Overcoming the Traps of Shaytaan - Shaykh Abu Muhammad Saleh

Khutbah al-Jumu'ah: Overcoming the Traps of Shaytaan

All praise is due to Allah. We praise Him, seek His help, and seek His forgiveness. And we seek refuge in Allah from the evils of our souls, and from the evils of our deeds. Whom Allah guides, none can misguide him. And whom He misguides, none can guide him. And I bear witness that there is no god but Allah, alone, with no partner. And I bear witness that Muhammad is His servant and Messenger. He sent him with the truth as a bearer of glad tidings and a warner. In the presence of the Hour, whoever obeys Him will enter Paradise, and whoever disobeys Him will enter Hell. O you who believe, fear Allah. Fear Allah as He should be feared, and you will not die except as Muslims.

The Reality of the Battle Against Shaytaan

Allah jalla wa ala reminds us in the Qur'an a number of times about the reality of a fierce battle, a true war, against an enemy that knows us absolutely inside out. Allah jalla wa ala tells us that when the Shaytaan was banished and sent to the fire, he said to Allah:

"Give me respite. Give me that moment until the Day of Judgment. Allow me an opportunity." Allah jalla wa ala said:

"You have been given respite. You have been given opportunity until the Day of the known time." Then Shaytaan said:

He said to Allah that he will make sure that he uses this opportunity until the end of time to mislead and misguide and beautify the haram to every single slave of Allah jalla wa ala. He will come to them from the right, from the left, from in front, and from behind. And he said that you won't find any of them victorious except a few thankful slaves to Allah jalla wa ala. His plan and his plots are to misguide and mislead the Ummah of Islam.

The Hadith of the Two Hearts

The Prophet ﷺ said:

(Sahih Muslim, Book 1, Hadith 231)

The Shaytaan will bring desires, and he will bring doubts, and he will bring trials and tribulations to the hearts of mankind like this mat — stick by stick, desire by desire, doubt after doubt.

He said: فَأَيُّ قَلْبٍ أُشْرِبَهَا نُكِتَ فِيهِ نُكْتَةٌ سَوْدَاءُ — any heart that accepts a desire, that accepts a trial, Allah will place on the heart a black dot. And any heart that withholds and withstands and turns away the doubts and the desires of the Shaytaan, Allah will place on it a white dot.

Until the slave of Allah will have either one of two hearts — either a white heart, a pure, beautiful, shining white heart, and no trial or tribulation will ever be able to touch it so long as the heavens and the earth remain. The heart will remain white, steadfast, firm and upright, able to withhold and withstand every single temptation and desire from the Shaytaan.

And as for the second heart — مُرْبَادًّا كَالْكُوزِ مُجَخِّيًا — it is dark and it is dusty and the heart is tilted upside down, to the extent that it doesn't understand, it doesn't contemplate, it doesn't ponder, it is not able to see what is good, and it doesn't negate or put down anything that is evil. It is a heart that has succumbed to the whispers of Shaytaan. A heart that the Shaytaan has in his hand, grasped completely.

It is a heart that is dusty, a heart that is black, a heart that has been tilted upside down, to the extent that the scholars of Islam say that no remedy can ever cure it again. The Qur'an may be recited upon it, or du'a, or any form of adhkar — it cannot benefit this heart any longer. For a heart or a cup that is tilted — if you put water inside, what happens? The water goes in and comes out straight away. A heart that is tilted — no benefit can benefit it ever again.

On the Day of Judgment, no wealth, no children can ever help a person — except for the one who comes to Allah jalla wa ala with a pure, right, shining heart.

The Prophet ﷺ said:

(Sahih al-Bukhari, Hadith 52; Sahih Muslim, Book 22, Hadith 107)

"Indeed there is a flesh, a muscle of flesh in your body. If it is correct and upright, the entire body will be upright and steadfast. But if it is corrupt, the entire body will be corrupt." He said: أَلَا وَهِيَ الْقَلْبُ — "I tell you, I promise you — it is nothing other than the heart."

Our brother, our sister in Islam — the heart that Allah jalla wa ala has given us, these are vessels that we must instil in them the remembrance of Allah and the ibadah to Allah jalla wa ala. For these hearts are hearts that the Shaytaan is trying to trap. The Shaytaan is throwing desires and throwing doubts one after another after another — like that reed mat, woven stick by stick. It is his goal — the Shaytaan — to overcome the slaves of Allah jalla wa ala and to trap their hearts. But once he has won the war against the hearts, he has won the war against you.

We are fighting a fierce battle, a real war against an enemy that knows us inside out. Allah jalla wa ala says:

"Indeed the Shaytaan towards all of you is an open enemy, so take him as an open enemy." And He said jalla wa ala:

"The Shaytaan to mankind is an open, open enemy, so take him as an enemy."

The Prophet ﷺ said:

(Sahih Muslim, Book 36, Hadith 5)

"The Shaytaan is present in absolutely everything that you do" — ready to overcome the believers, the slaves of Allah jalla wa ala.

The Steps of the Shaytaan — As Explained by Ibn al-Qayyim

Abu Darda رضي الله عنه used to say: "I see it obligatory for the slave of Allah jalla wa ala to learn about the plots and the plans of the Shaytaan. For how can he fight against an enemy? And how can he be victorious against an enemy if he goes into a war not knowing anything about the enemy?"

Ibn al-Qayyim رحمه الله تعالى gives us the steps of the Shaytaan and he says that the Shaytaan begins his quest to overcome the slave of Allah jalla wa ala by calling the slaves to good deeds. In fact, he says رحمه الله تعالى — he will call you to seventy good deeds before he calls you to a sin.

Ibn al-Qayyim explains and says: the Shaytaan sees you doing an action that is beloved to Allah jalla wa ala — an action that is obligatory perhaps, or an action that is high in the preferred ranks in the sight of Allah. So he calls you towards a good deed that is not on the same level as the act that you already do. For example, a person may perform his salawat in the masjid, so the Shaytaan — during the time of the fard salat — calls you towards memorising Qur'an, or calls you towards sadaqah, or calls you towards birr al-walidayn, or calls you towards maintaining good ties between yourself and your spouse. He calls you towards good deeds that are not on the same level as the deed that you already do.

And once he does this, he says رحمه الله تعالى — the Shaytaan then begins calling the slaves of Allah to actions that are permissible in nature, that have no reward in them and no sin in them. So a person begins leaving the things that are preferred or obligatory for actions that are merely permissible.

Thereafter, the Shaytaan calls the slaves of Allah jalla wa ala towards actions that are disliked. And once he does this, he calls them towards sins — minor sins. And once he does this, he calls them towards major sins. And once the heart now has black dots, it is now overcome with darkness. It begins to tilt. No longer is it upright or steadfast — it begins to tilt until it is ready for the greatest weapon of the Shaytaan, and that is a doubt. And once he puts a doubt into the hearts of the slaves of Allah jalla wa ala, nothing can overcome this heart — or it is very difficult to overcome this doubt — because the heart is dark, it is dusty, and it is tilted upside down.

Oh brother, oh sister in Islam — لَا تَتَّبِعُوا خُطُوَاتِ الشَّيْطَانِ — do not follow the footsteps of the Shaytaan, for he is an open enemy to each and every single one of us.

And Allah jalla wa ala, knowing about the tactics and the plans of the Shaytaan:

They plot and they plan, but Allah jalla wa ala plots and plans, and His plots and plans always overcome the plots of the enemies of Allah jalla wa ala — for He jalla wa ala is Khayrul Makireen.

"Know — I command you to know — that Allah jalla wa ala is your protector, your guard, your helper. What an excellent protector and an excellent helper He is, jalla wa ala."

So in the climate of this fierce battle against the Shaytaan — whilst he is plotting and planning against each and every single one of us, whilst he makes us fall and stumble and sin over and over again, whilst he prepares to make our hearts dusty and dark and tilted so that he can put in them a doubt and allow us to leave the fold of Islam — Allah jalla wa ala has a plan. And He has steps for us that, if we follow them letter by letter, step by step, not only will we overcome the Shaytaan, but we will ensure that our hearts are firm, upright, and steadfast — a qalbun salim, a heart that is pure, that can enter Jannah with the anbiya of Allah.

The Steps to Overcome Shaytaan

First Step: Al-'Ilm — Knowledge of Allah and His Deen

The first of them, oh brother, oh sister in Islam, is al-'ilm wa ma'rifatullah wa ma'rifatu deen al-Islam bil adillah — it is to know and to seek knowledge, and to know about Allah, His Prophet ﷺ, and the deen of Allah jalla wa ala, so that you are comfortable, strong in your conviction that this is the religion of Allah.

The sweetness of faith is that you are content, that you have absolute conviction that Allah jalla wa ala is your Lord, and that Muhammad ﷺ is your messenger, and that Islam is the true and only path to Jannah.

Khalid ibn Ma'dan رحمه الله تعالى used to say: "Learn and ponder and study what allows you to be absolutely certain that Islam is the truth, just like how you learn and study how to recite the book of Allah."

Ibn al-Jawzi رحمه الله تعالى used to say: "The first step of the Shaytaan is that he closes the avenues and the paths to talab al-'ilm — to seek knowledge — because he knows that with knowledge a person gains conviction, with knowledge a person has absolute certainty about every single aspect of the deen of Allah jalla wa ala."

And this is why, if you look towards the testimonies of those people who have left the fold of Islam — not only did they leave knowledge, but they engaged in minor sins which led to major sins, which led to doubts, which led to them leaving the fold of Islam. They began on a path of ignorance, and that path took them outside the fold of Islam.

The greatest weapon, oh brother, oh sister in Islam, is to adorn yourself with knowledge. Did he not say ﷺ:

(Sunan Ibn Majah, Book 1, Hadith 224)

"To seek knowledge is obligatory upon every single Muslim." Knowledge about Allah, knowledge about Muhammad ﷺ, and knowledge about what makes this religion of Allah jalla wa ala great.

How many times in the Qur'an does Allah jalla wa ala command us to learn, command us to know about Him? Did He not say jalla wa ala:

فَاعۡلَمُوٓاْ أَنَّ ٱللَّهَ مَوۡلَىٰكُمۡ — فَاعۡلَمُوٓاْ أَنَّ ٱللَّهَ عَزِيزٌ حَكِيمٌ — How many times in the Qur'an does He command the slave — He said fa'lamu: know, it is obligatory upon you to know about Allah. Obligatory upon you to know that Allah is your protector, that Allah is Aziz, that Allah is Hakeem, that Allah is Ghafoor, that Allah is Raheem. He began the book of Allah jalla wa ala with the command:

Commanding the Prophet ﷺ to read. It is through knowledge, and knowledge only, can we make a barrier and a shield in front of our hearts to withstand and withhold and fight against the Shaytaan.

Second Step: Al-'Amal — Following Knowledge with Action

The second step that Allah jalla wa ala has given us — as Ibn al-Qayyim رحمه الله تعالى said — following knowledge is 'amal, following knowledge with action. Beginning by doing the actions that are obligatory in the sight of Allah jalla wa ala, and then beautifying them by adorning yourself with actions that are voluntary.

When the people of the Hellfire are thrown into the fire, Allah tells us they will be asked:

"What caused you to enter the fire?" They say: "We were not of those who prayed. We were not of those who gave zakah. We were not of those who protected our private parts. We were not of those who fulfilled the obligatory actions." They left what was obligatory, and so the Shaytaan entered into their hearts.

Allah jalla wa ala said:

The Shaytaan can never be a leader or a guide for the ones who believe in Allah jalla wa ala and then have tawakkul in Allah — they have trust and reliance in Allah. And from the conditions of trust and reliance is that you do what you have to do — you must fulfil the obligatory actions. So after 'ilm comes 'amal — actions.

Third Step: Du'a — Supplication to Allah

From amongst the steps to overcome and fight against the Shaytaan is du'a to Allah jalla wa ala. The Prophet ﷺ used to often say — as Aisha رضي الله تعالى عنها narrates — he would make a du'a saying:

He would say it ﷺ over and over again: "O the One who changes hearts, allow my heart to be steadfast upon Your obedience. Allow my heart to be steadfast upon Your religion." This was Muhammad ﷺ — a person who had already been promised Jannah, a person who was the most beloved to Allah jalla wa ala, his khalil, his habib ﷺ — yet he would make this du'a. So what about us?

It is imperative upon each and every single one of us to often make du'a to Allah jalla wa ala that He makes our hearts steadfast upon the Siratul Mustaqeem. Does He not say jalla wa ala:

"Who is going to reply to the one that is distressed when he asks Allah? And removes for him all types of evil from the dunya and the akhirah? And makes him steadfast from the leaders of this world? Is there a lord other than Allah that can do this? Only a few people know."

Look to the story that Ibn Jarir al-Tabari رحمه الله تعالى narrates. In the 11th year of Hijrah, the Muslims were fighting against an army under the leadership of Al-'Ala al-Hadrami رضي الله عنه. And Abu Huraira رضي الله تعالى عنه, who narrates this story, says that the enemies of Islam turned away and began running towards the shores of the Arabian Peninsula.

Abu Huraira رضي الله عنه says that the Muslims chased them and they saw the enemies of Allah mount upon their ships and begin sailing away. He said: "We didn't have ships and we didn't have boats, but it was imperative upon us to overcome the enemy." So their leader, Al-'Ala al-Hadrami رضي الله تعالى عنه, gathered all of the troops together, and they stood on the beaches, on the shores, and they said: "Let us make du'a to Allah jalla wa ala and ask Him by all of His names to allow us to catch the enemy of Allah."

Abu Huraira رضي الله عنه narrates and said that all of the troops gathered together, and they all raised their hands up to Allah jalla wa ala and they all said: "Ya Aziz, Ya Jabbar, Ya Mutakabbir, Ya Khalid, Ya Rahman, Ya Rahim" — calling Allah by all of His most beautiful, most perfect names.

Abu Huraira رضي الله عنه then said: "By Allah, by Allah I swear — after we called Allah by His names, we crossed the ocean on our feet. We crossed the ocean on our feet, and we managed to catch them on the ocean, and we overcame the enemies of Allah on the ocean." Allahu Akbar!

And this shows the power of du'a, oh brother, oh sister in Islam. If you find that Allah jalla wa ala has allowed the Shaytaan to have these steps against you — or calls you towards certain desires — or you have doubts settled in your hearts — or you find that there is one particular act of sin that keeps coming your way, whether it be drinking alcohol, or committing zina, or lying, or being undutiful towards your parents, or missing the salah, whatever it may be — call the One who is above the heavens! Call Al-Jabbar! Call Al-Aziz! Call Allah and ask Him jalla wa ala to close that door of your heart, to make you able to have a barrier and fight against that desire. For Allah jalla wa ala answers all prayers. Does He not say:

"And if My slaves ask you about Me — tell them that I am near, and I answer their calls of prayer."

I say this and I ask Allah for forgiveness for me and for you and for all the Muslims — so seek His forgiveness. Indeed Allah the Most High is Ghafoor, Raheem.

Second Part of the Khutbah

In the name of Allah, and all praise is due to Allah, and peace and blessings be upon the Messenger of Allah, his family, his companions, and all those who follow him.

Fourth Step: The Qur'an — The Greatest Cure

From these steps, Allah has prepared for the slaves of Allah jalla wa ala to overcome the Shaytaan — and perhaps the greatest form of cure for the heart and for the soul, and even the body, is the speech of Allah jalla wa ala. Allah says:

"O mankind — the believers of them and the disbelievers of them — a mighty warning has come from Allah for you, and a cure for everything that is inside your chest, and a guidance, and a mercy for those who believe in Allah."

Oh brother, oh sister in Islam — it is no coincidence that we find in this day and age, today in the 21st century, where a number of people have become victim to their desires, and we find a large number of people leaving the fold of Islam — when the arguments of the enemies of Allah jalla wa ala are exactly the same as the arguments that came before. The Muslims in the centuries that came before fought against these arguments, repelled them, shunned them away, mastered answers against them. But the same answers are not befitting for us anymore. How and why can that be?

The reason for that is because we have left the book of Allah jalla wa ala. And the Prophet ﷺ says:

"Whoever abandons the Qur'an, whoever abandons the speech of Allah jalla wa ala, Allah will associate with him — or give to him — a companion, a companion being the Shaytaan, and this companion will be with him wherever he goes."

It is no coincidence that in today's day and age, desires and doubts have overcome us in a manner that has never happened before — and that is because we have left the book of Allah jalla wa ala.

Oh brother, oh sister in Islam — if you want to revive Islam into your hearts and find the true light that your heart craves and yearns for, return back to the book of Allah. Return back to Allah jalla wa ala — and return back to Him at a time where perhaps the Shaytaan has his strongest form.

We all know that today is a day where across the world people commit zina and commit haram, and the Shaytaan has prepared footsteps and avenues for people to walk upon and commit major acts of sin. Show the Shaytaan today who you really love — Allah or someone else that you're going to commit haram with. Show the Shaytaan today where your heart really lies, and who really deserves your utmost affection. Is it not Al-Wadud? Is it not Allah?

The Story of Fudayl ibn Iyad

Look to Fudayl ibn Iyad رحمه الله تعالى. You will not find any book of tafsir or fiqh even, except you find the opinions of the great Imam of Ahlus Sunnah, Fudayl ibn Iyad. But Fudayl ibn Iyad was not always a great scholar or an Imam in his right — he used to be the greatest highway robber of all time. The greatest highway robber of all time. His name would be mentioned amongst gatherings and people would shiver, afraid of Fudayl ibn Iyad coming and stealing everything that belonged to them.

One day, Fudayl ibn Iyad رحمه الله تعالى — as he was robbing people on the streets — he saw a woman whose beauty settled in his heart. He decided رحمه الله تعالى to commit zina with her. So he followed her towards her home. He sat behind the wall of her home, pondering and contemplating what he was going to do. As he pondered and contemplated, he began to make his move, climbing upon this wall.

He sat upon the wall of this woman's house — sat with every form of haram ready for him. All he needed to do was go and fulfil this haram. Like perhaps some of us today — every avenue of haram is waiting for us, we have everything ready. But then he heard the woman recite the words of Allah. And she recited:

The words of Allah — the greatest cure for any form of sin, the greatest cure for your hearts. She recited: "When will the hearts of those who remember Allah be truly affected with Allah's reminder?"

When will that time come, oh brother, oh sister in Islam? For the reminders of the book of Allah and the reminders of the Sunnah of Muhammad ﷺ to affect our hearts? When will that time come?

Fudayl ibn Iyad رحمه الله تعالى raised up his hands and said: "Ya Allah, the time has come. Ya Allah, the time has come." He jumped off this wall رحمه الله تعالى — whilst having the ability, whilst he could have committed zina — but he went and he found a gathering of 'ilm, and he sat and he learnt. And he chose the love of Allah over the love of the Shaytaan. He chose the path of Jannah over the path of the fire. He chose Islam as his way over kufr, over desires, and over doubts.

Oh brother, oh sister in Islam:

When will the time come for our hearts to be affected with the reminder of Allah? Surely the time is now. Surely the time is now. For we do not know if we are going to live till tomorrow. We do not know if we are going to live till the evening. We do not know if we have been given another hour in our lives. For how many slaves of Allah have died during sin, and they will be raised up during sin, and they will enter a home of sin. We ask Allah the Mighty to protect us in this world and to protect us in the hereafter.

Oh Creator of hearts, keep our hearts steadfast on Your obedience. Oh Creator of hearts, keep our hearts steadfast on Your religion. Oh Allah, protect Islam and the Muslims. Oh Allah, forgive those who seek forgiveness. Oh Allah, there is no god but Allah. We bear witness that Muhammad is the Messenger of Allah.

Keep your ranks in order, for indeed straightening the rows is from the perfection of the prayer.