The System Explained
Path of Righteousness
When Allah (SWT) created the first human beings, namely Prophet Adam and his wife Eve, and while expelling them from paradise and sending them to earth, He warned them not to cross the boundaries He sets. One of those boundaries is his sovereignty. In the Qur’an, in Surah An-Nur, Allah (SWT) says unequivocally that the sovereignty belongs to Allah (SWT):
To Allah (SWT) ˹alone˺ belongs the kingdom of the heavens and the earth. And to Allah (SWT) is the final return. (Qur’an 24:42)
He is the creator and the master of the universe; to Him belongs everything that is between earth and the heavens. Using the same logic, it must likewise be accepted that He is the lawgiver, making humankind duty-bound to obey the laws given by the “Lord of all worlds.” However, being duty-bound is one thing; fulfilling that duty is another matter. In the Qur’an, Allah (SWT) warns people:
By the ˹passage of˺ time! Surely humanity is in ˹grave˺ loss, except those who have faith, do good, and urge each other to the truth, and urge each other to perseverance. (Qur’an 103:1-3)
Humanity, whose modus vivendi has often been to follow selfish desires and temptations of Shaitan while ignoring the divine orders, is addressed in the above verses with a warning. It is these four points that are important and are always under attack by the Shaitan.
There are two types of Shaitan, internal and external. The external is the Iblees. The internal and ever-present Shaitan is the Nafs (ego). It is the Nafs that incite people to sin. More often than not, individuals follow the Nafs. The Nafs is not part of the soul nor is it part of the physical self, but it does work on the physical side, e.g., physical desires.
The three types of Nafs
There are three levels of Nafs: part of the inbuilt system for testing piety and to protect individuals from being lost in worldly affairs or overwhelmed by the evil within. The names of these three Nafs are mentioned in the Quran:
Nafs-ul-ammarah
Nafs-ul-lawwamah
Nafs-ul-mutmainnah
Nafs-ul-ammarah is mentioned in the Qur’an in chapter 12 verse 53, “Indeed the Nafs that overwhelmingly commands a person to do sin.” Nafs-ul-ammarah incites desires and every so often misleads individuals to commit sins. By frequently following the commands of Nafs-ul-ammarah one can easily become enslaved and adopt the attitude, ‘Do whatever makes you happy.’
Nafs-ul-lawwamah is mentioned in the Qur’an in chapter 75 verse 02, “And I do swear by the self-reproaching soul!” This Nafs after enticing individuals to commit sins, then incriminates itself, blames itself, and guilty feelings arise, leading the person to stop committing those sins. So, there is a conflict within the person created by Nafs-ul-lawwamah. Success is not guaranteed as the individual keeps moving back and forth while this Nafs is active.
Nafs-ul-mutmainnah is mentioned in the Quran in chapter 89 verse 27, “‘Allah (SWT) will say to the righteous,’ “O tranquil soul!” To be mutma’in means to be satisfied and experience tranquillity. Such content Nafs have to be trained and disciplined over a long period, to desire only good things that please Allah (SWT). What pleases Allah (SWT) is our endeavour to help humanity. (May Allah (SWT) grant everyone Nafs-ul-mutmainnah, Ameen.)
Success or failure depends on the level of control of Nafs (ego), to be more precise, control of desires, so that the boundaries set by Allah (SWT) are not crossed. In the Qur’an, in Surah Al-Imran, Allah (SWT) says:
Do they desire a way other than Allah (SWT)’s—knowing that all those in the heavens and the earth submit to His Will, willingly or unwillingly, and to Him they will ˹all˺ be returned? (Qur’an 3:83)
The boundaries relate to behaviours in all spheres of life, including but not limited to social, economic, educational, financial, health, occupational, political, private, professional, as well as religious domains. In other words, no one is allowed to turn a blind eye to the rules and laws sent down by the Almighty. As for those who do not heed the warning, Allah (SWT) says:
And whoever turns a blind eye to the Reminder of the Most Compassionate, We place at the disposal of each a devilish one as their close associate, who will certainly hinder them from the ˹Right˺ Way while they think they are ˹rightly˺ guided. (Qur’an 43:36-37)
This precisely is the predicament facing many. While far from the path of righteousness, they are deluded enough to think they are on the correct path. These delusions are from Shaitan. The main reason behind delusions is that people have started to ignore the messages delivered by the prophets. They have chosen to listen to the messages from Satanists’. Satanists are the so-called experts or leaders who take their guidance from Shaitan. Creating a situation not dissimilar to the blind leading the blind.
And, regarding those who follow blindly, Allah (SWT) says;
When it is said to them, “Follow what Allah (SWT) has revealed,” they reply, “No! We ˹only˺ follow what we found our forefathers practicing.” ˹Would they still do so˺ even if Satan is inviting them to the torment of the Blaze? (Qur’an 31:21)
And in Surah Kahf, Allah (SWT) states clearly that Shaitan is the enemy of humans;
And ˹remember˺ when We said to the angels, “Prostrate before Adam,” so they all did—but not Iblîs, who was one of the jinn, but he rebelled against the command of his Lord. Would you then take him and his descendants as patrons instead of Me, although they are your enemy? What an evil alternative for the wrongdoers ˹to choose˺! (Qur’an 18:50)
There is no doubt that most leaders often choose evil alternatives. The masses do not question the path chosen by religious and political leaders but simply accept and obey orders. In the Qur’an Surah At-Tawbah, Allah (SWT) warns people not to follow the leaders blindly.
They have taken their rabbis and monks as well as the Messiah, son of Mary, as lords besides Allah (SWT), even though they were commanded to worship none but One God. There is no god ˹worthy of worship˺ except Him. Glorified is He above what they associate ˹with Him˺! (Qur’an 9:31)
This also indicates that there is a gullibility problem and a huge potential to be misguided. Thus, whenever the religious or political leadership is misguided, it does not take long for the nations and civilisations to end up on the wrong path – a misguided path. In our modern times, most national-level leaders have abandoned righteousness and moral values and are willing to legalise immoral values. Immoral new policies being adopted by many nations prove that their leaders are on a misguided path.
In modern times, one of the biggest misguiders, is the Shaitan (Iblees). It is Shaitan that is preparing the world of the arrival of the Antichrist. One of the key differences between Shaitan (Iblees) and the Antichrist is that the Shaitan (Iblees) is most evil but is from the Jinns, whereas the Antichrist is also most evil but is a human being.
Those who follow the Antichrist will be misled and will mislead others. Looking at the global leadership driving the global agendas, it is not difficult to discern that something odd is going on here. What makes this era so special is that the evilness is so ubiquitous. It is as if the Antichrist has become involved in every part of human life, and I mean every part of human life; nothing is sacred anymore. Immoral values being promoted globally would have one believe as if Shaitan himself was at the helm.