Abstract
The lessons in the story of Iblis, Harut and Marut, as regards the challenges Adam & his progeny are confronted with in the trials of this life.
Full Text
ذَٰلِكَ الْكِتَابُ لَا رَيْبَ فِيهِ هُدًى لِّلْمُتَّقِينَ
That (is) the book no doubt in it, a Guidance for the God-conscious.
[Al-Quran 2:2]
The first surah of The Quran is a prayer. The following surah begins with the statement that there is no doubt in The Book which is a guidance for those who keep their duty (لِّلْمُتَّقِينَ). A few ayaat later, it introduces us to the concept of corrupters who think they are doing acts of reform (Q2:11-12). A little later, it informs us of the angels' potential of trying to hide some thing or some information from Allah. In popular Muslim belief, it is thought that angels are perfectly obedient to Allah. However, in the first narration of the story of Adam, we come to know that they questioned the reason why Allah was appointing a khalifa (خَلِيفَةً), and so Allah proved to them: (1) Adam's superiority in knowledge over them, and (2) Allah's complete knowledge of all things, regardless of whether the angels revealed it or hid it:
قَالَ يَا آدَمُ أَنبِئْهُم بِأَسْمَائِهِمْ فَلَمَّا أَنبَأَهُم بِأَسْمَائِهِمْ قَالَ أَلَمْ أَقُل لَّكُمْ إِنِّي أَعْلَمُ غَيْبَ السَّمَاوَاتِ وَالْأَرْضِ وَأَعْلَمُ مَا تُبْدُونَ وَمَا كُنتُمْ تَكْتُمُونَ
وَإِذْ قُلْنَا لِلْمَلَائِكَةِ اسْجُدُوا لِآدَمَ فَسَجَدُوا إِلَّا إِبْلِيسَ أَبَىٰ وَاسْتَكْبَرَ وَكَانَ مِنَ الْكَافِرِينَ
He said: O Adam! Communicate to them their names. So then, when he communicated to them their names, He said: Did I not say to you: Truly, I know the unseen of the heavens and the earth, and I know what you show and what you had been keeping back.
And mention when We said to the angels: Prostrate yourselves to Adam! They, then, prostrated themselves but Iblis. He refused and grew arrogant. He had been among the ones who are ungrateful.
Moreover, we also learn that in spite of all the knowledge that Allah had bestowed on Adam, Iblis was able to tempt him into disobedience and make him slip. Adam subsequently repented, but there are many humans from the progeny of Adam who are either tempted into making the wrong choices or they deliberately choose to disobey; in either case ultimately wronging their own Nafs. Some realise and repent, others don't...
Allah is Greater
Allah is greater than everyone and everything, a declaration oft-repeated by Muslims as (الله أكبر). From the narrations of Adam and Iblis' story across The Quran, we come to learn that Iblis was an angel (مَلَكٌ) who was arrogant and an ungrateful rejector of Allah's commands (وَكَانَ مِنَ الْكَافِرِينَ). In commanding the angels to prostrate to Adam (Q2:34, Q7:11, Q15:29, Q17:61, Q18:50, Q20:116, Q38:75), Adam's status has been elevated by Allah over the angels. When a human calls upon another deity for help, he rejects not only Allah's sublime status over all His creations, but he also lowers his own status, thereby satiating Iblis' arrogance and envy.
أَلَمْ تَرَ أَنَّ اللَّهَ سَخَّرَ لَكُم مَّا فِي الْأَرْضِ وَالْفُلْكَ تَجْرِي فِي الْبَحْرِ بِأَمْرِهِ وَيُمْسِكُ السَّمَاءَ أَن تَقَعَ عَلَى الْأَرْضِ إِلَّا بِإِذْنِهِ إِنَّ اللَّهَ بِالنَّاسِ لَرَءُوفٌ رَّحِيمٌ
Hast thou not considered that God caused to be subservient to you what is in and on the earth? And the boats run through the sea by His command. And He holds back the heaven so that it not fall on the earth, but by His permission. Truly, to humanity God is Gentle, Compassionate.
[Al-Quran 22:65, Translator: Dr. Laleh Bakhtiar]
أَلَمْ تَرَوْا أَنَّ اللَّهَ سَخَّرَ لَكُم مَّا فِي السَّمَاوَاتِ وَمَا فِي الْأَرْضِ وَأَسْبَغَ عَلَيْكُمْ نِعَمَهُ ظَاهِرَةً وَبَاطِنَةً وَمِنَ النَّاسِ مَن يُجَادِلُ فِي اللَّهِ بِغَيْرِ عِلْمٍ وَلَا هُدًى وَلَا كِتَابٍ مُّنِيرٍ
Consider you not that God caused to become subservient to you whatever is in the heavens and whatever is in and on the earth and lavished on you His divine blessing, that which is manifest and that which is inward and yet most of humanity is he who disputes about God without knowledge and with no guidance and without an illuminating Book.
[Al-Quran 31:20, Translator: Dr. Laleh Bakhtiar]
Good vs Evil
In Surah al-Momineen, we are directed repel evil with good, and to pray for protection from the satans (الشَّيَاطِينِ):
ادْفَعْ بِالَّتِي هِيَ أَحْسَنُ السَّيِّئَةَ نَحْنُ أَعْلَمُ بِمَا يَصِفُونَ
وَقُل رَّبِّ أَعُوذُ بِكَ مِنْ هَمَزَاتِ الشَّيَاطِينِ
وَأَعُوذُ بِكَ رَبِّ أَن يَحْضُرُونِ
حَتَّىٰ إِذَا جَاءَ أَحَدَهُمُ الْمَوْتُ قَالَ رَبِّ ارْجِعُونِ
لَعَلِّي أَعْمَلُ صَالِحًا فِيمَا تَرَكْتُ كَلَّا إِنَّهَا كَلِمَةٌ هُوَ قَائِلُهَا وَمِن وَرَائِهِم بَرْزَخٌ إِلَىٰ يَوْمِ يُبْعَثُونَ
Drive thou back evil deeds with what is fairer. We are greater in knowledge of what they allege.
And say: My Lord! I take refuge with Thee from the evil suggestions of the satans.
And my Lord, I take refuge with Thee so that they not attend me.
Until when death drew near one of them, he said: My Lord! Return me
so that perhaps I will do as one in accord with morality in what I left behind. No indeed! Truly, it is only a word that one who converses says. And ahead of them is a barrier until the Day they are raised up.
The regret of those who have not done well in this life will be that they would have done an act of reform (أَعْمَلُ صَالِحًا) Interestingly, this phrase has been translated variously as:
- Muhammad Asad so that I might act righteously in whatever I have failed [aforetime]!
- M. M. Pickthall That I may do right in that which I have left behind!
- Yusuf Ali (1938) "In order that I may work righteousness in the things I neglected."
- Shakir Haply I may do good in that which I have left.
- Wahiduddin Khan so that I may do good works in the world I have left behind.
- Dr. Laleh Bakhtiar so that perhaps I will do as one in accord with morality in what I left behind.
- T.B.Irving so I may act honorably with anything I may have left behind"
- ...
(Excerpts from and link to 50+ English translations)
The Quran states that the purpose of this temporal life is to test each one of us. A series of trials decreed by Allah. And so, it terms the suffering of the Bani Israel at the hands of the Pharaoh as a great trial from Allah; it terms their going astray along with Samiri also a trail from Allah; and then, during the Kingdom of Solomon, Harut and Marut openly declare that they are a trial and people should not seek knowledge from them, as what they were offering required kufr, that is, ingratitude and rejection of truth!
In the capacity of Khalifa (خَلِيفَةً) that Adam and his descendants have been honoured and entrusted with, each one is under a covenant with Allah to do good and repel evil with whatever resources they have been provided with, especially what one owns, so that the purpose of this life is achieved, and there is no regret upon death. The Gardens of Eternity are promised as an inheritance, and the purpose of this life is defined in the last two ayaat of Surah al-Ahzaab:
In the capacity of Khalifa (خَلِيفَةً) that Adam and his descendants have been honoured and entrusted with, each one is under a covenant with Allah to do good and repel evil with whatever resources they have been provided with, especially what one owns, so that the purpose of this life is achieved, and there is no regret upon death. The Gardens of Eternity are promised as an inheritance, and the purpose of this life is defined in the last two ayaat of Surah al-Ahzaab:
إِنَّا عَرَضْنَا الْأَمَانَةَ عَلَى السَّمَاوَاتِ وَالْأَرْضِ وَالْجِبَالِ فَأَبَيْنَ أَن يَحْمِلْنَهَا وَأَشْفَقْنَ مِنْهَا وَحَمَلَهَا الْإِنسَانُ إِنَّهُ كَانَ ظَلُومًا جَهُولًا
لِّيُعَذِّبَ اللَّهُ الْمُنَافِقِينَ وَالْمُنَافِقَاتِ وَالْمُشْرِكِينَ وَالْمُشْرِكَاتِ وَيَتُوبَ اللَّهُ عَلَى الْمُؤْمِنِينَ وَالْمُؤْمِنَاتِ وَكَانَ اللَّهُ غَفُورًا رَّحِيمًا
Truly, We presented the trust to the heavens and the earth and the mountains, but they refused to carry it and were apprehensive of it. But the human being carried it. Truly, he had been wrongdoing, very ignorant.
God punishes the males, ones who are hypocrites and the females, ones who are hypocrites and the males, ones who are polytheists and the females, ones who are polytheists and God will turn to forgiveness toward the males, ones who believe and the females, ones who believe. And God had been Forgiving, Compassionate.
Apparently, The Human volunteered to undertake The Trust which The Mountains and The Earth and even The Skies were afraid to undertake! Do we even realise the enormity of this Trust and all it entails??? The Quran states that everyone and everything in the skies and earth prostrates to Allah willingly or unwillingly, and many humans also, but on many other humans the punishment has been proven to be deserved (Q22:18). The Quran also mentions that to Allah belong the forces of heavens and earth (Q48:4, Q48:7); and it does declare (Q9:33, Q48:28, Q61:9) that Allah has sent His Messenger so that Allah's Deen prevails over all other deens (religions/laws). Q42:13 is quite clear that it is the same Deen given to all prophets to establish. However, in this worldly life, the right to choose is given to everyone, and thus there is no compulsion in Deen (Q2:256). In fact, the purpose of this earth and sky is to hurl the truth against the falsehood so as to destroy its head and make it vanish! (Q21:18)
The Quran warn us that Iblis and his progeny are our sworn enemies:
وَإِذْ قُلْنَا لِلْمَلَائِكَةِ اسْجُدُوا لِآدَمَ فَسَجَدُوا إِلَّا إِبْلِيسَ كَانَ مِنَ الْجِنِّ فَفَسَقَ عَنْ أَمْرِ رَبِّهِ أَفَتَتَّخِذُونَهُ وَذُرِّيَّتَهُ أَوْلِيَاءَ مِن دُونِي وَهُمْ لَكُمْ عَدُوٌّ بِئْسَ لِلظَّالِمِينَ بَدَلًا
مَّا أَشْهَدتُّهُمْ خَلْقَ السَّمَاوَاتِ وَالْأَرْضِ وَلَا خَلْقَ أَنفُسِهِمْ وَمَا كُنتُ مُتَّخِذَ الْمُضِلِّينَ عَضُدًا
And mention when We said to the angels: Prostrate yourselves to Adam! So they prostrated themselves but Iblis. He had been among the jinn and he disobeyed the command of His Lord. Will you, then, take him to yourselves and his offspring to be protectors other than Me while they are an enemy to you? Miserable was it to give in place ones who are unjust!
I called them not to witness the creation of the heavens and the earth nor to their own creation of themselves their nafs nor took I to myself the ones who are led astray as assistants.
Iblis attempts to tempt us into violating Allah's Deen, just as he tempted Adam into violating it. We must ground ourselves in the tenets of The Deen and hold fast to Allah's guidance, seeking His help and protection, and keep praying for His forgiveness.
The Deen-e-Qayimah (الدِّينُ الْقَيِّمُ)
إِنَّ عِدَّةَ الشُّهُورِ عِندَ اللَّهِ اثْنَا عَشَرَ شَهْرًا فِي كِتَابِ اللَّهِ يَوْمَ خَلَقَ السَّمَاوَاتِ وَالْأَرْضَ مِنْهَا أَرْبَعَةٌ حُرُمٌ ذَٰلِكَ الدِّينُ الْقَيِّمُ فَلَا تَظْلِمُوا فِيهِنَّ أَنفُسَكُمْ وَقَاتِلُوا الْمُشْرِكِينَ كَافَّةً كَمَا يُقَاتِلُونَكُمْ كَافَّةً وَاعْلَمُوا أَنَّ اللَّهَ مَعَ الْمُتَّقِينَ
[Al-Quran 9:36]
مَا تَعْبُدُونَ مِن دُونِهِ إِلَّا أَسْمَاءً سَمَّيْتُمُوهَا أَنتُمْ وَآبَاؤُكُم مَّا أَنزَلَ اللَّهُ بِهَا مِن سُلْطَانٍ إِنِ الْحُكْمُ إِلَّا لِلَّهِ أَمَرَ أَلَّا تَعْبُدُوا إِلَّا إِيَّاهُ ذَٰلِكَ الدِّينُ الْقَيِّمُ وَلَٰكِنَّ أَكْثَرَ النَّاسِ لَا يَعْلَمُونَ
[Al-Quran 12:40]
فَأَقِمْ وَجْهَكَ لِلدِّينِ حَنِيفًا فِطْرَتَ اللَّهِ الَّتِي فَطَرَ النَّاسَ عَلَيْهَا لَا تَبْدِيلَ لِخَلْقِ اللَّهِ ذَٰلِكَ الدِّينُ الْقَيِّمُ وَلَٰكِنَّ أَكْثَرَ النَّاسِ لَا يَعْلَمُونَ
[Al-Quran 30:30]
فَأَقِمْ وَجْهَكَ لِلدِّينِ الْقَيِّمِ مِن قَبْلِ أَن يَأْتِيَ يَوْمٌ لَّا مَرَدَّ لَهُ مِنَ اللَّهِ يَوْمَئِذٍ يَصَّدَّعُونَ
مَن كَفَرَ فَعَلَيْهِ كُفْرُهُ وَمَنْ عَمِلَ صَالِحًا فَلِأَنفُسِهِمْ يَمْهَدُونَ
لِيَجْزِيَ الَّذِينَ آمَنُوا وَعَمِلُوا الصَّالِحَاتِ مِن فَضْلِهِ إِنَّهُ لَا يُحِبُّ الْكَافِرِينَ
وَمَا أُمِرُوا إِلَّا لِيَعْبُدُوا اللَّهَ مُخْلِصِينَ لَهُ الدِّينَ حُنَفَاءَ وَيُقِيمُوا الصَّلَاةَ وَيُؤْتُوا الزَّكَاةَ وَذَٰلِكَ دِينُ الْقَيِّمَةِ
[Al-Quran 98:5]
Magic in Solomon's Kingdom
In Surah al-Baqarah, the second surah, we also learn about the evil angels (الشَّيَاطِينُ) who rejected truth (كَفَرُوا) and taught people magic, even though they warned people that they were a trial for them:
وَاتَّبَعُوا مَا تَتْلُو الشَّيَاطِينُ عَلَىٰ مُلْكِ سُلَيْمَانَ وَمَا كَفَرَ سُلَيْمَانُ وَلَٰكِنَّ الشَّيَاطِينَ كَفَرُوا يُعَلِّمُونَ النَّاسَ السِّحْرَ وَمَا أُنزِلَ عَلَى الْمَلَكَيْنِ بِبَابِلَ هَارُوتَ وَمَارُوتَ وَمَا يُعَلِّمَانِ مِنْ أَحَدٍ حَتَّىٰ يَقُولَا إِنَّمَا نَحْنُ فِتْنَةٌ فَلَا تَكْفُرْ فَيَتَعَلَّمُونَ مِنْهُمَا مَا يُفَرِّقُونَ بِهِ بَيْنَ الْمَرْءِ وَزَوْجِهِ وَمَا هُم بِضَارِّينَ بِهِ مِنْ أَحَدٍ إِلَّا بِإِذْنِ اللَّهِ وَيَتَعَلَّمُونَ مَا يَضُرُّهُمْ وَلَا يَنفَعُهُمْ وَلَقَدْ عَلِمُوا لَمَنِ اشْتَرَاهُ مَا لَهُ فِي الْآخِرَةِ مِنْ خَلَاقٍ وَلَبِئْسَ مَا شَرَوْا بِهِ أَنفُسَهُمْ لَوْ كَانُوا يَعْلَمُونَ
And they followed what the satans recount during the dominion of Solomon. And Solomon was not ungrateful, except the satans were ungrateful. They teach humanity sorcery, and what was caused to descend to the two angels at Babylon—Harut and Marut. But neither of these two teach anyone unless they say: We are only a test, so be not ungrateful. And they learn from these two that by it they separate and divide between a man and his spouse. And they were not ones who injured anyone with it, but by the permission of God. And they learn what hurts them and profits them not. And, certainly, they knew that whoever bought it, for him in the world to come was not any apportionment. And miserable was that for which they sold themselves their Nafs. Would that they had been knowing!
[Al-Quran 2:102, Translator: Dr. Laleh Bakhtiar (edited in italics to retain the word Nafs)]
People learnt from Harut and Marut the magic which caused separation and divide between man and wife. The basic family union of man and wife is a sacred duty and trust, and the cornerstone on which a pure and honourable society is built upon. Destroying the unity and peace at home leaves open the door for evil to tempt whosoever can be tempted. The Bible and The Quran lay down strict punishments for adultery, and specify who is or isn't permissible for marriage. Allah has appointed mates through which He multiplies His creations (Q42:11). The people who will suffer clear loss will be the ones who lose their families and their Nafs on the Day of Resurrection (Q39:15). The Quran exhorts sincerity in Deen if one desires a good eternal life (Q30:43-45, Q39, Q98:5).
Magic in Ancient Times
يَأْتُوكَ بِكُلِّ سَاحِرٍ عَلِيمٍ
The Messengers' Way & Other Ways
All messengers preached keeping duty to Allah and obeying the messenger, as stated in many ayaat across The Quran, and oft-quoted in Surah ash-Shua`ra (فَاتَّقُوا اللَّهَ وَأَطِيعُونِ [Q26:108, 126, 144, 163, 179]). After relating the stories of several messengers, the Surah then poses the question:
In Surah Taha, we read that Pharaoh considered the divine signs brought by Moses as sorcery; the sorcerers of the Pharaoh tried to replicate the miracle of the stick coming alive, but whatever they were able to conjure was eaten up by the miracle shown through Moses; then, after the Exodus, we read about the Samiri among the Bani Israel who saw something that others couldn't see, and so he used that to lead others astray. In doing so, he cast away some of the Messenger's أَثَرِ, translated by some as footprints, and by some as teachings, and also as trace. We are told that it was decreed for Samiri to say: Don't Touch (لَا مِسَاسَ [Q20:96]) and that the god he was devoted to would be destroyed (burnt and cast into the al-Yam (الْيَمِّ). Translations of al-Yam (الْيَمِّ) vary between river and sea, but it is most probably referring to the Red Sea. Earlier, the helpless baby Moses was cast into the الْيَمِّ, and saved; whereas during the Exodus, the powerful Pharaoh and his forces were drowned in the الْيَمِّ, while Moses and the Bani Israel were delivered safely across it. What stands out in all this is that Allah is the only true God, while those that the sorcerers are devoted to are indeed false deities. Just like Samiri's god was to be (لَنَنسِفَنَّهُ فِي الْيَمِّ نَسْفًا [Q20:97]), so will Allah scatter the mountains into particles (يَنسِفُهَا رَبِّي نَسْفًا [Q20:105]). The God who constantly sees, hears, and is with His chosen ones will cast away and expose everything, even if its hidden within a rock in a mountain or a pyramid, a mighty relic of ancient Egypt. In fact, pyramids of the polytheists have been discovered all over the world. The cube system of the Lord of the Kaaba, the Deen of Allah, must and will replace all false systems. The Messengers of Allah show us the way, the sirat-e-mustaqeem, the worship of the one and only true deity. It is their way and their teachings which lead to success.
The Evil of Magic & Its Price
Allah alone deserves worship. Worship of Allah alone is thus extremely vital to the safety and prosperity of every worshipper. Worship of anyone else always causes loss. The Messengers of Allah show us the way to worship Allah. It is their way that one needs to follow, so as to not to go astray like Samiri and the people who followed him into idol-worship. People who seek out sorcerers or call upon creatures who may have some abilities to conjure illusions only cause harm to themselves in the long-run. So, it is stated:
By The Power Of
It is interesting to note the difference between Iblis and the magician of the Pharaoh: the arrogant angel invokes the power of Allah to lead mankind astray, while these humans invoked the power of Pharaoh against Moses, the Messenger of Allah:
Prayers have been enjoined at fixed times on the believers. In prayer, we acknowledge Allah and His Power and Glory.
Harut and Marut appeared among the Bani Israel long after The Torah had been revealed. Prior to the Exodus, the Bani Israel dwelt in ancient Egypt where magic was practiced, patronised and rewarded:
يَأْتُوكَ بِكُلِّ سَاحِرٍ عَلِيمٍ
وَجَاءَ السَّحَرَةُ فِرْعَوْنَ قَالُوا إِنَّ لَنَا لَأَجْرًا إِن كُنَّا نَحْنُ الْغَالِبِينَ
قَالَ نَعَمْ وَإِنَّكُمْ لَمِنَ الْمُقَرَّبِينَ
Let them approach thee with every knowing sorcerer.
And the ones who are sorcerers drew near to Pharaoh. They said: Truly, would we have compensation if we had been the ones who are victors?
Pharaoh said: Yes! And, truly, you will be of the ones who are brought near to me.
[Al-Quran 7:112-114, Translator: Dr. Laleh Bakhtiar]
إِنَّا آمَنَّا بِرَبِّنَا لِيَغْفِرَ لَنَا خَطَايَانَا وَمَا أَكْرَهْتَنَا عَلَيْهِ مِنَ السِّحْرِ وَاللَّهُ خَيْرٌ وَأَبْقَىٰ
For us, truly, we believed in our Lord that He forgive us our transgressions and what thou hadst compelled us to do because of the sorcery. And God is Best of one who endures.
[Al-Quran 7:112-114, Translator: Dr. Laleh Bakhtiar]
إِنَّا آمَنَّا بِرَبِّنَا لِيَغْفِرَ لَنَا خَطَايَانَا وَمَا أَكْرَهْتَنَا عَلَيْهِ مِنَ السِّحْرِ وَاللَّهُ خَيْرٌ وَأَبْقَىٰ
For us, truly, we believed in our Lord that He forgive us our transgressions and what thou hadst compelled us to do because of the sorcery. And God is Best of one who endures.
[Al-Quran 20:73, Translator: Dr. Laleh Bakhtiar]
The Messengers' Way & Other Ways
All messengers preached keeping duty to Allah and obeying the messenger, as stated in many ayaat across The Quran, and oft-quoted in Surah ash-Shua`ra (فَاتَّقُوا اللَّهَ وَأَطِيعُونِ [Q26:108, 126, 144, 163, 179]). After relating the stories of several messengers, the Surah then poses the question:
أَوَلَمْ يَكُن لَّهُمْ آيَةً أَن يَعْلَمَهُ عُلَمَاءُ بَنِي إِسْرَائِيلَ
Would it not be a sign for them that is known to the knowing among the Children of Israel?
[Al-Quran 26:197, Translator: Dr. Laleh Bakhtiar]
In Surah Taha, we read that Pharaoh considered the divine signs brought by Moses as sorcery; the sorcerers of the Pharaoh tried to replicate the miracle of the stick coming alive, but whatever they were able to conjure was eaten up by the miracle shown through Moses; then, after the Exodus, we read about the Samiri among the Bani Israel who saw something that others couldn't see, and so he used that to lead others astray. In doing so, he cast away some of the Messenger's أَثَرِ, translated by some as footprints, and by some as teachings, and also as trace. We are told that it was decreed for Samiri to say: Don't Touch (لَا مِسَاسَ [Q20:96]) and that the god he was devoted to would be destroyed (burnt and cast into the al-Yam (الْيَمِّ). Translations of al-Yam (الْيَمِّ) vary between river and sea, but it is most probably referring to the Red Sea. Earlier, the helpless baby Moses was cast into the الْيَمِّ, and saved; whereas during the Exodus, the powerful Pharaoh and his forces were drowned in the الْيَمِّ, while Moses and the Bani Israel were delivered safely across it. What stands out in all this is that Allah is the only true God, while those that the sorcerers are devoted to are indeed false deities. Just like Samiri's god was to be (لَنَنسِفَنَّهُ فِي الْيَمِّ نَسْفًا [Q20:97]), so will Allah scatter the mountains into particles (يَنسِفُهَا رَبِّي نَسْفًا [Q20:105]). The God who constantly sees, hears, and is with His chosen ones will cast away and expose everything, even if its hidden within a rock in a mountain or a pyramid, a mighty relic of ancient Egypt. In fact, pyramids of the polytheists have been discovered all over the world. The cube system of the Lord of the Kaaba, the Deen of Allah, must and will replace all false systems. The Messengers of Allah show us the way, the sirat-e-mustaqeem, the worship of the one and only true deity. It is their way and their teachings which lead to success.
The Evil of Magic & Its Price
Allah alone deserves worship. Worship of Allah alone is thus extremely vital to the safety and prosperity of every worshipper. Worship of anyone else always causes loss. The Messengers of Allah show us the way to worship Allah. It is their way that one needs to follow, so as to not to go astray like Samiri and the people who followed him into idol-worship. People who seek out sorcerers or call upon creatures who may have some abilities to conjure illusions only cause harm to themselves in the long-run. So, it is stated:
قَالَ مُوسَىٰ أَتَقُولُونَ لِلْحَقِّ لَمَّا جَاءَكُمْ أَسِحْرٌ هَٰذَا وَلَا يُفْلِحُ السَّاحِرُونَ
Moses said: Say you this about The Truth when it drew near you? Is this sorcery? And the ones who are sorcerers will not prosper.
فَلَمَّا أَلْقَوْا قَالَ مُوسَىٰ مَا جِئْتُم بِهِ السِّحْرُ إِنَّ اللَّهَ سَيُبْطِلُهُ إِنَّ اللَّهَ لَا يُصْلِحُ عَمَلَ الْمُفْسِدِينَ
Then, when they cast Moses said: What you brought about is sorcery. Truly, God will render it untrue. Truly, God makes not right the actions of the ones who make corruption.
وَأَلْقِ مَا فِي يَمِينِكَ تَلْقَفْ مَا صَنَعُوا إِنَّمَا صَنَعُوا كَيْدُ سَاحِرٍ وَلَا يُفْلِحُ السَّاحِرُ حَيْثُ أَتَىٰ
And cast what is in thy right hand. It will swallow what they crafted. What they crafted is not but the cunning of one who is a sorcerer. And the one who is a sorcerer will not prosper in whatever he approached.
It is interesting to note the difference between Iblis and the magician of the Pharaoh: the arrogant angel invokes the power of Allah to lead mankind astray, while these humans invoked the power of Pharaoh against Moses, the Messenger of Allah:
فَأَلْقَوْا حِبَالَهُمْ وَعِصِيَّهُمْ وَقَالُوا بِعِزَّةِ فِرْعَوْنَ إِنَّا لَنَحْنُ الْغَالِبُونَ
فَأَلْقَىٰ مُوسَىٰ عَصَاهُ فَإِذَا هِيَ تَلْقَفُ مَا يَأْفِكُونَ
فَأُلْقِيَ السَّحَرَةُ سَاجِدِينَ
قَالُوا آمَنَّا بِرَبِّ الْعَالَمِينَ
رَبِّ مُوسَىٰ وَهَارُونَ
So they cast their ropes and their staffs and said: By the vainglory of Pharaoh, we, we will, surely, be the ones who are victors!
Then, Moses cast down his staff. That is when it swallows what they faked.
The ones who are sorcerers were cast down, ones who prostrate themselves.
They said: We believed in the Lord of the worlds,
the Lord of Moses and Aaron.
قَالَ فَبِعِزَّتِكَ لَأُغْوِيَنَّهُمْ أَجْمَعِينَ
Iblis said: By Thy Great Glory, then, I will certainly lead them one and all into error,
[Al-Quran 38:82, Translator: Dr. Laleh Bakhtiar]
Prayers have been enjoined at fixed times on the believers. In prayer, we acknowledge Allah and His Power and Glory.
On Whom Descend the Shayateen
In Surah ash-Shu`ara`, we learn that:
While invoking Allah for His supreme protection, we must actively refrain from lying and committing sins, and if we err, to immediately repent and seek forgiveness, lest Allah permits the satans to descend upon us. May Allah protect us from such dangerous trials and temptations. Aameen.
In Surah ash-Shu`ara`, we learn that:
هَلْ أُنَبِّئُكُمْ عَلَىٰ مَن تَنَزَّلُ الشَّيَاطِينُ
تَنَزَّلُ عَلَىٰ كُلِّ أَفَّاكٍ أَثِيمٍ
يُلْقُونَ السَّمْعَ وَأَكْثَرُهُمْ كَاذِبُونَ
Will I tell you in whom the satans come forth?
They come forth in every sinful false one
who gives listen, but most of them are ones who lie.
While invoking Allah for His supreme protection, we must actively refrain from lying and committing sins, and if we err, to immediately repent and seek forgiveness, lest Allah permits the satans to descend upon us. May Allah protect us from such dangerous trials and temptations. Aameen.
Last edited on: May 2, 2019
