Protecting our Hearts We protect our hearts by remembering Allah and seeking refuge from Shaytan. The physical heart is protected by the ribcage, and similarly, our spiritual heart is protected by our iman and righteous deeds, which act like a fortress that Satan tries to infiltrate and destroy by taking control over it. Our heart is, therefore, the most valuable yet vulnerable part of us. As humans, we have control over what we permit and allow into our hearts. At times, we let our guard down and allow the enemy to exercise control over our hearts. Satan tries to infiltrate our hearts through doors of anger, lust, arrogance, and envy. Any of these doors could provide a way in f

Signs Shaytan is Working Well 1. There is hatred, anger and ill-feeling between people This can happen between family members, friends, colleagues and the community. People can no longer get along as they used to. 2. Thinking ill of people Seeing the worst of things in people and not have the ability to see the good they bring to the table is one of Shaytan's tricks to drive people apart. 3. Mixed-up priorities Obligations no longer seem like a priority. Serving your guests first seem more important than praying on time. 4. A sense of superiority You feel a sense of superiority and feel better than others. This can be in terms of your possessions or your worship, even. 5

Obedience should inspire gratitude not arrogance Here God delivers two complementary messages: don't follow Satan's footsteps and don't feel superior to those who sin differently than you. First God warns that Satan will only command what is harmful and wrong. But God then turns to the ones who obey and delivers a gentle warning: obedience cannot be a source of superiority to those who fall. It is not your strength or impeccable purity, but God's grace, we are reminded, that kept you away from sin. Let your obedience be cause for gratitude not arrogance. God hears and knows all things and therefore will be the final judge (not you).

In the Quran, Allah reminds us to not follow the footsteps of Shaytan (24:21), for he does not pull you towards evil deeds abruptly, but subtly draw you closer to them with consistency and persistency. When Shaytan lured Prophet Adam AS to disobey Allah, he didn’t say, 'Follow me, so you may disobey Allah.' He said, يٰۤاٰدَمُ هَلۡ اَدُلُّكَ عَلٰى شَجَرَةِ الۡخُلۡدِ وَمُلۡكٍ لَّا يَبۡلٰ Oh, Adam! Shall I direct you to a tree of eternal life and an abiding kingdom? The same way Shaytan had lured Prophet Adam AS to disobey Allah, he lures us to disobey Allah in the very same way. With his sweet talks and false promises, he aims to distract us slowly, but surely. What can we do,