Juz 5: An-Nisāʾ 24–147
Section 12 of 16 · Tafsir of the Qur’an · Mufti Abdul Rahman Mangera
Satan's Promise to Mislead Humanity
In verses 117-121 of Surah An-Nisa, Allah Subhanahu wa Ta'ala unveils the sinister nature of Shaytan and his vow to lead humanity astray. These powerful verses serve as a stark warning to believers about the enemy who has committed himself to human destruction and deviation.
Allah Subhanahu wa Ta'ala reveals Shaytan's declaration:
وَلَأُضِلَّنَّهُمْ وَلَأُمَنِّيَنَّهُمْ وَلَآمُرَنَّهُمْ فَلَيُبَتِّكُنَّ آذَانَ الْأَنْعَامِ وَلَآمُرَنَّهُمْ فَلَيُغَيِّرُنَّ خَلْقَ اللَّهِ
“And I will lead them astray, and I will tempt them with false hopes, and I will command them, whereupon they will cut off the ears of cattle, and I will command them, whereupon they will alter Allah's creation." (4:119)”
This declaration from Shaytan reveals his comprehensive strategy to misguide humanity. The first element is clear misdirection – leading people away from the straight path of Islam. The second involves instilling false hopes and desires that preoccupy people with worldly pursuits while neglecting their spiritual obligations.
Particularly noteworthy is Shaytan's promise to command people to "alter Allah's creation." This has profound implications in contemporary society. While historically this referred to pagan practices like mutilating animals for superstitious purposes, today we witness this manifesting in numerous ways. The alteration of human bodies through unnecessary modifications, including changing one's gender against natural disposition, can be seen as fulfillments of this satanic promise. The verse carries remarkable relevance for modern ethical dilemmas involving human biological modifications.
Allah Subhanahu wa Ta'ala then pronounces a decisive judgment on those who follow Shaytan's path:
وَمَن يَتَّخِذِ الشَّيْطَانَ وَلِيًّا مِّن دُونِ اللَّهِ فَقَدْ خَسِرَ خُسْرَانًا مُّبِينًا
“Whoever takes Satan as friend instead of Allah has incurred an evident loss." (4:119)”
The term "evident loss" (خُسْرَانًا مُّبِينًا) is particularly significant – this is not a subtle or hidden loss, but one that is manifest and clear. Taking Shaytan as an ally means abandoning the protection of Allah Subhanahu wa Ta'ala, leading to catastrophic spiritual consequences.
Allah further exposes Shaytan's empty promises:
يَعِدُهُمْ وَيُمَنِّيهِمْ وَمَا يَعِدُهُمُ الشَّيْطَانُ إِلَّا غُرُورًا
“He makes promises to them and fills them with fancies, but Satan does not promise them anything except delusion." (4:120)”
This verse unveils the deceptive nature of Shaytan's enticements. The false hopes and promises he offers are merely غُرُورًا (delusion). When people pursue his whispers, they chase mirages that lead nowhere except to spiritual ruin.
The ultimate destination of those who follow Shaytan is then declared:
أُولَٰئِكَ مَأْوَاهُمْ جَهَنَّمُ وَلَا يَجِدُونَ عَنْهَا مَحِيصًا
“For such people, their abode is Jahannam (Hell), and they will find no way to escape from it." (4:121)”
The finality of this judgment is chilling – those who follow Shaytan find themselves trapped in Hellfire with no avenue of escape. The term مَحِيصًا (escape) negated here emphasizes the inescapable nature of this punishment.
These verses serve as a profound warning to believers to recognize Shaytan's strategies and resist his temptations. By exposing his tactics and declaring his ultimate impotence against Allah's will, the Qur'an equips believers with spiritual awareness to combat his influence. The verses remind us that Shaytan's primary objective is to change Allah's creation – both physically and through corrupting our natural spiritual disposition (fitrah) – making vigilance against his whispers an essential aspect of faith.