The Negative Qualities of Mankind in the Holy Qur’an (4/5)
Sheikh Abdullah Muhammad Al-Mo’taz
Reception of Evil Whispers
Allah the Exalted says: Say: “I seek refuge with (Allah) the Lord of mankind. The King of mankind. The Ilah (God) of mankind. From the evil of the whisperer (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.” (Surah An-Naas, 114:1-6)
And says: “And indeed We have created man, and We know what his ownself whispers to him. And We are nearer to him than his jugular vein (by Our Knowledge).” (Surah Qaf, 50:16)
This quality of accepting evil whispers is something one cannot get rid of. The Prophet salla Allah alayhi wa sallam said: “The satan is stuck to the heart of the human being, but if he remembers Allah; the satan withdraws from whispering evil in one’s heart.” (Reported by Bukhari)
The accursed satan whispers secretly in the breasts of the human beings. There starts a battle between the faithful heart and the satan who encourages evil. This battle is ever ongoing. If faith is stronger, one wins and the satan loses. Iblis (fiend) whispered to Adam and Eve and made them descend from heaven to earth.
Allah Exalted says: “Then Shaitan (Satan) whispered suggestions to them both in order to uncover that which was hidden from them of their private parts (before); he said: “Your Lord did not forbid you this tree save you should become angels or become of the immortals.”” (Surah Al-A'raf, 7:20)
This whispering is not limited to the satan alone. There are some evil people who also play this role, some bad friends and accomplices. This type of people are more dangerous than the satans, because they are visible and clearly heard, like the backbiters, taletellers, adultery promoters and the persons who cause people to deviate from the right path and follow heresies and worldly pleasures. They make bad deeds look like good ones in the eyes of their victims. It is an ongoing war between the pious and the evil people.
Allah the Exalted says: “And certainly, the Shayatin (devils) do inspire their friends (from mankind) to dispute with you, and if you obey them [by making Al Maitah (a dead animal) legal by eating it], then you would indeed be Mushrikun (polytheists).” (Surah Al-An'am, 6:121)
The satan, we are told always, comes to the human beings from every direction; the right, left, back and front.
Allah the Exalted says: “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'raf, 7:17)
The impact of the satan proves fruitful only upon those who are weak and lack faith and therefore follow him. But the people of strong faith, by the support of Allah, defeat the satan.
Allah the Exalted says: “Verily, he (satan) has no power over those who believe and put their trust only in their Lord (Allah). His power is only over those who obey and follow him (Satan), and those who join partners with Him (Allah i.e. those who are Mushrikun i.e., polytheists.” (Surah An-Nahl, 16:99-100)
Allah, the All-Knower, knows every whisper upon earth or in Heaven. He knows the present secrets and the future secrets. Men should beware the satan’s whispering as he, through such whispers, encourages evil and forbids virtue. One should seek Allah’s protection from his whispers, temptations and breath. The satan as such is very weak if people remember Allah. He always withdraws when Allah is remembered. It had been narrated that the satan could hardly chase Umar ibn Al Khattab radhia Allah anhu. If Umar went in a way, the satan used to go another way.
The ones who forget Allah’s remembrance are the ones who are caught by this satan and to whom he clings.
Allah the Exalted says: “And whosoever turns away blindly from the remembrance of the All-Gracious (Allah) (i.e. this Qur’an and worship of Allah), We appoint for him a Shaitan (Satan devil) to be a Qarin (a companion) to him. And verily, they (Satans / devils) hinder them from the Path (of Allah), but they think that they are guided aright!” (Surah Az-Zukhruf, 43:36-37)
Arrogance
Allah the Exalted says: “O man! What has made you careless about your Lord, the All-Generous? Who created you, fashioned you perfectly, and gave you due proportion. In whatever form He willed, He put you together.” (Surah Al-Infitaar, 82:6-8)
And says: “This, because you took the revelations of Allah (this Qur’an) in mockery, and the life of the world deceived you.” (Surah Al-Jathiyah, 45:35)
And says: “But you led yourselves into temptations, you looked forward for our destruction; you doubted (in Faith) and you were deceived by false desires, till the Command of Allah came to pass. And the chief deceiver (Satan) deceived you in respect of Allah.” (Surah Al-Hadid, 57:14)
And says: “The disbelievers are in nothing but delusion.” (Surah Al-Mulk, 67:20)
And many ayat (verses) in the Holy Qur’an prove this bad quality of mankind. This arrogance quality is always seen if one keeps away from the right path prescribed by Allah and demonstrated by His Slave and Messenger Muhammad salla Allah alayhi wa sallam. Who is arrogant is always apt to commit sins and have no virtues. He soon forgets all the graces of Allah who deserves gratitude.
The arrogants if rich, think that they will never be in need and feel a false security against poverty, such people may even do bad deeds using that wealth, and in this way, deserve the anger of Allah. What an arrogance! Unless such people are people of faith who do good deeds, there, in the Hereafter they will find none or nothing to intercede for them before Allah. The remedy for this bad quality of arrogance consists of faith, piety, correct creed in the Oneness of Allah and His supreme names and qualities in addition to fearing Allah’s torture.
Allah the Exalted says: “And the life of this world is only a deceiving enjoyment.” (Surah Al-Hadid, 57:20)
And says: “Let the chief deceiver (Satan) deceive you about Allah.” (Surah Luqman, 31:33)
Striving and Working Hard for Worldly Desire
Allah the Exalted says: “O man! Verily, you are returning towards your Lord with your deeds and actions (good or bad), a sure returning, and you will meet (the results of your deeds which you did).” (Surah Al-Inshiqaq, 84:6)
And says: “Verily, We have created man in toil.” (Surah Al-Balad, 90:4)
The human being who spends his life working hard to be happy in this world; after all dies and meets Allah to Whom we all return. The more one strives hard to be rich the more fatigued one is and if one acquires power and authority he seeks more and more and becomes more and more fatigued. But the fatigue of worship is rewarded by Allah by pleasure in the Hereafter and happiness, spiritual and material in this world. The fatigue for worldly desires is endless unless one is pious and contented.
Allah the Exalted says: “But whosoever turns away from My Reminder (i.e. neither believes in this Qur’an nor acts on its teachings) verily, for him is a life of hardship, and We shall raise him up blind on the Day of Resurrection. He will say: “O my Lord! Why have you raised me up blind, while I had sight (before). (Allah) will say: “Like this: Our Ayat (proofs, evidences, verses, lessons, signs, revelations, etc.) came unto you, but you disregarded them (i.e. you left them, did not think deeply in them, and you turned away from them), and so this Day, you will be neglected (in the Hell fire, away from Allah’s Mercy).” (Surah Ta-Ha, 20:124-126)
Endeavours of people are different, some seek knowledge, some others seek worldly desires, yet some others seek virtue and fight vice and there are someones who seek quite the reverse, disobey Allah, and try their best only to gratify their physical needs. People of this category are those of Hell. Pious people obey Allah and seek his pleasure, therefore seek worldly happiness according to the Holy Qur’an and Sunnah and at the same time remain hopeful for Paradise. Their deeds are not for temporary results only; they seek the Hereafter reward as well. Such people soon get contented and be happy in anticipation of both, worldly reward and Paradise.
(Continued)