AWOT (ALLAH WAY OF THINKING) PART 5 : AS-SYAITHAN

Assalamualaikum Warahmatullahi Wabarakatuh.

Met again with me, Abu Musa.

After we studied Allah Way Of Thinking in Part 4, we came to understand that Ar-Rahman is Allah's mercy in the form of human and universal objectivity, while Ar-Rahim is Allah's mercy in the form of human subjectivity. However, there is a specific term used by Allah in the Qur'an to oppose this Ar-Rahman, which is the term As-Syaithan (Satan). Let us read Surah Maryam: 44:

يَٰٓأَبَتِ لَا تَعۡبُدِ ٱلشَّيۡطَٰنَۖ إِنَّ ٱلشَّيۡطَٰنَ كَانَ لِلرَّحۡمَٰنِ عَصِيّٗا

"O my father, do not worship Satan. Indeed, Satan has ever been disobedient to Ar-Rahman (The Most Merciful)."

This verse explains the story of Prophet Ibrahim (Abraham) when he saw his father worshipping idols. Ibrahim spoke thus because, logically and rationally, an idol cannot possibly bring the dead to life, make the sun rise from the east, grow trees, or feed living creatures on earth. Therefore, Prophet Ibrahim’s logic and rationality were a manifestation of Allah’s Rahmani. We see the same when he debated King Nimrod; notice Surah Al-Baqarah: 258:

أَلَمۡ تَرَ إِلَى ٱلَّذِي حَآجَّ إِبۡرَٰهِۧمَ فِي رَبِّهِۦٓ أَنۡ ءَاتَىٰهُ ٱللَّهُ ٱلۡمُلۡكَ إِذۡ قَالَ إِبۡرَٰهِۧمُ رَبِّيَ ٱلَّذِي يُحۡيِۦ وَيُمِيتُ قَالَ أَنَا۠ أُحۡيِۦ وَأُمِيتُۖ قَالَ إِبۡرَٰهِۧمُ فَإِنَّ ٱللَّهَ يَأۡتِي بِٱلشَّمۡسِ مِنَ ٱلۡمَشۡرِقِ فَأۡتِ بِهَا مِنَ ٱلۡمَغۡرِبِ فَبُهِتَ ٱلَّذِي كَفَرَۗ وَٱللَّهُ لَا يَهۡدِي ٱلۡقَوۡمَ ٱلظَّٰلِمِينَ

"Have you not considered the one who argued with Ibrahim about his Lord [Allah] because Allah had given him kingship? When Ibrahim said, 'My Lord is the one who gives life and causes death,' he said, 'I give life and cause death.' Ibrahim said, 'Indeed, Allah brings up the sun from the east, so bring it up from the west.' So the disbeliever was overwhelmed [by astonishment], and Allah does not guide the wrongdoing people."

Because of this, Prophet Ibrahim bravely challenged the logic of his people by destroying their idols, leaving only the largest one intact. When his people accused him, Ibrahim replied: "Was it not this large idol that remained unbroken among the others? Surely he did it; ask him!" Through this logical argument, his people could not refute him. This is documented in Surah Al-Anbiya: 58–66.

“So Abraham broke them into pieces, except the largest of the idols, so that they might return to him. They said: “Who has done this to our gods? Indeed, he is of the wrongdoers.” They said: “We have heard a young man reviling these idols, whose name is Abraham.” They said: “Bring him in a procession so that they may witness.” They said: “Are you the one who has done this to our gods, O Abraham?” He said: “Indeed, the great idol has done it, so ask them if they can speak.” So they came to their senses, and he said: “Indeed, you are wrongdoers.” Then their heads bowed down. “Indeed, you know that they cannot speak.” He said: “Then why do you worship besides Allah that which does not benefit you at all?” and not harm you?"

The Definition of Syaithan

Anything that contradicts the objectivity of Allah or Ar-Rahman is what is called Syaithan. For example, regarding food that is Halal (permissible) and Tayyib (good/wholesome) in Surah Al-Baqarah: 168:

يَٰٓأَيُّهَا ٱلنَّاسُ كُلُواْ مِمَّا فِي ٱلۡأَرۡضِ حَلَٰلٗا طَيِّبٗا وَلَا تَتَّبِعُواْ خُطُوَٰتِ ٱلشَّيۡطَٰنِۚ إِنَّهُۥ لَكُمۡ عَدُوّٞ مُّبِينٌ

"O mankind, eat from whatever is on earth [that is] lawful and good and do not follow the footsteps of Satan. Indeed, he is to you a clear enemy."

In the context of food, "Satan" refers to consuming food that is Halal but not Tayyib (not good/unhealthy). It is not necessarily Haram (forbidden), because if it were, the verse would use the conjunction "waw" (and) to separate them as "halalan wal thoyiban". However, since the diction is joined as "halalan thoyiban", it is understood as a single unit: "Halal which is also good/healthy."

This verse speaks about objectivity regarding food. The same applies to other areas, like working for money. Is it possible to get money without working? No. That [illusion] is called Syaithan, because it contradicts Ar-Rahman. Similarly with illness: if one does not seek treatment or avoid the causes of the disease, recovery is [objectively] impossible.

Therefore, the Syaithani Objectivity that opposes Ar-Rahman can stem from thoughts conveyed by others or deeply rooted doctrines that we have accepted as truth, much like the ancestors of Prophet Ibrahim’s people.

For instance, a religius teacher might say, "Oh, it’s fine to eat anything as long as our minds stay positive," even though experts doctors, dieticians, or health professionals have set limits on what constitutes a good diet and lifestyle. A religius teacher should not "hijack" the profession of others who are more expert in their fields. In previous studies, we referred to these experts as Ulul Ilmi (those possessed of knowledge).

Observe Surah An-Nahl: 43:

وَمَآ أَرۡسَلۡنَا مِن قَبۡلِكَ إِلَّا رِجَالٗا نُّوحِيٓ إِلَيۡهِمۡۖ فَسَۡٔلُوٓاْ أَهۡلَ ٱلذِّكۡرِ إِن كُنتُمۡ لَا تَعۡلَمُونَ

"And We did not send before you except men to whom We revealed; so ask those who have knowledge if you do not know."

Even regarding the Prophet, if he did not know a specific worldly science, Allah commanded asking those with knowledge. This was reinforced when the Messenger of Allah consulted his companions regarding war tactics during the Battle of the Trench (Khandaq). The Prophet followed the suggestion of Salman Al-Farisi, a companion from Persia famous for his knowledge of siege strategy and city defense.

Likewise, if someone says, "Oh, you can get money without working, just worship diligently and money will come by itself," this is a fallacy. Money does not fall from the sky; it is obtained through hard work, whether through Halal or Haram means the point is, to get money, one must work. Worship is a separate matter of working.

Conclusion: Two Meanings of As-Syaithan

From the explanation above, we can draw two conclusions regarding the meaning of As-Syaithan:

1. Objective Opposition: Looking at the story of Ibrahim’s people, Syaithan is attributed to human objectivity itself that opposes Ar-Rahman. This is similar to the leaders in Yathrib who met the companions, as recorded in Surah Al-Baqarah: 14:

وَإِذَا لَقُواْ ٱلَّذِينَ ءَامَنُواْ قَالُوٓاْ ءَامَنَّا وَإِذَا خَلَوۡاْ إِلَىٰ شَيَٰطِينِهِمۡ قَالُوٓاْ إِنَّا مَعَكُمۡ إِنَّمَا نَحۡنُ مُسۡتَهۡزِءُونَ

"And when they are alone with their evil ones (Syayatin), they say, 'Indeed, we are with you; we were only mocking.'"

This is what Allah refers to as Syaithan with the letter Nun as a root word, sounding Sya-Tha-Na.

2. Subjective Opposition (Illusory Thinking): Looking at verses concerning food, health, work, and marriage, Syaithan is attributed to human subjectivity in the form of thoughts that oppose Ar-Rahman. Examples include the idea that all Halal food is automatically good for you, the belief that money requires no work, or that high education is unimportant. These are now known as illusory and imaginative thoughts because they are based on fantasy, not objectivity.

This is why Allah commands us to seek refuge (Ta’awwudz) before reading the Qur'an, as in Surah An-Nahl: 98:

فَإِذَا قَرَأۡتَ ٱلۡقُرۡءَانَ فَٱسۡتَعِذۡ بِٱللَّهِ مِنَ ٱلشَّيۡطَٰنِ ٱلرَّجِيمِ

"So when you recite the Qur'an, [first] seek refuge in Allah from Satan (Illusory and Imaginative thoughts), the expelled [from His mercy]."

This is what Allah refers to as Syaithan with an additional Nun as a wazan falan (emphasis in thinking), where the root word is Sya-Tha.

I am Abu Musa. See you in the next study.

Wassalamualaikum Warahmatullahi Wabarakatuh.

@AbuMusa2025