Don’t make Shaytan your leader
The story of Adam and Iblis is mentioned often in the Quran, sometimes by a brief reference, and other times taking up a whole page. In Surat al-Hijr, Allah talks about Shaytan’s promise to lead people astray and make evil appear attractive to them, which is a challenge that we face everyday.
Humans can make their own choices
قَالَ رَبِّ بِمَآ أَغْوَيْتَنِى لَأُزَيِّنَنَّ لَهُمْ فِى ٱلْأَرْضِ وَلَأُغْوِيَنَّهُمْ أَجْمَعِينَ إِلَّا عِبَادَكَ مِنْهُمُ ٱلْمُخْلَصِينَ
He said, “My Lord, since You made me go astray, I swear that I shall beautify for them (evils) on the earth, and shall lead all of them astray, except those of Your servants from among them who are chosen (by You).” [15:39-40]
When Allah asked all the angels to prostrate to Adam, but Iblis refused out of his inflated ego, this was the first sin ever committed, and arrogance (kibr) is the biggest sin after shirk. He was told to do a prostration of salutation, like a greeting, to Adam, but Iblis felt he was too good to lower himself to this.
All beings who have been given free will by Allah (i.e. humans and jinn) have also been made accountable for their own actions, and will bear the consequences of them. (Unlike angels who are infallible and always obedient to Allah). We see in the ayah that Shaytan blames Allah for leading him astray, whereas in reality, Allah gave him a choice, and he led himself down the wrong path. Had he followed Allah’s command, he would have been safe. He is playing the blame-game.
He promised Allah he would beautify evil, and we can see the results of this today. For example, in the Iblis-stein files, we hear of crimes that are so horrific we can barely talk about them. This is the fulfilment of Shaytan’s promise.
The ones who are protected
The only people who won’t be led astray are the mukhlasin. There are two authentic narrations with different pronunciations for this word and their meanings are different. Mukhlisin, are those who are sincere, whereas mukhlasin, are those whose sincerity has become their nature and resulted in their becoming Allah’s chosen servants. Every mukhlas (selected person) is mukhlis (sincere) but not every mukhlis (sincere person) is mukhlas (selected).
قَالَ هَـٰذَا صِرَٰطٌ عَلَىَّ مُسْتَقِيمٌ
He (Allah) said, “This is the straight path leading to Me (that a person is chosen by Me through his good deeds). [15:41]
These are the people Iblis can’t touch: their firewalls are too strong, their software is updated too often. This is Allah’s counter-promise: Iblis will beautify evil, but He will protect His mukhlasin.
Don’t stray from the path
إِنَّ عِبَادِى لَيْسَ لَكَ عَلَيْهِمْ سُلْطَـٰنٌ إِلَّا مَنِ ٱتَّبَعَكَ مِنَ ٱلْغَاوِينَ
My servants are such that you have no power over them except those of the deviators who will follow you. [15:42]
Just as this started with Iblis’ choice, the surah then comes back to our choices: whoever chooses to follow Allah’s path will be from the mukhlasin and will be protected. If anyone chooses to go off the path, then it is up to them, Allah will not stop them. Some people will choose to jump over a fence into a minefield, even when there are warning signs all around it, despite Allah’s warnings. So, if you choose to jump, you will bear whatever consequences of your choice.
Don’t follow the footsteps of Shaytan
The bottom line is that Shaytan has no control over you. He himself blamed Allah for his own actions, he didn’t want to carry any responsibility. When you start blaming anyone and everyone except yourself, know that you are following Shaytan’s example.
In Surat an-Nur, Allah says:
يَـٰٓأَيُّهَا ٱلَّذِينَ ءَامَنُوا۟ لَا تَتَّبِعُوا۟ خُطُوَٰتِ ٱلشَّيْطَـٰنِ
O believers! Do not follow the footsteps of Satan. [24:21]
When we hear the word footsteps, we may think of prints in the sand or mud. It’s a visual explanation for something you usually see in front of you from a leader whom you are following. Don’t walk behind Shaytan. Don’t make him your leader.
Take the choice to be among the mukhlasin, the selected, sincere people whose fortress Shaytan can’t penetrate. We ask Allah to make us among the mukhlasin and protect us from Shaytan and our own egos. Ameen.
Ramadan Reflection Night 5 delivered by Shaykh Haytham Tamim. Transcribed by Hana Khan.
The Arrogance of Shaytan, sincerity, and the weight of being chosen – A reflection inspired by the reminder on Surah al-Hijr
By Samia Ahmed
During the Tarawih reminder from Shaykh Haytham Tamim on Surah al-Hijr, I found myself sitting with a thought that felt both heavy and clarifying. The story of Iblis is not simply about disobedience. It is about ego, sincerity, and the reality of choice.
In the Qur’an, when Allah commanded the angels to prostrate to Adam (peace be upon him), they obeyed without hesitation. There was no resistance, no internal argument, no delay. But Iblis refused. He did not deny Allah. He did not question His existence. He questioned His command. “I am better than him.” In that moment, arrogance surfaced. Comparison replaced submission. Ego overrode obedience.
What strikes me every time is that Shaytan was not ignorant. He knew Allah. He had worshipped. He had proximity. Yet when his ego was tested, his worship did not save him. Arrogance nullified it. The inability to bow once sealed his downfall.
After his refusal, he vowed to mislead humanity. He promised to beautify falsehood/evil and approach from every direction. It sounds overwhelming until you notice the limitation he himself admits. He says he will mislead them all except the sincere servants among them. Even Shaytan knows where his power stops.
However, he cannot overpower the selected ones who have sincerity.
This is deeply reassuring, but it is also deeply demanding. Sincerity is not a slogan. It is a state of the heart that seeks Allah alone, acts for Him alone, and returns to Him when it wavers. Shaytan can whisper to ego, inflame insecurity, and exploit pride. But he cannot dominate the heart that is anchored in pure intention.
There is a subtle distinction here that feels important. Every selected person is sincere, but not every sincere person is selected. To be selected by Allah is an honour. It may mean being entrusted with knowledge, influence, leadership, or responsibility. Selection places someone in a position where their choices ripple outward. But selection also brings exposure. The more visible the role, the greater the scrutiny, and the more intensely Shaytan circles. If a selected person loses sincerity, ego quietly enters. And once ego enters, vulnerability begins.
Shaytan’s tragedy was not merely that he sinned. It was that he refused accountability. He justified himself. He blamed destiny. In contrast, Adam (peace be upon him) also made a mistake, but he did not defend himself. He said, “Our Lord, we have wronged ourselves.” One protected his ego. The other protected his relationship with Allah.
This is where human choice becomes sacred. Angels obey without inner conflict. They do not wrestle with pride or desire. Humans do. We stand between pure obedience and arrogant defiance. We have intellect, desire, emotion, and ego. We also have the ability to choose humility over pride, repentance over justification, sincerity over performance.
Because we have choice, we have accountability. Because we have accountability, sincerity matters. It is not automatic. It is exercised daily. Every prayer is a quiet rejection of Shaytan’s refusal. Every sujud is a declaration that nothing within us is above Allah’s command. Every act done purely for Allah weakens his whispers.
Shaytan admitted his limitation. He cannot mislead the sincere. The question is whether we guard that sincerity, especially if Allah entrusts us with responsibility.
May Allah purify our intentions before He elevates us. May He preserve our sincerity if He chooses us for service. May He protect our hearts from subtle arrogance. And may He make us among His sincere servants whom Shaytan cannot overcome.
Ameen.