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"And Satan will say when the matter is decided:" The opening of this Aya prepares the stage for the readers imagination in preparation for Satan's sermon. It deals with the movement of Satan's followers and worshippers when they have discussed the matter amongst themselves and have agreed to call Satan to account and demand of him that he fulfills his promises to them. They move forward urgently, shoving and pushing each other as a vast wave surging forward, demanding a justification from Satan for the perpetual abode they have found themselves in, all whilst screaming in abject despair: "Oh Satan.... Oh Iblis.... Where is that which you have promised us? Where is that which you described so eloquently? Where are your sworn vows to us that you are truthful?" They scream in Hell. It can either be implied that his followers drag Satan and place him on a pulpit of fire, or that Satan cringed and uttered such words in an attempt to hide his disgrace and shame as much as he !
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could, as there were no excuses left to him-the matter has been decided and the followers have gone to their eternal place of abode - Satan's party to Hellfire, and Allah's party to Paradise.
"It was Allah who gave you a promise of truth: I too promised but I reneged my promise to you". Allah has promised, and His promise is the Truth. It is He, His Exalted Holiness, the One able to fulfil His promise. Nothing can stand before His will. So then, contemplate upon those merciful words that Allah the Exalted uses to call to His servants in this Dunia. They are words of mercy. See and contemplate upon that which His Holiness said, "Say: O my servants who have transgressed against their souls! Despair not of the Mercy of Allah: for Allah forgives all sins: for He is Oft-Forgiving, Most Merciful." [Az-Zumur 53]. For the righteous who Allah has bestowed His mercy and forgiveness upon, "They will say: 'Praise be to Allah, who has truly fulfilled His promise to us, and has given us (this) land in heritage: we can dwell in the Garden as we will: how excellent a reward for those who work (righteousness)!'" [Az-Zumur 74].
Then what did Satan do with his promise? His lies were clearly exposed and his promises diminished behind the words, "I too promised but I reneged on my promise to you" and so appeared the illusion of his promises. Satan's words left no shadow of hope in the souls of his followers and put an end to all their aspirations and left them with no hope whatsoever. For Satan to be even vaguely truthful, no matter his truthfulness here, is nothing but a description of the inescapable facts; decisions are for Allah- both before and after. In a few prompt and concise words- as in every speech- Satan threw his disavowal and innocence in the faces of his followers. His followers searched in every place Satan swore to be in, and they called out to him in their thunderous voices until they became tired and hoarse, but he was never there- he had retreated.
"I had no authority over you except to call you, but you listened to me" In this part of the Aya, scholars hold differing opinions over the definition of the word "authority" as used in the context of this Aya. However most scholars interpreted it as evidence and proof "I had no proof or evidence on the disbelief (shirk) and sins I have called you to, but as soon as I lifted the banner of desires, you were attracted without thought to the consequences and without proper contemplation." Other scholars said that authority means power and force. " I have not forced you to commit disbelief and shirk, but you have come to it yourselves of your own free will." Most probably what is meant by authority encompasses both trains of thought and is perhaps even more comprehensive in meaning than this. Satan wants to disavow himself and place the responsibility upon his followers as a result of that which they have committed. Satan immediately continued to describe h!
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is actions, "except I called you", and in such a manner as to conceal all his efforts towards so eloquently describing falsehood, wrongdoing and his for ein people's hearts. He described his past actions in the words "called you". I say that he concealed his efforts because through his words, the clear falsification of the truth is evident. Such hasty and reckless words may have released him in circumstances other than the Day of Judgement-which carries the real meaning of the words- because of the certain implementation of punishment. Yes, they are words of betrAyal, but such words carry a certain reproach and humiliation to his followers and worshippers, which all undoubtedly fill their hearts with disappointment and despair.
Satan called upon them; seduced them; whispered to them; promised them; revealed to them; struck them with his poisonous barbs, and threw many obstacles onto the path of truth while accompanying their hearts at all times. Referring to Adam (A.S), Satan said to his Lord, when He damned Satan and threw Him out of His Mercy, "Seest thou? This is the one whom Thou have honored over me! If Thou will respite me to the Day of Judgement, I will surely bring his descendants under my sway all but a few!" [Al Israa 63]. Allah the Exalted then answered him, "Lead to destruction those whom you cast among them with your (seductive) voice, make assaults on them with your cavalry and your infantry; mutually share with them their children; and make promises to them. But Satan promises nothing but deceit." [Al Israa 63]. So, compare between these actions. Firstly, ensnaring people with seductive voices; calling them to disbelief, shirk and sin; assaulting them with caval!
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ry and infantry; sharing money and children with them; and giving false promises. Compare these words with the Words of Allah, "I will surely bring his descendents under my sway," meaning that Satan will attract them very strongly towards evil actions. Look at Satan's words in the Aya "I call you." The question here is:- how does Satan manage to remain such a cunning liar in every situation? Of course he is right! He only called them. He actually condenses everything he did into words, "call them." However, the implementation of his call, in reality, would need a great deal of explanation.
"Then reproach not me, but reproach yourselves." Therefore, the reasons for his followers screams in his face, is that they blamed Satan for their seduction, whilst he refutes their blame. The question to be asked directed at Satan would be, "why should they not blame him?" Was it not Satan that admittedly called them? Or does Satan not consider this to be a crime worthy of punishment and blame? Of course, they have no excuse before Allah for following Satan and believing his promises. But they will be punished for all the actions they have committed. Even so, is it true that there is no blame on Satan? In fact, it is only half of the truth, because, as used by Satan in the previous innocent words, "I called you, but you listened to me," this is a true confession, passed speedily and without details, which could lead to incrimination. This presentation of half-truths is repeated again with the words, "Do not blame me, but blame yourselves." Nevertheless!
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, as Allah said regarding the masters and the followers, "to all a double penalty of punishment." This is after they said, "Our Lord! It is these that misled us; so give them a double penalty, in the Fire." Then He will say: "Double for all: but this you do not understand." [Al Araf 38].
"I cannot listen to your cries, nor can you listen to mine." Satan has concluded this fact in a gradual manner in his speech, saying, "I cannot salvage you, nor rescue you, similarly, you cannot salvage me nor rescue me." So, in Satan, they have only found a deceptive illusion, false hopes and empty promises. The Exalted Allah said on the tongue of Satan, "I cannot listen to your cries", which is evidence that the voices of the people of the Fire are cries, may Allah give us refuge from the Torture and the Fire. One can only present what one is capable of, and in this situation, Satan cannot save himself, let alone save others. However, when was Satan able to present anything to his followers and worshippers? When was he ever truthful in a promise he has vowed to honor?
"I reject your former act in associating me with Allah." There is Satan - throwing their worship of him back in their faces; rejecting their worship and disavowing himself from their association of him with Allah the Exalted. He rejected their association (shirk), confessing his false claim to divinity and telling his followers that their worship of him is empty and that all their obedience to him in the hope of his reward has gone with the wind.
It has become evident to his followers- many of whom we see around, and who have adopted his laws- destroy their basic instincts (fittra) by following him and discarding the Shari'a of their Lord and the Sunnah and guidance of His Prophet (S.A.W). It is absolutely clear, that his promises are lies, that the end result of their relationship is disavowal and abandonment and that Satan will not help support them in any situation where they may need him.
In this regard, Allah said, "But those who believe and work righteousness will be admitted to Gardens beneath which rivers flow, to dwell therein forever with the leave of their Lord. Their greeting therein will be: 'Peace.'" [Ibrahim 23]. These words contain all the answers for those who ask as to what Allah will do for His servants and the followers of the Prophets.
Of course this is what Satan said in his sermon to his servants and followers, but the words of Allah to His servants and beloved slaves in Paradise are, "Today, I bestow upon you my pleasures, therefore you will never suffer my anger." Then His Holiness will appear to them and they will see Him while they sit on their thrones of light, pearls, gold and dunes of musk.
These are the facts from which people cannot deviate. "Woe to those whose hearts are hardened against celebrating the Praise of Allah!"
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