Satan is the eternal and primordial enemy of mankind. Following the creation of our supreme ancestor, Hazrat Adam (علیہ السلام), and upon refusing to prostrate before him, Satan was cast out and banished from the Divine Court. Since that moment, he has firmly resolved to misguide the children of Adam from the straight path (Sirat-al-Mustaqeem), incite them toward the commission of sins (Ma’asi), and drag them into Hell alongside himself.
The nets of his cunning plots and deceptions number in the thousands. Some of these snares are dense, overt, and visible, while others are exceedingly subtle, intricate, and hidden—from which evasion and safety are absolutely impossible without the direct Assistance of Allah Ta’ala.
The Legend of Hazrat Ghaus-e-Azam (قدس سرہ العزیز)
It is narrated that after completing forty years of rigorous spiritual austerities (Riyazat), Hazrat Sayyiduna Ghaus-e-Azam Muhyiddin Sheikh Abdul Qadir Jilani (قدس سرہ العزیز) stepped outside his spiritual seclusion cell (Hujrah). Upon his exit, the entire space became brilliantly illuminated. Utilizing his internal spiritual insight (Noor-e-Batin) and outward religious knowledge (Ilm-e-Zahir), he instantly discerned that this luminosity was not the True Divine Light (Noor-e-Haqeeqi), but rather a satanic illusion and sorcery.
He immediately recited the Ta’awwudh (seeking refuge in Allah) and La Hawla, causing the false light to instantly vanish. He then heard the voice of Satan echoing: “O Abdul Qadir! Your knowledge has saved you.”
The great saint (علیہ الرحمہ) replied:
“O Iblis! Are you attempting to deceive me yet again? ‘Asamani Rabbi la ilmi’ — My Lord has protected me, not my knowledge! If Allah does not bestow His Grace, what can knowledge possibly achieve? O Iblis, you too possessed an abundance of knowledge; why did your knowledge not save you when you committed disobedience against the Lord?”
Upon hearing this, Satan rubbed his hands in frustration, gnashed his teeth, and retreated in deep sorrow, muttering: “Alas, my second strike has also gone completely in vain!”
The Discipleship of Hazrat Junayd Baghdadi (رضی اللہ عنہ)
In another profound narrative, a disciple (Mureed) of Hazrat Sultan-ut-Taifah Junayd Baghdadi (رضی اللہ عنہ), while traversing the spiritual path (Rah-e-Suluk), began witnessing various mystical wonders (Aja’ibat). He started recounting these nightly occurrences to his close companions every morning, saying: “Tonight I toured Paradise, today I drank water from the celestial river of Paradise, and today I ate the fruits of Heaven.”
When this news reached Hazrat Junayd Baghdadi (رضی اللہ عنہ), he insightfully remarked: “He has fallen straight into the clutches of Satan.” By that time, the disciple had become so overly confident in his own sainthood (Wilayat) that he abandoned visiting and serving his spiritual master (Peer)—which was precisely Satan’s ultimate objective: to isolate and completely destroy him.
However, a perfect spiritual guide (Peer-e-Kamil) possesses immense compassion and love for his disciples purely for the sake of Allah (Bawajah-Allah), and honors the sacred bond of holding their hand. To rescue his disciple from utter ruin, the Master personally visited him and inquired about his state. The disciple submitted: “Master! I witness all of this in a state of absolute wakefulness (Halat-e-Bedarie). Mounted upon the celestial steed (Buraq), I enter Paradise, consume the fruits therein, drink the water of the River of Kausar, and behold the heavenly youths and maidens (Hoor-o-Ghilman).”
Hazrat Junayd Baghdadi (رضی اللہ عنہ) calmly replied: “This is indeed a matter of great joy, but do not succumb to the cunning deceptions of Satan. Tonight, when you journey for this tour and are blessed with these bounties, recite aloud: ‘La Hawla wa la Quwwata illa billahil Aliyyil Azeem’. If that Paradise is authentic and true, it will remain exactly as it is.”
The disciple asserted: “Your Eminence, it is an absolute reality; I cannot be deceived by Satan. However, in strict accordance with your command, I shall certainly perform this act and see.”
The following night, he went out for his customary tour of Paradise. Mounted upon the Buraq, he entered the celestial realm. As the heavenly fruits were presented before him, the advice of his Peer flashed in his mind. He immediately recited La Hawla in a loud voice.
Instantly, neither Paradise nor the Buraq, nor the fruits remained. In place of the Buraq stood a donkey; instead of the gardens of Paradise lay a massive heap of garbage and filth; and in place of the heavenly fruits, pure excrement and foul refuse were filled inside a dirty, broken earthen shard.
The next morning, the disciple presented himself in the court of Hazrat Junayd Baghdadi (رضی اللہ عنہ), narrated the entire ordeal, and renewed his oath of spiritual allegiance (Tajdeed-e-Bai’at).