THE DECEPTIONS OF SATAN

The Thirteenth Flash

The Wisdom of Seeking Refuge in Allah from Satan

Concerning the mystery of:

اَعُوذُ بِاللّٰهِ مِنَ الشَّيْطَانِ الرَّجِيمِI seek refuge in Allah from Satan, the accursed.

بِسْمِ اللّٰهِ الرَّحْمٰنِ الرَّحٖيمِIn the Name of Allah, the Most Merciful, the Most Compassionate

وَقُلْ رَبِّ اَعُوذُ بِكَ مِنْ هَمَزَاتِ الشَّيَاطيِنِ ۞ وَ اَعُوذُ بِكَ رَبِّ اَنْ يَحْضُرُونِAnd say: ‘My Lord, I seek refuge in You from the evil promptings of the devils. And I seek refuge in You, my Lord, lest they come near me.’ — The Qur’an 23:97–98

This treatise reveals the mystery of seeking refuge from Satan, and consists of thirteen signs. Since some of these signs have already been explained at length in certain other treatises of the Risale-i Nur, such as The Twenty-Sixth Word, that part will be treated here only briefly.

The First Sign

The question: although the devils have no power whatsoever to create anything in the universe, and although Allah, with His mercy and assistance, supports those who follow the right path; and although the attractive beauties of truth and the right path strengthen and encourage those who are upon it; and although the repulsive ugliness and suffering of misguidance afflict those who have gone astray, the followers of Satan still appear to gain many victories. Moreover, those who are upon the right path continually seek refuge in Allah from the evil of Satan. What is the wisdom behind this?

The answer: the overwhelming majority of misguidance and evil is negative, destructive, and entails the ruin of something. The overwhelming majority of guidance and good, on the other hand, is positive, constructive, and entails building and restoration.

It is well known that a building constructed by twenty people over twenty days can be demolished by one person in a single day. In the same way, although human life, which endures through the existence of all the essential organs and conditions of life, depends solely upon the power of Khāliq-i Dhul-JalālAllah, the Creator Whose majesty is boundless., a single cruel act, such as severing an organ, may cause a person’s death, which, in relation to life, brings about non-existence. Hence the saying “destruction is easy” has become proverbial.

Indeed, because of this mystery, misguided people may sometimes, with little strength, overcome very powerful people of the truth. Yet those who follow the truth possess such a firm fortress that, when they seek refuge within it, those wicked enemies can neither approach them nor cause them harm. And should they inflict some temporary injury, that injury is compensated by eternal blessings and rewards, as proclaimed by:

وَالْعَاقِبَةُ لِلْمُتَّقِينَAnd the good end belongs to those who have taqwā. — The Qur’an 7:128

As for that firm fortress, it is embodied in the Shariah and the SunnahThe sayings, actions, and approvals of Prophet Muhammad (peace and blessings be upon him) that serve as a model for Muslims. of the Prophet (saw)Sallallāhu alayhi wa sallam (Peace and blessings be upon him).