The Devil’s Deception of Humankind, Especially Ahlul Bidah (Proponents of Innovation In Religion)
In The Name of Allaah, The Most Merciful, The Bestower of Mercy
Imaam Ibnul Jawzi [may Allaah have mercy upon him] stated: As Allaah conferred sound intellect to humankind, He appointed their father Adam as a Prophet. He used to teach them Allaah’s revelation and they were upon guidance until Qaabeel followed his evil desire by killing his brother; then desires of the people diverged and thus shifted them into the wilderness of misguidance until they worshipped idols, differed in their beliefs and deeds, opposed the Messengers and their own sound intellects, followed their evil desires, inclined towards their bad habits, blindly followed their elders and thus what Iblees thought about them became true, and they followed him except a group amongst the believers.
Know that the Prophets came with enough clarification, tackled the diseases with a sufficient remedy, agreed upon a methodology and did not differ; but the devil came along and mixed the clarification with affairs that resemble the truth but are falsehood in reality; mixed the remedy with poison and the clear path with misguided divergent paths. He has not ceased playing with the intellects until he divided ignorance into various absurd paths and repugnant innovations, so the people began to worship idols in the sacred house, made it unlawful for a Saa’ibah [a she-camel let loose for free pasture for their false gods] to carry anything, and that the milk of the Baheerah [a she-camel whose milk was spared for the idols] was not allowed for anyone to drink, as well as the Waseelah [a she-camel set free for idols because it has given birth to a she-camel at its first delivery and then again gives birth to a she-camel at its second delivery] or a Haam [a stallion-camel freed from work for their idols, after it had finished a number of copulations assigned for it]. They buried daughters alive, prevented them from inheritance and [committed] other misguided affairs which Iblees beguiled them into. Then Allaah sent Muhammad [sallal laahu alayhi wasallam], so he removed all repugnant things and legislated affairs of welfare and wellbeing. His companions traversed upon his guidance with him and after his departure from this world- safe from the enemy Iblees and his deception.
When the presence of their guidance departed, the mists of darkness approached and thus evil desires returned to establish innovations in religion and diverted the path from sound Eemaan, which had always been established on sound Eemaan, and thus many split up their religion [i.e. who left the true path] and became sects [i.e. they invented new things in the religion], so Iblees rose and confounded people, beautified [misguidance], cause splits and gathered [his allies]; but he was only capable of doing so by creeping into the night [or darkness] of ignorance, because he would have been exposed if the dawn of sound knowledge rose upon him. Therefore, I determined to warn against his plots and show his traps, for indeed knowing evil is a warning against falling into it. In the Saheehayn [Bukhaari and Muslim] Hudhaifah [radiyallaahu] said: “The people used to ask Allaah’s Messenger [sallal laahu alayhi wasallam] about the good times, but I used to ask him about the bad times fearing lest they overtake me”. https://salaficentre.com/2019/08/27/admonition-from-thehadeeth-of-hudhaifah-people-used-to-ask-the-messenger-of-allaah-aboutthe-good-times-but-i-used-to-ask-him-about-bad/
Ikrimah [may Allaah be pleased with him] said that Ibn Abbaas [may Allaah be pleased with him and his father] said: “By Allaah I don’t think there is anyone on the face of the earth at present whom shaytaan wishes for his death more than me; so it was said, ‘Why?’ He said, ‘By Allaah he initiates an innovation in the religion in the east or the west, so a man informs me of it and when it reaches me, I repel it with the Sunnah; so the innovation returns to him just as he initiated it’”.
Indeed, I write this book to warn against his affliction and make the people fear his trial, unveil his hidden plots and make his affair manifest while he is disguised in his deception. And Allaah gives support by way of His Generosity to everyone who is truthful in his goal. I divided it [i.e. this book] into thirteen chapters to expose Iblee’s deception and so that the smart one understands his deception by way of it.
Ibn Umar narrated that Umar Ibn Al-Khattaab [may Allaah be pleased with him] gave a speech in the city of Jaabiyah and said, “Once Allaah’s Messenger [peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him] stood amongst us and said: ‘Whoever amongst you wishes for the best of Paradise, then let him adhere to Jamaa’ah, for indeed shaytaan is with a person who is on his own and he is more distant from two people’”. [Reported by Imaam AtTirmidhee 2165. Declared Saheeh by Imaam Albaanee in Saheeh al-Jaami 2546]
Jaabir Bin Samrah [may Allaah be pleased with him] said, “Umar addressed the people at Jaabiyah and said, ‘Indeed, Allaah’s Messenger [sallal laahu alayhi wasallam] stood in the manner I am standing and then said, ‘Whoever wants to attain the best of paradise, then let him adhere to the Jamaa’ah, for indeed shaytaan is with one who is alone and he is more distant from two people’”. [Imaam At-Tirmidhee said, “This hadeeth is Hasan Saheeh]
Umar Ibnul Khattaab said, “Allaah’s Messenger said, ‘Whoever wants the best of paradise, then let him adhere to the Jamaa’ah, for indeed shaytaan is with one who is alone and more distant from two people’”.
Abdullaah Bin Deenaar [may Allaah have mercy upon him] reported from Umar [radiyallaahu-anhu] who said, “Allaah’s Messenger [sallal laahu alayhi wasallam] said, ‘Whoever is pleased that he should dwell in the best of paradise, then let him adhere to the Jamaa’ah, for indeed shaytaan is with one who is alone and more distant from two people’”. [Silsilah AsSaheehah 430]
Arfajah [may Allaah be pleased with him] said, “I heard Allaah’s Messenger [sallal laahu alayhi wasallam] say, ‘Allaah’s Hand is with the Jamaa’ah and shaytaan is with the one who opposes the Jamaa’ah’”. [Reported by Imaam An-Nasaa’ee 4020. Declared Saheeh by Imaam Albaanee in Saheeh Al-Jaami 3621]
Usaamah Bin Shareek [may Allaah be pleased with him] said, “I heard Allaah’s Messenger [sallal laahu alayhi wasallam] say, ‘Allaah’s Hand is with the Jamaa’ah, and if a person isolates them, then shaytaan seizes him just as a wolf seizes a sheep from a flock”. [Reported by Al-Laalikaa’ee in I’tiqaad Ahlis Sunnah 1/99. See Majmah Az-Zawaa’id 5/218]
Abdullaah [Ibn Mas’ood (radiyallaahu-anhu)] said, “Allaah’s Messenger [sallal laahu alayhi wasallam] drew a line with his hand, then said, ‘This is Allah’s Straight Path’; then he drew lines to its right and left and said, ‘These are the [other] paths, and there is not a path from them, except that there is a shaytaan calling to it’. Then he recited: ” And this is my straight path, so follow it, and do not follow the (other) paths. [Surah Al-An’aam. Aayah 53] [Reported by Imaam Ahmad 4423. Declared Saheeh by Imaam Albaanee in at-Tawassul. Page 125]
Ibn Umar [radiyallaahu-anhumaa] said, “Allaah’s Messenger [sallal laahu alayhi wasallam] said: ‘That which happened to Bani Israa’eel will happen to my Ummah foot step by foot step, to the extent that if one of them engaged in sexual intercourse with his mother openly, there will be one from my Ummah who will do that. And indeed, Bani Israa’eel split into seventy-two sects and my Ummah will split into seventy-three sects, all of which will be in the Hellfire, except one’; so they said, ‘O Messenger of Allaah! Which one is it?’ He said, ‘The one upon that which I and my Companions are upon’”. [Reported by Imaam At-Tirmidhee 2641 and declared ‘Hasan’ by Imaam Albaanee in Saheeh Al-Jaami 5343]
Mu’awiyah Ibn Abee Sufyaan [radiyallaahu-anhumaa] stood and said, “Indeed, Allaah’s Messenger [sallal laahu alayhi wasallam] stood amongst us and said, ‘Indeed, the people of the Scripture before you split into seventy-two sects and indeed this Ummah will split into seventy-three sects; seventy two are in the Hellfire and one in paradise, and it is the Jamaa’ah. And indeed there will appear a people from my Ummah in whom desires will run through them just as rabbis runs through the one afflicted by it”. [Reported by Imaam Abu Daawud 4597. Declared Saheeh by Imaam Albaanee in Saheeh Al-Jaami 2641] Read here: https://salaficentre.com/2022/06/09/the-jews-divided-into-seventy-one-sects-the-christians-divided-into-seventy-two-sects/
Aa’ishah [radiyallaahu-anhaa] said, “Allaah’s Messenger [sallal laahu alayhi wasallam] said, ‘Whoever innovates in this affair of ours (Islam) that which is not from it, will have it be rejected’”. [Reported by Al-Bukhaari 2697]
Aa’isha [radiyallaahu-amhaa] said that the Prophet [sallal laahu alayhi wasallam] said, “Whoever performs an affair [i.e. act of worship] that is not according to our way [i.e. the authentic Sunnah], it will be rejected”. [Bukhaari]
Abdullah Bin Amr [radiyallaahu-anhu] said that the Prophet [sallal laahu alayhi wasallam] said: “Whoever turns away from my Sunnah is not from me”. [Reported by al-Bukhaari 5063] Irbaab Bin Saariyah [radiyallaahu-anhu] said: “One day Allaah’s Messenger [sallal laahu alayhi wasallam] led us in the morning prayer, then he turned his face towards us and gave us a powerful admonition which brought tears to the eyes and made the hearts fearful. So, someone said, ‘O Messenger of Allaah! It is as if it is a farewell admonition, so what do you enjoin on us?’ He said, ‘I enjoin on you to fear Allah, and to hear and obey even if it be an Abyssinian slave [is your leader], for indeed whoever lives after me will see a lot of differing, therefore it is obligated on you to adhere to my Sunnah and the Sunnah of the rightly-guided Caliphs after me. Hold onto it and adhere to it with your molar teeth, and beware of the newly invented matters in the [religion], for indeed every newly invented matter [in the religion] is an innovation [in religion], and every innovation [in religion] is misguidance. [Reported by Imaam Abu Daawud Number 4607 and declared authentic by Imaam Albaanee is Saheeh al-Jaami Number 2549]
Ibn Mas’ood [radiyallaahu-anhu] said, “Allaah’s Messenger [sallal laahu alayhi wasallam] said, ‘I will be the first among you to reach the Hawd [i.e. the pond from which the believers will drink on the day of Judgement] and some men will be prevented from reaching it; so I will say: ‘O my Lord! They are my followers’; then it will be said, ‘You do not know what they innovated [in the religion] after you’”. [Reported by Imaam al-Bukhaari 6576]
If someone says: “You have praised the Sunnah and rebuked innovation in religious affairs, so what is Sunnah and what is innovation in religion? That is because indeed we see every innovator in religious affairs claiming that he is from Ahlus Sunnah”.
The response: Sunnah in the Arabic language means ‘At-Tareeq – The path’, and there is no doubt that those who are well versed in transmission and are people of authentic narrations – those who follow the authentic narrations of the Prophet [sallal laahu alayhi wasallam] and the narrations of his companions- are ‘Ahlus Sunnah – The People of Sunnah’, because indeed they adhere to the path in which no newly invented matter in the religion has been innovated; rather newly invented matters and innovations in religious affairs occurred after the death of Allaah’s Messenger [sallal laahu alayhi wasallam] and his companions.
Abdullaah Bin Abee Salamah said that Sa’d Bin Maalik [radiyallaahuanhu] heard a man saying: Labbayka Dhal Ma’aarij – Here I am answering your call O Lord of the ways of ascent]; so Sa’d said, “We did not used to say this during the era of Allaah’s Messenger [sallal laahu alayhiwasallam]”.
A man informed Abdullaah Bin Mas’ood [radiyallaahu-anhu] that a group of people were gathered in the Masjid after Maghrib, and a man amongst them says, “Say ‘Allaahu Akbar’ such and such many times; say ‘Subhaanallaah’ such and such many times; and say ‘Alhamdulil laah’ such and such many times”. Abdullaah [radiyallaahu-anhu] said, “If you see them doing that, come to me and let me know about their gathering”. So, he [i.e. the man] came to them and sat, and when he heard what they were saying, he got up and called Ibn Mas’ood and he came, and he was a tough man; so he said, “I am Abdullaah Ibn Mas’ood; by the One besides whom no other deity has the right to be worshipped except He, you have brought an innovation in religion based on wrong doing, and [maybe] you think that you have been given excellence in knowledge over the companions of Muhammad [sallal laahu alayhi wasallam]”. Then Amr Bin Utbah said, “Astaghfirullaah – I seek Allaah’s forgiveness”; so he [Ibn Mas’ood] said: “The path of the Sunnah is obligated on you, so hold on to it; but if you go right or left, you will go far astray”.
It is obligated on a sane person to be cautious of this enemy whose enmity has been evident since the time of Aadam [alayhis salaam], and indeed he has given all his life and self in corrupting the affairs of the children of Aadam. Indeed, Allaah [The Exalted] commanded that one is cautious of him, saying: “And follow not the footsteps of Shaitan (Satan). Verily, he is to you an open enemy. [Shaitan (Satan)] commands you only what is evil and Fahsha (sinful), and that you should say against Allah what you know not”. [Surah Al-Baqarah. Aayaat 168-169]
“Shaitan (Satan) threatens you with poverty and orders you to commit Fahsha (evil deeds, illegal sexual intercourse, sins etc.)” [Surah AlBaqarah. Aayah 268] “But Shaitan (Satan) wishes to lead them far astray”. [Surah An-Nisaa. Aayah 60] “Shaitan (Satan) wants only to excite enmity and hatred between you with intoxicants (alcoholic drinks) and gambling, and hinder you from the remembrance of Allah and from As-Salat (the prayer). So, will you not then abstain?” [Surah Al-Maa’idah. Aayah 91] “Verily, he is a plain misleading enemy. [Surah Al-Qasas. Aayah 15] “Surely, Shaitan (Satan) is an enemy to you, so take (treat) him as an enemy. He only invites his Hizb (followers) that they may become the dwellers of the blazing Fire. [Surah Al-Faatir. Aayah 6] “Nor let the chief deceiver (Satan) deceive you about Allah. [Surah Luqmaan”. Aayah 33] “Did I not ordain for you, O Children of Adam, that you should not worship Shaitan (Satan). Verily, he is a plain enemy to you. [Surah Yaa Seen. Aayah 60]
It is obligatory to know that indeed Iblee’s preoccupation is to deceive, even though he was the first to fall into self-deception, so he turned away from a clear divine text that commanded him to perform Sujood and then spoke about who was better in origin. “I am better than him (Adam), You created me from fire, and him You created from clay]. [Surah Al-A’raaf. Aayah 12]
Then he depended upon that to raise an objection against The King, The All-Wise. “See? This one whom You have honoured above me- meaning: Inform me why You honoured him above me?] The jeopardy of Iblees’s objection was: “What You [Allaah] have done is not wisdom”, then he accompanied that with pride. “I am better than him (Aadam)], and then he refused to perform Sujood and thus he disgraced himself with curse and punishment, even though he wanted to exalt himself.
When shaytaan suggests something to the human being, it is obligated on him to be very cautious and should say to the shaytaan when he command him to commit evil, “You want by way of this command an advice for me to fulfill my evil desires, and how can the advice of one be correct when he does not advise himself, so how can one trust the advice of an enemy. Go away, for there is nothing to carry out in your speech”. Then nothing remains, except that he [Shaytaan] seek help from the person’s soul because the soul is urged towards its desires, so one should summon sound intellect to ponder upon the outcomes of sins and hopefully Allaah will bless him with the knowledge and ability through which the hosts of firm resolve are sent to overcome the soldiers of desires and the evil urges of the soul.
Iyaad Bin Himaar [radiyallaahu-anhu] said that Allaah’s Messenger [sallal laahu alayhi wasallam] said: “O people! Allaah [The Exalted] commanded me to teach you that which you do not know of that which He has taught me on this day. [Allaah said], “Every wealth which I have bestowed on My servant is lawful for him. I created all My servants as those having a natural inclination to the worship me alone, but the devils come to them and divert them away from their right religion, made unlawful for them that which I have made lawful for them and commanded them to associate with Me that which I have sent down no authority; and indeed, Allaah [The Exalted] looked at the people of the earth and hated them – Arabs and the non-Arabs, except some remnants from the People of the Scripture”. [Saheeh Muslim 2865] (See footnote a)
Jaabir Bin Abdillaah[radiyallaahu-anhu] said: “Iblees places his throne upon water, then he sends detachments [to cause corruption]; the closest to him in rank are those who cause greater trial. One of them comes and says, ‘I did such and such”, so he says, ‘You have not done anything’. Then one amongst them comes and says, ‘I did not leave such and such person until I separated him from his wife’. He [Iblees] draws close to him and says, ‘You have done well’”. [Saheeh Muslim 2813] (see footnote b)
Jaabir [radiyallaahu-anhu] said, “I heard the Prophet [sallal laahu alayhi wa sallam] said, ‘Indeed shaytaan has given up on being worshipped by the performers of the prayer in the Arabian peninsula, but he entice conflict between them’”. [Saheeh Muslim 2812] (See footnote c)
Urwah Ibn Az-Zubayr [rahimahullaah] stated that Aa’isha [radiyallaahuanhu] narrated to him, “Once Allaah’s Messenger [sallal laahu alayhi wasallam] left my (apartment) during the night and I felt jealous. Then he [sallal laahu alayhi wasallam] came and saw [in what agitated state of mind] I was, so he [sallal laahu alayhi wasallam] said, ‘Aa’ishah, what has happened to you? Do you feel jealous?’ I said, ‘How can a woman like me not feel jealous in regard to a husband like you?’ Allaah’s Messenger [sallal laahu alayhi wasallam] said, ‘Has your devil overtaken you?’ I replied, ‘O Allaah’s Messenger! Is there a devil with me ?’ He said, ‘Yes’. I said, ‘Is a devil attached to everyone?’ He said, ‘Yes’. I asked, ‘O Allaah’s Messenger!
Is one with you?’ He said, ‘Yes, but my Lord [The Mighty and Majestic] has helped me against him until he submitted’”. [Saheeh Muslim 2815]
Ibn Mas’ood [radiyallaahu-anhu] said, “Allaah’s Messenger [sallal laahu alayhi wasallam] said, ‘Each human has been assigned one jinn and one angel associated with him. They asked him [sallal laahu alayhi wasallam], ‘Is this the same for you O Allaah’s Messenger?’ He replied, ‘It is the same for me, but Allah has helped me against my jinn, he became Muslim and does not tell me to do anything but good’”. [Saaheeh Muslim 2814] (See footnote d)
[Excerpt from Talbees Iblees with the checking of Al-Allamah Zayd Bin Haadee (rahimahullaah). Pages 7-43]
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Footnote a: Imaam an-Nawawi said regarding the statement: “And indeed, Allaah [The Exalted] looked at the people of the earth and hated them – Arabs and the non-Arabs, except some remnants from the People of the Scripture”: Allaah had severe hatred for them and that was before the advent of the Messenger [sallal laahu-alayhi wasallam], except those who adhered to their true religion and did not substitute [alter or change it]. [Sharh Saheeh Muslim 17/162-163. Daar Al-Kutub Al-Ilmiyyah 1st edition 1421AH (2000)]
Footnote b: Imaam Ibnul Qayyim said: “And because of the fact that this bond [between husband and wife] is from the most beloved affairs to Allaah and His Messenger, it is from the most hated affairs to the enemy of Allaah [i.e. shaytaan]”. Therefore he hastens to split two people who love another for the sake of Allaah. [Rawdatul Muhibbeen Wa Nuzhatul Mush-taaqeen. Page:188]
Footnote c: Imaam An-Nawawi said: “This hadeeth is one of the miracles of Prophethood and the meaning of ‘Jazeeratul Arab – Arabian Peninsula’ has already preceded. Shaytaan has given up hope on being worshipped by the people of the Arabian Peninsula, but he strives to cause conflict between them by way of argumentation, hostility, wars, trials and what is similar”. [Sharh Saheeh Muslim 17/129. Daar Al-Kutub Al-Ilmiyyah 1st edition 1421AH (2000)]
Foonote d: The devil became a Muslim and a believer. Qaadhee Iyaad [rahumahullaah] said, “Know that the Ummah hold a consensus that the Prophet [sallal laahu alayhi wasallam] is protected from shaytaan in his physical self, his thoughts and on his tongue. This hadeeth shows the trial of the Qareen [i.e. a devil that follows each human being], his whispers and deviation, and he [sallal laahu alayhi wasallam] taught us that this devil is with us, so that we guard ourselves against him as much as we can”. [Sharh Saheeh Muslim 17/130. Daar Al-Kutub Al-Ilmiyyah 1st edition 1421AH (2000)]
Remembrance of Allaah: “And hold fast to Allah; He is your Maula (Patron, Lord, etc.), what an Excellent Maula (Patron, Lord, etc.) and what an Excellent Helper!” [Surah Al-Hajj. Aayah 78]
When you hold fast to Allaah, He will protect you. Allaah will help you against [the evil urges] of your souls and shaytaan – the two enemies that never isolate themselves from a person. Their enmity is more harmful than an apparent enemy. Therefore, being given help against them is the most important thing and a person’s need of it is more than [his need for other things]. And the completeness of this help is [given] based on the level of one’s attachment to Allaah. [Jalaa Al-Af’haam. Page 154]