Article appeared Friday, March 22nd, 2019 in The News Today, Bangladesh

The Revelation (563) yousuf mahbubul Islam, PhD

Is it possible for Satan to deceive human beings? And in what ways can Satan deceive
us? To start off our inquiry, we could revisit the story of Adam and Eve given in a number
of Holy Scriptures. Let us examine the story given in the Holy Scripture, the Al-Qur’an.
We all know that he deceived Adam and Eve. But have we worked out how exactly he
managed to deceive them?
“O Adam, dwell, you and your wife, in Paradise and eat from whatever you will
but do not approach this tree or you will run into harm andtransgression (and
thereby become wrongdoers).” [7.19]

Having created Adam and Eve, God gave them the opportunity to live in Paradise; and
laid down rules to allow them to get the best out of the resources available. In this
situation, what role could Satan play? Satan’s job was to deceive Adam and Eve into
disobeying God and hence loose favor with Him.
“Then began Satan to whisper suggestions to them……he said, "Your Lord only
forbade you this tree lest you should become angels or become of the immortal."
And he swore to them both that he was their sincere adviser.” [7.20 – 7.21]

To convince them to disobey, Satan suggested that God wanted to deprive them. He did
this so that would consider the ban emotionally rather than question it. So,
“So by deceit he brought about their fall: when they tasted of the tree their
shame became manifest to them and they began to sew together the leaves of
the garden over their bodies. And their Lord called unto them, "Did I not forbid
you that tree and tell you that Satan was an avowed enemy to you?"” [7.22]

Before eating of the fruit, Adam and Eve had the innocence of a baby – they were
unaware of their nakedness, now they had to cover their private parts! Rather than
trusting God and His Wisdom, and questioning Satan’s suggestions, Adam and Eve ate
of the tree. By disobeying, they demonstrated disbelief – for example, in our daily life on
earth, do we disobey/distrust or disbelieve in a manufacturer’s guidelines? Can or should
we then distrust God’s guidelines or commandments?

Similarly, Satan whispers reasons to decide whether other people are doing right or
wrong, i.e., sit on judgment, launch and participate in spreading rumors. Satan makes us
feel we are doing right. But are we? Have we asked questions regarding what we are
doing? For example, do we have sufficient data to form a judgment? Is the person
capable of doing what is being rumored? Above all, has God given us the right to judge
His Creation? Let’s analyze whether the following Verse from the Al-Qur’an answers this
question.
“Not for you (O Muhammad, but for God) is the decision: whether He turn in
mercy to them or punish them; for they are indeed wrong-doers. To God belongs
all that is in the heavens and on earth. He forgives whom He pleases and
punishes whom He pleases: but God is Oft-Forgiving Most Merciful.” [3.128 –
3.129]

It is only God who knows all the facts, and it is only He who knows whether He has
arranged a lesson for the person in question. God, being our Creator, each of us belong
to Him, and therefore only He reserves the right to judge. If we sit on judgment, are we
placing ourselves above God, as we may feel we know better and are doing a service to
God? So, we need to take stock of what we are doing when launching and spreading
rumors. What is God saying in the Al-Qur’an?

24.19 “Those who love (to see) scandal published broadcast among the
Believers will have a grievous Penalty in this life and in the Hereafter: God
knows and you know not.”
God will severely punish those participate in launching and spreading scandals or
rumors – both in the current life on earth and in the Hereafter, after death. God is
informing us that we do not know the extent of damage we do to the person, the society
and ourselves by spreading rumors.

24.20 “Were it not for the grace and mercy of God on you and that God is
full of kindness and mercy (you would be ruined indeed).”
Rumors ruin relationships, homes and trust. If we have been saved, it is through God’s
infinite Mercy. So, instead of sitting on judgment, launching and spreading rumors, we
should help each other develop by working out God’s purpose in putting us on earth and
help each other do what we need to do to please Him.

24.21 “O you who believe! Follow not Satan's footsteps: if any will follow
the footsteps of Satan he will (but) command what is shameful and wrong:
and were it not for the grace and mercy of God on you, not one of you
would ever have been pure: but God does purify whom He pleases: and
God isOne Who hears and knows (all things).”
Satan whispers a variety of negative emotional thoughts into our heads. He does this so
skillfully that we are unaware that a thought has been injected. So, how can one avoid
acting on such thoughts? It is simply by questioning each of our thoughts. For example,
if Adam had asked questions like, with God’s commandment of not to eat from the tree,
could it be that He wants to deprive us and doesn’t want to give us the best? Does Satan
know more than God? etc.

24.22 “Let not those among you who are endued with grace and amplitude
of means resolve by oath against helping their kinsmen those in want and
those who have left their homes in God's cause: let them forgive and
overlook: do you not wish that God should forgive you? For God is Oft
Forgiving Most Merciful.”
Our helping hands and charity should not stop upon personal judgments and/or hearing
of rumors, nor should we undertake oaths to do so.

24.23 “Those who slander chaste women indiscreet but believing are
cursed in this life and in the Hereafter: for them is a grievous Penalty”

24.24 “On the Day when their tongues their hands and their feet will bear
witness against them as to their actions.”

24.25 “On that Day God will pay them back (all) their just dues and they will
realize that God is the (very) Truth that makes all things manifest.”