The Holy Quran says...

The Holy Quran says, “Satan sees you and you do not see him”, as mentioned earlier. Then how is he deceived and indulges in sins while he has already known the enemy and also his trap? The reply is that the Satan’s traps are commensurate with desires of the heart. The cause is that Satan has ability to put a cap of his choice on a man’s head if man likes it. Whatever the Messenger of God asks for is against the selfish desires.

You see that, for getting a cinema ticket, you line up in hot sun and stand there for long so that you may pass some time as desired by your heart. But, at the time of prayer, the caller from the minaret of the mosque cries: Hasten towards prayer. Masjid is the house of God, so come towards God. But that place (cinema house) is according to the inclination of heart (one runs to it) despite knowing that it is the abode of Satan.

One knows that it will surely end in harm; that there is destruction in it and it is likely that one may have to suffer a lifelong disappointment and weakness thereafter. His eye falls on a woman or a girl. Various kinds of problems and corruptions arise from such senseless entertainments and from gambling and drinking. On the other hand, there is a program of Majlis, supplications and remembrance of God, which is full of true friendship and amity.

They know this and yet follow the heart’s passions and despite certainty of destruction. One prefers death to thirst It is said that when the Umayyad caliph, Abdul Malik captured Kufa he fell in a big calamity. He developed the terrible illness of ‘extreme thirst’. It seemed as if there was fire inside him. The more water he drank, the thirstier he became. The doctor said, “You should not take any water for 24 hours.

The problem is serious because if you drink more water, you will die.” The caliph was also very afraid. He decided not to take any water for the next 24 hours. But how long could he remain like a camel in waterless desert? So after a few hours he called for water even if it meant death. Thus he drank water and died since he could not bear the thirst. Man can understand that he will have to suffer for entire life, but since the suggestion of Satan is agreeable to the heart, he follows the devil.

Think of any sin. Satan has no ability to force man to indulge in it. Satan only creates doubts and inclination. He only invites and creates hopes of happiness. But he can never compel man to commit a sin forcibly.