Satan's Status in Ramadan
By: Fahimeh Mahdavi
One of the problems human beings, especially the Muslims, have is satanic temptation. In Ramadhan the devils are in chains and they only bark but do not bite anyone. Satan is a creature that tempts with God’s permission. Satanic temptation is a kind of clemency and bounty, because whoever achieves an accomplishment, has overcome the satanic temptation in the big ‘JIHAD’. Without temptation, the obedience route would be one-way and obeying would be obligatory, and when obeying becomes obligatory there would be no need for revelation, mission, servitude, and religion. The world without temptation is not a world of religion, servitude, bidding and forbidding, and such things.
Satan has a mission to tempt and bark, those familiar with this barking(temptation) ignore it and traverse the route and reach the destination, but those who are not familiar, will astray and be trapped in Satan’s toil. Satan changes barking to biting and from then on it will bite. Obviously Satan does not do anything without God’s permission. God gives opportunity to those who are deceived by Satan, if a person does not prize his/her opportunity, Satan will take control over him/her. It is stated in Qur’an: ‘We have appointed the devils as friends of those who do not believe.’ (Araf, 27)
God Almighty dominated Satan like a tame dog on those who do not believe. This tame dog is tied up in Ramadhan. You shouldn’t practically do anything to free this dog. This dog will only bark from afar, if you open its chains with your own hands, God will dominate it over you.
There is a question here:”If angles do not sin, how come Satan did sin?” The answer to this question is that Satan is a ‘Jinn’ and was not an angle. It was among angles but was not an angle. Angles do not sin; jinn sometimes obey and sometimes disobey. If God wishes to dominate Satan over you, He will do it by means of sensual and carnal forces. He will leave your sensual forces to the Satan.
References:
Javadi Amoli, A. (1999). Philosophy of acts of worship. Qum: Esra Publiction Centre.
Other Links:
Itikaf, the Spring of Life
Conditions of Itikaf (Part 1)
Conditions of Itikaf (Part 2)
Conditions of Itikaf (Part 3)
Conditions of Itikaf (Part 4)
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