enjoy the company of people of opposite gender, may wonder whats wrong with lustfully staring at the attractive features of the opposite gender? 

Perhaps one saying of our beloved Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) sums it all:

“The furtive glance is one of the poisoned arrows of Shaytan, on him be God's curse. Whoever forsakes it for the fear of Allah, will receive from Him (Great and Gracious is He) a faith, the sweetness of which he will find within his heart.” (al-Haakim.)

Therefore, a secret lustful look at a person of opposite gender has been compared by the Prophet (pbuh) to an arrow from Shaytan that:

1. poisons our hearts

2. ruins our intentions

3. gives rise to false hopes and desires

4. distorts our perception of reality

5. deprives us from enjoying and concentrating in Prayers

6. gives rise to constant feeling of guilt and depression

7. sometimes leads to sleepless nights

8. renders our heart weak for continuous Shaytanic attacks

9. promotes hypocrisy

10. weakens our memory

11. eventually leads to Zina (adultery)

12. above all, diminishes our love for and fear of Allah 

Allah commands us: "Say to the believing men that they should lower their gaze and guard their private parts; that will make for greater purity for them..." [24:30.] In the verse following this one, Allah commands “the believing women” in the similar manner.

Secret Benefits Of Jihad Against Temptation

1. Perhaps the greatest secret reward of resisting the temptation is the increase in your Faith (Iman), the sweetness of which could only be sensed by you! This empowering force of renewed Iman will help you suppress the desires in unimaginable ways.

2. Right when you are urged, if you remember Allahs mercy, commandments, and displeasure, He will make it easy for you to get out of the situation without regrets, stress, or pain. Allah reassures us: “And the one who fears Allah (has Taqwa), He will make a way out.” [65: 2.]

3. It will also have a remarkable impact on your character, since the heart is like a mirror and the base desires are like rust upon it. When the mirror is polished and cleansed of the rust, it reflects the realities as they actually are. Your family and friends will see the difference!

4. Frequent gazing at unlawful scenes of sexuality tire and wear down both the heart and the eyes. The heart becomes bored and depressed after a while. However, when your eyes are prevented from looking around, the heart finds relief from the arduous task of vainly desiring something it does not possess.

5. As the Prophet (pbuh) once said to his Companion: “By Allah! Whosoever gives up something for the sake of Allah, Allah will replace it with something better than it!" If you remain patient in this world, Allah will bless you with joys in ways you could never imagine! 

18 Ways To Survive In Temptation Island !

Do not forget the power of Allahs Remembrance (Dhikr)!

It is the most powerful of all the defenses. Regular reading of prescribed Duas will develop your Taqwa (consciousness) and keep you mindful of what thoughts you entertain.

Remember your Accountability to Allah.

In Islam, you're fully accountable as soon as you understand and feel such temptations. Your eyes will testify about what you looked at on the Day of Judgment.

Always walk with your gaze lowered.

But make sure not to bump into a hydro post! Lowering the gaze does not mean that you cannot have any eye contact as you walk or during a conversation. It means that you keep your eyes under control.

Take the Right Seat!

In a public place (e.g. cafe), choose a seat that minimizes your view-frame and avoid mixed-crowds. It is precisely about such comfortable gazing at the attractive features of the passers-by that the Prophet (pbuh) advised Ali ibn Abi Talib: "Ali, do not let a second look follow the first. The first look is allowed to you but not the second.''(Ahmad, Abu Dawud, at-Tirmidhi.)

Hangout with those known for noble character and modesty. When you are around good people, they can remind you to abstain from that which Allah dislikes. As the Prophet (pbuh) said, "A person is likely to follow the faith of his friends, so be careful about who you make your friend." (Ahmad.)

Avoid friends that are into immoral movies, music, dirty jokes etc.

Such activities are the tools of Shaytan that promote the idea of love based on looks or love at first sight. Such friends would take you into an artificial world of fantasies and false hopes, away from reality, before it’s too late! Therefore, either you help your friends change through gentle advice, or abandon frequent contact with them. As Allah warns us: "If anyone withdraws himself from Allahs remembrance, Most Gracious, We appoint for him an evil one to be his intimate companion." [43: 36.]

Avoid visiting malls and parks alone.

Always try to go out with a family member or a good friend, whose company may help you avert your eyes from the objectionable billboards and inappropriately clothed people. In summer, step out only when you have to.

Surf or Watch TV when others are around.

The temptation to sneak a look at dirty pictures is heightened when you're alone in your room watching TV or surfing the internet. Shaytan's primary target is always a lonely person! Try to avoid late night TV and internet surfing.

Never have nothing to do!

Shaytan loves bored and idle people. If you are feeling bored, do the dishes, or take out the garbage, or read some book. Allah says, "Do not throw yourself into destruction with your own hands." [2: 195.]

Volunteer for Islamic Organizations.

Your Jihad against immorality in the society is one reason for you to join Muslim youth groups in your community. Your involvement with such activities, along with the love of helpful brothers or sisters struggling for a good cause, will keep your mind, energies, and thoughts focused away from the Haram.

Read, Read, and Read!

Yes, read as many Islamic books and articles as possible. Reading keeps your mind and eyes busy! It keeps you motivated to live your Islam and strengthens your relationship with Allah.

Always remember that the beauty of this world is temporary and the life hereafter is everlasting.

Observe voluntary fast

to strengthen your willpower and to cool your passions. The Prophet (pbuh) strongly recommended the youth to make it a habit.

If you are able and responsible then get married for the sake of Allah.

It may be one of the most effective, yet challenging, defense mechanisms against such temptations.

For Brothers, remember your Mom and Sister.

Disgusting right? Exactly! No sane person would look at his mom or sister the way many of us examine the girls on TV shows or stare at our Muslim sisters in social gatherings. This thought should sicken you enough to stop, In-sha-Allah.

Remind yourself of the Death and Hereafter often.

"Remember often the terminator (or destroyer) of all the pleasures [i.e. death]," the Prophet (pbuh) once reminded us. (at-Tirmidhi.)

Increase your Good Actions.

Try following the advice of the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him): "Remain conscious of Allah and fear Him wherever you are. And follow a bad deed with a good deed which will wipe it out, and behave well towards people." (at-Tirmidhi.)

Repent and Return to Allah.

Allah is All-forgiving and loves those who return to Him, promising not to repeat their sins. "Ask forgiveness from your Lord, then turn towards Him in repentance; He will loosen the sky over you in abundance, and He will add strength unto your strength." [11: 52].

Admit your faults and don't be arrogant

Admit your faults and don't be arrogant

As Salamu Alaikum wa rahmatullahi wa barakatuh

Many problems that cause enmity to continue for a year or two years, or perhaps for life, can easily be solved by one person saying to another, “I made a mistake, I am sorry.”

“Yes, I did not make it to the appointment.”

“Yes, I made a bad joke.”

“Yes, I said hurtful things.”

Be quick to put out the fire before it is set ablaze. Say, “I am sorry. I owe you an apology.” You would only feel better after apologizing.

There occurred an argument between Abu Dharr, and Bilal-may Allah be pleased with them both- and even though they were both Companions of the Prophet (SAW), they were still human.

During the argument, Abu Dharr became angry and said to Bilal, “O son of a black woman!” Thereupon, Bilal complained to the Messenger of Allah (SAW). The Prophet (SAW) called Abu Dharr and said, “Did you insult Bilal?”

He replied, “Yes.”

The Prophet (SAW) said, “Did you mention his mother?”

He replied, “When someone is insulted, usually his father and mother are also mentioned, O Messenger of Allah!”

The Prophet (SAW) replied, “You are a man with traits of pre-Islamic ignorance.”

He asked, “Even when I am this old?”

The Prophet (SAW) replied, “Yes.”

The Prophet (SAW) then taught him the manner in which he should deal with those who may be seen as below his social status, saying, “They are only your brothers. Allah has placed them in your care; and whoever Allah places in one’s care then let him feed him with what he eats himself, clothe him with what he clothes himself. Let him not overburden him with that which he cannot bear. And if he does overburden him, then let him lend a hand.

What did Abu Dharr do then?

Abu Dharr went to see Bilal and apologized. He sat on the ground in front of Bilal and he became closer to the ground till he rested his cheek on the dust, and said, “O Bilal! Put your foot on my cheek!” (Muslim)

This is how eager the Companions were to set out the flames of enmity before they became strong, and even if they became strong, they would do their best to prevent them from spreading.

A disagreement took place between Abu Bakr and Umar (May Allah be pleased with them both), where Abu Bakr made ‘Umar angry.

‘Umar went away from Abu Bakr in a state of anger. When Abu Bakr saw this, he regretted it and feared that the situation may exacerbate. Thus he went after ‘Umar saying,

“Forgive me, O ‘Umar!” But ‘Umar refused to turn to him.

Abu Bakr kept apologizing and following ‘Umar until he reached his home and shut the door in Abu Bakr’s face. Upon this, Abu Bakr went to the Messenger of Allah (SAW). When the Prophet (SAW) saw him coming from afar, he noticed something different about him and said, “This Companion of ours seems to be in trouble.”

Abu Bakr sat down quietly, and it wasn’t long until ‘Umar also regretted his mistake. May Allah be pleased with them all! How pure were their hearts!

‘Umar headed to the Prophet’s gathering, greeted everyone and sat down next to the Prophet (SAW) and told him the story, along with how he turned away from Abu Bakr and did not accept his apology.

The Messenger of Allah (SAW) became angry. When Abu Bakr saw his anger, he began to say, “By Allah, O Messenger of Allah! This is only because I was the wrongdoer. I was the wrongdoer!” He began to defend and make excuses for ‘Umar.

The Prophet (SAW) said, “Will you leave my Companion alone? Will you leave my Companion alone? When I said, ‘O people! I am the Messenger of Allah to you all’, all of you said, ‘You have lied!’ yet Abu Bakr said, ‘You have spoken the truth!”(al-Bukhari)

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