What kinda concept is this ?

[Ruhi_Rose]

 


The other day I was reading an online article on Islam Online Net by one of the scholars on its panel.  He was talkin' about Satan's constant effort to misguide humans and to distract them from the path & remembrance of Allah.  Sure, this is true.  Actually the Quran explains this phenomenon very well and articulately in several Chapters. The most realistic, accurate and clear informatin of Satan's sneaky strategy of hurling temptations is given in the Noble Quran.

The author of this article (I forget his name) further went on to elaborate this aspect which was based on his own perception.  He said that many people who are emotionally stressed, depressed or anxious because of the pressures, hardships and challenges of life often feel distracted and have a weak concentration.  While offering salaah, their minds wander away to their problems which at times causes them to make mistakes in their prayers.  The author continued saying .. such distraction and confusion of the mind benefits Satan.  Satan takes advantage of the disturbed state of minds of these people by causing them to forget.  Hence they make mistakes while offering their prayers. 

How would you comment to this opinion of the author ?

I consider his perception to be very incorrect and harsh.  The logic of his strange ideology equates anxiety with misguidance.  This is an awful (if not crazy) thing to say and it's not at all true.  We all know that.  Anxiety or a nervous disposition has nothing to do with the strength of a person's Faith nor their ethical values.  Anxiety and distracted mind is simply the psychological characteristics of human nature that varies from person to person.  Some can be emotionally strong as a rock while others maybe gentle and sensitive.  Why must a person's troubled mind that's been ravaged by the trials and tribulations of this earthly life be linked to misguidance?  Being anxious or troubled by no means indicates a weak iman.  On the contrary, when we are troubled, we seek solace and comfort from the Almighty Allah still more. If at any time a mistake is made in the method of prayer due to emotional pressures on the mind, it does NOT mean falling into Satan's temptation. 

I'm simply at a loss to understand the explanataions and mentality of such "scholars."

[Zainab_M]

You're absolutely right.  The clearest description of Satan's guile is given within the Quraan in the original words of the Almighty Allah.  In this regard I refer to your post How Satan tempts people.

Surely the tantalising temptations from Satan come about to grasp humans so discreetly that the unperceiving ones are not even able to perceive them as temptations.   In the process they keep slipping from one block of misguidance to another while all the time being convinced of their infallibility.  These are Satan's ways of ruining every soul he can lure. 

Many people in the circle of the "ulemas" and "scholars" connect human anxiety with Satanic misguidance and it's truly a repugnant concept.  As educated Muslims, our outlook should be just the reverse.  We ought to sympathize with people who are victims of emotional stress.  Anyone can be distraught, at any time and for any reason.  Such people need to be understood, not demonized.  Allah, Who is the Fount of love and mercy knows the innermost feelings and intentions of every soul.  If an anxious person is a humble believer with complete faith and trust in Allah, Satan will never be able to misguide him.  An unintentional error while praying won't make him vulnerable to Satan's trap.  Satan can never succeed in tempting people unless those people themselves compromise on their values. 

It is indeed unfortunate that these 'ulemas' seldom see the deep flaws of their explanations.  In a blind frenzy to construct their own ideology, they find it necessary to pick on harmless aspects of life, and by doing this they make innocent people feel guilty.  This attitude of the "ulemas" is itself a sign of being miserabley trapped in Satan's net.