We all know that if we can identify our enemy then we try to
protect ourselves. But Shaitan is a sworn enemy of human beings who is not
visible to our eyes, he can see us we cannot see him, he has easy access to our
hearts, we are helpless.
This is ancient enmity which goes back to the first creation
of Hazrat Adam. When Allah ordered every angel to prostrate (show respect) the
newly created Adam, every one complied except Shaitan, a Jinn, who showed pride and
refused to obey based on his concept of superiority of fire over soil. He did not say that
after prostrating Allah for thousands of years how he could prostrate Adam made
of soil. He relied on his evil intelligence thinking that he was created from fire,
which he thought, was superior to Adam who was created from soil. As a result
of disobedience, Allah accursed him and threw him out. But he asked for the
compensation for his long prayers in the form of control over the mankind to seduce
and misguide them. Allah granted him that request. So we know that he is our
enemy number one from day one. We cannot
protect ourselves from him without Allah’s help. Hence, the concept of “Istighfar”-seeking
Allah’s protection from Shaitan, arises.
Does the mere recitation of “Istighfar” sufficient? No. We
need to make sure that it comes from the bottom of our hearts. So, “Istighfar” consists of two parts; we need
to sincerely seek protection from the accursed Shaitan, and submit to Allah for
His help.
The spirit of “Istighfar”
has five aspects:
Taqwa or Piety
Tazakkur or Remembrance
of Allah
Tawakkul or Trust
in Allah
Ikhlas or Sincerity
Aajizi or Humility
towards Allah
Surah al-A’raf
Ayah 201 refers: “Verily those who guard (themselves against evil) when an evil
thought from Shaitan afflicts them, they become mindful (of God and get
awakened) then lo! They are forthright.” When the men of piety have fear
from Shaitan, they busy themselves in prayers and they instantaneously get
enlightened.
Therefore, the very first condition for keeping safe from
Shaitan is to become pious. They
also realize that Shaitan had fled because of their prayer and that they are in
the protection of Allah. Piety covers a
large area of our lives which also includes abstention from Haram or forbidden
acts, Haram food, and Haram sustenance. One morsel of Haram food is sufficient to pollute the whole body, as
the Shaitan’s blood flows in the body. Suarh
al-Baqarah Ayah 168: “O Men! Eat the lawful and good things out of what is in the
earth, and do not follow the foot-steps of Shaitan; surely he is your open
enemy.”
As for the Trust in
Allah, Surah al-Nahl Ayahs 98 and
99: “So when you recite the Glorious Qur’an, seek refuge with Allah from
Accursed Shaitan, Surely he has no authority over those who believe and rely on
their Lord.” One who has Trust in Allah;
Shaitan has no control over him. Shaitan has control over those who do not have
Trust in Allah and all their confidence is on the material and worldly concepts
of their life. When a person does not Trust Allah, all his pleadings for
protection is of no use, Shaitan will have control over him. It is expressed in
Surah al-Nahl Ayah 100: “Verily, his
authority is only over those who befriend him and those who associate others
with Him (Allah).”
Another aspect of “Istighfar” is sincerity. At the time of his expulsion, Shaitan admitted that he
will not be able to misguide “the sincere” servants of Allah. Surah Sad Ayah 82 and 83: “He said ‘By Your
Glory, I shall seduce all of them (children of Adam) except Your sincere
servants among them” At the supreme level of such sincere servants are the Purified
and the Infallible Imams of the AhlulBayt (a.s.), but any one may struggle to
climb the stairs of sincerity!
Source used:
The Glorious Qur’an
“Istiaza” Shaheed-e-Mehrab
Ayatullah Sayyid Abdul Husayn Dasteghaib (r.a.)
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