'The Ways by which Satan Enters the Heart'

Hello everyone. Finally, my heart is opened to write about what I’ve learnt from my reading of Imam Al-Ghazali‘s Wonders of the Heart, a translated version of his 21st book of Ihya’ Ulumuddin. I wish that today’s post will act as a reminder to me, a person who feels obligated to share what she knows, especially when it comes to the process of understanding our beloved God, Allah SWT. However, for this post, I’ll try to use as many quotes as possible in order to avoid the pollution of thoughts. (I’m very new in this area of knowledge, thus I’ll give my opinions when I’m ready to do so.)

 

The twelfth chapter of this translated book is titled ‘The Ways by which Satan Enters the Heart’. According to Imam Al-Ghazali, there are many doors of heart that Satan can enter:

 

THE MEDIUMS ARE THROUGH

 

1. a satiety of food for overeating which can lead to 6 blameworthy qualities: 

” First, it drives the fear of Allah from his heart. Second, it drives from his heart compassion toward mankind, for he supposes that they are all satiated. Third, it makes obedience a burden. Fourth, if he hears wise speech he finds nothing elegant in it. Fifth, if he speaks in admonition and wisdom it makes no impression on the hearts of men. Sixth, it stirs up disease within him.”

 

2. “the love of adornment in furnishings, apparel, and house. “

I’m very sure that everyone could comprehend what the sentence means. In the Malaysian context, people tend to overspend their money on new furniture, clothing, and even, to renovate the house especially when Hari Raya is just around the corner. When what we ought to do is to control our nafs, we do it only partially, which is to control our food intake during the fasting hours. This is definitely a wrong concept, and I happened to be practising this bad habit too. So, everyone, let’s change for the better

 

3. “covetous desire towards men” 

as men strategise to attract love and affection, even to the degree where “he praises him for what he doesn’t possess.”

 

4. “haste, and giving up steadfastness in affairs.”

Quoting again from the book, “Clear understanding requires reflection (Ta’ammul) and leisurely action (tamahhul), but HASTE prevents this.”

 

5. money and possessions. 

“before he found the hundred he had been self-sufficient, and now when he has found the hundred … But he has come to be in need of nine hundred…”

 

6. Stinginess and fear of poverty

“This is what prevents him from spending and giving alms, and summons to storing up goods, to laying up treasures, and to that painful punishment which is promised to those who vie with one another in possessions, even as the Qur’an says.”

 

7. Sectarian and partisan prejudices

In Malay, it is said as ‘Ketaksuban’, and in this context, ‘ketaksuban’ is directed to the preacher. Instead of being pious towards God, the followers are being pious towards the preacher. It is often done subtly, such as being exemplified in the book

“Satan also makes them imagine that if anyone dies a devotee of Abu Bakr and Umar the fire will not come near to him.”

 

8. Thinking evil of Muslims

“Allah has said, ‘O ye believe, shun much suspicion, for verily suspicion in some cases is sin.’” (Qur’an, 49: 12)

 

The end of today’s post. Please get the book for it is too valuable not to own one.

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