Introduction
Satan is the greatest enemy of human being, and he has not only caused our descent from Heaven to earth but he also makes all his efforts in the earth to lead us to Hell. In addition to 11 instances of ib’lees (إِبْلِيس) in the Quran, there are 88 instances of shayṭān (شَيْطَٰن) in singular form and shayaateen (شَيٰطينَ) in plural form that can be translated to Satan, devil or devils to better understand the message in the contexts.
View of pertinent verses
However, here are the details of the verses having the instances of shayṭān and shayaateen to better understand Satan to be our greatest enemy who leads us to Hell adorning works of most of us:
[2:14>] And when they meet those who have believed, they say: “We believe,” and when they are alone with their devils (shayaateenihim) they say: “We are with you, we were only mocking.”
Note: Evil behavior of some people who may claim that they are the believers.
[2:36] Then the devil (al-shaytaanu) duped them, and got them out from what they were in, and we said, “Go down as enemies of one another, and for you in the earth shall be habitation and provision for a while.”
[2:102] And they (the followers of Torah) followed what the devils (al-shayaateenu) recited at the time of kingship of Solomon. Solomon did not disbelieve, but the devils (al-shayaateena) disbelieved by teaching the people the magic, and what was sent down in Babylon through the two angels, Haroot and Maroot. And they (two angels) did not teach anyone rather they would say: “We are only for a test, so do not disbelieve.” But they learn from these two (angels) what causes a separation between a man and his spouse with it; but they cannot harm anyone except by God’s permission. And they learn what harms them and does not benefit them, and indeed, they knew that whoever purchases it has no share for him in the Hereafter. And it is surely evil what they sold with it for themselves, if they knew.
[2:168] O people, eat of what in the earth is lawful and good, and do not follow the footsteps of the Satan (al-shaytaani). Indeed, he is your open enemy.
[2:208] O you who believe, come to the perfect peace; and do not follow the footsteps of the Satan (al-shaytaani). Indeed, he is a known enemy to you.
[2:268] The devil (al-shaytaanu) promises you poverty and orders you to evil, while God promises forgiveness from Him and bounty. And God is Bounteous, Omniscient.
[2:275] Those who consume usury, they do not stand except as the one who has been confounded him driven by the devil (al-shaytaanu). That is because they say, trade and usury are the same while God has made trade lawful but has forbidden usury. Then whoever has accepted this admonition from his Lord and has refrained, then he may have what has passed, and his case is with God. But whoever returns, those are the people of the Fire, they will abide in it forever.
[3:36] So when she delivered, she said: “My Lord, I have delivered a female;” and God is aware of what she delivered, and the male is not like the female. “And that I have named her Mary, and that I seek refuge for her and her progeny in You from the Satan (al-shaytaani), the rejected.”
[3:155] Surely, those who turned away among you on the day the two armies met, it was the Satan (al-shaytaanu) who caused them to deviate for some of what they had gained, and surely, God has forgiven them. Indeed, God is Forgiving, Clement.
[3:175] It is only that the Satan (al-shaytaanu) frightens his allies, so do not fear them but fear Me if you are believers.
[4:38] And those who spend their wealth to show-off the people, and they do not believe in God nor in the last day. And whoever has the devil (al-shaytaanu) as his companion, then he has an evil companion.
[4:60] Do you not see to those who claim that they believe in what has been sent down to you (Muhammad) and what has been sent down before yourself, they wish to judge toward the false deity? And certainly, they have been commanded to reject it. And the Satan (al-shaytaanu) wishes to mislead them faraway astray.
[4:76] Those who believe fight in the cause of God, while those who disbelieve fight in the cause of the false god; so, fight the allies of the devil (al-shaytaani). Indeed, the strategy of the devil (al-shaytaani) is weak.
[4:83] And when a matter of security or fear comes to them they spread it, but if they had referred it to the messenger and to those of authority among them, it would have been known to those among them who draw an appropriate conclusion from it. And if it had not been grace of God upon you and His mercy, you would have followed the devil (al-shaytaana), except a few.
[4:117] They do not only call other than God but also female gods, and they do not call except a rebellious devil (shaytaanan).
[4:119] “I will surely mislead them, I will surely entice them, I will surely order them so they will surely mark the ears of livestock, and I will surely order them so they will surely change the creation of God.” And whoever takes the devil (al-shaytaana) as an ally other than God, then indeed, he has lost a great loss.
[4:120] He promises them and entices them, and what the devil (al-shaytaanu) promises them is nothing but deception.
[5:90] O you who believe, intoxicants, and gambling, and altars, and arrows of chance are abominations of the devil (al-shaytaani). So you shall avoid him so that you may succeed.
[5:91] The devil (al-shaytaanu) only wants to cause enmity and hatred between you through intoxicants and gambling, and to repel you from remembrance of God and from the Contact Prayer. Will you then refrain?
[6:43] Then why did they not implore when our retribution came to them? But their hearts were hardened, and the devil (al-shaytaanu) adorned for them what they used to do.
[6:68] And when you see those who engage in (vain talk of) our revelations, then you shall turn away from them until they engage in a talk other than it. If the devil (al-shaytaanu) causes you to forget, then, do not sit with the wicked people after the reminder.
[6:71] Say, “Shall we call upon other than God what cannot benefit us or harm us, and we turn back on our heels after God has guided us?” This is like the one whom the devils (al-shayaateenu) have managed to mislead in the earth, he is confused, having friends who call him to the guidance: “Come to us!” Say, “God’s guidance is the true guidance, and we have been commanded to submit to the Lord of the universe.
[6:112] And thus that we have made an enemy for every prophet devils (shayaateena) from the human and the jinn to inspire of them to other the fancy word for deception; and if your Lord had willed, they would not have done it. So, you all shall disregard them and what they invent.
[6:121] And do not eat from that on which God’s name has not been mentioned, and indeed, it is an awful disobedience. And indeed, the devils (al-shayaateena) inspire their allies that they argue with you, and if you obey them, certainly, you will be idol worshipers.
[6:142] And from the livestock there are burden and meat. Eat from what God has provided you and do not follow the footsteps of the Satan (al-shaytaani); he is your known enemy.
[7:20] Then the devil (al-shaytaanu) whispered to them to reveal what was concealed from them of their shame. And he said, “Your Lord did not forbid you from this tree, except that you become angels or you become immortals.”
[7:22] So he misled them with deception. Thus, when they tasted the tree, their shame became visible to them, and they began to cover themselves with the leaves of Paradise; and their Lord called them: “Did I not forbid you from that tree, and tell you that the devil (al-shaytaana) is your ardent enemy?”
[7:27] O children of Adam, do not let the devil (al-shaytaanu) entice you as he drove out your parents from Paradise removing their clothing from them to expose their shame. Indeed, he and his tribe see you from where you do not see them. Certainly, we have made the devils (al-shayaateena) as allies of those who do not believe.
[7:30] A group He has guided while a group has deserved misguidance. Indeed, they have taken the devils (al-shayaateena) as allies other than God, and they think that they are the guided ones!
[7:175] And recite to them the story of the one whom we gave our revelations to him, but he disengaged himself from them. So the devil (al-shaytaanu) persuaded him, and he became of those who went astray.
[7:200] And if any insinuation comes from the devil (al-shaytaani) insinuation, then seek refuge in God. Indeed, He is Hearer, Omniscient.
[7:201] Surely, those who fear God, when an evil thought touches them from the devil (al-shaytaani), they remember (Him), then they are those who can see.
[8:11] When He covered you with sleep as security from Him, and He sent down water to you from the sky that He may cleanse you with it and may take away the evil of the devil (al-shaytaani) from you and that He may strengthen your hearts and may make your feet firm with it.
[8:48] And when the devil (al-shaytaanu) adorned their work for them, and he said: “None from the people can defeat you today, and indeed, I am at your side.” But when the two armies came in sight, he turned on his heels, and he said: ” Indeed, I am free of you! Indeed, I see what you do not see. Indeed, I fear God, and God is severe in retribution.”
[12:5] He said: “O my son, do not let your dream to your brothers, lest they scheme a plot against you. Indeed, the devil (al-shaytaana) is an ardent enemy to human.”
[12:42] And he said to the one whom he thought that he would be saved: “Mention me to your lord.” But the devil (al-shaytaanu) made him forget to mention to his lord, so he remained in the prison several years.
[12:100] And he raised his parents on the throne, and they fell prostrate to Him. And he said: ” O my father, this is the interpretation of my dream from before. And certainly, my Lord has made it true, and He has been good to me when he took me out of prison and brought you out of the wilderness after the devil (al-shaytaanu) had caused enmity between me and my brothers. Indeed, my Lord is very kind to whomever He wills. Indeed, He is Omniscient, the Most Wise.”
[14:22] And the devil (al-shaytaanu) will say when the matter has been decided: “God had promised you a true promise, and I promised you but I betrayed you. And I had no power over you except that I invited you and you responded to me. So do not blame me, but blame yourselves; I cannot help you nor can you help me. Indeed, I reject of your association of me (with God) before; indeed, the wicked will have a painful retribution.”
[15:17] And we protected it from every rejected devil (shaytaanin).
[16:63] By God, We have sent to communities before you (Muhammad), but the devil (al-shaytaanu) adorned their work to them. So he is their protector today, and they will have a painful retribution.
[16:98] So when you read the Quran, then you shall seek refuge in God from the Satan (al-shaytaani) the rejected.
[17:27] Indeed, the extravagant are brothers of the devils (al-shayaateeni), and the devil (al-shaytaanu) is ungrateful to his Lord.
[17:53] And say to My servants to speak that which is best. Indeed, the devil (al-shaytaana) triggers enmity between them. Indeed, the devil (al-shaytaana) is an ardent enemy to human.
[17:64] And You may entice them with your voice, and mobilize all your forces and all your men against them, and share them in the wealth and the children, and promise them. And the devil (al-shaytaanu) promises nothing but delusion.
[18:63] He said, “Did you remember when we took rest by the rock? Then indeed, I forgot the fish, and it was the devil (al-shaytaanu) that made me forget to remember it. It took its way into the sea amazingly!”
[19:44] “O my father, do not worship the devil (al-shaytaana). Indeed, the devil (al-shaytaana) is disobedient to the Most Gracious.”
[19:45] “O my father, I fear that a retribution will inflict you from the Most Gracious, so you will become an ally to the devil (al-shaytaani).”
[19:68] So by your Lord, we will gather them and the devils (al-shayaateena), then we will surely bring them around Hell on their knees.
[19:83] Do you not see that we have sent the devils (al-shayaateena) upon the disbelievers to incite them an incitement?
[20:120] But the Satan (al-shaytaanu) whispered to him, he said: “O Adam, shall I direct you to the tree of eternity and a kingdom that will never end?”
[21:82] And of the devils (al-shayaateeni) who would dive for him, and they would do work other than that, and we were guardian over them.
[22:3] And of the people who argues about God without knowledge, and he follows every rebellious devil (shaytaanin).
[22:52] And we did not send before you (Muhammad) any messenger, nor a prophet, without having the devil (al-shaytaanu) interference in his wishes. God then nullifies what the devil (al-shaytaanu) has done. God perfects His revelations. God is Omniscient, Most Wise.
[22:53] That He may make what the devil (al-shaytaanu) has cast as test for those who have a disease in their hearts and those whose hearts are hardened. And the wicked are in a strong opposition.
[23:97] Say, “My Lord, I seek refuge in You from the whispers of the devils (al-shayaateeni).
[24:21] O you who believe, do not follow the footsteps of the devil. And whoever follows the footsteps of the devil (al-shaytaanu) should know that he advocates vice and evil. And if it had not been God’s favor upon you and His mercy, no one of you would have ever been purified, but God purifies whomever He wills, and God is Hearer, Omniscient.
[25:29] “Indeed, he led me astray from the reminder after it had come to me, and the devil (al-shaytaanu) is a deceiver for the human being!”
[26:210] And the devils (al-shayaateenu) have not descended with it.
[26:221] Shall I inform you upon whom the devils (al-shayaateenu) descend?
[26:222] They descend on every sinful liar.
[27:24] “And I found her and her people prostrating to the sun other than God. The devil (al-shaytaanu) has adorned their works to them, and has repulsed them from the path; so, they are not guided.”
[28:15] And he entered the city once, without being noticed by its people, and found in it two men fighting each other, one was from his party and one from his enemy. So the one who was from his party called him for help against the one who was from his enemy. So Moses struck him with his fist and killed him. He said: “This is a work of the devil (al-shaytaani); indeed he is an enemy who certainly misleads.”
[29:38] And Aad and Thamud, and certainly, there has become evident to you from (destruction of) their dwellings, while the Satan (al-shaytaanu) had made fair-seeming to them their deeds, then had diverted them from the path, even they had been possessors of vision.
[31:21] And when they are told: “Follow what God has sent down.” They say: “No, we will follow what we have found upon our fathers.” What! even if the devil (al-shaytaanu) was calling them to the retribution of the Fire?
[35:6] Indeed, the devil (al-shaytaana) is an enemy to you, so treat him as an enemy. He only invites his party that they may be with the dwellers of the Fire.
[36:60] Did I not pledge to you, O Children of Adam, that you shall not worship the devil (al-shaytaana)? Indeed, he is an ardent enemy to you?
[37:7] And there is protection from every rebellious devil (shaytaanin).
[37:65] Its shoots as if are like heads of the devils (al-shayaateeni).
[38:37] And the devils (al-shayaateena), every builder and diver.
[38:41] And remember our servant Job: he called upon his Lord, “The devil (al-shaytaana) has afflicted me with distress and suffering.”
[41:36] And if a whisper comes to you from the devil (al-shaytaana), then you shall seek refuge in God. Indeed, He is the Hearer, the Omniscient.
[43:36] And whoever turns away from the remembrance of the Most Gracious, we appoint a devil (shaytaanan) for him, so he is a companion for him.
[43:62] And let not the devil (al-shaytaanu) repel you; indeed, he is an ardent enemy to you.
[47:25] Surely, those who return on their back, after what has become clear of the guidance to them, the devil (al-shaytaanu) has enticed them and led them on.
[58:10] Secret councils are from the devil (al-shaytaani) that he may grieve those who believed, but he cannot harm them with anything except by God’s permission. And in God the believers shall trust.
[58:19] The devil (al-shaytaanu) has possessed them, so he caused them to forget the remembrance of God. These are the party of the devil (al-shaytaani). No doubt, the party of the devil (al-shaytaani) is definitely the losers.
[59:16] (The hypocrites are) like the devil (al-shaytaani), when he says to the human being: “Disbelieve.” But when he disbelieves, he says: “I dissociate from you. Indeed, I fear God, Lord of the universe.”
[67:5] And certainly, we adorned the lowest heaven with lamps, and we have made them as missiles for the devils (lilshayaateeni), and we have prepared for them a retribution in the Fire.
[81:25] And it is not the talk of a rejected devil (shaytaanin).
Mathematical confirmation
There are 79 verses across 36 suras to have a clear picture of Satan to be our ardent enemy. Out of 79, 77 verses participate in the mathematical confirmation. If the pertinent verse and sura numbers are added, the sum is a multiple of 19 => 6859 = 19x361 (see details in the table below):
Note: This mathematical confirmation provides us an adequate proof to strive in the cause of God avoiding deception of Satan and his allies. In the table, additional instance(s) in the same verses are highlighted orange and the instances in 2:14 and 37:65 have no direct indication of Satan’s trick or trap are not included in the mathematical confirmation are highlighted yellow while the verse, 26:222 not having the instance but participated in the confirmation being the answer of a critical question in the previous verse is highlighted blue.
Conclusion
The review indicates that Satan uses various tricks and traps to win supporters on his side to encourage humans to stray from God’s path can be summarized: (1) encourage idol worship, (2) practice witchcraft, (3) consume usury, (4) fear anything or anyone except God, (5) give to charity to show off, (6) be tyrant, (7) spread rumors/lies, (8) forbid foods what are not forbidden by God, (9) use intoxicants, (10) gambling/games of chance, (11) mock God’s guidance, (12) follow religious laws other than those given in His guidance, (13) eat food without mentioning God’s name to make ungrateful to Him, (14) plot /scheme/conspire (16) seek other than God’s help, (17) drive hatred between people, (18) break promises, (19) be extravagance, (20) argue about God without knowledge, (21) follow parents blindly in religion, (22) adorn their works to many people leading to Hell and (23) possess to cause them to forget the remembrance of God.
In addition to what has been summarized in the above, this review also teaches us the following:
- Satan drove out all of us from Paradise to the earth as a habitation and provision for a while.
- We have been informed that the devils descend on every sinful liar.
- God puts us to the test to bring out our true convictions what are in our hearts.
- The two angels, Haroot and Maroot were sent down with the teaching of magic during the reign of Solomon.
- He has sent down both good and evil, and has explained all of that to His servants.
- We can only maintain our firm belief if it is very clear in our hearts.
- God wants us to eat what is good and lawful mentioning His name on it to be grateful to Him.
- He wants us to come to the perfect peace instead of following the footsteps of the Satan.
- He promises forgiveness and bounty while the Satan promises poverty and orders evil.
- You shall refuge in God when the devil whispers you.
- Satan cannot keep his promise on the Day of Judgment and will dissociate those who followed him on earth as he believes in God and fears Him.
Humans must do all possible to avoid the Satan and his companions as he uses many tricks and traps to try and divert humans from the true worship of One God. Belief in One God is not enough to be successful in the Hereafter; even the Satan believes in God and also fears Him while he and his allies will burn in Hell. It is either God or Satan. It is either truth or falsehood. It is either striving in the cause of God or in the cause of Satan. We will be in jeopardy if we allow Satan to rule. It is so scary how we can easily fall into his deception and promote his values without perceiving. Quran is the only proven and infallible truth. If we desert it, we are pleasing Satan, striving in his cause, and promoting his falsehood while the mathematical confirmation from it around the instances of Satan is a fact and certainty to make a right decision to strive in the cause of God.
Peaceful Friday, salaam and God bless.
Tafazzal (9/14/2018).