And, on the other side, whenever man decides to control...

And, on the other side, whenever man decides to control himself, by the remembrance of Hereafter and the Great Court of Allah, against the charm and intense attraction of the world, Satan makes him proud of the vastness of the Divine Mercy and, consequently, he invites him to sin and disobedience. But man may be neglectful that in the same manner that Allah is ‘the Most Merciful of all merciful’ in the rank of mercy, in the rank of punishment and retribution, He is severe in retribution, too.

His Mercy never encourages any one to committing sin, as His Wrath cannot be the cause of despair. The Qur’a-nic word /qaru-r/ here means a being which is extraordinarily deceitful, and the objective meaning of it here may be any deceitful factor, and its purpose may be particularly Satan. Of course, the second meaning is more fitting with the next verse specially that, in the verses of the Qur’a-n, ‘deceit and pride’ has repeatedly been attributed to Satan.

He only invites his adherents that they may become companions of the Blazing Fire.” “Those who disbelieve, for them shall be a severe chastisement, and as for those who believe and do righteous deeds, for them shall be forgiveness and a great recompense.” Commentary: The record of enmity of Satan with humankind is ancient.

Imam S?a-diq (a.s.) said: “If Satan is an enemy, then why do you neglect him?”[^1] This verse is a warning to all believers in relation to the temptations of Satan which were referred to in the previous verse. It says: “Verily Satan is your enemy, so you (too) take him (as your) enemy. …” His enmity began from the first day of the creation of Adam.

When Satan was rejected from the presence of Allah as the result of the lack of submission to the command of Allah [^1] Tafsi-r-Nu-r-uth-Thaqalayn, following the verse concerning prostration to Adam, he took an oath that he would be an enemy to Adam and his children for ever, and he even asked Allah a respite and length of lifetime for this action. Satan persists on his saying and he avail himself of the slightest opportunity for enmity upon man.