Fussilat (Explained in detail)

36. And if an evil whisper from Satan tries to turn you away [from doing good in return for the evil deeds committed by others], then seek refuge in Allah. Indeed, He is the All-Hearer, the Omniscient.

The Arabic word nazgh is used in the sense of incitement to evil and Satan’s temptation and provocation. Incitement of vengeance is a satanic stratagem but doing good in return for the evil deeds committed by others is a Divine Injunction.

Satan often holds man in check when his irascible faculty is incited through some unfavorable state as a consequence of which he gets into a rage and many a time loses control of himself and may commit a sin.

Thus, God Almighty addresses the Noble Prophet (S) in the blessed Verse in question and says unto him that whenever Satan desires to incite some temptation in your heart and provoke you to do something, seek refuge in Allah, since He is All-Hearing to hear your invocation and is Omniscient and nothing is concealed from Him.

The blessed Verse in addressed to the Noble Prophet (S), but it actually addresses the Muslim community, since Satan may not hold Prophets in check, let alone the Seal of the Prophets (S). Numerous Qur’anic Verses bear testimony to the point in question.

Mention is herein made of two traditions. According to a Prophetic tradition, someone slandered at someone else.

The latter got into a rage, but the Noble Prophet (S) said:

“I know a word that if the wrathful utter it, their wrath subsides: ‘I seek refuge in Allah from the accursed Satan.’”

The tradition is a reference to the fact that the tempest of wrath is one of the satanic temptations, in the same manner that the tempests of lusts and passions are among satanic temptations.¹

It is mentioned in the book titled Khisal that the Commander of the Faithful, Imam ‘Ali (as) taught his companions four hundred aphorisms regarding the issues which are to the benefit of Muslims in this world and the Hereafter, an instance of which is:

“Whenever one of you is tempted by Satan, he should seek refuge in God Almighty and say ‘I believe in Allah and purify my faith for him.’”2