The Holy Quran: A Divine Guide Identifying the Enemies of Humanity and Providing Ample Guidance to Safeguard Against Their Mischief

I seek refuge in Allah from Satan, the outcast.

In the name of Allah, the Compassionate, the Merciful.

Praise is to Allah, Lord of the Worlds. I believe that there is no god but Allah, the Sovereign and the Manifest Truth, and that Muhammad, our master, is His servant, Messenger, and Last Prophet.

O Allah! Confer Your salat and blessings upon Muhammad and the Family of Muhammad as You conferred Your salat and blessings upon Ibrahim and the Family of Ibrahim. You are Owner of Praise, Owner of Glory! And be pleased with Muhammad's good companions and all Your righteous servants and mujahidin.

O Allah! Guide us and grant us acceptance, for You are the Hearing, the Knowing; accept our repentance, for You are the Relenting and the Merciful.

Brothers and sisters, peace be upon you and the mercy of Allah and His blessings.

In our discussion of the blessed verses from Surah Ash-Shu'ara, where Allah recounts the story of His Prophet Ibrahim (PBUH) and one of the defining moments of his mission to convey the divine message and call his people to worship Allah, believe in Him alone, and renounce idolatry, we examined his words: {'He is the One Who created me, and He [alone] guides me'}[Ash-Shu'ara 26:78]. Guidance is of profound significance: It leads either to a person's success, salvation, happiness, and everlasting reward in the Hereafter, or—if neglected—to misery in this world and eternal loss in the next (May Allah forbid). Given its great importance, the Holy Quran discusses this theme extensively and from many perspectives.

In our previous lecture, we discussed how man has been blessed with divine guidance since the very beginning of human existence. Adam (PBUH) was a prophet, and this divine guidance continued through the succession of messengers, prophets, and the scriptures revealed by Allah. After them, guidance was sustained by the inheritors of the divine books—the rightly guided, who lead others by these scriptures in accordance with Allah's established way of guiding His servants. Prophethood concluded with the Last Prophet, Muhammad (PBUH&F), and revelation came to an end with the Holy Quran, which confirms the messages that came before it and holds authority over them, as Allah states, {'as a confirmation of previous scriptures and a supreme authority on them'}[Al-Ma'idah 5:48]. So the Holy Quran is the guiding scripture for humanity throughout this final era of life, until the Day of Resurrection.

We also discussed some of the features of the Holy Quran in brief, as it possesses vast and numerous features. One of the aspects we discussed was the need for Muslims to follow the guidance of the Holy Quran in the face of those threats posed by their enemies. This is an important and urgent matter, for Muslims today are enduring real hardship and confronting grave threats. The main cause of this is the lack of a clear understanding of how to respond to these threats and what the correct action should be. This issue has a profound and tangible impact on the Muslim Ummah.

Two important principles we must clearly understand

The Holy Quran sets out two essential principles to show that Allah (Glory be to Him) has never left us without guidance, as this is a weighty matter. The first appears in His words: {'And Allah wants no injustice to the worlds'}[Ali 'Imran 3:108]. This is a fundamental part of our faith in Allah, and we must understand it well. Allah, with His immense mercy, would never leave us exposed to injustice without guidance to protect us, without accountability, or without His care. It is a vital principle, and for this reason Allah affirms it repeatedly in the Holy Quran: He (the Almighty) says, {'And Allah wants no injustice to the worlds'}[Ali 'Imran 3:108], and He also says, {'And Allah wants no injustice to His subjects'}[Ghafir 40:31].

Accordingly, through His guidance, His law, and His providence, Allah does not want injustice for His subjects. He neither wrongs them nor wishes them to be wronged. Therefore, He has guided them to what can grant them strength and protection from injustice. He has also assigned responsibilities to them to enable them to uphold justice and confront wrongdoing.

As the Upholder of Equity, Allah has made upholding equity one of the central goals of His message. He says in the Holy Quran, {'Allah [Himself] bears witness that there is no god except Him—and so are the angels and people of knowledge—the Upholder of Equity'}[Ali 'Imran 3:18]. And He affirms that equity is a key priority of His revelations to humankind: {'Indeed, We sent Our messengers with clear proofs, and with them We sent down the Scripture and the balance [of justice] so that people may administer justice. And We sent down iron with its great might, benefits for humanity, and means for Allah to distinguish those who stand up for Him and His messengers on faith. Surely Allah is Powerful and Mighty'}[Al-Hadid 57:25]. Indeed, Allah (Glory be to Him) is the One Who upholds equity, and He does not wish His subjects to suffer injustice. For this reason, He has given them complete guidance and set for them laws and duties that enable them to combat oppression and establish justice in life.

As for the second principle, Allah (Glory be to Him) says, {'Allah knows best who your enemies are'}[An-Nisa 4:45]. Allah (Glory be to Him) knows best who our enemies are. Indeed, He is most knowledgeable about our true enemy—the one who poses a real threat to us and whom we must recognise as an enemy. Yet Muslims today often struggle even to identify who the enemy is. Even when facing an enemy whose enmity is without equal and beyond doubt, they are still unsure whether to regard that enemy as an enemy or a friend! Some even attempt to portray it as a friend. He knows best what is the nature of these enemies? How serious is their danger? What is the proper way to guard against their harm? Allah says in the Holy Quran, {'Allah knows best who your enemies are. And Allah is sufficient as a Guardian, and He is sufficient as a Helper'}[An-Nisa 4:45]. As we see here, Allah (Glory be to Him) does not merely tell us who the enemy is, how dangerous he is, what his tactics are, or when he can harm us, but also offers His guidance and His support, showing us how to face this enemy and assuring us of His support: {'And Allah is sufficient as a Guardian, and He is sufficient as a Helper'}[An-Nisa 4:45].

The outcast Satan: The foremost enemy of humanity and the leader of the misguided!

Satan is humanity's number one enemy, for this outcast being is at the forefront of those who walk in the path of misguidance, the path that runs counter to the path of guidance and the straight way. His goal is to bring about the greatest harm to humans and deliver the most ruinous blow. His hatred is fierce and unrelenting. That is why he does not settle for minor harm; rather, he seeks to inflict the worst kind of harm, to plunge people into the gravest danger, and to steer them towards a path of eternal loss. This is what he ultimately wants to achieve: to plunge man into an eternal, terrifying torment and block him from the path of goodness, success, salvation, happiness, and spiritual growth.

His story appears frequently in the Holy Quran, in alignment with the divine principle that Allah knows our enemy better than we do and reveals everything we need to know about him:

• Who this enemy is,
• How grave his threat is,
• How we can protect ourselves from his harm,
• The precise reason behind his hatred for mankind,
• The intensity and scale of his enmity,
• When enmity began and how long it will last.

The Holy Quran discussed all of this in detail, including his antagonistic strategy, how he targets humans, and the correct way to confront him and protect ourselves from his influence.

Allah (Glory be to Him) made it clear in the Holy Quran that Satan relies on misleading: {'Satan said, “By Your Glory! I will certainly mislead them all, except for Your sincere servants among them"'}[Sad 38:82-83]. Why is that? It is because misleading people away from guidance is what can bring about their loss. This enables him to divert them from the straight path—the path that leads to the ultimate reward of triumph, success, and eternal happiness, and that grants them Allah's support and guidance to fulfil their responsibilities in life. Therefore, Satan actively seeks to mislead humanity in faith, morality, and all aspects of life, as he said, {'I will certainly mislead them all'}—in another verse, he said, {'I will certainly mislead them and delude them'}[An-Nisa 4:119]. Misguidance is a grave and all-encompassing means of steering humanity away from the path of guidance and thus consigning them to loss.

Allah (Glory be to Him) also relates another statement by Satan in the Holy Quran: {'I will surely sit in wait for them on Your straight path. I will approach them from their front and their back and from their right and their left, and then You will find most of them ungrateful'}[Al-A'raf 7:16-17]. This means that his plan is to divert people from the straight path of Allah—but why? It is in order to mislead them and ensure their loss and misery. The Holy Quran repeatedly recounts how Satan began targeting humankind, starting with Adam (PBUH), and how he worked to expel him from the Garden so that he would face hardship.

Despite the tremendous warnings, so many people are fooled by Satan—Incredibly surprising!

Despite everything revealed about him in the divine scriptures and the warnings delivered by the prophets and the righteous—who warned people of him and clarified his wickedness, danger, enmity, hatred, and plan to plunge humankind into loss— unfortunately, Satan has managed to deceive most people. They obey him and align themselves with him. This is a truly baffling and deeply alarming issue in human reality!

Allah reveals in the Holy Quran how profound the loss suffered by humanity as a result of allying with the enemy whom Allah has warned them about, obeying him in disobedience to Allah, turning away from divine guidance, and following the path of misguidance to which this enemy (Satan) calls.

On the Day of Resurrection, Allah will call out to humanity, {'Did I not command you, O Children of Adam, not to worship Satan, for he is truly your sworn enemy, but to worship Me [alone]? This is the straight path. And he had already led astray from among you much of creation. Did you not have any sense?'}[Ya-Sin 36:60-62]. The Holy Quran also speaks of the immense loss suffered by many for having followed Satan and obeyed him: Allah (Glory be to Him) says, {'I will surely fill up Jahannam with you and whoever follows you from among them, all together'}[Sad 38:85]. Jahannam will be filled with those humans who, in this world, chose to side with their sworn enemy—the one whose very goal was to lead them to Jahannam and the severest punishment. For that is what can satisfy his grudge, his hatred, and his enmity towards the children of Adam: to bring them to the harshest, everlasting punishment, to the fire of Jahannam. This is the greatest blow he can inflict upon humankind—an incomparable loss, and suffering beyond measure.

With that said, Allah (Glory be to Him) has set out His proof, issued His warnings, clarified the truth, and even provided many details, including those related to the life to come. After recounting how Satan refused to prostrate to Adam and nurtured resentment for being commanded to do so, Allah (Glory be to Him) warns us in the Holy Quran about Satan: {'… except for Iblees. He was of the jinn and disobeyed the command of his Lord. Then will you take him and his descendants as guardians other than Me while they are enemies to you? What an evil alternative for the wrongdoers'} [Al-Kahf, 18:50]. This is the essence of loss: to align yourself with a resentful enemy that seeks to drag you into everlasting misery, profound and terrifying ruin, and immense loss—to the fire of Jahannam. This is a grave calamity!

To align oneself with Satan is itself a loss, for he, as Allah has shown us, strives to mislead, tempt, and corrupt people. Once he succeeds, he begins using them on the path of deviation, turning their lives into a course of misguidance, corruption, evil, crime, tyranny, and wrongdoing. He pushes them to direct all their abilities and energies into the very direction he pursues—a direction steeped in misguidance, temptation, corruption, crime, injustice, and evil. Thus, attachment to him is ruin, and this is how he deals with whoever follows him, obeys him, or worships him—to worship him is to give precedence to obedience to him over obedience to Allah and to turn away from the divine path and follow the whisperings of Satan and his path—the path of evil, crime, misguidance, and corruption.

Satan's followers: What defines them and how they seek to bring misery upon Humanity

Those who align themselves with Satan become, in turn, a source of evil, crime, corruption, and injustice—the very paths Satan tempts them to follow. Their activity in this life becomes marked by crime, as they are criminals who commit all kinds of crimes. They are corrupt and misled individuals who seek to corrupt and mislead others and pursue evil activities in life. In fact, their actions reveal the kind of misery Satan seeks to bring upon human society, for no one else has caused as much harm to this life as they have. Allah (Glory be to Him) has laid down the path of guidance that grants humankind happiness and goodness. Yet, those who aligned themselves with Satan, worshipped him, and followed his criminal, corrupt, and misleading path have darkened the face of life. They have filled life with injustice, corruption, and tyranny and brought misery upon humanity, acting as a source of evil, crime, oppression, and corruption. For this reason, the Holy Quran refers to them as 'the followers of Satan'. While they exist in many groups, each with different categories and labels—the sinful, the disbelieving, the criminals, the hypocrites—they are all united under this one description: 'the followers of Satan'.

The Holy Quran clearly defines these groups in many verses, detailing their traits, actions, behaviours, psychologies, orientations, and positions. The activities they pursue mirror the very activities of Satan:

• Just as Satan says, {'I will certainly mislead them'}[An-Nisa 4:119], those who follow him engage in misleading activities.
• In the same way that Satan seeks to corrupt and tempt humans, his followers strive to corrupt others and spread corruption, which is a way of life for them, having themselves become corrupt.
• The same applies to wrongdoing, for it is a typical practice for them; they overstep Allah's bounds, oppressing His servants. At the same time, those who follow them are treading the same path.

Thus, they have become agents of evil in real life. Satan drives them, and they today form large networks within human society, engaged in aggressive Satanic activities that target humanity. From the very beginning, Satan has relied on them to transform the reality of life for people into a negative one through their actions.

{'Allah responded, “Go! Whoever of them follows you, Jahannam will surely be the reward for all of you, an ample reward”'}[Al-Isra 17:63]. Nothing but Jahannam should await those who choose to follow Satan—their outcast, contemptible, and malicious enemy, with all his arrogance, misguidance, corruption, and evil—and who turn away from following Allah: the Lord of all worlds, the Bestower, the Generous, the Great, the One with the Most Beautiful Names, and the true source of all blessings upon humankind.

{'And incite whoever you can of them with your voice, mobilise against them all your cavalry and infantry, share with them in wealth and children, and make them promises. But Satan promises them nothing but delusion'}[Al-Isra 17:64]. Therefore, all the followers of Satan in this life—regardless of their various categories, types, and forms—are nothing but an extension of Satan's evil, misguidance, corruption, hostility, malice, and criminality; they have become mere instruments of Satan himself.

Satan's most dangerous followers: The evil faction from the People of the Scripture!

The list mentioned in the Holy Quran is explicit—as we have already said—clearly identifying these groups by particular traits. At the top of that list—those Allah has warned about in the Holy Quran, highlighting their evil, wickedness, and danger—is the malicious faction among the People of the Scripture: the Jews and those Christians who ally themselves with them. The Holy Quran makes it plain that they are the most misguided and most unjust; in other words, they are among the most dangerous and the worst followers of Satan, those most devoted to Satanic pursuits and activities in human society. They are a major and perilous source of evil for humanity, serving as an extension of Satan's evil through their criminality, corruption, injustice, and hostility.

That is why when Allah (the Almighty) tells us about them in the Holy Quran and reveals what they intend for us, He says, {'And they want you, too, to stray from the path'}[An-Nisa 4:44]—this is exactly what Satan seeks for humans. He wants them to go astray in every aspect of life, to be lost in all matters: in their beliefs, in their religious affiliation, in the various paths they take in life. He seeks to turn them away from every path of goodness, success, dignity, prosperity, and righteousness, and to drive them instead towards the wrong path—the one that leads to nothing but loss and ruin.

Allah says about them, {'And they strive to spread corruption in the land. And Allah does not like corruptors'}[Al-Ma'idah 5:64]. This is, in fact, one of the most significant Satanic activities—something Satan himself relentlessly pursues. So they are working in exactly that same Satanic direction. Allah also says about them, {'If you were to obey a group of those who were given the scripture, they would turn you back from belief to disbelief'}[Ali 'Imran 3:100]. And this, too, is exactly what Satan seeks: to make even those who have taken the path of faith turn back from it into disbelief.

The Holy Quran lays bare their intense enmity and malice towards the believers. This is a Satanic trait, for Satan himself is deeply spiteful towards the believers: {'You will surely find the most serious of mankind in enmity to the believers to be the Jews'}[Al-Ma'idah 5:82]. The Holy Quran reveals their deep malice, as Allah says, {'Their only desire is to see you suffer'}[Ali 'Imran 3:118]. This shows their eagerness for Muslims to suffer every kind of hardship, striving with determination to inflict the greatest possible harm. Allah also says, {'Hatred has already appeared from their mouths, and what their breasts conceal is greater'}[Ali 'Imran 3:118]. He further says, {'But when they are alone, they bite their fingertips in rage at you'}[Ali 'Imran 3:119]. And He says, {'Neither those who disbelieve from the People of the Scripture nor the polytheists wish that any good should be sent down to you from your Lord'}[Al-Baqarah 2:105]. The Holy Quran contains many verses that speak of them; these are just a few examples.

Allah provides in the Holy Quran a precise diagnosis of them: what they desire, what they are like, what they may do, what they aim to achieve, and what will become of people if they do not stand up to resist their evil. He has also clarified how we ought to be in facing them. He even laid bare their inner feelings towards people and the believers. The Holy Quran speaks about them extensively and in great detail, across many verses, and even explains how to confront them and what can protect the Ummah from their harm and danger.

He also exposed their methods, even their soft war that corrupts and misleads people. It is a dangerous war against the Ummah, a war that is already in full swing. When some look at the current state of the Islamic world and observe the military war being carried out on Gaza, Yemen, Lebanon, and parts of Syria through destruction, killing, and the use of missiles and bombs, they might believe that the rest of the Ummah live in peace and stability, viewing the threat posed by the Jews as merely targeted aggression towards specific countries through missiles and bombs. As a result, they become obsessed with how they can be spared from all of that.

Their war is being waged relentlessly against the rest of the Islamic world and the Arab countries with methods even more dangerous than bombs and missiles. For example, the Gulf states, Egypt, the Maghreb countries, and the rest of the Islamic world are all targeted through a very intense warfare: the soft, corrupting, and misleading war. They pursue hostile and dangerous programmes and make a lot of progress because there are those who yield to them, much like yielding to Satan: serving the enemy's objectives and fulfilling his goals. One of their key focuses is to promote misguidance, as they work to influence and reshape religious discourse, educational curricula, political views, and more. They also maintain a persistent effort to spread moral corruption, with many programs and activities designed for that very purpose.

Take for example what is happening in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. There is a substantial and hostile Jewish campaign underway. Yet, the regime there, its allies, and those who submit to and follow it—because of their extreme foolishness, terrible misguidance, and deviation from the guidance of Allah, the Almighty—imagine themselves to be on the right path as they bow to every Jewish attempt to mislead and corrupt them. It is like someone following Satan with ease, thinking he is fulfilling his own desires, when in reality he is heading straight for loss.

The Jews keep pursuing hostile activities that constitute a profound and immense danger to others. In fact, such activities are relentless, producing results and ultimately paving the way for profound misery. This ultimately paves the way for their complete control over these lands effortlessly and without resistance. For, when they have driven a people to the depths of psychological and moral decay, how can such a people ever stand up to their enemy? To do so requires principles, morals, values, zeal, might, dignity, and honour—but all such foundations will have been eroded. The result will be a people who are corrupt, depraved, frivolous, and lost, possessing no principles, values, morals, or sound beliefs and views. What remains will be humans who have been stripped of their very human, spiritual, and moral essence, fitting the image the Jews have of other people: animals in human form they can exploit or kill as they like.

They are moving in all directions, and Allah has warned about them, making it clear that their ultimate purpose is to mislead and corrupt people. They want to turn people from the principles and values of this religion and corrupt them culturally and intellectually. All this constitutes profoundly hostile acts and poses a grave threat to the Ummah, for being influenced by such activities means losing both this life and the next—even one's future that is yet to come on the Day of Resurrection.

Allah has provided ample guidance in the Quran to protect us from their evil. Will anyone take heed?

To protect the believers from such harm and grant them strength, Allah (Glory be to Him) has set forth ample guidance in the Holy Quran. However, they do not receive only guidance but also support and care from Him, as He says, {'but sufficient is your Lord as a Guide and Helper'}[Al-Furqan 25:31]. Indeed, He provides guidance and support to those who follow His guidance.

Muslims need look no further than what Surah Ali 'Imran presented in a single page and a half, for therein lies a comprehensive programme:

• Allah sets out what they intend for us as Muslims—how they wish us to become an ummah subservient to them, even as they seek to make us turn back into disbelief, abandon the path of faith, and reject the principles and values of Islam—whether by renouncing the faith entirely or by retaining the outward identity while repudiating its principles and replacing them with other alternatives.
• Then He guides us to what can protect our Ummah and make it mighty and powerful.

All of this is presented in just a page and a half, starting with the verse {'If you were to yield to a group of those who were given the scripture'}[Ali 'Imran 3:100], which comes at the end of the first page, and concluding with the result that the Ummah can reach if it follows that divine programme, as He (the Almighty) declares, {'They can never inflict harm on you, except a little annoyance. But if they meet you in battle, they will flee and they will have no helpers'}[Ali 'Imran 3:111].

On another page in Surah Al-Ma'idah, Allah (Glory be to Him) clarifies the gravity of their threat, forbids allegiance to them, and speaks about sets out the dangers of aligning oneself with them, for it means aligning with an enemy and enables them to pursue their aims against you with ease. This will not change their antagonistic stance but rather give them power over you. Allah (Glory be to Him) also refutes the justifications advanced by those who align themselves with them, exposing them and the real motivation behind their loyalty. In addition, He clarifies the right path for confronting their evil and danger.

This guidance extends from the verse, {'O believers! Take neither Jews nor Christians as guardians. They are guardians of each other. Whoever takes them as guardians becomes one of them'}[Al-Ma'idah 5:51], through to, {'O believers! Whoever among you abandons their religion, Allah will replace them with others who are loved by Him and love Him'}[Al-Ma'idah 5:54], and concluding with His affirmation: {'Then, it is the party of Allah that is the predominant'}[Al-Ma'idah 5:56].

If this were the only guidance in the Holy Quran, it would be sufficient. Despite that, this passage is only part of a much broader discourse and comprehensive guidance capable of granting the Ummah might and strength to repel their evil even at the global stage. This does not only enable the Ummah to defend itself but also rescue the rest of humanity from their harm.

Allah (Glory be to Him) makes clear in the Holy Quran that He grants guidance, care, support, and victory, for He is the One Who holds sovereignty over the heavens and the earth:

• He promises victory, as He says, {'If you support Allah, He will grant you victory and strengthen your foothold'}[Muhammad 47:7]. 
• He pledges constant guidance that extends to every circumstance and detail through His book and His light, as He affirms, {'with which Allah guides those who seek His pleasure to the ways of peace'}[Al-Maidah 5:16], and also says, {'Whoever holds firmly to Allah is surely guided to the straight path'}[Ali 'Imran 3:101]. 
• He offers us a mission destined for victory, pledging His support, for He says, {'It is He who has sent His Messenger with guidance and the religion of truth to manifest it over all religion, even to the dismay of those who associate others with Allah'}[At-Tawbah 9:33]. 

Therefore, our Ummah has suffered tremendous losses due to its neglect in seeking guidance from the Holy Quran in various aspects of life, including how to face the dangers posed by our enemies. In fact, a single passage from the Holy Quran is sufficient to elevate the Ummah to the highest level. For instance, the situation would be entirely different from what it is today if the Ummah had consistently followed just this one divine command: {'Against them make ready your strength to the utmost of your power'}[Al-Anfal 8:60].

Divine guidance keeps pace with the course of life. It is a comprehensive guide, with never-ending treasuries, reflecting Allah's practice of guiding His servants. Given its importance, Allah has instructed us to say in every prayer, {'Guide us to the straight path, the path of those upon whom You have bestowed Your favour'}[Al-Fatihah 1:6-7]. That is because we are always in need of divine guidance—a renewed need throughout the journey of our lives and in everything new that arises. Allah (the Almighty) never leaves His servants without providing guidance and establishing His argument against them: {'And every people had a guide'}[Ar-Ra'd 13:7].

The world today, despite all its material progress, stands as a testament to our enduring need for guidance:

• The West remains mired in crisis, as they lack moral maturity despite all their material capabilities. In fact, they have become ever more ruthless, employing their capabilities to spread corruption. They also face enormous social crises, and the world at large is beset by countless problems—all as a result of turning away from divine guidance.
• The condition of Muslims is likewise tragic and lamentable because of their neglect and heedlessness of the guidance Allah has granted them. Therefore, the Ummah is in urgent need of returning to that guidance.

That is enough for today.

***

In conclusion, we cannot fail to commend the Third International Conference, 'Palestine: The Central Cause of the Ummah', held in Sana'a under official auspices. The event brought together participants from many countries—indeed, from across the continents—whether through video addresses or, for those able, by attending in person.

This important conference, as noted, was officially sponsored, reflecting a serious and sincere commitment to the Palestinian cause and to supporting the Palestinian people. It featured valuable contributions, and we extend our gratitude to those responsible for organising the conference and for the considerable efforts they devoted to its success. We pray its outcomes will be truly beneficial and fruitful, and that they will further strengthen this honest resolve to support the Palestinian cause.

We ask Allah (Glory be to Him) to grant us success in seeking what pleases Him. O Allah! Have mercy on our virtuous martyrs, heal the wounded among us, and set free our captives. You are the Hearer of Prayer!

Peace be upon you and the mercy of Allah and His blessings.

 

#Yemen #Sayyed Abdulmalik Al-Houthi #Ramadan Lecture about 2 days