Ways of “Resisting Satan” and “Not Being Captured in His Snare” from the Perspective of Qur’anic Verses and Narrations

Abstract

The subject of “Satanology” is one of the most frequently discussed topics in the field of human sciences from the past until the present. This recurrence itself indicates the importance of the issue. “Satan,” from the birth to the death of every human being, establishes a connection with him through attractive and varied strategies, particularly temptation and misleading insinuations such as giving false promises, instilling fear, presenting himself as sympathetic, and embellishing sins, in order to gradually divert him from the path of truth and gain dominance over him. Since Satan cannot directly and instantly manipulate human reason, he first infiltrates the imagination and fancy, and then, through temptation and suggestion, arranges his plan of misguidance. However, it is the way human beings engage with Satan—whether they accept or reject his temptations and insinuations—that plays a decisive role in the quality of their life and afterlife. The Almighty God, in the Holy Qur’an, as well as the prophets and the Infallible Imams (peace be upon them) in numerous narrations, have consistently warned human beings about the snares of Satan and cautioned them against falling into his temptations; because God, after the creation of Adam, by granting him free will and showing him the ways of truth, guides him. Nevertheless, at times, man himself deviates from the path of truth and follows the way of misguidance. Among the most significant means of human felicity is “struggling against Satan and resisting him,” which is realized through the sincere remembrance of God, piety (taqwā), trust in God (tawakkul), seeking refuge (istiʿādhah), repentance (tawbah), self-purification (tazkiyah al-nafs), employing reason, controlling lust, divine fear, remembrance of death, and, in short, by “strengthening faith.” For indeed, a human being who possesses strong faith in God will not easily be trapped by Satan, nor will he be influenced by his temptations. Consequently, he does not pollute himself with sins; therefore, Satan, in and of himself, cannot enslave a human being, provided that man dominates his own soul and employs his rational faculty more effectively in life. The research method in this study is descriptive–analytical, and the data analysis has been conducted qualitatively.