Shaythan Dangles Freedom

بِسۡمِ ٱللهِ ٱلرَّحۡمَـٰنِ ٱلرَّحِيمِ 

The following is adapted from a swuhbah by Shaykh Muhammad Nazhim Adil al-Haqqani (q.s.) on the 07^th December 2009. 

Allah (s.w.t.) Sent 124 000 Prophets as warners to warn Mankind about Shaythan’s tricks.  We must take this warning very seriously as millions of people have been duped by Shaythan, and are now in endless regret in their graves.  Once we have been snared in Shaythan’s trap, it is very difficult to save ourselves.  That is why Allah (s.w.t.) Sent so many prophets and now, shuyukh to warn us again and again. 

Shaythan’s first step is to win our trust just like what he did with Adam (a.s.).  He portrays himself as our advisor and friend, inviting us to a life of endless enjoyment and freedom.  Shaythan whispers to us a whisper familiar to us all: Discard old things, and replace them with new ones.  Discard old clothes because they are out of fashion.  Discard old furniture because they are old.  Discard old values because they are out-dated.  Discard our old values and replace them with new ones - his.  Shaythan dangles freedom to Mankind; freedom from the old ways and restrictive beliefs and practices. 

In doing so, we forget one very important fact: we are getting older, not younger.  Shaythan wants us to always feel young, to feel that death is far away.  We forget about the approach of death and are concerned with celebrations and new things.  Shaythan has cheated humanity by making them feel younger.  Death is the last day we are on this earth.  After which, our worldly existence and all its contents cease to be of any value to us.  If we had been one who had busied ourselves with worldly playthings, we would be of the heedless ones.  Our life will be Taken by force and we will enter our grave in a tormented state.  But those who had sought to please Allah (s.w.t.) would surrender their souls blissfully and enter into endless felicity. 

All of Shaythan’s advice has only one intention - that we should be snatched from light and thrown into darkness.  Anyone who obeys Shaythan has lost his honour and anyone who obeys Allah (s.w.t.) has gained everlasting honour and safety.  Allah (s.w.t.) Reminds us: 

سُوۡرَةُ الذّاریَات

وَمَا خَلَقۡتُ ٱلۡجِنَّ وَٱلۡإِنسَ إِلَّا لِيَعۡبُدُونِ (٥٦)

I have only Created jinn and men, that they may serve Me. (Surah adz-Dzariyat:56) 

We must never forget that we are His servants.  The greatest honour for us is to be Allah’s (s.w.t.) servant.  The reality of freedom is to be free of Shaythan’s influence and the ego that controls us.  That is real freedom.  In this time, even those who are supposed to be scholars are ridden by Shaythan like a man riding his horse.  They are ruled, not by Allah (s.w.t.), but by their ego.  Shaythan will lead them to Jahannam.  Our Prophet (s.a.w.) said, “Religion is about giving good advice to people.”  So this is good advice: Be pure and do not follow Shaythan.  We must remember death and prepare for it.