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Lesson 123: Cooperation With Satan

Tradition

لا تَسُبَّنَّ إِبْلِيْسَ فِى الْعَلانِيَةِ وَ أنْتَ صَدِيقُهُ فِى السِّرِ

Imam ‘Ali (‘a) is narrated to have said: “Do not curse Satan openly while you are his friend in secret.”1

Brief Commentary

Many people express hatred for things like poverty or hypocrisy, while others will express hatred for figures such as Satan, who is an avowed enemy of mankind. While they express such hatred outwardly, they are practically engulfed in the very same things they profess to hate. For example, there are some extremely wealthy individuals who fear poverty to such a degree that they live their lives just like the poverty stricken; they are terrified of spending any money and so they deprive themselves of everything in life. Similarly, there are some hypocrites who are busy constantly speaking against hypocrisy; yet they themselves are engulfed in hypocrisy from head to toe.

There are yet others who are greatly influenced by Satan and yet they constantly express negative views in regards to him. This is while they openly do what God has made unlawful and they easily allow themselves to be influenced and controlled by Satan himself. Therefore, the people should be aware that it is not enough to simply express an idea or concept outwardly; rather, they must internally manifest that concept as well.

  • 1. Turath al-A’immah, p. 209, Sharh Nahj Al-Balaghah, vol 20, page 329.