O humankind! Indeed Allah’s promise, of resurrection is true. So do not let the Deceiver, Satan, deceive you from believing. Satan is your enemy, so treat him as an enemy. Satan only summons followers so that they may be among the inhabitants of the fierce Fire.
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The first four verses of Surah 35 emphasized three major facts of the Islamic faith:
- The oneness of Allah, the Almighty Creator
- The graces that Allah alone bestows
- Allah is the only One who provides sustenance for all His creation.
The verses 35:5-7 address 1) The Prophet Muhammad and 2) Mankind as follow:
1) The Prophet Muhammad, heartening him because his people’s rejection of his message and their false accusations of his lying caused him much pain. It stresses that all matters are in Allah’s hand.
2) Mankind confirming that Allah’s promise is a true promise and warning man against Satan’s schemes, which aim to divert man from recognizing the major truths already outlined.
The Creeping around Enemy
What Satan, our affirmed enemy, wants is to lead Mankind to hell’s torment?
Both belief and rejection are in Allah’s hand, and He knows all that people do.
Then the verses show us the types of requital that await the believers and unbelievers in the life to come.
The aim of the first address is at the Prophet Muhammad:
“If they accuse you of lying, other messengers, who had gone before you, were similarly accused. It is to Allah that all things return.” (Verse 4)
With all these truths easily and clearly recognizable, you need not worry that they accuse you of lying.
The same thing happened to earlier messengers.
If the Atheists deny you, O Muhammad with regard to your message of Allah’s Oneness, resurrection, reckoning and punishment, verily, the Atheists denied other messengers before you in this respect, so be steadfast as they were steadfast
All matters finally return to Allah who determines every end the way He pleases.
The aim of the second address is at Mankind, in general, to all people and to everyone:
People! Allah’s promise is true indeed. So do not let the life of the present world delude you, and do not let deceptive thoughts about Allah delude you. Satan is your enemy, so treat him as an enemy. He only calls on his followers so that they will be among those destined for the blazing fire. (Verses 5-6)
Allah’s promise is true:
- There is no doubt that it will come;
- It is a reality that will not fail;
- It is the absolute truth.
- Nothing can cause it to disappear, lose its way or change.
Nevertheless, this present life can delude people, as can Satan. Therefore, do not let anything deceive you:
“Do not let the life of the present world delude you, and do not let deceptive thoughts about Allah delude you.” (Verse 5)
O humankind! Indeed Allah’s promise, of resurrection and of other issues, is true. So do not let the life of this world deceive you, from believing, and do not let the Deceiver, Satan, deceive you concerning Allah
Satan has declared his hostility and enmity to you and that he will never be anything but an enemy to you.
Satan only summons his faction, his followers in disbelief, so that they may be among the inhabitants of the Blaze, the fierce Fire.
Therefore, “treat him as an enemy.” (Verse 6)
- Do not befriend him,
- Do not listen to his advice,
- Do not follow his footsteps,
For no wise person would follow his enemy’s footsteps.
Moreover, you should realize that Satan:
- Does not call you to anything good,
- Nor does he want you to be safe:
“He only calls on his followers so that they will be among those destined for the blazing fire.” (Verse 6)
Can anyone with reason and clear thinking answer a call that would put him in the fire?
This is a sincere, heartfelt address.
When man remembers the eternal challenge,
- He has to fight against his avowed enemy, Satan,
- He will muster all his strength, defending himself and ensuring his own safety.
- He will do his utmost not to fall to any temptation, keep himself on guard, and evaluate every thought by the scales Allah has given him.
- He is alert to the fact that any seemingly innocent thought may involve clever deception by his essential enemy.
This is the Islamic teachings.
Man needs to be on the alert to reject any temptation Satan presents. This entails the mobilization of all one’s responses against evil, both its inner appeal and surface attraction.
Thus, one is always on red alert, prepared to engage in this challenge, which rages persistently throughout this present life.
Such “take care of Satan” demanded from believers is followed by an outline of the fate of those who responded to Satan’s call.
To underpin the contrast, the verse restated the situation of the believers who reject Satan and drive him away:
“For the unbelievers there is severe suffering in store; while for those who believe and do righteous deeds there is forgiveness of sins and a great reward.” (Verse 7)
Those who disbelieve, theirs will be a severe chastisement; but those who believe and perform righteous deeds, theirs will be forgiveness and a great reward — this is a declaration of what [fate] will be for the adherents of Satan and what will be for his opponents [respectively].
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The verses 35:5-7 in different translations:
QARIB:
4-If they belie you; other messengers have been belied before you. to Allah all matters are returned.
5-People, the promise of Allah is true, so do not let this present life delude you, and do not let the deluder (Satan) delude you about Allah.
6-Satan is indeed your enemy; therefore take him for an enemy. he calls his party so that they will become the companions of the blaze.
7-For the unbelievers awaits a terrible punishment, but for those who believe and do good deeds is forgiveness and a great recompense.
SHAKIR:
4-And if they call you a liar, truly messengers before you were called liars, and to Allah are all affairs returned
5-O men! Surely, the promise of Allah is true, therefore let not the life of this world deceive you, and let not the arch-deceiver deceive you respecting Allah
6-Surely, the Shaitan is your enemy, so take him for an enemy; he only invites his party that they may be inmates of the burning
7- (As for) those who disbelieve, they shall have a severe punishment, and (as for) those who believe and do good, they shall have forgiveness and a great reward
PICKTHAL:
4-And if they deny thee, (O Muhammad), messengers (of Allah) were denied before thee. Unto Allah, all things are brought back.
5-O mankind! Lo! the promise of Allah is true. So let not the life of the world beguile you, and let not the (avowed) beguiler beguile you with regard to Allah.
6-Lo! The devil is an enemy for you, so treat him as an enemy. He only summoneth his faction to be owners of the flaming fire.
7-Those who disbelieve, theirs will be an awful doom; and those who believe and do good works, theirs will be forgiveness and a great reward.
YUSUFALI:
4-And if they reject thee, so were messengers rejected before thee: to Allah back for decision all affairs.
5-O men! Certainly, the promise of Allah is true. Let not then this present life deceive you, nor let the chief deceiver deceive you about Allah.
6-Verily, Satan is an enemy to you: so treat him as an enemy. he only invites his adherents, that they may become companions of the blazing fire.
7-For those who reject Allah, is a terrible penalty: but for those who believe and work righteous deeds, is forgiveness, and a magnificent reward.
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