Shaytaan: beautifying disobedience and sin

Shaytaan beautifying disobedience and sin

In the story of Aadam shaytaan beautified disobedience for him


He said,


“O Aadam! Shall I lead you to the Tree of Eternity and to a kingdom that will never waste away?” [6]


He said,


“Your Lord did not forbid you this tree save that you should become angels or of the immortals.” [7]


Indeed the life of humankind is limited as to its strength and man strives to prolong both which are openings for shaytaan into the should of man whereby he can enter and beautify disobedience to him.


In the battle of Badr shaytaan beautified the deeds of the polytheists for them:


“And be not like those who come out of their homes boastfully and to be seen of men, and hinder (men) from the Path of Allaah. And Allaah is encircling and thoroughly comprehending all that they do. And (remember) when shaytaan made their (evil) deeds seem fair to them and said, `No one of mankind can overcome you this Day (of the battle of Badr) and verily, I am your neighbor (for each and every help).’ But when the two forces came in sight of each other, he ran away and sad, `Verily, I have nothing to do with you. Verily! I see what you see not. Verily! I fear Allaah for Allaah is Severe in punishment.’[8]


The cores of satanic beautification are false promises and glimmering hopes. Just as Aadam (alayhi as-sallam) was promised eternal life and rule likewise were the polytheist promised victory;


“He (shaytaan) makes promises to them, and arouses in them false desires; and shataan’s promises are nothing but deception.” [9]


Satanic beautification has a numbing effect because it is veiled with compassion , sympathy and love. He swore to Aadam (alayhi as-sallam) and his wife that he was their sincere advisor;


“And he (shaytaan) swore by Allaah to them both (saying): `Verily, I am one of the sincere well-wishers for you both’ [10]


This is the sunnah of shaytaan which Ibless and his party have been pursuing against (Bani Aadam) the children of Aadam (alayhi as-sallam) for centuries.


He did this to Aad and Thamud;


“And Aad and Thamud! And indeed their destruction is clearly apparent to you from their (ruined) dwellings; Shaytaan made their deeds fair-seeming to them, and turned them away from the (Right) Path, though they were intelligent” [11]


He also deceived Sheeba and her kingdom;


“I found her and her people worshipping the sun instead of Allaah, and shaytaan has made their deeds fair-seeming to them, and has barred them from Allaah’s way so they have no guidance.” [12]


It was also the case with Quraish during a military raid at (the battle of) Badr, as mentioned before.


This has been his way with every nation throughout every century;


“By Allaah, we indeed sent (Messengers) to the nations before you [O Muhammad (alayhi as-sallam)] but shaytaan made their deeds fair-seeming to them. So he (shaytaan) is their Wali (friend, protector and helper) today theirs will be a painful torment.” [13]


And the Saying of Allaah,


“Ibless said `O my Lord! Because you misled me, I shall indeed adorn the path of error for them (mankind) on the earth, and I shall mislead them all. Except Your chosen, (guided) slaves among them.” [14]


Ibless establishes the courtyard of his battle on earth using his tools of beautification ­ beautification of ugliness. The gullible see his false attraction and it leads them to sin.


Thus man does not commit evil nor perpetuate disobedience except that shaytaan beautifies it for him in shades and colours showing him a false reality and its wickedness. So the people should be warned that whatever a matter appears beautiful to them or whenever they find a longing desire in themselves, shaytaan will already be there.


From this we can look to the prophetic guidance on the issue of a Muslim’s behavior with the opposite sex, when for example a man sees a woman whom he becomes attracted to.


On the authority of Aboo Kubshah al-Anamazee who said;


The Messenger of Allaah (alayhi as-sallam) entered upon his companions then left and performed ghusl (then he, alayhi as-sallam, returned after performing ghusl), so we said “O Messenger of Allaah (alayhi as-sallam), what happened? He (alayhi as-sallam) replied: `So- and- so passed by me and a desire for women entered into my heart so I went to some of my wives and had relations with her, so you should do likewise, for the best of actions which you can do is go to what is lawful.’” [15]


So women are the ropes of shaytaan, perhaps shaytaan beautifies acts of disobedience for man, so one must try to subdue shaytaan and drive away his deception. This has come from the clear Sunnah. The Messenger of Allah (alayhi as-sallam) said;


“Indeed the woman appears in the form of shaytaan and leaves in the form of shaytaan. So if one of you should see a woman who he likes, then he should go to his family and that will repel what is in him.” [16]


Thus the sunnah uncovers the reality which shaytaan aims to obliterate when he beautifies an unlawful action for man. When explaining about the tongue some poets say;


“If they say it is forbidden then say too, it is forbidden, Aah! But the delectations lie in the forbidden”


The Prophet (alayhi as-sallam) said;


“Whenever a man sees a woman who he becomes attracted to then he should go and stay with his wife, for indeed there is within her the like of the first.” [17]


FOOTNOTES:


6 Quran (20): 120
7 Quran (7): 20
8 Quran (8): 4748
9 Quran (4): 120
10 Quran (7): 21
11 Quran (29): 38
12 Quran (27): 24
13 Quran (16): 63
14 Quran (15: 3940
15 Reported by Ahmad in his Musnad (4/231) and others. I say: Its chain is hasan.
16 Reported by Muslim in his Saheeh, Aboo Daawood in his Sunan (2151), AlBayhaaqi (7/90) and Ahmad in his Musnad (3/330, 341, 348, 395) Through the authority of Aboo azZubayr through the authority of Jaabir back to the messenger (alayhi assallam). I say: The isnaad is Saheeh as Aboo azZubayr has been judged in reporting hadeeth directly.
17 Reported by adDaaraamee (2/146) and others and it is established by what preceded it.


Source: Protection Against the Plots of Shaytaan: In the Light of the Qur’aan and the Authentic Sunnah


By: Shaykh Saleem Ibn `Eed Al-Hilaalee, 
Translated by: Bint Manzur Elahi Bhatti
http://www.calgaryislam.com/