The Devils Deception by Imam Ibn AL-Jawzi

T H E D E V I L ' S
D E C E P T I O N S
Iblis may also convince scholars in a subtle way that they are deserving
of the highest rank because they are representatives of religion,
and because they are seeking honour for the religion and to
repel its enemies. They think that attacking their enemies is in fact
an attack on the religion's enemies, and that what they think is showing
off is not. They become convinced that the general public follows
them, so they must always pretend to act properly.
To expose this form of deception we ask: will this scholar become
angry for another scholar who was insulted; just as he would be if
he were insulted? If the answer is no, then this indicates that it is a
plot from Iblis.
As for showoff, there is no excuse for anyone to commit it. It is
not to be used as means for making da'wah to others. When Ayyi:ib
al-SikhtiyanI used to preach, he used to feel anxious and wipe his
forehead and say: How severe a cold is (in order to hide his emotions
[in relating knowledge]).
After all, actions are in accordance with intentions. Some people
feel happy when others are backbitten, his sins are for three reasons:
The first: his feeling of happiness was only gained because of
the sin of backbiting.
The second: he became happy for insulting a fellow Muslim.
And the third: that he remained silent.
Iblls may convince scholars that they are spending all of their days
and nights acquiring knowledge to support the religion, when in
fact they are only doing so to gain fame, leadership and for others to
travel distances just to meet them.
This deception can be exposed by seeing whether or not this scholar
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