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Sunday 10 July 2022

Children of Adam! Beware of Satanic Machinations

Man is always tempted to machinations of the Satan and his associates. Satan's tactics to lure in the man is so lucrative that many a man fall into the evil temptations. Even Adam and Eve despite being duly warned by God could not resist the temptations and fell for it and lost paradise.

Nudity and indecency are the major tools in the hands of the Satan which he employs on its target subjects to lead them into a life of lewdness and indecency. His machinations were set into motion right from the heavens, when he lured in Adam and Eve, and continue till date. Those with lose faith and character are the most prized targets of evil forces and unfortunately most of the people in the West are the hunted who in the name of freedom lose their decency and piety and thus fall into darker depths.

Allah warns Children of Adam at many a places in the Qur'an to be cautious of Satanic machinations, stay away from raiment of revealing dresses that boost indecency in the society. We have been sharing such references and verses to warn man to take heed to the Divine Commandments and clothed themselves decently in order not to attract evil eyes and to be safe and away from lewdness that Satan wants us to be indulged in. Such verses are specially meant for women who are the in the habit of showing off their bodies by wearing clothes that hardly cover their shame and tempt man to sin.

Herein under we share the 27th verse of Surah 7. Al A'raf cautioning man to take safeguards lest they fall prey to Stannic machinations:

يٰبَنِىۡۤ اٰدَمَ لَا يَفۡتِنَـنَّكُمُ الشَّيۡطٰنُ كَمَاۤ اَخۡرَجَ اَبَوَيۡكُمۡ مِّنَ الۡجَـنَّةِ يَنۡزِعُ عَنۡهُمَا لِبَاسَهُمَا لِيُرِيَهُمَا سَوۡءاٰتِهِمَا ؕ اِنَّهٗ يَرٰٮكُمۡ هُوَ وَقَبِيۡلُهٗ مِنۡ حَيۡثُ لَا تَرَوۡنَهُمۡ​ ؕ اِنَّا جَعَلۡنَا الشَّيٰطِيۡنَ اَوۡلِيَآءَ لِلَّذِيۡنَ لَا يُؤۡمِنُوۡنَ‏ 
(7:27) Children of Adam! Let not Satan deceive you in the manner he deceived your parents out of Paradise, pulling off from them their clothing to reveal to them their shame. He and his host surely see you from whence you do not see them. We have made satans the guardians of those who do not believe
This passage brings out clearly the following facts about clothing:
(1) The need of clothing has not been artificially created in man, but it is an important urge of human nature. That is why Allah has not created a natural covering for the human body, as He has done in the case of all other animals. Instead, He has instilled inherently the feelings of modesty and shyness in human nature. Besides this, He has not made his sex organs as merely sex organs, but has also made them shameful organs, which, by his very nature, he does not like to expose before others. Moreover, He has not given man any ready-made covering for hiding the shameful parts, but has ingrained in the human nature that man should hide them with a clothing. This is what v. 26 implies. Allah has inspired man with the urge to hide the shameful parts of the body. Therefore man should understand the nature of this inspired urge and make clothing for himself from the material provided by Him.
(2) The fact that in v. 26 the covering of the shameful parts precedes the protecting and decorating of the body, is a clear proof that more importance has been attached to the moral than the physical function of clothing. Thus it is obvious that the human nature is quite different from the animal nature. That is why Nature has made provision for the protection and decoration of the body of the animals, but has ingrained no urge in them for the covering of their shameful parts. But when the human beings discarded the Guidance of Allah and began to follow the guidance of Satan, they reversed the above order as if to say, "Your clothing is merely to protect and decorate your bodies just as the skins cover the bodies of the animals. As regards the covering of the shameful parts, garments have absolutely no importance, for these are merely sex organs and not shameful organs."
(3) The garments should not only be the means of covering the shameful parts and of protection and decoration but should also enable man to attain piety. The dress should, therefore, be such as to conceal those parts of the body that should be hidden from others; it should neither be too expensive nor too poor with regard to the position of the wearers; it should not smack of haughtiness nor arrogance nor hypocrisy. Moreover, the garment of piety demands that the male should not wear the female dress and vice versa, and that the Muslims should not imitate blindly the non-Muslims in dress. It is obvious that only those who believe in the Guidance of Allah and follow it, can attain the desired standard of the garment of piety. But those who discard the Guidance of God and make satans their guides, are misled by them into one error or the other in regard to clothing.
(4) Clothing is one of Allah's many Signs which are spread all over the world and which lead men to the recognition of the Reality, provided that one sincerely seeks it. If one seriously considers the above-mentioned three facts about clothing, one can easily understand how clothing is an important Sign of Allah.
Tafsir Ibn e Kathir: Warning against the Lures of Shaytan
Allah warns the Children of Adam against Iblis and his followers, by explaining about his ancient enmity for the father of mankind, Adam peace be upon him. Iblis plotted to have Adam expelled from Paradise, which is the dwelling of comfort, to the dwelling of hardship and fatigue (this life) and caused him to have his private part uncovered, after it had been hidden from him. This, indeed, is indicative of deep hatred (from Shaytan towards Adam and mankind). 

Allah said in a similar Ayah, (Will you then take him (Iblis) and his offspring as protectors and helpers rather than Me, while they are enemies to you What an evil is the exchange for the wrongdoers.) [18:50].

Muhammad Asad Explanation:
The interpolated word "truly" is implied in this phrase in view of the subsequent reference to the erroneous beliefs of such people: for, although their beliefs are wrong, some of them are under the impression that the "shameful deeds" subsequently referred to have been enjoined by God. As for the "satanic forces" (shayatin), it is to be remembered that this designation is applied in the Qur'an to all kinds of wicked impulses or propensities that are "near unto" (i.e., in the hearts of) those who do not truly believe in God: hence, the term shayatin occurring in verse {30} below has been rendered as "evil impulses".

Herein under we share explanation of part of 14:22 in which Satan address man:
( I, too, held out [all manner of] promises to you - but I deceived you. Yet I had no power at all over you: I but called you - and you responded unto me. Hence, blame not me, but blame yourselves ) In his commentary on this passage, Razi remarks: "This verse shows that the real Satan (ash-shaytan al-asli) is [man's own] complex of desires (an-pals): for, Satan makes it clear [in the above] that it was only by means of insinuations (waswasah) that he was able to reach [the sinner's soul]; and had it not been for an already-existing [evil] disposition due to lusts, anger, superstition or fanciful ideas, these [satanic] insinuations would have had no effect whatsoever."
Yusuf Ali  Explanation
That is, by fraud and deceit,-by putting you off your guard and telling lies. Adam's story here becomes an introduction to the later religious history of mankind: vii. 20-22. In the Garden, Satan's deceit stripped off their raiment of honour and innocence. In this life on a lower plane he seeks to strip us of the raiment of righteousness. And he can take up positions on a vantage ground of worldly power or influence or riches, in which he and his confederates are not seen in their true colours. They may assume a fair-seeming disguise of disinterested friendship or high motives of patriotism or public spirit, or loyalty to ancestors, when beneath it there is nothing but spite and selfishness.

Javed Ahmad Ghamidi Explanation:
(Children of Adam! This should never happen that Satan lures you the way he ousted your father and mother from that orchard [in which God had made them dwell] by revealing their private parts to them by making them take off this very attire.) This is a reference to the attire of piety mentioned earlier. Satan wanted to expose that aspect of their private parts which was concealed from them. He achieved this very purpose of his by having it taken off from them. Thus this verse warns people to be on guard. Even today Satan uses this weapon against them. Imām Amīn Aḥsan Iṣlāḥī writes:
... First, through latent suggestions, he deprives people of the attire of piety and fear. It was this attire which the Almighty had revealed with the outer attire; its purpose was to grant him a high status, as is mentioned earlier. When the internal attire is stripped off, a person’s modesty – the real motive for his outer attire – no longer remains with him. It is then that the external attire becomes a burden for him. Lewdness induces a person to bare his private parts – the concealment of which is found in his nature. Then fashion sustains and supports this urge and he produces such innovations in his attire that the children of Adam in spite of wearing it seem to be without it. Its basic reason of covering the private parts is lost. After that, the only element left in clothing is embellishment. The purpose of that too is to expose the body as much as possible in an enticing way. Then gradually human intellect is overwhelmed and nudity is then dubbed as culture and covering the body is considered to be an old-fashioned act which exudes abhorrence. Then educated ruffians come to the scene and present the philosophy in the light of history that nudity is real human nature. Clothing has become in vogue because of restrictions of customs and etiquette. It is at this stage that shamelessness overcomes people and the whole society is poisoned with lust and licentiousness. (Amīn Aḥsan Iṣlāḥī, Tadabbur-i Qur’ān, vol. 3, 246)
[Bear in mind that] he and his accomplices see you from where you cannot see them.]  The implication is that they launch offensives on people from places they cannot even imagine. Imām Amīn Aḥsan Iṣlāḥī writes:
... This is a reference to the cunning, wily and conniving nature of Satan and his accomplices: such is the multiplicity and variety of their garbs and the places of their onslaughts that people can neither recognize them in all these apparels nor can remain on guard regarding all these attacks. The army of Satan boasts both of jinn and mankind. They will sit in ambush at places where people will not be able to spot them. They will regard them to be friends, well-wishers, teachers, leaders and the like, while they are after severing the roots of their faith. People will think that they are paving the way for development and advancement whereas they will be after mercilessly decimating them. They will know all the inner weaknesses of human beings and will try to inveigle them through evil suggestions. They will also try to spin a web of charm around them to make them get caught in it. In short, mankind should not take Satan’s enmity lightly and always remain on guard. (Amīn Aḥsan Iṣlāḥī, Tadabbur-i Qur’ān, vol. 3, 247)
(In reality, We have made these devils the companions of those who do not believe.) Ie., these temptations of Satan inveigle only those who do not have faith in God and in His guidance. In verse 36 of Sūrah al-Zukhruf, precisely this topic is stated in the words: “Those who are indifferent to the Most Gracious, We depute a devil on them; then he becomes their companion.” It is evident, as a result, that Satan is not successful in luring those who strongly adhere to faith and guidance. Their Lord protects them from his onslaughts and those of his companions. Thus, in verse 99 of Sūrah al-Naḥl, the words used are: اِنَّهٗ لَيْسَ لَهٗ سُلْطٰنٌ عَلَي الَّذِيْنَ اٰمَنُوْا وَعَلٰي رَبِّهِمْ يَتَوَكَّلُوْنَ.

Please listen to explanation of the ayat by eminent Muslim scholar Nouman Ali Khan:
May Allāh (سبحانه و تعالى‎) help us understand Qur'ān and follow the Sunnah of Prophet Muhammad ﷺ, which is embodiment of commandments of Allah contained in the Qur'ān. May Allah help us to be like the ones He loves and let our lives be lived helping others and not making others life miserable or unlivable. May all our wrong doings, whether intentional or unintentional, be forgiven before the angel of death knocks on our door.  May Allah help us against machinations of the Satan and let us keep us on the righteous path forever. Ameen.

Note: When we mention God in our posts, we mean One True God, we call Allah in Islam, with no associates. Allah is the Sole Creator of all things, and that Allah is all-powerful and all-knowing. Allah has no offspring, no race, no gender, no body, and is unaffected by the characteristics of human life.

Reading the Qur'ān should be a daily obligation of a Muslim - Reading it with translation will make it meaningful. But reading its Exegesis / Tafsir will make you understand it fully. It will also help the Muslims to have grasp over social issues and their answers discussed in the Qur'an and other matter related to inter faith so  that they are able to discuss issues with Non Muslims with authority based on refences from Qur'an.

May Allah forgive me if my posts ever imply a piety far greater than I possess. I am most in need of guidance.

For more Selected Verses, please refer to our reference page: Selected Verses from the Qur'anYou may also refer to our Reference Pages  and Understanding Al Qur'an for knowing more about Islam and Qur'ān.
Photo | Tafsir References: | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 |

An effort has been made to gather explanation / exegesis of the surahs of the Qur'ān from authentic sources and then present a least possible condensed explanation of the surah. In that the exegesis of the chapters of the Quran is mainly based on the "Tafhim al-Qur'an - The Meaning of the Qur'an" by one of the most enlightened scholars of the Muslim World Sayyid Abul Ala Maududi.  
In order to augment and add more explanation as already provided, additional input has been interjected from following sources: 
  • Towards Understanding the Quran
  • Tafsir Ibn Khatir
  • Muhammad Asad Translation
  • Javed Ahmad Ghamidi / Al Mawrid
  • Al-Quran, Yusuf Ali Translation
  • Verse by Verse Qur'an Study Circle
In addition the references of other sources which have been explored have also been given above. Those desirous of detailed explanations and tafsir (exegesis), may refer to these sites.

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