What did Ibn al-Qayyim say about the deception of Shayṭān?

"Abu Huraira narrated a story where the devil of a believer met the devil of a disbeliever. The disbeliever's devil was well-fed and clothed, while the believer's devil was emaciated and disheveled. The disbeliever's devil asked why, and the believer's devil explained that his companion always mentioned Allah's name, leaving him hungry and thirsty. In contrast, the disbeliever's devil enjoyed his companion's food and drink because he did not mention Allah. Muhammad ibn Wasi used to pray after Fajr, asking Allah to protect him from Satan. One day, Iblis appeared to him and asked him not to teach this supplication to others in exchange for not bothering him."

"attributes of the servant, and they are numerous. However, we will highlight the major gateways, which serve as pathways that cannot be obstructed by the multitude of the devil's troops. Among the major gateways for the devil are anger and desire. Anger weakens reason, allowing the devil to enter when the defenses of reason are down. When a person becomes angry, the devil can manipulate him like a child playing with a ball. It is narrated that Moses, peace be upon him, once encountered Iblis. Iblis said to him, O Moses, you whom Allah has chosen for his message and spoken with directly, I am a creation among"

"Ibn Masud also said, The believer's devil is emaciated. Qais ibn Hajjaj shared an example. encounter where his devil said, I entered you when I was like a strong camel and now I am like a small bird. When asked why, the devil replied, you melt me with the remembrance of Allah the Exalted. For those who are conscious of Allah, closing the doors to the devil and guarding them vigilantly is not difficult. This refers to the apparent doors and clear paths leading to obvious sins. However, it is in the hidden paths of the devil that people falter as they cannot recognize them to guard against them. The open doors to the heart for the"

"Allah says in the Quran, Indeed, those who fear Allah, when an impulse touches them from Satan, they remember him, and at once they have insight. This highlights that the God-fearing are protected. Imagine Satan as a hungry dog. If you have no food, you can scare it away with a shout. But if you have meat, it will not be deterred by words alone. Similarly, a heart free from Satan's sustenance can repel him with mere remembrance. However, if desires dominate, they push true remembrance to the fringes, allowing Satan to settle in the heart. For the God-fearing, Satan approaches not because of desires but due to a lapse"

"keep us away from Satan, and keep Satan away from what you have provided us. If a child is destined from their union, Satan will not harm him. It is narrated that Ibn Abbas shared a similar narration from the Prophet, peace be upon him, who said, If one of you, when he approaches his wife, says, In the name of Allah, O Allah, keep us away from Satan, and keep Satan away from what you provide us, and they are granted a child, Satan will not harm him."

"If he remembers Allah, Satan withdraws, and if he forgets, Satan devours his heart. This is the whisperer who withdraws. The remembrance of Allah repels Satan from the heart, serving as a reminder for people. Allah said, And remember your Lord when you forget, and it was Satan who made me forget to remember it. Allah also mentioned, But Satan made him forget the mention of his Lord, referring to the cupbearer when Yusuf asked him to mention him to the king."

"from anyone what I have encountered from you oh son of Mary. These accounts illustrate the trials and steadfastness of Jesus son of Mary in the face of Iblis's challenges. It is narrated that Jesus prayed in Baid al-maqdis Jerusalem and as he was leaving Iblis appeared to him on a certain path. Iblis detained Jesus persistently making offers and speaking to him saying it is not befitting for you to be a servant. Despite Iblis's persistence Jesus sought to be freed from him but could not escape. Among Iblis's words were it is not fitting for you oh Jesus to be a servant. It is said that Jesus sought help from his Lord and Gabriel and Michael approached. Upon seeing them"

"not return. On the third time, the visitor said, Shall I teach you words that will benefit you? He advised reciting Ayat al-Kursi before bed, as God will then send a protector, and no devil will approach until morning. When informed, the Prophet, peace be upon him, said, He spoke the truth, though he is a liar. The Prophet, peace be upon him, said, When a person goes to bed, a devil and an angel approach him. The angel says, End with good, while the devil says, End with evil. When he wakes, the angel and devil return. The angel says, Begin with good, while the devil says, Begin with evil. If he praises God for restoring his soul and for his control over"

"away is interpreted as the heart turning away from Allah, to something else. When the heart turns elsewhere, the veil falls between Allah and the servant, allowing Satan to enter, presenting worldly matters as if in a mirror. However, when the heart focuses on Allah and does not turn away, Satan cannot insert himself between Allah and that heart, Satan only enters when the veil falls. If the heart flees to Allah and remains present, Satan flees, but if it turns, Satan is present. Thus stands the matter between the servant and his adversary in prayer."

"How can we let thoughts of Satan dominate our hearts when he is the ultimate harm? This would leave the heart devoid of the light of Allah’s remembrance, making it vulnerable to Satan's approach. Allah did not command us to constantly think of Satan. The second group errs by mixing the remembrance of Allah with that of Satan. The more the heart is occupied with Satan, the less it remembers Allah."