What Hold does the Satan have on You?

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Avoiding the Plots of Peril

Allah says in the Qur’an:

“Verily in this is a Message for any that has a heart and understanding or who gives ear and earnestly witnesses (the truth).” (50:37)

Traps of Satan

Allah says in the Qur’an:

“O ye who believe! enter into Islam whole-heartedly; and follow not the footsteps of the Evil One; for he is to you an avowed enemy.” (2:208)

1. The evil of Kufr and Shirk: Associating somebody in worship other than Allah.
2. Bid’ah: A bid’ah is more pleasing to Satan than committing a sin
3. Major Sins: Backbiting, Adultery, Dealing with Interest, Alcohol, Not Praying, etc.
4. Minor sins: An ocean gets filled with drops of water.
5. The evil of preoccupying our self with permissible things. E.g. Watching a basketball match.
6. The evil of preoccupying us with deeds of lesser rewards.
7. The evil of deploying his enemies against us. E.g. boss not allowing us to go for Jumu’ah

Three Types of Heart

1. A Dead Heart: Qur’an does not shake us at all. Allah says in the Qur’an:

   “Thenceforth were your hearts hardened; they became like a rock and even worse in hardness. For among rocks there are some from which rivers gush forth; others there are which when split asunder send forth water; and others which sink for fear of Allah. And Allah is not unmindful of what ye do.”  (2:74)

2. A Sick Heart: Too many distractions that do not allow us to benefit from the Qur’an.
3. A Healthy Heart: On the Day of Resurrection, only those who come to Allah with a healthy heart will be saved. Allah says:
   
   “The day on which neither wealth nor sons will be of any use, except for whoever brings to Allah a sound heart.” (26:88-89)

To Benefit from a Reminder (Advice), Three conditions need to be fulfilled:

1. Be in a dire need of a reminder: The feeling of  ” I really need to increase my Iman” should exist. These reminders are there in the Qur’an. The Iman increases when reminded.
   E.g. If we listen to any reminder like a glass filled with water, then nothing will change us. If we feel we know everything and do not want to listen more, it wont benefit us.
2. Stop Criticizing the Preacher: Do not criticize the one who is reminding and trying to increase our Iman.
3. Ponder on Allah’s Promises and Warnings: We need to have firm faith that Allah gives us Jannah and we should fear the Hell-fire. Only then we can benefit from reminders and increase our Iman. We can differentiate between right and wrong. This is a Blessing from Allah.

Five Diseases of the Heart

1. Intermingling of Men and Women
2. Wishful Thinking: People dream of various things, but do not follow up with actions. We wish, but there is no plan to execute the wish.
3. Holding to anyone other than Allah.
4. Excess eating
5. Excess sleeping

Three conditions for Gaining the Fruit of Pondering

1. Awareness that death is near.
2. Meditate the Qur’an
3. Be aware of the 5 diseases of the heart and get rid of them.

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