...particular warning from the angel as augmented by the presence of the devil... to remind me that as long as I'm in their midst I will have this devil lurking about me placing me in danger.
OK - I've recently been attending friday prayers at a local Islamic Center (of Sunni dominance) to meet other Muslims (since it's temptingly close to my home... ) and thus broaden my understanding of Islam - figured it would enhance my using of just the english translations of the Qur'an (and logic) to understand Islam. However, I have noticed this experience seems to expose me to the more 'backward' aspects of 'islamic' customs (such as the hadith and misinterprettion stuff that I dispute, not "Qur'an only" stuff thart inspires me), all of which I have so far been able to pretty much avoid getting dragged into.
Could be that the Angel warning of the devil's pursuit of me was to prepare me for this, knowing I had recently acknowledged in my heart and mind that I was Muslim, it was also warning me that the devil could be pursuing me even around practicing Muslims where I thought it should be free of the devil's influence...
Fortunately, I've also been searching a bit further than the nearby masjid, and have attended meetings of the "Muslims for Progressive Values" in Atlanta, where I don't see so much blind following of the hadith customs... but still I try to stay dilligently devoted to just the Qur'an (and God's direct inspirations) and hope to avoid straying from God's intended path. hail
