The ultimate challenge, the most important task for all followers of Islam is to stay out of the trap laid by Angel Iblees (Shetan), to ensure they don’t become a victim to Shetan’s ploys, as failing this, they will get a sure shot ticket to Jahannum. The Quran and Hadith is full of warnings on how easily Shetan can make a practicing Muslim follow him and his antics. The personality of Shetan is described in a few verses of Quran, on how he can be present anywhere waiting for his chance to leap upon a Momin. His presence is there in toilets, in bedrooms, among relatives, in your workplace, in graveyards, and on social media. Interestingly, the Quran also inadvertently reveals the similarities between Allah and Shetan, as well as the Messengers of Allah and Shetan. Here are some verses displaying qualities of Allah which are also present in Shetan

1) Allah and Shetan are both invisible to humans.

“O children of Adam, let not Satan tempt you as he removed your parents from Paradise, stripping them of their clothing to show them their private parts. Indeed, he sees you, he and his tribe, from where you do not see them. Indeed, We have made the devils allies to those who do not believe”. 7:27

“Vision perceives Him not, but He perceives [all] vision; and He is the Subtle, the Acquainted”. (6:103)

2) Allah has taken oath many times in Quran. We have come across 8 such verses where Allah swears by something or the other to prove his point. As the following verse suggests

“Then I swear by the setting of the stars, And indeed, it is an oath – if you could know – [most] great””. (56:75-76)

“So I swear by the twilight glow. And [by] the night and what it envelops” (84:16-17)

Other relevant verses are 69:38, 70:40, 75:1, 75:2, 81:15, 90:1

In the same manner, Shetan also swore by Allah to deceive Adam and Eve

“But Satan whispered to them to make apparent to them that which was concealed from them of their private parts. He said, “Your Lord did not forbid you this tree except that you become angels or become of the immortal. And he swore [by Allah] to them, “Indeed, I am to you from among the sincere advisors.”” (7:20-21)

3) Throughout Quran and Hadith, every trial and turbulence which comes into the life of Muslims is explained as a test taken by Allah, the word used for this purpose is FA-TA-NUN. Some verses mentioning this are

“”And thus We have tried some of them through others that the disbelievers might say, “Is it these whom Allah has favored among us?” Is not Allah most knowing of those who are grateful?”” (6:53)

“”[And We favored you] when your sister went and said, ‘Shall I direct you to someone who will be responsible for him?’ So We restored you to your mother that she might be content and not grieve. And you killed someone, but We saved you from retaliation and tried you with a [severe] trial. And you remained [some] years among the people of Madyan. Then you came [here] at the decreed time, O Moses. (20:40)””

Other verses mentioning Fa Ta Nun are 20:90, 20:131, 27:47, 29:2, 29:3

Interestingly, Allah has admitted himself that Shetan also takes tests or trials. Allah has warned BANI ADAM (Human beings) to not fall for Shaitan’s trap as he will do a test-trial to identify if offspring of Adam are fallible, (FA-TA-NUN)

“O children of Adam, let not Satan tempt you as he removed your parents from Paradise, stripping them of their clothing to show them their private parts”. (7:27)

4) Allah has given the PROMISE for attaining paradise as well as for the veracity of last day/day of judgment. In this verse, Allah is declaring on behalf of Shaitan, that he also gave PROMISE that he will lure children of Adam in this verse

“”And Satan will say when the matter has been concluded, “Indeed, Allah had promised you the promise of truth. And I promised you, but I betrayed you. But I had no authority over you except that I invited you, and you responded to me. So do not blame me; but blame yourselves. I cannot be called to your aid, nor can you be called to my aid. Indeed, I deny your association of me [with Allah] before. Indeed, for the wrongdoers is a painful punishment.” “(14:22)

 

5) In order to win the trust of their people, Messengers of Allah who get a mention in Quran, use the same format as Shetan. The 3 letters (Na Sa Ha) are used by both sides. In Surah Araf, Allah shares that Shetan convinced Adam and Hawwa that he is their sincere adviser (Na Sa Ha). In Chapter 7, verse 62 explains how Noah is convincing his people that he brings the message of his lord to them using the same three letters. In Chapter 11 Surah Hud, Noah again impresses the message upon his people that he is the bringer of his Lord’s message to them, using the same three letters. In Chapter 7, Messenger Hud is talking to his people using the same three words:

[Hud] said, “O my people, there is not foolishness in me, but I am a messenger from the Lord of the worlds. I convey to you the messages of my Lord, and I am to you a trustworthy adviser.” (7:67-68)

In the same chapter, Messengers Shoaib and Saleh have spoken to their people clearing their own stance and declaring their position as advisers or NASEH

“And he turned away from them and said, “O my people, I had certainly conveyed to you the message of my Lord and advised you, but you do not like advisors.”” (Saleh in 7:79)

And using the exact same words, Shoaib admonishes his people in the same chapter

“And he turned away from them and said, “O my people, I had certainly conveyed to you the message of my Lord and advised you, but you do not like advisors.”” (Shoaib in 7:93)

6) Looking further into usage of same key terminologies by Allah and Shetan, we find that Shaitan had dangled the carrot of KHA-LAM-DAL (Khuld/ eternity/ immortality) to convince Adam to approach the forbidden tree

“”But Satan whispered to them to make apparent to them that which was concealed from them of their private parts. He said, “Your Lord did not forbid you this tree except that you become angels or become of the immortal.”” (7:21)

“”Then Satan whispered to him; he said, “O Adam, shall I direct you to the tree of eternity and possession that will not deteriorate?”” (20:120)

In both of the verses above, the 3 letters Kha Lam Dal are used which mean immortality by Shetan to lure Adam and Hawwa

In a few verses, Allah has used the same 3 letters to emphasize the eternity of Jannat or eternity of Jahannam. Some verses on eternity of Jannah

“”And We said, “O Adam, dwell, you and your wife, in Paradise and eat therefrom in [ease and] abundance from wherever you will. But do not approach this tree, lest you be among the wrongdoers.”” (2:35)

“But they who believe and do righteous deeds – those are the companions of Paradise; they will abide therein eternally.” (2:82)

Some verses on the eternity of Jahannam

“”And those who disbelieve and deny Our signs – those will be companions of the Fire; they will abide therein eternally.”” (2:39)

“Yes, whoever earns evil and his sin has encompassed him – those are the companions of the Fire; they will abide therein eternally.” (2:81)

7) Three words zay-ya-nun are used to ascertain ‘to beautify’ and ‘to make fair’. While Muhammad was still in Makkah and Islam was followed by less than 10 people, the flavor of the verses was conciliatory. During that period, here is how fairness is depicted in Chapter 6 Al Anam, using Za Ya Nun

“And do not insult those they invoke other than Allah, lest they insult Allah in enmity without knowledge. Thus We have made pleasing to every community their deeds. Then to their Lord is their return, and He will inform them about what they used to do”. (6:108)

And in Chapter 27 Al Naml, the same three words are used again

“Indeed, for those who do not believe in the Hereafter, We have made pleasing to them their deeds, so they wander blindly”. (27:4)

Now if we look at Shetan, he has also been depicted using the same three words to justify the acts of polytheists/disbelievers and make them ‘FAIR SEEMING’ to them

“Then why, when Our punishment came to them, did they not humble themselves? But their hearts became hardened, and Satan made attractive to them that which they were doing”. (6:43)

“”And [remember] when Satan made their deeds pleasing to them and said, “No one can overcome you today from among the people, and indeed, I am your protector.” But when the two armies sighted each other, he turned on his heels and said, “Indeed, I am disassociated from you. Indeed, I see what you do not see; indeed I fear Allah. And Allah is severe in penalty.”” (8:48)

Evidence of the use of these words by Shetan is also present in verse 15:39, 16:63, 27:24 etc.

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