The Entrances of Shaitan into the Human Heart – Part 4

By

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

Ibrahim at Tawejri, a respected scholar hailing from Madinah has guided us in the light of the Quran and Sunnah, how the human heart decides. Why is this knowledge so critical and imperative? It grants self-awareness and enables us to build a defense mechanism against the invading forces of evil and how to overcome them.

The Quran states how Shaitain challenged Allah (swt): “’And I will mislead them, and I will arouse in them (sinful) desires and I will command them so they will slit the ears of cattle, and I will command them so they will change the creation of Allah.’ And whoever takes satan as an ally instead of Allah has certainly sustained a clear loss. He (i.e.) satan promises them and arouses desire 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 4:119-121)

The human faculties Shaitan enters through to reach the heart

1. Eyes

Shaitan’s aim is to block the eyes from the signs of Allah (swt). Whether they are in the form of written signs such as the Quran and Sunnah or signs scattered all around in the universe as physical laws governing us.

Instead he occupies and distracts the human sight with entertainment, wasteful, lustful sights and temptations. He nurtures the seeds of false hope. He cultivates the land of evil and impermissible desires.

Once the human eyes loose Baseerat (spiritual insight) that connects Allah (swt) to the heart, Shaitan then enters the heart to corrupt it fully.

Now the person will scroll for hours frequently and repeatedly wasting his precious time and forsaking productive and good deeds. He will be busied with window shopping, watching reels, even if they have Islamic content, as their nature is fleeting and has very little to do with true and lasting guidance.

Finally Shiatan will overpower the human heart by leading it to sinful sights, pornography, lustful imagery through the misusage of eyes. The eyes will enjoy watching and witnessing sin without guilt or regret. In fact they will seek more to satiate their Nafs.

Conversely, when a person willfully blocks himself from such exposure of screens and in person, his sight is protected. He is granted an opportunity by Allah (swt) to develop a sight of Ibrut (to learn lessons of life to prevent himself from sins). He will also be given Maarfat e Ilahi (recognition of Allah swt) that others won’t have.

He will be able to perceive the spiritual realities of life by looking at the same common creation people look at such as the sun, moon and the stars but reach Allah (swt) with Iman.   

2. Ears

Quraish would deter people from listening to the Prophet’s (sa) revelation by making noise, slandering and spreading gossips. Even today Shaitan unleashes his armies over people to occupy them with lies and deception, music, indecent, vain or foul talk. Why?

What enters through the ears influences the heart. Hence Shaitan ensures nothing spiritual should enter. The content that is playful, full of distractions or indecency should reach the heart. It seems sweet to Nafs Ammara and hence the heart is conquered by Shaitan.  

He fears the power of Allah’s (swt) speech hence Shaitan blocks it from people. Even if they listen to it, Shaitan tries to distort the meaning and message of Quran by placing doubts. This corrupts the perception and the listener doesn’t develop Iman and Amal-e-Sulaeh.

The music industry, the cine world, advertisement agencies and media in general know how content heard by people drives them to a certain behaviour. Hence they use it to their advantage even if it defies Allah’s (swt) rights. 

3. Tongue

When the heart is mindful and recognizes Allah (swt) the tongue busies itself with Dhikr of Allah (swt), Tilawat of the Kitaab, Istaghfaar, Daawat of Islam, etc. This keeps the heart of a believer alive.

Now Shaitan ensures that he instills such thoughts and fuels the emotions to such an extent that the tongue resorts to ingratitude, back biting, quarreling, slandering, lying, mocking, etc.

Shaitan orders his armies to guard the man’s heart and not allow him to recite the Quran, give Dawah, utter the truth, be grateful, give good advice, offer peace, use kind words, etc.

Misuse of the tongue is a very dangerous gateway that can cause us to fall into hell as per Prophet Muhammad’s (sa) Hadeeth.  

4. Hands and feet

Shaitan influences the human heart and commands his army to invade people in such a way that they use their limbs – hand and feet in sin. Shaitan pushes people to transgress, oppress others and be unjust.

Simultaneously he prevents them to use their limbs in mindful acts of Ibadah, virtuous deeds that cause Allah’s (swt) pleasure or earn them His forgiveness and mercy.

Shaitan trains the Nafs Ammara to persuade man to commit vile acts and firmly conquers his heart.  

The heart under the Shaitan’s influence exhibits anger, causes violence, indulges in Shirk, Kufr, Biddat, is lazy in offering Ibadah, etc.

If Shaitan cannot prevent a believer from obeying Allah (swt), he dilutes the quality of his obedience by delaying him, distracting him or directing him to a good deed lesser in weight.

Best means of protection against Shaitan

1.  Know that his enmity is real

Shaitan challenged Allah (swt): “[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)

2. Understand his plots and deception and prepare

Allah (swt) states in the Quran: “That is only satan who frightens (you) of his supporters. So fear them not, but fear Me, if you are (indeed) believers.” (Al Imran 3:175)

3. Seek Allah’s (swt) forgiveness and mercy constantly

Yusuf (as) admitted of his weakness and the Quran states his dialogue: “And I do not acquit myself. Indeed the soul is a persistent enjoiner of evil, except those upon which my Lord has mercy. Indeed my Lord is Forgiving and Merciful.” (Yusuf 12:53)

Read up more on the subject in our series of four blogs titled “The Entrances of the Human Heart.”

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