Al-Mujaadila (The Pleading Woman)

19. Satan has overpowered them. Thus, he has made them forget the remembrance of Allah. They are the party of Satan. Indeed, it is the party of Satan that will be the losers!

The more we neglect remembering God Almighty, the closer we will be to the party of Satan. Real loss lies in following Satan.

The antecedent of the pronoun

“them” (‘alayhim)

are hypocrites overpowered by Satan such that they forget God Almighty and follow devils and concupiscent desires.

It is incumbent upon believers to be aware that the hosts of Satan have incurred loss, namely they have wasted their precious lives.

Satan works such that he absorbs men by steps, as it is reflected in 24:21:

“Follow not the footsteps of Satan.”

It is mentioned elsewhere in the Holy Qur’an¹ that:

“Satan threw [some falsehood].”

At times, men follow Satan and he totally overpowers them. The blessed Verse is saying that the more we neglect remembering God Almighty, the closer we will be to the party of Satan. In this vein, two traditions have been narrated.

It is narrated from the Commander of the Faithful, Imam ‘Ali (as):

“Distinction between truth and falsehood does not entail evil consequence but confusion of the twain leads to seditions and Satan's conquest.”2

Imam Husayn (as) is reported as saying unto Yazid's hosts at Karbala’:

“Satan has overpowered you and made you forget remembrance of God Almighty…”3