Six attacks by Shaytan and Ten methods of Defence
Mohamad Mostafa Nassar
Twitter:@NassarMohamadMR
The evil of Shaytan is limited to six categories, he continues [to assault] mankind until he succeeds in one or more of them:
1) Occupying Muslims with practicing voluntary good deeds instead of obligatory good deeds as per Islamic deed hierarchy
2) Subsequently, occupying people with practicing boasting [Actions that one is neither ordered to do or prohibited from performing specifically]
3) The minor sins
4) The innovations.
5) Next the major sins.
6) The evil of polytheism and disbelief.
Safeguards for Muslims from the evils of your own self and Shaytan are not limited to the following: –
1) Seeking refuge with Allah from him.
2) Equip yourself with Authentic Islamic knowledge of Islamic Faith=Aqedah and Authentic Sunnah of our beloved Prophet Muhammed peace be upon him.
3) Comply with all pillars of Islam as much as you can.
4) Reading Al–Mu‘awwidhatan= Verses of Refuge [ Surah An-Nas (114) and Surat al-Falaq].
5) Reading Ayatul Kursi from Surah Al-Baqarah (2:255)
6) Reading Surat al Baqarah as a whole
7) Reading the ending of Surat al Baqarah, last two verses. (2:285-286)
8) The believer reading from the beginning of {Haa Meem.} until {to Him is the final return.} [Ghafir: 1-3].
9) Saying what translated means: ‘There is no deity worthy of worship but Allah, alone having no partners, to him belongs the dominion, to him belongs all praise, and He has the ability to do all things.’ One hundred times.
10) Practicing the remembrance of Allah, a lot.
11) Performing ablution=Wudu along with prayers.
12) Refraining from (extra) looking around, talking, eating, and mixing with people.
A friend of Deen is a friend indeed.
Did you read the caption to this article?
Well, read it again, carefully this time. That is right, it is not a misprint. Really a friend in Deen is a friend indeed. Let us examine why. Whether we like it or not every moment of our lives we are interacting with people. Our occupation, studies and activities provide us with opportunities to associate with certain groups of people more often than others.
This company that we keep, plays an important role in the manner we behave. Just to be with it, we tend to do what those around us are doing. A student is sometimes forced to behave in a certain manner just to claim his place amongst his peers. How often people sacrifice principles of Deen to secure this kind of friendship.
Way of Life
How important is it for a person to be guarded about the kind of people he associates with? In a Hadith reported by Abu Hurayra may All be pleased with him, Prophet Muhammed peace be upon him where is reported to have said, “A person is upon the way of life of his close companion so each of you should be careful whom you take as a close friend.”
The effect that the kind of company you keep has on you has further been illustrated by the beautiful words of Prophet Muhammed peace be upon him where he has mentioned in a Hadith found both in Bukhari and Muslim.
“The example of a pious companion and an evil companion is like that of a musk seller and a person blowing a furnace. As for the musk seller, he may give you some or you may purchase some from him or you would obtain a beautiful fragrance from him. As for the person blowing the furnace, he may either burn your clothing or you would obtain an unpleasant odor from him.”
While we ensure that we only join good company, let us for a moment think, what kind of friend have we been to our colleagues at work, classmates at school and neighbors at home? Have we been encouraging them to participate in activities that are un-Islamic?
Am I responsible for the first puff of cigarette that he took, the first taste of drugs, the first sip of alcohol, the first attempt at gambling, the first pornographic movie or magazine which has passed through his hands?? If our answer to any of the above is in the affirmative then let us ponder over the verse in Surah Al-Furqan (25:26-29) wherein Allah
Almighty says that the wrongdoer would bite his hands on the day of judgement saying, “Would that I had not taken such a person as a friend, he led me astray from the message of Allah after it came to me.”
Who then is a sincere friend? One who sticks with you through thick and thin, through prosperity and adversity, above all the one who is concerned about your welfare both in this world and the hereafter. Allah Ta’ala says in Surah Zukhruff (43:67)
“On that day close friends would be enemies of each other except the God conscious ones.”
A friendship which earns the wrath of Allah Almighty is not worth securing as it is said: “Being alone is better than having an evil companion and having a pious companion is better than being alone.”
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Quick one liner advices:
1. Give Allah what is right — not what is left.
2. Man’s way leads to a hopeless end — Allah’s way leads to an endless hope.
3. A lot of kneeling will keep you in good standing.
4. He who kneels before Allah can stand before anyone.
5. In the sentence of life, the devil may be a comma –but never let him be the period.
6. Don’t put a question mark where Allah puts a period.
7. Are you wrinkled with burden? Come to the mosque for a face-lift.
8. When praying, do not give Allah instructions — just report for duty.
9. Don’t wait for six strong men to take you to the mosque.
10. We do not change Allah’s message — His message changes us.
11. The mosque is prayer conditioned.
12. When Allah ordains, He sustains.
13. Warning: Exposure to Allah may prevent burning.
14. Plan ahead — It wasn’t raining when Noah built the ark.
15. Most people want to serve Allah, but only in an advisory position.
16. Suffering from truth decay? Brush up on your Qur’an.
17. Exercise daily — walk with Allah.
18. Never give the devil a ride — he will always want to drive.
19. Nothing else ruins the truth like stretching it.
20. Compassion is difficult to give away because it keeps coming back.
21. He who angers you controls you.
22. Worry is the darkroom in which negatives can develop.
23. Give Satan an inch and he will be a ruler.
24. Be ye fishers of men — you catch them & He’ll clean them.
25. Allah does not call the qualified, He qualifies the called.
Allah knows Best.