Personified Devil
-
I was thinking about the traditional and christian concept of God vs a more metaphysical non-associative concept, and linking it to the concept of the Devil.
Traditionally and simplistically it is portrayed that you have God and the Devil as two opposing forces of good and evil. At the same time it is taught that God created all, including the Devil.
Then we also hear people "proving" that the Devil exist by quoting that "the devil's greatest trick was to convince people he doesn't exist".
Now, if we should not associate ANYTHING with Allah, then why is it so common to have mental images of the Devil as some sort of ghostly, flaming, evil master spirit that lurks around and traps people in evil schemes.
Wouldn't it be sensible to stop associating also the Devil with such "personified" images?
This is of course just a general idea questioning the traditional/christian way of thinking. I know there are plenty of interpretations of iblees and shaitan that are very much non-traditional. This was just a thought I had.
peace
-
I was thinking about the traditional and christian concept of God vs a more metaphysical non-associative concept, and linking it to the concept of the Devil.
Traditionally and simplistically it is portrayed that you have God and the Devil as two opposing forces of good and evil. At the same time it is taught that God created all, including the Devil.
Then we also hear people "proving" that the Devil exist by quoting that "the devil's greatest trick was to convince people he doesn't exist".
Now, if we should not associate ANYTHING with Allah, then why is it so common to have mental images of the Devil as some sort of ghostly, flaming, evil master spirit that lurks around and traps people in evil schemes.
Wouldn't it be sensible to stop associating also the Devil with such "personified" images?
This is of course just a general idea questioning the traditional/christian way of thinking. I know there are plenty of interpretations of iblees and shaitan that are very much non-traditional. This was just a thought I had.
peace
I agree with you, no need to personify the devil
The devil ( Iblis ) is not an entity. It's our base desires we can't always control, hence why in the Quran it says Iblis did not submit to Adam, it means humanity can't always conquer our base desires
-
I have thought for some time that the devil the New Testament teaches about is the evil-inclination, and not an actual being, because Jesus once rebuked Peter by calling him Satan, clarifying that he was thinking as a man thinks, and not seeing things from God's perspective.
In the Old Testament Satan is just an angel who is subject to God, and is traditionally associated by Jews with Archangel Samael.
Yes I agree the devil is likely just the evil inclination or the base desires.
-
I have thought for some time that the devil the New Testament teaches about is the evil-inclination, and not an actual being, because Jesus once rebuked Peter by calling him Satan, clarifying that he was thinking as a man thinks, and not seeing things from God's perspective.
Yes I agree the devil is likely just the evil inclination or the base desires.
It is some sort of force/idea/judgement which refused to submit to Adam to become a part of human nature instead it insisted on staying outside us and, with Allah's permission, wispers into our head, cleaver ideas like for instance if you are given more change back by a cashier the idea will spring into your head keep it but your conscious say's not that is not righ and give it back. So good nature is part of us but the evil inclination or the base desires are thrown at us from satan.
In the Old Testament Satan is just an angel who is subject to God, and is traditionally associated by Jews with Archangel Samael.
In the Qur'an at that stage he is called Iblis not Satan.
Salaam -
Iblis = Satan
-
Personally I think it makes more sense that iblees(or whatever) is something INSIDE us... i.e. something part of us, instead of something outside us that attack, target or influence us in a negative direction.
If it is part of us, something we have to conquer and control and over-come, then that makes us completely responsible! But, if we think of something as being outside us, not really part of us, then it can easily be used as a scapegoat for all our problems. It allows us to get away from responsibility.
What I have gathered from this life, and its purpose, it is that each of us has to work on ourselves and get rid of faulty ideas, negativity and anything that has separated, and keeps separating, us from being close to Allah.
I see no point in that there are outside devils that we have to conquer. The biggest task would be to conquer one's own devils and Ego. This would then lead to success and a higher state of awareness.... closer to truth. We have to transform OURSELVES.... not fend off external evil spirits in a divine war.... That's too much like superficial and material hollywood to me.I'm however not saying that there aren't any spirits or unseen beings or so. This planet, and perhaps universe, may be inhabited by beings we usually cannot see.... but that's irrelevant as it doesn't affect our salvation... no more than algae or doves or any other creature.
It seems people are clumping together ibless, shaytan, jinn, spirits, ghosts, unseen beings, malaika... as EITHER being real beings OR just some aspect of ourselves... or not existing at all. I think this is to over-simplify things. No need to go to either one extreme.peace
-
Salaam
Personally I do not think that we have to conquer and control and over-come satan but reject satanic wispers I paste below few Ayat from Qur'sn search engin which clearly show that satan is not part of us but our enemy
720. Then began Satan to whisper suggestions to them, bringing openly before their minds all their shame that was hidden from them (before) he said "Your Lord only forbade you this tree, lest ye should become angels or such beings as live for ever."
7175. Relate to them the story of the man to whom We sent Our signs, but he passed them by so Satan followed him up, and he went astray.
4119. "I will mislead them, and I will create in them false desires; I will order them to slit the ears of cattle, and to deface the (fair) nature created by Allah." Whoever, forsaking Allah, takes satan for a friend, hath of a surety suffered a loss that is manifest.
1422. And Satan will say when the matter is decided "It was Allah Who gave you a promise of Truth I too promised, but I failed in my promise to you. I had no authority over you except to call you but ye listened to me then reproach not me, but reproach your own souls. I cannot listen to your cries, nor can ye listen to mine. I reject your former act in associating me with Allah. For wrong-doers there must be a grievous penalty."
1698. When thou dost read the Qur'an, seek Allah.s protection from Satan the rejected one.
1944 "O my father! serve not SATAN for SATAN is a rebel against ((Allah)) Most Gracious.
356 Verily SATAN is an enemy to you so treat him as an enemy. He only invites his adherents, that they may become Companions of the Blazing Fire.
Peace. -
Salaam
Personally I do not think that we have to conquer and control and over-come satan but reject satanic wispers I paste below few Ayat from Qur'sn search engin which clearly show that satan is not part of us but our enemy
720. Then began Satan to whisper suggestions to them, bringing openly before their minds all their shame that was hidden from them (before) he said "Your Lord only forbade you this tree, lest ye should become angels or such beings as live for ever."
7175. Relate to them the story of the man to whom We sent Our signs, but he passed them by so Satan followed him up, and he went astray.
4119. "I will mislead them, and I will create in them false desires; I will order them to slit the ears of cattle, and to deface the (fair) nature created by Allah." Whoever, forsaking Allah, takes satan for a friend, hath of a surety suffered a loss that is manifest.
1422. And Satan will say when the matter is decided "It was Allah Who gave you a promise of Truth I too promised, but I failed in my promise to you. I had no authority over you except to call you but ye listened to me then reproach not me, but reproach your own souls. I cannot listen to your cries, nor can ye listen to mine. I reject your former act in associating me with Allah. For wrong-doers there must be a grievous penalty."
1698. When thou dost read the Qur'an, seek Allah.s protection from Satan the rejected one.
1944 "O my father! serve not SATAN for SATAN is a rebel against ((Allah)) Most Gracious.
356 Verily SATAN is an enemy to you so treat him as an enemy. He only invites his adherents, that they may become Companions of the Blazing Fire.
Peace.To understand the Quran perfectly you have to let go all the thoughts that could have been affected by hadiths and look for better translations than those that are definitely affected by hadiths.
-
To understand the Quran perfectly you have to let go all the thoughts that could have been affected by hadiths and look for better translations than those that are definitely affected by hadiths.
Untill you make search engin based on your understanding I will continue to use the search engins avalible on the net and Alhumudlliah I can understand basic Quranic Arabic so translation is only for this forum.
peace -
I think there is much research to be done on the words iblees, shaytan, jinn.
The words satan, devil etc are from christianity, and should not be considered direct translations of the arabic ones. If we translate them into the english versions, we are at great risk of also adopting the christian concept of these words.peace
-
I think there is much research to be done on the words iblees, shaytan, jinn.
The words satan, devil etc are from christianity, and should not be considered direct translations of the arabic ones. If we translate them into the english versions, we are at great risk of also adopting the christian concept of these words.peace
Shaytan and Ibless are the word/names used in the Quran Satan is English translation of shaytan often used in the search engin
peace -
Untill you make search engin based on your understanding I will continue to use the search engins avalible on the net and Alhumudlliah I can understand basic Quranic Arabic so translation is only for this forum.
peaceSearch engin?
-
http//www.islamicity.com/ps/default.asp?UserString=samma&ref=&ShowTranslation=on&ShowTransliteration=on&ShowArabic=on
Oh, well still there are many changed meanings in the Quran.
I won't ever make my own translations of the Quran because I don't know arabic.
I read many translations and choose which one looks most logical and reasonable to me to be true.
And translations that aren't heavily affected by hadiths and religion are rare. -
I won't ever make my own translations of the Quran because I don't know arabic.
I read many translations and choose which one looks most logical and reasonable to me to be true.
And translations that aren't heavily affected by hadiths and religion are rare.handshake
-
You don't think the following from the Koran doesn't somehow suggest an evil inclination?
"When they are with you they say we believe, but when they are alone with their satans (could this be inner demons/base desires?) they say we are with you, we were only mocking."
These are just thoughts though.
-
I'll quote this essay from servantofthelight website
Written by Abdun Nur J.
The lie, an outside force. A being who?s consciousness is all pervasive, it interferes within the lives of all humans and is the root cause of all woes. A powerful beast filled with malevolence, hate, debasement and cruelty, crushing free will and dominating the willing, called many things, viewed as a personification, Satan, the Devil, Beelzebub, Iblis, etc. this is the Christianised view held as true by so many across the world, promoted by the media and held with a far stronger belief than any concept of the truth of Allah.Do not believe in Iblis, Allah tells you.
Why would Allah tell you this?
The ignorant will tell you he means do not worship Iblis as your God, and so do not believe what he tells you, or some such non-sense.
The truth is Iblis is your base desire, you feel thirsty, hungry, this is a base desire, the need to quench your thirst or satisfy your hunger, and no matter your course, ultimately you will have to bow to these desires, or perish.
You feel sexual attraction to your partner or the opposite sex in general, this is a base desire, no matter your course, ultimately you will have to bow to your desires, or become sick.
You feel fear at the risk of your life, this fear is a base desire, you will bow to this base desire, or you will face death bravely.
You feel hate for your enemy, this hate is a base desire, you will bow to your desire, or you will rise above your hate.
It is possible to conquer Iblis on many fronts but not on every front, therefore you can never conquer Iblis, and so Iblis will never bow to the will of the family of Adam.
You should not believe in Iblis as a personification, as that Iblis is a fiction, a Christianisation of the concept, this is the belief Allah refers to, do not believe in the personification of Iblis.
The base is the point you start and build upon, as we are nothing but emotional energy, so we can if we chose, exist purely in base emotional energy, engulfed in the basest of thoughts, feelings and actions; obsessed with personal sexual gratification; or the pointless accumulation of personal wealth; or the attainment of power and control over our fellow human beings for your own personal dominance, it can manifest in many ways.
The truth. Iblis is a pervasive force it is integral and essential for every human being, it is the root cause of all woes in the world, it is malevolent, vindictive, hate filled, grows strong and powerful through self debasement, cruelty, fear, it dominates the free will of any who remain wilfully ignorant, a person who refuses truth (non-believer in truth). Its only power beyond any you imbibe within yourself is through the results of the actions you commit.
If you devolve into Iblis it is the removal of free will, as it is a driving force of instinctive lusts, free will is derived from the elevation of your emotional state which creates choice and so free will, it is still your will, but shackled to your overwhelming lusts.
Islam is based on the values and development of the emotional energies within your essence, it is not a system that is based on change happening externally, it is totally focused on internal change, this is a foundation of Islam.