False promises...

False promises: Through false promises and unattainable hopes, Satan renders man heedless of the Hereafter, death, and even Allah (awj). Such a person becomes a slave to his desires and is prepared to go to any lengths to attain the attainable, even if it means sinning against Allah (awj). Fear: Satan scares man with thoughts of the future, compelling him to accumulate wealth, flee from jihad , aid the unjust, etc.

Detailed Answer To properly understand the answer to this question, we must first gain an understanding of the nature of Satan. Lexicographers differ over the linguistic root of the word “satan.” The strongest opinion states that it comes from “ shatana ” meaning “to be far.” It is for this reason that anyone that distances man from his Lord is called a “satan.” Many exegetes of the Qur`an believe that a “satan” is any mischievous being that has been misguided.

According to this opinion, “satan” is a common noun that can be applied to any of a number of members, whether jinn or human. However, Iblis is a proper name for the particular satan who refused to prostrate before Adam.[^2] The Qur`an explicitly states that Satan is a jinn[^3] and is made of fire. The jinn are in an intermediate state between physical and immaterial and can manifest themselves as various physical beings. Human beings, on the other hand, are composed of a body and soul.

Man’s soul in turn has two aspects. One aspect is Godly in nature. It is alternatively called the spirit (al-ruh) and the higher soul (al-nafs al-mutma’innah) . The other aspect of the human soul is animalistic in nature and is called the lower soul (al-nafs al-ammarah) . To gain control over man, Satan must access this lower soul. Being immaterial himself, he cannot establish direct contact with man’s physical body.

It is this connection between Satan and the lower soul of man that is called a “whispered temptation” (al-waswas) in Qur`anic terminology. Therefore, Satan is only a part of the cause and cannot misguide man by himself. Rather he invites man to that which his lower soul desires. Man can then choose to follow Satan’s temptations or the laws of Allah (awj) and the standards of his intellect.

It is for this reason that Allah (awj) admonishes man in the following way: “Do not follow in Satan’s footsteps, for he is your manifest enemy.” [^4] How exactly does Satan incite a person’s irrational desires to push him towards sin?