notifications_active Weekly Meshkat-e Noor Session: Thursdays at 20:30 at Haj Reza Mosque
Esteemed teacher, is it possible that Satan might completely erase a sin from someone’s mind so that they do not seek forgiveness for it?
On the other hand, God reminds believers of their sins so that they will seek forgiveness for them and leave this world purified.
It would seem, then, that Satan has no influence over this matter. Could it be that the person simply falls into forgetfulness?
Forgetting a sin and, consequently, forgetting to repent of it is among the worst forms of forgetfulness and one of Satan’s strongest ways of gaining influence over the human heart. By bringing sins to mind, God creates the opportunity for seeking forgiveness, so that a person may leave this world purified—for Satan has no power over this matter.
Forgetfulness is one of the forces of ignorance. Its ascendancy is a clear sign that the ego and Satan have gained the upper hand. To forget one’s sins—and, as a consequence, to forget to repent—is among the worst forms of forgetfulness and one of Satan’s strongest holds over the human heart. The guardian angels, sent by God Most High, are charged with admonishing us, counselling us, and reminding us of our covenants and promises. Yet Allah, blessed and exalted is He, is closer to the hearts entrusted to the angels and to the truth of what it means to be human. He is also closer to us than Satan, with all his tricks and temptations. The fact that human beings fall into sin shows how heedlessly they turn away from divine inspirations.
النحل : 90 إن الله یأمر بالعدل و الإحسان و إیتاء ذی القربى و ینهى عن الفحشاء و المنکر و البغی یعظکم لعلکم تذکرون
Surely God commands justice, kindness, and giving to relatives their due—their own rights and those of the Prophet’s infallible kin—and forbids shameful deeds, wrongdoing, and aggression. He admonishes you, so that you may take heed.
البقره : 268 الشیطان یعدکم الفقر و یأمرکم بالفحشاء و الله یعدکم مغفره منه و فضلا و الله واسع علیم
Satan threatens you with poverty whenever you give and urges you to commit indecency, while God promises you forgiveness from Him and abundance. God is All-Encompassing, All-Knowing.
النور : 21 یا أیها الذین آمنوا لا تتبعوا خطوات الشیطان و من یتبع خطوات الشیطان فإنه یأمر بالفحشاء و المنکر و لو لا فضل الله علیکم و رحمته ما زکى منکم من أحد أبدا و لکن الله یزکی من یشاء و الله سمیع علیم
O you who believe, do not follow Satan’s footsteps. Whoever follows Satan’s footsteps will surely be urged by him to commit indecency and wrongdoing. Were it not for God’s grace and mercy upon you, none of you would ever have been purified of corruption in belief, character, and conduct. But God purifies whom He wills, and God is All-Hearing, All-Knowing.