Does Satan Know the Contents of Human Hearts?
Question:
If there is someone who is doing certain work, then he finds out that there are other people who use magic with the help of Satan to spy on his condition and work. Should the person stop and not continue their activities? But if the activity is an obligation, is it better not to do it? I also want to ask, what is the meaning of Ibn Taymiyah's words that Satan has the ability to know what is in a person's heart?
Answer:
Alhamdulillah wa shalatu wa salamu ‘ala rasulillah wa ‘ala alihi wa shahbihi, amma ba’du
A person should not stop his activities and activities just based on the assumption that he is being spied on by magic. This is a trick of the devil that will make his work fall apart and his life become a mess. Moreover, Allah Subhanahu wa Ta'ala has given us an antidote to the ugliness of Satan's interference by reading the Qur'an, especially the kursi verse. If the job is something that must be done, then it is forbidden to leave it.
As for the problem of Satan knowing the contents of a person's heart in the form of good or bad wishes that he wants to do. Statement Shaykhul Islam Ibnu Taimiyah did not strictly mean that. In Majmu' Fatawa he said, "Satan knows the whispers of the heart of a servant who remembers God, so when his heart is negligent from remembering God, the servant will feel misgivings. Satan knows the state of a servant; whether he is remembering Allah or neglecting to remember Him, he also knows his desires so that he can beautify those ugly desires. There is an authentic hadith from Shafiyah, may God be pleased with him, that the Messenger of God, may God bless him and grant him peace, said, "Satan walks in the body of the son of Adam in the place where his blood circulates." Angels and demons are two creatures that are always close to the heart of the children of Adam, whether the servant is a believer or an unbeliever."
This problem is still being discussed by scholars. Sheikh Ibnu Baz was once asked a long question regarding this issue. In summary, the question is as follows, "If I intend a good deed in my heart, does Satan know about it and then try to turn me away from the good deed I intended?" Shaykh Ibn Baz's answer can be summarized as follows, "Every person is always accompanied by devils and angels, as the Prophetsallallahu 'alaihi wa sallam said, 'Not one of you is accompanied by a qarin from among the jinn and angels'. The companions responded, 'Not even you, O Messenger of Allah?' Nabisallallahu 'alaihi wa sallam reported that Satan influences the human soul. Satan (jin qarin) is evil, then he will call to evil. The Qarin from among the angels invites someone to practice virtue. Thus Allah made these two qarin in the human soul; qarin from the jinn and qarin from the angels."
Dr. Muhammad Abdurrozaq said, "People ask how Satan knows what is happening in the soul, will he prevent the soul from doing good? Satan has been with humans for a long time and always finds out about the human condition until nothing about the human condition is hidden from him. He knows his wishes and desires, knows his good intentions so he tries to block them. Even though Satan does not know what will happen, a servant may not be influenced by his whispers and continue to practice virtue. Likewise, Satan does not know that his temptation will be successful and a servant will realize Satan's whispers by doing bad things. Satan does not know the good and bad of this side.
Abu Hasan Al Asy'ari in Maqolat Al Islamiyyin said, "It is still disputed, whether Satan knows or not, what is brewing in the heart. This is based on three opinions. The first opinion is the opinion of Ibrahim, Mu'ammar, and Hisham and those who followed him who said, 'Indeed Satan knows what is in the heart. This is not something impossible and surprising, because Allah 'Azza wa Jalla has given Satan the opportunity to penetrate human hearts.
The second opinion, "The Mu'tazilites and others said, 'Satan does not know what is in a person's heart. If someone intends in his heart to give charity or practice other acts of obedience, then Satan will forbid it and prevent it based on his prejudices and conjectures.
The third opinion, "Satan penetrates into a person's heart, so he knows the desires of his heart."
In conclusion, this issue is still disputed among ulama. Some say that Satan does not know what is going on in the human heart. He only tempts people based on his suspicions and that is his job to tempt people to do bad things. There are also those who say that Satan knows what is in human hearts, but they have no power to determine what humans will realize from their intentions. It could be that humans continue to practice goodness and can also follow the temptations of Satan.
Allahu a’lam
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