I seek refuge in God from Satan, the rejected                                                                                                                                           To Main Page  >
In the name of God, Most Gracious, Most Merciful          
                                       

                                                                                                                                                               Wisdom from Quran


Self-Indulgence




All of us have experience with addictions, they come in various degrees, either subtle or obvious. All addictions start with one common step, attributing a power (skill, look, taste, smell, or any other effect) to a creature instead of its Creator. One can be addicted to things e.g: a hobby (reading, internet surfing, movies), alcohol, intoxicants, food, drinks, animals, money, or even his job...etc. One can also be addicted to people, e.g: pop idols, celebrities, presidents, spouses, children, women....etc.

Addiction is the state of losing control, the state of being dependent on a creature, a state of bonding with the creature to the extent of overriding your value system and affecting your decisions and judgments. If you stopped struggling against these addictions (struggling is called Jihad in Arabic), and surrendered to Satan, you have fallen in idolworship which is the only unforgivable sin! all minor offenses that you repent from are forgiven, what is unforgiven is to keep sinning knowingly, without paying attention to your guilt-alarm lights untill your addiction becomes as normal as eating and you end up a slave in Satan's kingdom of idolworship!.

Who do you think benefits from your losing control ? God or Satan ?

God created the Human being and ordered all the angels to fall prostrate ( to serve him from then on), only one said No!, Satan out of jealousy said No to God and refused to serve a creature he considers lower than him.

[7:11] We created you, then we shaped you, then we said to the angels, "Fall prostrate before Adam." They fell prostrate, except Iblees (Satan); he was not with the prostrators.

[7:12] He said, "What prevented you from prostrating when I ordered you?" He said, "I am better than he; You created me from fire, and created him from mud."


God then respited Satan and his descendants (the Jinn beings), they are invisible, they are assigned as companions with every one of us, each companion (who is invisible and posseses the same body) keeps whispering to his Human companion a constant polytheistic idea, the idea that things and people have an independent power in them (independent of God), which simply means that money CAN benefit and grant you security (thus sets you on the money seeking path), or another example your Jinn may whisper to you on seeing a beautiful woman that her beauty is self-induced, that there is nothing behind this beauty (No Creator), that its an end in itself, and most of all your Jinn will promise that this visible beauty CAN grant you satisfaction and happiness, thus he sets you on a women-seeking path. When you obey his whisper, you end up stuck in the visible creature, losing your time, health, sense of judgment and gradually losing control, you start feeling driven, with feelings of guilt accumelating, your soul screams for a way out, yet falls in deeper pits of self-indulgence!

[24:39] As for those who disbelieve, their works are like a mirage in the desert. A thirsty person thinks that it is water. But when he reaches it, he finds that it is nothing, and he finds GOD there instead, to requite him fully for his works. GOD is the most efficient reckoner.

[31:33] O people, you shall reverence your Lord, and fear a day when a father cannot help his own child, nor can a child help his father. Certainly, GOD's promise is truth. Therefore, do not be distracted by this life; do not be distracted from GOD by mere illusions.

God exposed Satan in Quran, God told us about the second most important scene in history when Satan duped us all (represented by our father Adam) into eating from the forbidden tree (a symbol of the visible life elements, things and people),

Satan and your companion are Liars:

[20:120] But the devil whispered to him, saying, "O Adam, let me show you the tree of eternity and unending kingship."

The proof that they are liars and that their promises only brings us misery is your very existence on this planet !, what brought us here was nothing but believing Satan, accepting his polytheistic view and acting upon it.

We were indecisive in Paradise and that's what brought us here, our final make up test.

[20:115] We tested Adam in the past, but he forgot, and we found him indecisive.

[2:38] We said, "Go down therefrom, all of you. When guidance comes to you from Me, those who follow My guidance will have no fear, nor will they grieve.

So what can we do to resist these evil whispers ?

First please reflect on these facts:

1- First you have to understand that your evil thoughts (however bad they are) are not from you!, they are initiated by your Jinn companion who is part of your test, he will keep tempting you untill you say No. They have no power over you, you give them the steering wheel by accepting their invitation.

[14:22] And the devil will say, after the judgment had been issued, "GOD has promised you the truthful promise, and I promised you, but I broke my promise. I had no power over you; I simply invited you, and you accepted my invitation. Therefore, do not blame me, and blame only yourselves. My complaining cannot help you, nor can your complaining help me. I have disbelieved in your idolizing me. The transgressors have incurred a painful retribution."


2- Second, know that we Humans developed an ego (a weak part of ourselves), this ego tends to obey the devil, unless you force it not to. In some people, the weak part of themselves, the ego are constantly obeyed to the extent that their weaknesses become their driving force in life!

[25:43] Have you seen the one whose god is his own ego? Will you be his advocate?

3- There is no win-win situation, one of you (you or your devil companion) must surrender in this spiritual battle, Satan's ideology is based on distorting the creation of God, you are designed to folllow God's design and take charge of your body and mind, thus putting your companion in his real position, subservient to you. What happens when you yield to his control, is that the balance and harmony is distorted, like cars and tyres, if you fix the tyres on top of the car, it won't move an inch!

Are you satisfied with temporary pleasure, isn't permenant joy better!?.

however if you let Satn control you  (be your god), if you let your companion satisfy his lust (he gets his pleasure from controlling you and from your self indulging), and surrender completely to him instead of submitting to God's design, you both will lose in the hereafter after ofcourse losing real joy in this life for a cheap price (temporary pleasure).

[6:128] The day will come when He summons all of them (and says): "O you jinns, you have claimed multitudes of humans." Their human companions will say, "Our Lord, we enjoyed each others' company until we wasted the life span You had set for us." He will say, "Hell is your destiny." They abide therein forever, in accordance with GOD's will. Your Lord is Wise, Omniscient.
[6:129] We thus match the wicked to be companions of each other, as a punishment for their transgressions.



If you are really suffering, if you feel guilty, if you want to put an end to being controlled by a foreign entity, please consider this story of King Solomon, it may carry the solution.


Solomon, untempted by vast material wealth


[38:30] To David we granted Solomon; a good and obedient servant.

[38:31] One day he became preoccupied with beautiful horses, until the night fell.
[38:32] He then said, "I enjoyed the material things more than I enjoyed worshiping my Lord, until the sun was gone.
[38:33] "Bring them back." (To bid farewell,) he rubbed their legs and necks.

[38:34] We thus put Solomon to the test; we blessed him with vast material wealth, but he steadfastly submitted.
[38:35] He said, "My Lord, forgive me, and grant me a kingship never attained by anyone else. You are the Grantor."
[38:36] We (answered his prayer and) committed the wind at his disposal, pouring rain wherever he wanted.
[38:37] And the devils, building and diving.
[38:38] Others were placed at his disposal.
[38:39] "This is our provision to you; you may give generously, or withhold, without limits."
[38:40] He has deserved an honorable position with us, and a wonderful abode.



Unlike Job who was tested with hardship and desease, king Solomon was tested with vast wealth, both of them were steadfast and endured the temptation to forget God. Solomon knew that it was his test to see if he will be appreciative towards God and His provisions and relate them to their real source, or will turn unappreciative, forget God and idolize the material things as ends in themselves.

[27:40] The one who possessed knowledge from the book said, "I can bring it to you in the blink of your eye." When he saw it settled in front of him, he (Solomon) said, "This is a blessing from my Lord, whereby He tests me, to show whether I am appreciative or unappreciative. Whoever is appreciative is appreciative for his own good, and if one turns unappreciative, then my Lord is in no need for him, Most Honorable."


Solomon oneday was approached by his Jinn companion, the Jinn whispered to him his polytheistic view, how beautifull the horses are, untill he lost himself in focusing on their beauty, thus he forgot to relate their beauty to its Creator, and became unappreciative!.
 In Submission we have a gift from God, appointments to establish contact with God 5 times a day, this serves as a reminder to reshift our centers back to God if we forgot him and became focused on something else inbetween prayers (work, family..etc), Solomon became totally immersed in the beauty of his horses to the extent of forgetting his appointment with God (the afternoon contact prayer), he remembered immediately His Lord and repented, not only that! he also got rid of the the object that he became addicted to (even addicted temporarily!).

SOLOMON GOT RID OF HIS HORSES !

[38:31] One day he became preoccupied with beautiful horses, until the night fell.
[38:32] He then said, "I enjoyed the material things more than I enjoyed worshiping my Lord, until the sun was gone.
[38:33] "Bring them back." (To bid farewell,) he rubbed their legs and necks.


How to get rid of your addictions, whether minor or major:

1- Remember God immediately when a thought is trigerred by your companion urging you to self-indulge in your addiction. Remember that only God has the real power, anything else is an illusion, Satan's promises of satisfaction are proven lies, and mere illusions aimed at distracting you from God. Seek refuge in God from the devils.

[7:200]
When the devil whispers to you any whisper, seek refuge in GOD; He is Hearer, Omniscient.

[7:201] Those who are righteous, whenever the devil approaches them with an idea, they remember, whereupon they become seers.

[23:97] Say, "My Lord, I seek refuge in You from the whispers of the devils.
[23:98] "And I seek refuge in You, my Lord, lest they come near me."


3- They have no power over you if you totally believe that God alone has the power to grant you happiness, security or satisfaction. It all depends on your cooperation with them!

[15:42]
"You have no power over My servants. You only have power over the strayers who follow you.

[4:76]
Those who believe are fighting for the cause of GOD, while those who disbelieve are fighting for the cause of tyranny. Therefore, you shall fight the devil's allies; the devil's power is nil.


4- Remember that you are the one in charge, not them, its your body, mind and life, not Satan's. Your Choice is your responsbility,.

[33:72]
We have offered the responsibility (freedom of choice) to the heavens and the earth, and the mountains, but they refused to bear it, and were afraid of it. But the human being accepted it; he was transgressing, ignorant.


5- It all begins with a whisper inside of your head, an evil idea of self indulgence and attributing powers to things and people, God knows your innermost thoughts and He holds you responsible for them! you  should distract your mind of overfocusing on the evil idea by seeking refuge in God, and saying No to your weak self. Do not follow the steps of satan which begins inside of your head, smoking may lead to addiction, a can of beer may lead to alcoholism, and before that a thought may lead to an action! can you afford getting addicted and losing eternal happiness?

God knows your thoughts.

[2:284] To GOD belongs everything in the heavens and the earth. Whether you declare your innermost thoughts, or keep them hidden, GOD holds you responsible for them. He forgives whomever He wills, and punishes whomever He wills. GOD is Omnipotent.

Do not follow the steps of Satan, stop it at the first step, from the very first thought:

[2:208] O you who believe, you shall embrace total submission; do not follow the steps of Satan, for he is your most ardent enemy.

Do not indulge knowingly:

[3:135] If they fall in sin or wrong their souls, they remember GOD and ask forgiveness for their sins - and who forgives the sins except GOD - and they do not persist in sins, knowingly.



6- Remember the psychological and physical consequences of sinning (which may not be reversible!), the costs are too high, you may know people around you who have paid for their self-indulgence, following Satan brings nothing but misery and pain.

[30:41]
Disasters have spread throughout the land and sea, because of what the people have committed. He thus lets them taste the consequences of some of their works, that they may return (to the right works).


6- KILL your ego, the Quranic advice is to kill your ego, the weak part of yourself, say a very strong decisive NO to it, and gradually you will find it easier, as by time your ego will vanish (a state of total submission) and you will overpower your Jinn companion turning him righteous. Reclaim your position in charge of your mind and body, start now.

Kill your weak self by starving it to death, reverence God and say No :

[79:40] As for the one who reverenced the majesty of his Lord, and enjoined the self from sinful lusts.

[79:41] Paradise will be the abode.


When the children of Israel attributed a power to a visible statue they made, Moses told them to KILL their egos.

[2:54] Recall that Moses said to his people, "O my people, you have wronged your souls by worshiping the calf. You must repent to your Creator. You shall kill your egos. This is better for you in the sight of your Creator." He did redeem you. He is the Redeemer, Most Merciful.



7- And finally get rid of the objects of your addiction (if you can) as Solomon did.



If you want to be a Real Human being in charge of your mind and body, if you want paradise and eternal happiness now and forever, you must free yourself first of all addictions and relate all the power to God instead of His creatures.

This takes will power, decisivness and complete submission to God's control over you and your life, if God sees your honesty in making the decision not to return again to addictions, your decision not to feed your Jinn companion, the Most Gracious will help you and accept your repentance.

Be truthful, you can break free by God's leave.