EXAMPLES OF SATAN (INDIVIDUALS/CERTAIN PARTIES & IDEAS / THINKING)

In the name of Allah, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful.

Peace and blessings be upon you all.

Meeting again with me, Abu Musa. Today is Saturday, July 5, 2025, in the afternoon at Jami’ Baitul Falah Mosque. While waiting for my child’s practice session, I will review again the study about as-syaithan (Satan).

Previously, we discussed two meanings of Satan:

1. Satan in the form of individuals from among the jinn and humans. The evidences have been clearly discussed.
2. Satan in the form of thoughts that oppose Ar-Rahman (The Most Merciful). The evidences for this have also been clearly discussed.

This afternoon I will discuss examples related to these meanings of Satan.

1. SATAN IN THE FORM OF INDIVIDUALS / CERTAIN PARTIES

Regarding jinn individuals, I do not have the competence to discuss them because I have never had direct interaction with jinn. However, if there are people who have such experiences, that is what Allah refers to as satans from among the jinn. Allah informs this in QS. Al-A’raf: 16–17:

قَالَ فَبِمَآ أَغۡوَيۡتَنِي لَأَقۡعُدَنَّ لَهُمۡ صِرَٰطَكَ ٱلۡمُسۡتَقِيمَ ثُمَّ لَأٓتِيَنَّهُم مِّنۢ بَيۡنِ أَيۡدِيهِمۡ وَمِنۡ خَلۡفِهِمۡ وَعَنۡ أَيۡمَٰنِهِمۡ وَعَن شَمَآئِلِهِمۡۖ وَلَا تَجِدُ أَكۡثَرَهُمۡ شَٰكِرِينَ

Devils said, “Because You have led me astray, I will surely sit in wait for them on Your straight path. Then I will come to them from before them, from behind them, from their right and from their left, and You will not find most of them grateful.”

There are also satanic individuals who cooperate with one another, namely between humans and jinn. Allah informs this in QS. Al-Jinn: 6:

وَأَنَّهُۥ كَانَ رِجَالٞ مِّنَ ٱلۡإِنسِ يَعُوذُونَ بِرِجَالٖ مِّنَ ٱلۡجِنِّ فَزَادُوهُمۡ رَهَقٗا

“And indeed, there were men among mankind who sought refuge in men among the jinn, so they increased them in sin and wrongdoing.”

In our culture, human individuals who cooperate with jinn are called shamans, paranormals, or “wise people.” But there are also human individuals who do not have the ability to cooperate with jinn, yet because of their bad actions which result in harm and destruction for others Allah also calls them satans. For example, as mentioned in QS. Al-Baqarah: 14:

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

“And when they meet those who believe, they say, ‘We believe.’ But when they are alone with their satans, they say, ‘Indeed, we are with you; we were only mocking.’”

People who cause harmful impacts to others are also referred to as satans. For example: the impact of wars, the impact of viruses, the destruction of oceans, forests, and the environment, those responsible for such damage are referred to by Allah SWT with the term Satan.

2. SATAN IN THE FORM OF THOUGHTS / IDEAS / THINKING

This type of Satan has no physical form like the first type, but exists as ideas or mindsets. What kind of mindset? A mindset that opposes Ar-Rahman, as explained previously in relation to QS. Maryam: 44. Ar-Rahman refers to Allah’s mercy in an objective form: its blessings can be felt, its truth can be measured/assessed, and its form can be seen.

1. Mercy That Can Be Felt

For example, when traveling back to one’s hometown over a long distance (between provinces or islands), which is more comfortable: by plane or by bus? Everyone would say by plane faster, more comfortable, no traffic jams, no vehicle transfers if problems occur like with buses. But who can afford to fly? Not everyone. Only those with more money, since plane tickets are more expensive than bus tickets.

This shows that the wealthy experience more comfort than the poor, and wealth can be achieved through learning (academic or non-academic). If someone says learning is not important because success does not only come through study, while in reality many successful people achieved it through learning and many failures result from laziness in learning this is a satanic mindset. Likewise, saying wealth is unimportant and that being grateful is enough, yet complaining when facing the hardships of poverty, shows inconsistency.

Thus, wealth brings more of Allah’s Rahmani mercy than poverty. So what should we do? Remove such misleading mindsets, realize that lacking Allah’s Rahmani blessings comes with risks, and pray for patience and perseverance. The solution is to change our mindset: learning and striving for prosperity are important. That is how Allah’s mercy can be felt.

2. Mercy That Can Be Measured

Take Cristiano Ronaldo, for example, with immense wealth, luxurious houses, luxury cars, and even private jets. Who granted him that wealth? Allah or not? If not Allah, then who? If Allah grants wealth, shouldn’t Muslims also strive for it? Or do Muslims reject wealth by believing the poor will enter Paradise first and that wealth is closer to Hell, even though wealth can be used to help many people? This shows that Allah’s mercy can be measured and evaluated.

3. Mercy That Can Be Seen

Who does not want good food? Compare abundant food with living in constant hardship and hunger, blaming destiny while being lazy. This can lead to blaming Allah: “O Allah, why did You decree this for me?” This is a satanic mindset. Allah is Most Good; His attributes do not contradict. If we experience hardship, it is from our own actions, as in QS. An-Nisa: 79:

مَّآ أَصَابَكَ مِنۡ حَسَنَةٖ فَمِنَ ٱللَّهِۖ وَمَآ أَصَابَكَ مِن سَيِّئَةٖ فَمِن نَّفۡسِكَۚ وَأَرۡسَلۡنَٰكَ لِلنَّاسِ رَسُولٗاۚ وَكَفَىٰ بِٱللَّهِ شَهِيدٗا

“Whatever good you get is from Allah, and whatever bad things happen to you, it is from your own (mistakes). We have sent you as a Messenger to all mankind. And Allah is sufficient as a witness.”

Thus, Allah’s mercy can be seen in tangible form.

Worship vs Effort

Often these matters are linked only to worship prayer, fasting, charity, remembrance while neglecting effort, work, and learning. Worship is obedience to Allah; success in worldly matters depends on effort.

Blaming Allah after worshipping but not striving is also a satanic mindset.

Further Examples of Misconceptions Between Worship and Practical Effort

The following are additional examples of how religious rituals are often conflated with practical effort:

1. The Learning Process: Prayer, fasting, alms-giving, and sholawat are linked to success in education, yet the individual never actually studies. Success is achieved through earnest and diligent learning. A prime example is Thomas Alva Edison, the inventor of the light bulb, who failed in his experiments 1,000 times but never gave up.
2. Employment: Religious rituals are associated with getting a job, even when the person makes no effort to search for employment. This will not result in a job offer. Success is determined by the frequency of our job hunt and the magnitude of our efforts. Consider Steve Jobs, who constantly sought ways for his Apple and iPhone products to yield results.
3. Business Success: Worship is often credited for high sales, even when a merchant operates in an area with poor economic activity. In reality, success in trade comes from mastering the knowledge of how to sell effectively. An example is the Salim Group, the owners of two retail giants in Indonesia.
4. Conflict Resolution: Prayer and rituals are seen as the sole solution to war, whereas wars can only be halted through ceasefire agreements. For instance, in Palestine, many Muslims worship with great devotion, yet the conflict continues to this day.
5. Material Possessions: Worship is linked to the desire for material goods. Without working and setting a target to acquire those items, it is impossible to obtain them. For example, wanting a car and becoming more religious without a job or a financial plan makes it impossible to own that vehicle.
6. Sustenance (Money and Food): Worship is linked to receiving sustenance, yet the person is lazy or never looks for work. This will not bring financial or physical nourishment. Sustenance is secured through hard work and diligence. For example, when someone is out of money and starving on the street, if they choose to stay in a mosque praying and reciting sholawat instead of asking shop owners or passersby for job openings, it will not bring them money. Their hunger will only worsen; even beggars must continuously beg to receive food.

Perhaps these examples are sufficient to clarify what is meant by satanic thinking. See you in the next study session.

I am Abu Musa.

Peace and blessings be upon you.

@Abu Musa