From Shaytan's Deceptions
- Categories: Asceticism and Heart Softening -
Dr. `Umar
Al-Ashqar
Among the deceptions of Satan is that he names the evil actions
with names that are very pleasing to the human to entice him to
take part in them. In this way, he dupes the human and makes a
forgery of the reality of the situation. For example, Satan called
the tree that was forbidden to Adam, "the tree of everlasting life"
in order to make it appealing to Adam:
"[But Satan whispered to him saying, 1] 'Oh Adam, shall I show you
the tree of immortality and power that wastes not away?'" [Taha
20:120]
{فَوَسْوَسَ إِلَيْهِ الشَّيْطَانُ
قَالَ يَا آدَمُ هَلْ أَدُلُّكَ عَلَى شَجَرَةِ الْخُلْدِ وَمُلْكٍ
لَّا يَبْلَى}
Transliteration: Fawaswasa 'Ilayhi Ash-Shayţānu Qāla Yā 'Ādamu Hal
'Adulluka `Alá Shajarati Al-Khuldi Wa Mulkin Lā
Yablá
Ibn al-Qayyim stated: "From
Satan, his followers inherited this trait of using names that are
loved by the soul for forbidden objects. For example, wine is
called 'the mother of glee', interest is called a 'business
transaction', and taxes and tolls are called 'the right of the
government.'"
Today interest is referred to as profit; dancing, music and plays
are called art.
_______________________
1- These words form part of the verse but al-Ashqar excluded them
from the original work. - JZ
Source:
The Ways of Satan in Leading Humans
Astray
The World of the Jinn and Devils
Translated by Jamaal Zarabozo, © 1998 al-Basheer Publications
& Translations