The Entrances of Shaitan into the Human Heart – Part 1

By

Rana Rais Khan – Editor-in-Chief – Hiba Magazine

Ibrahim at Tawejri, a scholar of Madinah, has guided us how our human heart works. His research and compilation is firmly anchored in the Quran and Sunnah with clear evidences.

The scholar explains that Allah (swt) has granted access to Shaitan to every human being’s heart. This is a significant part of the creation plan and not a surprise. Our Creator, Allah (swt) has also warned the people how Shaitan will infiltrate their hearts and what gateways he will use so they can build their defense system and defeat Shaitan with Allah’s (swt) divine help.

This is a huge favour and sign of mercy from Allah (swt), Who is on our side, so that we win this battle against Shaitan in this temporary life in the world and enter Jannah, the permanent home of bliss.   

Allah (swt) created Malaika (angels), Iblees/Shaitan (Jinn) and Adam/Insaan (humans). Allah (swt) had a simple creation plan for all. But Iblees defied his role arrogantly and exhibited ingratitude. Iblees could not accept Adam as the vicegerent of Allah (swt) on earth due to the soul and knowledge Allah (swt) had granted Adam.

Iblees fell into envy despite living among the Malaika and worshipping Allah (swt) all along. The evil in his Nafs was exposed when he could not submit to Allah’s (swt) decree. He not only blamed Allah (swt) for his own misguidance but also challenged to avenge humans dragging them into the hell fire with him.

How does Shaitan influence mankind?

1. Ingratitude

The Quran states: “[Satan] said: ‘Because You have put me in error, I will surely sit in wait for them [i.e. mankind] on Your straight path. Then I will come to them from before them and from behind them and on their right and on their left and You will not find most of them grateful [to You].’” (Al Araaf 7:16-17)

Shaitan’s primary goal is to turn people ungrateful. That is the swiftest way to lead them away from Allah (swt). People always complain, criticize and find faults with their life. It blinds them of Allah’s (swt) countless favours and the contentment they should feel.

2. Desires

Allah (swt) states in the Quran: “He [i.e. Satan] promises them and arouses desires in them. But Satan does not promise them except delusion. The refuge of those will be hell. And they will not find from it an escape.” (An Nisa 4:120-121)

Shaitan sits on Sirat-e-Mustaqueem to influence believers with false hopes and desires, as he did with our parents Prophet Adam (as) and Hawwa (as). Shaitan lied to them by enticing them to eat the forbidden fruit and become eternal inhabitants of Jannah. He made them forget their original promise to Allah (swt) to stay away from the Haram, just as he tricks us today using the same tactics.

3. Whispers

Our inner thoughts are not random. They stem from unseen influences. The angelic inspirations propelling us to virtues, are placed by angels upon Allah’s (swt) command into the human heart. The satanic ideas leading us to sin, are placed by Shaitan in the heart.

Taufiq is divine facilitation from Allah (swt) descending upon the believers to prepare them for good deeds and be eager to enjoy carrying them out. However, if the human heart becomes a target of satanic whispers, it ends up in either of the two states:

1. Ighwa – Becoming off track from the right path
2. Khuslan – Losing the entitlement of Allah’s (swt) help

The difference between influence of the Malaika and Shayateen

Malaika are created by Noor (light). They are ambassadors of good and spread goodness. They encourage the believers towards Ilm (divine knowledge), invite them towards Haqq (truth) and Ita at (obedience to Allah swt). They also inspire towards promises of Allah’s (swt) Jannah. Malaika are not just passive messengers but active agents of Allah (swt).

Shayateen conversely, are created from fire. They make false promises and command to commit evil and immoral acts. They discourage believers from giving others, scaring them of poverty, inadequacy, etc. Shaitan plants hatred and enmity between people. He beautifies every misdeed. His invitation is only towards the hell fire. He wants to spiritually sabotage the human heart.

Whose influence prevails over the human heart?

The human heart was created to accept both – sin and goodness. That is exactly why a believer’s worship, obedience to Allah (swt) and even repentance is so highly rewardable. He chooses goodness over evil, delayed gratification over instant joys, Aakhirah over Dunya and ultimately submission over transgression. Allah (swt) facilitates his choices, good or bad but has clearly warned of the consequences. 

Allah (swt) states in the Quran: “Indeed We created man from a sperm-drop mixture that We may try him and We made him hearing and seeing. Indeed, We guided him to the way, be he grateful or be he ungrateful.” (Al Insan 76:2-3)

How does the human heart become a battle ground for the Malaika and the Shayateen?

When a believer is enraged over something or smitten by a certain desire, he has two options – either to follow or unfollow them. In case he chooses to follow Shaitan’s invitation to act out the evil, Shaitan nestles into the human heart and firmly digs his claws into it seeking permanent residence.

Desires (Hawa and Shahwaat) are Shaitan’s favourite pastures and playground to misguide humans. However, there is a flipside to this also.

When a human being either fights back his desires or after succumbing to them, repents and reforms, he becomes worthy of Allah’s (swt) reward. Just when he was about to follow his desire, an angelic inspiration moved him away from it.Or after falling into sin, the angles planted the need for repentance into the human heart and this time, the human overpowered Shaitan and paid heed to the goodness and repented.

This dual battle continues by the second and throughout our lifetime between angles and the devils contesting their place inside the human heart, both calling to a different finish line.

Have you ever noticed, how in a gathering, when you shift the subject of conversation from worldly stuff to religion, people have different responses? Some begin to yawn and look away. Some are engaged and ask further questions. Some might pick up their cell phone, while others may even leave.

Shaitan flees from the Dhikr of Allah (swt). Hence the human response to the remembrance of Allah (swt) shows what is their heart engaged with. This is a matter of introspection for us.

Do we feel the sweetness of Salah or do we rush through it?

Do we leap towards the Quran to solve our daily troubles or elsewhere?

Do we seek knowledge and company of Islamic scholars to improve ourselves?

Read up more on the subject in our next blog of the series.  

Adapted from a course taught by Sister Safiya Khan “Fiqh ul Quloob.”