The Devils Deception by Imam Ibn AL-Jawzi

The Author's Introduction
of believers.
Section One:
[fhe Wisdom in Sending Messengers]
Know that Messengers brought sufficient clarifications, confronted
disease with healing medicine, and agreed. over a consistent doctrine.
So the devil Iblis came forth, mixing the clarification with doubt
and medicine with poison and the clear path with areas of falsehood
and doubt.
He continued to meddle with people's minds until he disintegrated
them with ignorance, leading them towards many foolish paths and
hideous innovations. So they worshiped idols in the Sacred House,
and they made forbidden to them Baflirah, Saibah, Wtl{ilah and lf am.1
They adopted burying their daughters alive, and deprived them from
their share on inheritance. In addition, they innovated many forms
of falsehood of which Iblis had convinced them.
Then,Allah (the Mighty and the Majestic) sentMul).ammad (;I) to
remove all things that are appalling, and to decree all things advantageous.
His Companions walked with him and after (his death) they
walked through the illumination of his light, free from their enemy
(Iblis) and his deception.
However, when the light of their (Messengers') presence vanished
(after their departure), the haze of darkness arrived, and desires returned
to generate innovations and to make narrow a path that had
always been wide. So, the majority disputed over matters of religion
and became different sects, and Iblis became active. He deceived
1 Ref er to verse 5: 103: ''Allah has not appointed [such innovations as) balfirah or saibah
orwa!iII ah orJ:iam. But those who disbelieve invent faLrehood aboutAiltih, and most of them do
not reasotL"
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