Satan never runs out of luring options: inviting sins, triggering doubts, magnifying fears, defiling belief, and exaggerating the burden of worship in a way that turns you, at some point, repulsive.  If he doesn’t get you fall into one of his traps he tries another… Satan never runs out of luring options: inviting sins, triggering doubts, magnifying fears, defiling belief, and exaggerating the burden of worship in a way that turns you, at some point, repulsive- The list just goes endless. If he doesn’t get you fall into one of his traps he tries another, and simply never gets bored. He starts with the biggest goals of his aspirations, going down in the list, ending with the smallest slipups and then starts all over again, continually. If he fails to get you reject the belief in the oneness of Allah (SWT), it lures you into major sins: such as adultery, mistreatment of parents, killings, etc… If you proved to be not that good in sinning. There’d still be more creative options, all tailored to suit your weaknesses or even points of strength. If you’re an intellect, he’d interrupt your peaceful contemplation over the mighty powers of God and the unfathomable creation of His, with this question about “what’s beyond?!”, or “who has created God?!”. If you engaged in secret Zikr scaring away his “intellectual” whispers, then you’re saved. And don’t you ever be shocked to know that even if you’re a person of exceptional piety you’re not ultimately immune against his whispers. He keeps on whispering into your psyche, telling you to do even more acts of worship, give more in charity, give up fighting for your rights, under the illusion that you’re doing that for the sake of God, till you turn repulsive, and refrain from all acts of worship and piety, even the obligatory ones, feeling that you’re in a struggle that’s not worth it, and that the kind of submission to the Lord required is not suitable for the normal capacity of normal people, which is of course far from true. There’s still a lot more traps and tricks in his capacity, such as stirring doubts over the noble attributes of God, such as the Merciful, turning your skeptic over whether you will be among those who receive His mercy or you’d be singled out. Also exaggerating fear of God, while reminding you, exaggeratingly, of how immense and sever are your sins and how evil you are- leaving incredibly depressed, which is a sin in itself, with no hope for salvation. This way he gives you no room for loving Allah, and definitely no chance to feel the pleasure of worshipping Him, being so overwhelmed with the fear that you’re inevitably destined to Hell—this bogus Satan also masterfully plays when desperate, and he seldom runs out of tricks. So keep your heart awake and your mind alert, and seek refuge from his unending loop through a lot of Dhkir (in all its forms), supplications and prayers, till you get continually and sub-consciously engaged in remembrances of your Lord- that’s your only way for salvation from the satanic whispers and infinite loop. “And remember Allah by your tongue and within yourself, humbly and with fear, without loudness in words, in the mornings and in the afternoons, and do not be of those who are neglectful.”—Quran 7:205 And while doing your homework of Dhikr, you may also get yourself involved in any activity or action that distracts your attention, even briefly, from the negative whispers of Satan. Just know and rest assured that a person who nourished his heart and mind with regular rememberance of Allah, his heart and mind are more protected against Satanic whispers, let alone well-maintained and pure, which reflects direcly on the well-being of the spirtual and psychological state… “Verily in the remembrance of God do hearts find rest.” — Quran 13:28 Wassalaam Maha Youssuf maha@muslimtribune.com