Friends of Allah and friends of Shaytan by Abduljeleel Solahudeen

May Allah be praised and glorified for being kind and merciful unto His servants. He created us in the best appearance and gave us the guidance. He sent His prophets and messengers and gave them Divine books of guidance. He showed man the path to salvation and warned him against treading the path to perdition. To crown His favour over mankind, Allah (SWT) sent Prophet Muhammed (SAW) as the seal of all the prophets and messengers. May Allah’s choicest blessing continue to shower on the gentle soul of this Noble Apostle of Allah and all his true adherents till the day of reckoning.
Shaytan (the accursed devil) is an avowed enemy of mankind. Almighty Allah (SWT) sternly warned us in the Glorious Qur’an not to take him as a friend but treat him as a foe. “Verily, Shaytan is your enemy so treat him as such (as enemy), usually invites his companions (to evil deeds) so that they would become benizens of hell fire.” Q35: 3. The accursed devil was obstinate and arrogant in obeying the command of Allah when Allah (SWT) called him among the Angels to prostrate to Adam (AS). The Angels in unison obeyed the command of their Lord and Rabbu except Iblis. Almighty Allah (SWT) says, “When Allah said to the Angels – Bow unto Adam, they all bowed (unto him) except Iblis, he was of the Jinn; he disobeyed the command of his Lord; Would you take him and his off springs as protectors (friends) in place of Allah ….?” Q 18 :51.

The above verse exposes the true nature of Iblis (As-Shaytan) that he was perversed to the command of Allah (especially as the forefather of Jinn creature) Also, Allah warned us not to take As-shaytan as a friend or protector.
The friends of shaytan are the enemies of Allah. They are mostly characterised by “disbelief” in Allah, those who disbelief in Allah’s Oneness and refuse to worship Him. Almighty Allah (SWT) says, “those who disbelief are friends of Taaghut (another appellation for shaytan) and he is their protector.” Q2: 257.
Disbelieve in Allah and His attributes, disobedience to Him, worshipping idols and seeking assistance from men of idolatory belief are all features of the friend of shaytan. Another special characteristic of the friend of shaytan that pervade our society today is extravagance or wasteful spending. Allah enjoins us to give our near of kins their rights and be kind to the needy and the wayfarers then forbids being spend thrifts.

This in evident the Holy Qur’an 17:26-27, Allah, the Exalted says: “And give your near of kins their rights (in your wealth), then the poor and the wayfarers and be not spend thrifts; for spend thrifts are the brethrens of shaytan and shaytan (himself) is unto His Lord an ingrate (ungrateful).” Q 17: 26-27.
The friends of shaytan are dragged by their evil partner to drink intoxicants and gambling thereby hindering them from engaging in the remembrance of Allah. Drinking of beer, wine and other forms of liquor that intoxicate are the evil handiwork of shaytan which Allah (SWT) forbids. Hemp smoking, cocaine, heroine and every other things that shield the brain are classified as intoxicants which the friend of shaytan on daily routine engage in. The Holy Prophet (SAW) says, “Every intoxicant is haraam.” Most disappointingly, every right thinking man knows that these ugly acts are abhorrent to Allah their creator, yet they cherish evil and hate righteousness.

The friends of shaytan live very difficult life and end up regretting. In the hereafter, the one shall denounce the other as Allah (SWT) says that shaytan would try to free himself of blame on the day of judgment. His friends shaytan shall end up in hellfire and shall dwell therein for ever. But the gate of repentance is wide open for those who are ready to seek redress, shun evil and embrace righteousness and Allah (SWT) is often forgiving, most merciful.

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