💎[The Subtle War on the Devout: Ibn Taymiyyah on the Devil’s Strategy Against People of Knowledge and Worship]

🖊️ Shaykh al-Islam Ibn Taymiyyah (رحمه الله) said:

لِأَنَّ الشَّيْطَانَ يُكْثِرُ تَعَرُّضَهُ لِلْعَبْدِ إِذَا أَرَادَ الإِنَابَةَ إِلَى رَبِّهِ وَالتَّقَرُّبَ إِلَيْهِ وَالِاتِّصَالَ بِهِ؛

“The devil frequently targets a servant when they wish to turn back to their Lord, draw closer to Him, and connect with Him.

فَلِهَذَا يَعْرِضُ لِلْمُصَلِّينَ مَا لَا يَعْرِضُ لِغَيْرِهِمْ،

For this reason, the devil presents [distractions] to those who pray that he does not present to others.

وَيَعْرِضُ لِخَاصَّةِ أَهْلِ العِلْمِ وَالدِّينِ أَكْثَرَ مِمَّا يَعْرِضُ لِلْعَامَّةِ؛

He afflicts the elite among the people of knowledge and religion more than he does the general public.

وَلِهَذَا يُوجَدُ عِنْدَ طُلَّابِ العِلْمِ وَالعِبَادَةِ مِنَ الوَسَاوِسِ وَالشُّبُهَاتِ مَا لَيْسَ عِنْدَ غَيْرِهِمْ؛

This is why students of knowledge and worshipers often experience whispers and doubts that others do not.

لِأَنَّهُ لَمْ يَسْلُكْ شَرْعَ اللهِ وَمِنْهَاجَهُ، بَلْ هُوَ مُقْبِلٌ عَلَى هَوَاهُ فِي غَفْلَةٍ عَنْ ذِكْرِ رَبِّهِ، وَهَذَا مَطْلُوبُ الشَّيْطَانِ،

This is because others have not followed the law and method of Allah; rather, they are preoccupied with their desires, heedless of remembering their Lord, and this is what the devil seeks.

بِخِلَافِ المُتَوَجِّهِينَ إِلَى رَبِّهِمْ بِالعِلْمِ وَالعِبَادَةِ؛ فَإِنَّهُ عَدُوُّهُمْ يَطْلُبُ صَدَّهُمْ عَنْ اللهِ.

This is in contrast to those who are directing themselves towards their Lord with knowledge and worship, Iblīs is their enemy, seeking to turn them away from Allah.”

📚 [Kitāb al Emān]

⭐️[The Steadfast Authentic Salafi Youth]

🖊️ The esteemed scholar, Shaykh Rabī’ b. Hādī al Madkhalī (رحمه الله) stated:

فَنَحْنُ نُرِيدُ شَبَابًا يَعِيشُ فِي ظِلِّ كِتَابِ اللّٰهِ وَسُنَّةِ رَسُولِ اللّٰهِ وَمَنْهَجِ السَّلَفِ الصَّالِحِ،

“We want youth who live under the shade of the Book of Allah, the Sunnah of the Messenger of Allah, and the methodology of the righteous predecessors.

لَيْسَ عِنْدَهُ مُجَامَلَةٌ وَلَا مُدَاهَنَةٌ وَلَا نِفَاقٌ وَلَا اعْوِجَاجٌ،

They must have no flattery, no compromise, no hypocrisy, and no crookedness.

اسْتِقَامَةٌ فِي صِرَاطِ اللّٰهِ تَبَارَكَ وَتَعَالَى، يَقْبَلُ الحَقَّ سَوَاءٌ كَانَ لَهُ أَوْ كَانَ عَلَيْهِ، وَيَرْفُضُ البَاطِلَ مَهْمَا كَانَ مَصْدَرُهُ.

They must have steadfastness on the path of Allah, the Blessed and Exalted, accepting the truth whether it is in their favor or against them, and rejecting falsehood no matter where it comes from.”

[Al-Majmoo’ Ar-Ra’iq / The Escape from Trials / pp. 265-266 / Dar Al-Mirath An-Nabawi]

📚 [Some enter into trials, critical issues, and destructive situations without having the necessary qualifications; the important thing is: Here I am, so recognize me!]

Our Shaykh, the scholar Abdullah Al-Bukhari - may Allah preserve him - said, speaking about the necessity for a person to know their own worth:

A man asked Imam Abdullah ibn Al-Mubarak: “O Imam, advise me.” He replied: “Know your worth.” This is the advice: “Know your worth.” If you know your worth, matters become easier, and you will know where to stop. However, if you are ignorant of your worth, you will throw yourself into destructive situations and dare to engage in calamities, and it is rare that you will come out unscathed.

These trials and disturbances are like fires. Don’t you see that a firefighter wears special protective gear, yet even with his knowledge, care, and protective clothing, something might fail, and he might get hurt? So, what about the one who enters these destructive situations, trials, and calamities without being qualified for it? He is neither from the people of knowledge, nor does he know the clear truth from the clear falsehood. But the important thing is:
“Here I am, so recognize me!”

A trial arises in Algeria, and he involves himself in it! A trial arises in Morocco, and he involves himself in it! A trial arises in Yemen, and he involves himself in it! While Allah has spared you, why do you bring these fires upon yourself? And if only there were some return (from these actions), after it has become clear that these trials are invalid! Instead, people keep engaging in them. We ask Allah for safety and well-being.”

ℹ️ Summarized benefit from a lecture noscriptd: [Knowing the Truth and Acting Upon It].