Begining of Evil

Originally the name of Satan was AZIL', but other Muslim scholars are of the opinion that his name was 'al-Harith'; but the differrence in his name does not however lessen the wicked image of Satan. Now 'Shaitan', means one who opposes in Arabic language; whilst 'Iblis1, another name of Satan meaning 'the wicked one'.

Allah created (Satan) beautiful and his name was Azazil. Allah enabled and honoured him, thus made him the ruler of the lower heaven as well as the earth.

Iblis belonged to a tribal group of angels called Jinn. Among the angels it was the tribal group of Iblis who were created from the fire of the wind-Simoon.

All the angels with the exception of the tribe 7Ms were created from light.

The Jinn mentioned in the Holy Qur'an were created from a bright flame. Hence Iblis was the father of the Jinn amid the angels.

Before Man was created, the earth where we are living were inhabited by the Jinn, the preadamite Jinn thousands of years before Adam (Alihissalam ) were governed by forty kings.

They covered the land, the sea, the plains and the mountains. The favours of Allah were multiplied upon them.

They had government and prophecy, religion and law; but they transgressed and offended. They caused corruption, spreading mischief right and left on earth, they killed each other and shed much blood.

That disastrous situation impeded the wrath of Allah. The Mighty Allah sent Iblis and the angels' army to prevail justice on earth and to banish the rebellious Jinn.

However Iblis and the group of angels fought the mischievous Jinn and banished them all to the islands, oceans and mountains. Much blood was shed during that war. After the victory Iblis said :

"I have done something which nobody has ever done before. "

So the origin of vanity, self-conceit and pride darkened the mind of Iblis; Allah was fully aware but not the angels with Iblis.

Iblis then acted as Judge on earth conscientiously for a thousand years.

Allah called him thus and revealed to him His Mightiest Name.

The Mightiest Name of Allah is only known to the elect of Allah and this was the very Name engraved on the ring of prophet Sulaiman (Alihissalam). for more information read the book(Thread )-'The Ring of King Sulaiman.'

So, having known Allah's Mightiest Name, Iblis turned openly haughty. He became self-conceited and caused terror.

The pride of Iblis breeded hatred and hostility among those Allah sent with him as Judges.

The greatest war exploded! They fought fiercely for two thousand years on earth. So much blood was shed that their horses waded in the blood of those killed.

Allah sent a great fire that consumed them. When Iblis saw the punishment, he ascended the heaven stayed with the angels and worshiping Allah as zealously as no other creature.

He continued to do so until Allah created Adam (Alihissalam) the first Man.

And when the Lord said unto the angels :

Lo I am about to place a viceroy in the earth,

They said (The angels) : Will Thou place therein one who will do

harm therein and will shed blood,

While we hymn Thy praise and sanctify Thee?

He said' Surely I know

That which ye know not.

Al-Qur'an (2-30)

In this Holy verse Allah addressed the angels and told them about the creature He would place on earth as His vicegerent to act for Him in the execution of His ordinances.

Allah was about to create Adam Safiyullah (the chosen of Allah); but the angels who had no knowledge and who witnessed the destruction of the former creature-jinn, who corrupted the earth with disobedience and who shed blood; said to Allah :

"Wilt Thou place in it (earth) one who will corrupt and shed blood."

Allah created Adam Alihissalam

Thus Allah created Adam (Alihissalam) from the surface of the earth taking a handful of every colour that it comprised, which was kneaded with various waters.

When He completely formed it, He breathed in it the soul and so it became an animated being.

And Allah told Adam (Alihissalam) the names of all things, infusing the knowledge of these into his heart. Then Allah showed them (the things) to the angels and said :

"Declare unto Me the names of these things if ye say the truth."

The angels replied :

"Thy perfection, we have no knowledge excepting what Thou hast taught us; for Thou art the Knowing the Wise."

Allah said : "O, Adam tell them their names." And he had told them their names.

Allah said :

"Did I not say unto you that I know the secrets of the heavens and the earth, and know what ye reveal and what ye conceal."

Allah said unto the angels to prostrate unto Adam (Alihissalam) by way of salutation, whereupon they prostrated themselves, except Iblis, the father of the Jinn;

he was not of those who prostrated themselves. Allah said :

"What hath hindered thee from prostrating thyself when I commanded thee?"

Iblis answered :

"I am better than him; Thou hast created me of fire and Thou hast created him (Adam) of clay."

Iblis behaved himself proudly and he became overbearing towards his Lord.

Iblis claimed divine lordship for himself and called others to worship him.

Therefore Allah transformed Iblis to a stoned Satan, the most hideous creature of the whole universe.

Allah deprived him from all the benefits of the heavens. The devil, Iblis, said to Allah :

"(I will surely lay wait for them (sons of Adam alihissalam) in Thy right way (the way leading to Allah); then I will surely come upon them from before them and from behind them and from their right hands and from their left; and hinder them in pursuing the right way. Thou shall not find them greateful."

Allah said :

"Whoever of them (mankind) shall follow thee, I will surely fill hell with you all; with thee, thy offspring and with man!"

The Evil Suggestions of Iblis

The origin of evil started when Iblis failed to comply with the order of his Creator.

Allah created Hawa (Eve) from a rib of the left side of Adam (Alihissalam) And the Lord invited them to dwell into the garden and to eat whatever they liked but warned them not to approach a certain tree and consume its fruit for they would be of the number of the offenders.

Now Iblis, the accursed, began to whisper suggestions to Adam and Hawa swearing that he was a sincere adviser to them. He said :

"Your Lord forbade you this tree lest you should become angels or such beings as live for ever."

Hence by deceit, Iblis persuaded them to disobey Allah's restriction. When Adam and Hawa tasted the fruit from that tree, the stage of their blissful innocence was gone and awoke to a sense of shame of being physically naked.

Allah therefore addressed them :

"Did I not forbid you that tree, and told you that Satan was an avowed enemy unto you."

Iblis, the accursed, will be using every means to divert the son of man from the path of truth. He will always be trying his utmost to darken the heart of man by dropping man in the pitfalls of witchcraft, greed, wealth, wine, women, jealousy and other nefarious and shameful things to trap man and to wall his way leading to his Lord's mercy, bliss and love.

Man through his endless touch to the material world is too busy that he could not allow himself a couple of minutes to realize how he is exposing himself to the claws of Satan in his fallacious society which he terms-' Modern'.

Man has willingly cast himself into the western ocean where he finds all its waters to be sweet. And poor soul, he is striving strenuously to thrive aiming the illusionic horizon, where his Promised Land is situated! When he is informed of the intellectual ploys and tricks employed by Satan and his followers to keep him aloof from the 'Path',

he retorted :

"But, this is the tale of the past"

Man often and unawarily befriends his own enemy, Satan, even at the price of faith, blood and life.

Enmity, jealousy, envy, hatred and pride are the effects of numerous causes; such as-wealth, position, fame, honour,beauty, love and many others, which fire man with the idea of vengeance.

Man is so obsessed that he retrieves the steps and traces of Satan and his followers to torment his enemy by casting spells. Thus man penetrates himself in the circle of 'Witchcraft1 to implement his sadistric plans.

Man is so ambitious and pride has been so deep-rooted in his heart that he walks on earth but his eyes are staring at the stars. To reach that Top he uses all the means he has.

Has the steps leading to the faded stars made with corpses, he would have smilingly placed his foot over them to reach his target. Man has in fact forgotten that Satan has vowed to hinder him in all attempts he makes to inch towards his Lord.

SATAN and the EAIL Jinn

Among the evil Jinn the five sons of Iblis are very distinguished :

Tir, the first one. He brings about calamity losses and injuries.

Al-Awar, he encourages debauchery.

But the third one, he suggests lies. Dasim, he is responsible in causing hatred between husband and wife.

Lastly, Zalambur, he presides over places of traffic.

The Jinn consists of forty troops, each troop consists of six hundred thousand. Hence the greatest goal of Satan is to make the children of Adam enter the punishment of the blaze.

Allah says :

He calls his party only that they may be among the inhabitants of the blaze.

(Al-Qur'an 35-6)

"Satan only desires to cause enmity and hatred between you in regard to urine and arrow-shuffling and bar you from the remembrance of Allah and from prayer. Will you then desist?"

The prophet Muhammad (Peace be upon him) said:

"Satan lies in ambush for the son of Adam on his paths. He sits in ambush for him in the path of Islam and says-'Are you going to become Muslim and leave your religion and the religion of your fathers and the father of your fathers?'

He disobeys him and goes to Hijra. Then he sits in ambush for him on the path of Hijra and says-'Are you making Hijra and leave your land and your sky?

The emigrant is like a horse on a steep slope.'

He disobeys him and goes to Hijra. Then he sits in ambush for him in the path of Jihad and says-'Are you going out to Jihad when it is troublesome for the self and property?

You will fight and be killed and your wife will marry someone else and your property will be divided.'

The prophet of Allah peace be upon him said :

"Whoever does that, it is the duty of Allah to let him enter the Garden. Whoever is killed, it is the duty of Allah to let him enter the Garden. If his beast throws him and break his neck, it is the duty of Allah to let him enter the Garden."

An Nasai

Iblis chief abode among man is the bath, his chief places of resorts are the markets and the road junctures; his food is whatever is killed without pronouncing the name of Allah or whatever is consumed without saying

'In the name of Allah". His drink, whatever is intoxicating : his muezzin,the mizmar (musical pipe).

The bell is also the musical instrument of the Satan; his Qur'an is a book of poetry, his written character is the marks made in geomancy, his speech, falsehood and his snares-women.

The act Iblis most prefer is the separation between husband and wife, thus disuniting family members and resulting in the great separation of people in general.

The prophet Muhammad (Peace be upon him) said :

"The throne of Iblis is on the sea. He sends out his army to cause trouble between people. He increases the sedition that one of them brings and who says :

"I did such and such." He says :

"That's nothing."

Then one of them comes and says :

"I did not leave him until I parted him from his wife."

He draws him near and says :

"You did well."

Iblis and all the Shaitans are distinguished from the other Jinn by a longer existence.

The Shaitans are the children of Iblis. Iblis and the other evil Jinn are to survive man­kind, but obviously they have to die before the resurrection, as well as the angels, the last of whom would be the angel of death-Izrail.

The other Jinn may live many centuries before they die. Many of them are killed by shooting stars hurled on them by the guardian angels of the heaven. Many are also killed by other Jinn and some by even men.

The Jinn appear to mankind most commonly in the shapes of dogs, cats, snakes or human beings. Whilst appearing in the human form they usually take the natural stature of men but sometimes they appear in a gigantic size.

If good, they are generally resplendently handsome; if evil, horribly hideous. They become invisible by a rapid extension of the particles which compose them, or they may disappear on earth in the air all of a sudden or through a solid wall.

'The evil Jinn had the liberty to enter any of the seven heavens till Isa (Alihissalam) was born and the Jinn were excluded from three heavens.

When the last Prophet (Peace be upon him) was born the Jinn were forbidden from the other four heavens. They, however, continue to ascend to the confines of the lowest heaven and listening to the conversation of the angels respecting things decreed by Allah.

Thus, they obtain knowledge of futurity which they sometimes impart to man, who by means of talisman or certain invocation make them to serve the purpose of magical performances.

Aisha (Raziallhutalanha), the wife of the Prophet (Peace be upon him) reported :

"I said : Allah's Messenger, the Kahins used to tell us about things (unseen) and we found them to be true. Thereupon he said-Thai is a word pertaining to truth, which a Jinn snatches and throws into the ear of his friend, and makes as addition of one hundred lies to it."

In another tradition Abdullah b. ibn Abbas raziallhutalanhu reported :

"A person from the Ansar who was amongst the companions of Allah's Messenger (Peace be upon him ) reported to me :

As we -were sitting during the night with Allah's Messenger (Peace be upon him ) a meteor (shooting star) gave a dazzling light. Allah's Messenger (Peace be upon him ) said:

What did you say in the pre-Islamic days when there was such a shot? They said :

Allah and His Messenger (Peace be upon him ) know best, but we, however used to say that, that very night great man had been born and a great man had died.

Whereupon Allah's Messenger (Peace be upon him ) said :

(These meteors) are shot not at the death of anyone. Allah the Exalted and Glorious issues command when He decides to do a thing.

Then (the angels) supporting the Throne sing His Glory, then sing the dwellers of heaven of this world. Then those who are near the supporters of the Throne ask the supporters of the Throne :

What your lord has said?

And they accordingly inform them what He says. Then the dwellers of heaven seek information from them until this information reaches the lower heaven of the world.

In this process of transmission (the Jinn snatches) what he manages to overhear and he carries it to his friend. And when the Angels see the Jinn they attack them with meteors.if they Jin narrate only which they manage to snatch, that is correct, but they alloy it with lies and make addition to it

Adobe of the Jinn

The main abode of the Jinn is in the mountain of Qaf. It encompasses the whole of our earth.

But they also pervades in solid body of our earth and the firmament. They choose as their places of resort or of occasional abode; the baths, wells, toilets, ovens, ruined houses, market places, junctures of roads1, the sea and the rivers.

The malicious and disturbed Jinn often station themselves on the roofs

[ Those who deal with black magic, usually use the roads' junctions to throw flowers, herbs or other things thus making a pact with the Jinn at that particular place.

or at the windows of houses, and they usually throw down brick and stones on persons passing by. When they take possession of an uninhabited house, they seldom fail to persecute terribly any person who goes to reside in it. They are very apt to pilfer provisions.]

I shall now by the leave of Allah narrate to you how the Jinn or Satan rarely fail to persecute those who go to reside in an abandoned house.

It is reported from Ibn Qutaiba (Raziallhutalanhu) that a certain trader went to Basrah to do some buying and selling of dates.

On his arrival in Basrah he began inquiring for a decent accommodation but could not find one. After much seeking he came across a vacant house filled with spider's webs. On inquiring from the people the reason for its emptiness, he was told that a Jinn is believed to be occupying the house.

When he approached the landlord, the latter tried to dissuade him by saying :

"Why do you want to jeopardize your life? A powerful Jinn lives there and whoever stayed there hasn't come out alive."

However, the landlord had no choice but to accede to his request. From here the trader takes up the story.

"I occupied the house. Late in the night my eyes suddenly opened and I saw a dark human form approaching me, its eyes bloodshot, as if bright flames were leaping from them.

I immediately began reciting the verse of the Throne (Ayatul Kursi).

Every sentence I recited was recited by the Jinn (In an attempt to counter attack);

until I reached- 'Wala yahuduhu Hifzuhuma wahuwal Aliul Azeem.'

This last sentence he could not utter. I began uttering this sentence repeatedly until I saw the form disappearing. No trace of it seemed to have existed. I spent the rest of the night in total comfort.

In the morning I scrutinized the place where the Jinn was seen ...Only to find its remains in the form of a small heap of ashes! then from nowhere a voice was heard saying. 'You have burnt a powerful Jinn to ashes.' What caused him to burn ?' The voice replied :

'The verse- 'Wala yahuduhu Hifzuhuma Wahuwal Aliul Azeem.'

Meaning of the verse-Their preserving never makes Him weary. He is the Sublime, The Great"]