The Gates Through Which Satan Penetrates the Human Being
Satan, the most relentless and insidious enemy of humankind in this world, strives with unyielding persistence to bring down the fortress of the qalb (the heart). The most effective weapons Satan uses to ensnare humans are the never-ending desires and whims of the nafs (the lower self). "What has Satan not done to you?.. He made you love falsehood. He adorned evil deeds for you. He even infiltrated your prayer." Satan does not conquer by force from the outside, but rather seizes the heart from within by provoking a person's own weaknesses, arrogance, worldly ambition, and desire for praise. The fact that he can inject worldly worries and commercial calculations into our qalb even as we stand in prayer is the clearest evidence of how deeply he has infiltrated us.
The Importance of Struggling Against the Nafs
Victory over Satan is first and foremost achieved by defeating the nafs, his ally within us. Satan can very easily subjugate a weakened and undisciplined nafs to his command. ʿAbd al-Qādir al-Geylānī (may Allah sanctify his secret) describes this relentless battle as follows: "Seek help for the struggle against your nafs... Satan is imprisoned, nothing is given into his hand. And he cannot roam around to deceive that servant." As the servant resists the vain desires (passions) of the nafs, restraining it through hunger, little sleep, and constant worship, all the paths by which Satan reaches that heart are closed. When the nafs is transformed into an obedient mount, Satan's whispers can no longer enter that fortress.
Seeking Refuge in Allah and the Armor of Taqwa
It is impossible for a person to succeed in this struggle against the invisible enemy alone; one must seek refuge (istiaza) in Allah, the Possessor of Absolute Power. "Do not be deceived by Satan's blowing. If an arrow is shot from the nafs, do not collapse... Seek refuge in Allah from the nafs and evil companions; ask for help. You cannot cope with so many enemies, so always seek His help." Taqwa (God-consciousness and avoidance of prohibitions) is the strongest armor a believer can wear. When the servant devotes his qalb solely to the remembrance (dhikr) of the Truth and acts with ikhlas (sincerity), Satan's arrows cannot harm him. For indeed, Satan himself has confessed that he has no authority over the sincere servants.