Speech of the King of the Infidels to his followers - (Important and dangerous)

0:01 The month of piety and fasting arrives, the gates of Paradise are opened, the gates of the Blazing Fire are closed, the devils and rebellious jinn are shackled, and a caller of good proclaims: "O seeker of good, come forward!"

0:15 Thus, a vast portion of sinful whispers is cut off, the soul flourishes in the meadows of goodness, and faith is revitalized across the realms of the heart.

0:25 Then this season passes while the servant is in the best of states—and after that, what, one wonders, will happen?

0:34 Ibn al-Qayyim, may Allah have mercy on him, said in his book *Al-Da' wa al-Dawa'*:

0:41 "The king of evil forces advanced with his hosts and armies, and found the heart in its fortress, seated upon the throne of its kingdom,

0:49 its command executed among its helpers, and its troops surrounding it, fighting on its behalf and defending its territory.

0:56 So they were unable to attack it except by inducing betrayal among some of its commanders and troops.

1:02 He asked about the most elite and closest of its soldiers in station,

1:06 and it was said to him: 'It is the soul.'

1:08 So he said to his helpers: 'Approach it through its desires, and see where its inclinations lie and what it loves.

1:15 Promise it that and entice it with false hopes,

1:18 and engrave the image of the beloved within it during its waking and sleeping hours.

1:22 Once it feels secure with it and finds tranquility therein,

1:25 cast upon it the grappling hooks and barbs of lust,

1:29 then drag it with them toward you.

1:31 If it betrays the heart and takes your side against it,

1:35 you will control the outposts of the eye, the ear, the tongue, the mouth, the hand, and the foot.

1:39 So guard these outposts with utmost vigilance,

1:43 for whenever you penetrate through them to the heart, it will either be slain or taken captive,

1:47 or severely wounded with debilitating injuries.

1:49 And do not abandon these outposts,

1:52 nor allow any scouting detachment to enter through them to the heart and expel you from it.

1:56 If you are overcome, strive to weaken and enfeeble that detachment so it cannot reach the heart;

2:02 and if it does reach it, let it reach it so weakened that it avails it nothing.

2:06 Once you have seized these outposts,

2:09 prevent the outpost of the eye from looking with contemplation and taking heed;

2:12 rather, make its looking merely for amusement, fascination, and idle distraction.

2:16 If it manages to steal a glance of admonition, ruin it for it with a glance of heedlessness, lustful admiration, and desire,

2:23 for that is closer to it, more deeply attached to its soul, and easier upon it.

2:27 Focus intently on the outpost of the eye, for through it you will achieve your desire;

2:33 indeed, I have not corrupted the children of Adam with anything like the gaze.

2:36 For through it, I sow the seed of lust in the heart,

2:39 then water it with the water of false hope,

2:42 then continue to promise it and entice it until I strengthen its resolve,

2:46 and lead it by the reins of lust to strip away all restraint.

2:50 So do not neglect the matter of this outpost,

2:52 and corrupt it to the best of your ability,

2:55 and make light of its danger to him,

2:56 and say to him:

2:58 "A mere glance invites you to glorify the Creator and the Incomparable Provider,

3:02 and the beauty of this image

3:04 was only created for the observer to infer through it its Maker;

3:07 Allah did not create your two eyes in vain,

3:10 nor did Allah create this beauty only to veil it from sight."

3:15 Then, prevent the outpost of the ear from receiving anything that would spoil your plans,

3:19 and strive to let nothing enter through it except falsehood,

3:22 for it is light upon the soul,

3:24 and the soul finds it sweet and charming.

3:26 Choose for it the sweetest words that most captivate the minds,

3:30 and blend it thoroughly with whatever the soul desires.

3:33 Cast the word,

3:35 and if you see him listening attentively to it,

3:37 reinforce it with its counterparts.

3:39 Whenever you find him admiring something,

3:42 keep his tongue devoted to mentioning it.

3:44 And beware lest anything of the speech of Allah enter through this outpost,

3:48 or the speech of His Messenger, peace and blessings of Allah be upon him,

3:51 or the speech of sincere advisers.

3:53 But if you are overpowered in that,

3:54 and something of it enters,

3:56 then interpose yourselves between him and his understanding, pondering,

3:59 reflecting upon it, and taking admonition from it—

4:02 either by introducing its contrary,

4:04 or by exaggerating its difficulty and making it seem daunting,

4:07 making him believe that souls have been completely barred from achieving this,

4:10 so there is no way for him to reach it,

4:12 and that it is an unbearable burden upon it that it cannot shoulder, and the like;

4:17 or by belittling its value in the eyes of souls,

4:19 arguing that one’s engagement should instead be with whatever is held in higher esteem among people,

4:23 more prized by them, more novel to them,

4:26 and has a larger market of buyers.

4:27 As for the truth, it is forsaken,

4:29 and whoever speaks it exposes themselves to hostility,

4:32 and worldly gain among people is more worthy of preference, and the like.'

4:36 Thus they present falsehood to him in every mold that he accepts and finds light,

4:41 and they present truth to him in every mold that he hates and finds burdensome.

4:45 And if you wish to see this,

4:47 look at their brethren among the devils of mankind:

4:50 how they present enjoining good and forbidding evil

4:54 in the guise of meddlesome interference,

4:56 tracking people's slips,

4:58 exposing oneself to trials one cannot bear,

5:00 stirring up discord among people, and the like.

5:05 Then he says:

5:06 'Stand guard over the outpost of the tongue,

5:08 for it is the greatest outpost.

5:10 Make it utter speech that harms him and does not benefit him,

5:14 and prevent it from uttering anything that benefits him,

5:17 such as the remembrance of Allah and seeking His forgiveness,

5:19 reciting His Book, advising His servants,

5:22 or speaking with beneficial knowledge.

5:24 You will have two great achievements at this outpost,

5:27 and whichever of them you attain, it does not matter:

5:30 one of them is speaking falsehood,

5:33 for whoever speaks falsehood is a brother of yours,

5:36 and among your greatest soldiers and helpers;

5:38 the second is remaining silent regarding the truth,

5:41 for whoever remains silent regarding the truth is a mute brother of yours,

5:44 just as the former is a speaking brother of yours—

5:47 and perhaps this second brother is more beneficial to you than the other!

5:51 Have you not heard the saying of the sincere counselor:

5:53 "The one who speaks falsehood is a speaking devil,

5:56 and the one who remains silent regarding the truth is a mute devil"?

5:59 So stand constant guard over this outpost,

6:02 lest he speak truth or withhold from falsehood!

6:04 Beautify speaking falsehood for him by every means,

6:07 and terrify him from speaking truth by every means!

6:11 And know, my children,

6:13 that the outpost of the tongue is the one through which I have destroyed the children of Adam,

6:16 and cast them down on their faces into the Fire.

6:19 How many have I slain, captured, and wounded,

6:22 taking them through this very outpost!

6:24 And I give you an instruction, so preserve it:

6:27 let one of you speak a word through the tongue of his human brother,

6:31 while another stands upon the tongue of the listener,

6:33 praising it, glorifying it, marveling at it,

6:37 and asking his brother to repeat it!

6:39 And be helpers against mankind by every means,

6:42 enter upon them through every door,

6:44 and lie in wait for them at every ambush!

6:46 Have you not heard my oath which I swore to their Lord when I said:

6:50 “He said: Now, because Thou hast sent me astray, verily I shall lurk in ambush for them on Thy Right Path.” (7:16)

6:54 “Then I shall come upon them from before them and from behind them and from their right hands and from their left hands, and Thou wilt not find most of them beholden (unto Thee).” (7:17)

6:58 “Then I shall come upon them from before them and from behind them and from their right hands and from their left hands, and Thou wilt not find most of them beholden (unto Thee).” (7:17)

7:00 “Then I shall come upon them from before them and from behind them and from their right hands and from their left hands, and Thou wilt not find most of them beholden (unto Thee).” (7:17)

7:03 "Do you not see that I have lain in wait for the son of Adam on all of his paths?

7:07 If he escapes me on one path, I lie in wait for him on another,

7:11 until I attain my desire from him, or part of it."'

7:14 And the Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings of Allah be upon him, warned them of that,

7:18 and said to them:

7:19 'Indeed, Satan sits in wait for the son of Adam along all his paths.

7:23 He sat in wait for him on the path of Islam,

7:25 and said to him: "Will you submit and leave your religion and your religion?"

7:28 He said to him: "Will you submit and leave your religion and the religion of your forefathers?"

7:32 But he disobeyed him and submitted.

7:34 Then he sat in wait for him on the path of migration,

7:36 and said:

7:37 "Will you migrate and leave your land and your sky?"

7:40 But he disobeyed him and migrated.

7:42 Then he sat in wait for him on the path of jihad, and said:

7:45 "Will you fight, only to be killed, your wealth divided, and your wife married?"

7:49 But he disobeyed him and fought in jihad.'

7:51 So in this manner, lie in wait for them on every path of good:

7:54 if one of them intends to give charity,

7:56 lie in wait for him on the path of charity,

7:58 and say to him within his soul:

8:00 'Will you give away wealth and become like this beggar,

8:03 falling to his level so that you and he are equal?'

8:06 Have you not heard what I cast upon the tongue of a man

8:09 when another asked him for charity,

8:12 and he said:

8:13 'This is our wealth;

8:14 if we give it to you, we will become just like you'?

8:17 And lie in wait for him on the path of Hajj, and say to him:

8:20 'Its road is perilous and arduous,

8:22 and whoever travels it risks the loss of life and wealth.'

8:25 In this manner, lie in wait for him on all paths of good,

8:29 repelling him from them and reminding him of their hardships and perils.

8:33 Then lie in wait for them on the paths of sin,

8:36 beautifying them in the eyes of the children of Adam and in their hearts.

8:39 And make women your greatest helpers in that;

8:43 through their doors enter upon them and beautify them,

8:46 for what an excellent aid they are to you!

8:48 Then hold fast to the outpost of the hands and the feet,

8:51 preventing them from striking out with what harms you or walking toward it.

8:54 And know that your greatest aid in guarding these outposts

8:58 is to make peace with the soul that enjoins evil.

9:00 So assist it and seek its assistance,

9:02 reinforce it and draw strength from it,

9:04 and unite with it in waging war against the tranquil soul.

9:07 Strive to break it and destroy its powers,

9:10 and there is no way to do that

9:12 except by cutting off its sustenance.

9:14 For if its sustenance is cut off,

9:16 the provisions of the soul that enjoins evil will grow strong,

9:18 and its helpers will obey you.

9:20 So dislodge the heart from its fortress,

9:22 dislodge the heart from its fortress,

9:24 strip it of its kingdom,

9:26 and install in its place the soul that enjoins evil.

9:28 For it only commands what you desire and love,

9:32 and will never decree anything you despise,

9:34 while never opposing you in anything you suggest to it;

9:38 rather, whenever you suggest something to it, it hastens to do it.

9:42 If you sense the heart disputing its kingdom,

9:47 and you wish to be secure from that,

9:49 conclude a marriage contract between it and the soul that enjoins evil:

9:51 adorn it, beautify it,

9:53 and show it to it in the finest form a bride can take.

9:57 Say to it: 'Taste the sweetness of this union

10:00 and the delight of enjoying this bride,

10:02 just as you have tasted the flavor of war

10:04 and endured the bitterness of stabbing and striking.

10:07 Then weigh between the pleasure of this peace

10:10 and the bitterness of that warfare;

10:12 so let war lay down its burdens,

10:14 for it is not a matter of a single day that quickly passes,

10:16 but rather a war that continues until death,

10:19 and your strength is too weak to sustain ongoing war.'

10:22 And seek help, O my children, through two mighty armies

10:25 with which you will never be defeated:

10:27 one of them is the army of heedlessness—

10:29 Render the hearts of the children of Adam heedless of Allah the Exalted

10:32 and of the Abode of the Hereafter by every possible means,

10:34 for you have nothing more effective than that in achieving your objective.

10:38 For when the heart becomes heedless of Allah the Exalted,

10:41 you will gain full mastery over it and its faculties.

10:43 The second army is that of lusts and desires;

10:45 so beautify them in their hearts,

10:47 beautify them in their hearts,

10:49 make them attractive in their eyes,

10:51 and assail them with these two armies,

10:54 for you have no weapons more devastating against the children of Adam than these two.

10:57 Use desires to foster heedlessness,

10:59 and use heedlessness to feed desires,

11:01 and bind the heedless closely to one another.

11:03 And if you see a gathering convened upon what harms you—namely the remembrance of Allah

11:07 and the study of His commands, prohibitions, and religion—

11:10 and you are unable to disperse them,

11:12 then seek assistance against them through idle men of their own human kind;

11:15 bring them close to them,

11:17 and use them to distract and disrupt their gathering.

11:19 In summary,

11:20 match every matter with its proper counterpart,

11:22 approach every single human being through the doorway of his own desires and inclinations,

11:27 aid him in pursuing them,

11:29 and become his willing helpers in fulfilling them.

11:32 And since Allah has commanded them to exercise patience,

11:35 to endure against you, to outlast you in perseverance,

11:37 and to station themselves vigilantly at the frontlines against you,

11:39 then you too must be patient, outlast them in perseverance,

11:41 and station yourselves vigilantly against them at those very outposts.

11:43 Seize your opportunities against them in moments of lust and rage,

11:46 for you will never ensnare the children of Adam at moments more vulnerable than these two.

11:50 Indeed, I only expelled their two parents from Paradise through lust,

11:53 and I only cast enmity among their offspring through anger;

11:57 for through anger, their ties of kinship were severed,

11:59 their blood was shed,

12:01 and through it, one of the sons of Adam murdered his brother.

12:04 And Allah has instructed them to seek help against you through patience and prayer,

12:08 so stand as a barrier between them and that,

12:10 make them completely forgetful of both,

12:12 and employ lust and rage as your chief weapons against them.

12:15 The most potent and lethal of your weapons against them

12:18 are heedlessness and following base desires,

12:20 while the greatest of their weapons against you, and their most fortified strongholds,

12:23 are the remembrance of Allah and opposing base desires.

12:26 So if you see a man who consistently opposes his base desires,

12:29 flee even from his shadow and do not approach him.'

12:32 End of his words, slightly adapted.

12:35 The point is that a person must understand the schemes of his enemies

12:38 so that he may remain constantly on guard against them,

12:40 so that he may remain constantly on guard against them.

Speech of the King of the Infidels to his followers - (Important and dangerous)

Transcript