The Efforts of Satan to Break
the Enthusiasm of Believers

In the preceding pages it was stated that the believer’s enthusiasm never abates and always remains fresh and strong and that the source of continuity and steadfastness of a believer’s zeal is sincere faith. Therefore, satan exerts an all-out struggle to weaken believers’ determination and shake their zeal and enthusiasm. The goal of satan in this world is to deceive people and lead them to destruction by whispering suggestions. The evil mission of satan is related in the Qur’an in his own words:

"And I will mislead them, and I will arouse in them [sinful] desires."14

Satan approaches believers in various ways, as he does with all people, and tries to make good things appear to be wrong. Portraying some issues as insolvable, satan aims to turn men back and prevent them from completing their beneficial works. He tries to instill hopelessness in them by presenting their tasks as difficult, and he tempts them into negligence, encourages them to procrastinate and wants them to show weak will. However, the Qur’an stresses that all the efforts of satan and his schemes are weak:

"He [i.e., satan] promises them and arouses [sinful] desire in them. But satan does not promise them except delusion."15

"Indeed, the plot of satan has ever been weak."16

Those the Qur’an describes as people who lack a complete faith can easily fall into the trap of satan since they do not exercise wisdom and conscience. Such people claim that they have faith but never feel it deep in their hearts. The call of satan and the lifestyle to which he invites seems alluring to them, and thus they follow it gladly and willingly. As always, however, satan only calls people to delusion and Hellfire, the eternal abode of punishment. True believers know well that the scheming of satan is inherently weak and are also aware of the kind of scheming satan employs when approaching them. They know ways to defeat him and never allow satan to break their zeal since they shape their lives according to Qur’anic teachings. The resolute and sincere attitude of believers is encouraged as follows:

"And if an evil suggestion comes to you from satan, then seek refuge in Allah. Indeed, He is Hearing and Knowing. Indeed, those who fear Allah – when an impulse touches them from satan, they remember [Him] and at once they have insight."17

Believers ask Allah’s protection from all harms and thus do not come under the influence of satan’s whisperings prompting them to laziness and carelessness. An example of a believer’s prayer and refuge in Allah is evident in a supplication of Prophet Muhammad (saas):

"O Allah, I seek Your protection from distress and grief, from failure and laziness, and from the burden of debt and from being overcome by men."18 Narrated by al-Bukhari¸ and Muslim.