What Breaks Shayṭān's Heart

Asked what breaks his heart, Shayṭān named the firm footsteps of those who march out against the enemies of Allah for Allah's own sake — the workers in daʿwah, those who strive in Allah's path and are prepared to die there in testimony to His oneness. These, he said, he cannot stop; it is the worst thing that happens to him.

Asked what gives him pain, he named the repentance of one who turns back to Allah after sin. It pains him, he explained, because he himself can never make such a return: however he works to trick a person into sin, if that person then turns to Allah in tawbah, Allah forgives him, and all Shayṭān's effort comes to nothing — it grieves him deeply every time.

Asked what makes him grimace, he named charity given in secret. He much prefers it given in the open: five hundred dollars for the mosque, written down with a receipt so all may know; five thousand dollars from one family — write me a receipt for it, brother — and when another Muslim gives and is told a receipt is required by law, he agrees readily: write it down, Abdullah, one of the servants of Allah — is that good enough? The charity that troubles him instead is the kind described in a hadith of the Messenger of Allah among the seven kinds of people sheltered on the Day of Judgement: a man who gives in such secrecy that his left hand does not know what his right hand has given. That, the Messenger of Allah said, is the best kind of charity.

Asked what blinds his eye, he named prayer kept in the depth of the night, tahajjud. Asked what bows his head, he named prayer performed in congregation.