In the Name of Allah, Most Gracious, Most Merciful.

(Friday speech delivered by Imam Mohamed Baianonie at the Islamic Center of Raleigh, NC on August 28, 1998)

If you study the life of man, his past and his present, you will come to an indisputable conclusion, that the battle of man with his enemy is a fact of life ever since he was created. Allah (S.W.T.), who created man after the creation of his enemy, with his infinite wisdom decreed this kind of life for man. So, it is inconceivable for man to live without an enemy.

This is the truth clearly declared in many verses of Qur'an and in many authentic ahadith of the prophet Muhammad (S.A.W.); it is declared by the divine revelation which can not be ignored or rejected.

The enemies of Islam have always attempted deceivingly to market this lie that "they are the builders of universal peace devoid of any animosity and hatred." They do their best to deceive the Muslims, so that they can be easy preys, to be attacked at any time.

Indeed, many good Muslims have fallen victims of this deceit. They have fallen victims because they were influenced by the power of the media and their deceit and because they had a severe lack of knowledge of the facts presented by the Qur'an.

Allah (S.W.T.) decreed that mankind is always in a confrontation and conflict with one another. He says in surat Huod, (verse 118 & 119), what can be translated as, "And if your Lord had so willed, He could surely have made mankind one "Ummah", but they will not cease to disagree, except Him on whom your Lord has bestowed His Mercy and for that did He create them. And the Word of your Lord shall be fulfilled, "Surely, I shall fill Hell from jinns and men all-together." So from this difference there arises conflict and animosity among humans.

Look at the best of mankind; the prophets and messengers of Allah (S.W.T.), their life was never devoid in confrontation and conflict. The people never made peace with them and never stopped their animosity towards them. This is the decree of Allah and His wisdom. Allah (S.W.T.) says in surat Al-An’am, (verse 112), what can be translated as, "And so We have appointed for every Prophet an enemy, devils among mankind and jinns, inspiring one another with adorned speech as a delusion. If your Lord had so willed, they would not have done it, so leave them alone with their fabrications." Imam Ibn Katheer said in the explanation of this verse: "Just as We (Allah) made enemies confronting you (O Muhammad), showing animosity to you, and fighting you, We also made for every prophet before you enemies, so do not feel sad." Then, Imam Ibn Katheer goes on to say in agreement with the verse that Waraqah Bin Nawfal (Khadijah's cousin, who, during the period of Jahillyyah before Islam became a Christian and studied the Gospel in Hebrew) said to the prophet (S.A.W.), "…I wish I were young and could live up to the time when your people would turn you out. The prophet asked, "Will they drive me out?" He replied, "Yes, No man came with the same as you came with but he was treated with hostility. (By his own people)", (reported by Imam Al-Bukhari)

Look at the prophet's successors, the true Islamic scholars and conveyors of the message of Islam, in many places they are confronted, tortured, prosecuted and killed. This is only an extension to this ancient confrontation, which will never end until the Last Day.

The rational Muslim should not expect to live his life in peace, hoping that his life will not be affected by the deceit, conspiracy and the oppression of the enemies. On the contrary, the Muslim should prepare himself for a long bitter confrontation, which will not cease until he meets his Lord, Allah (S.W.T.), while he is in this conflict.

It is a must that we define and know the enemies so that we take precautions and direct our efforts and powers to confront them and fight them. If man does not manage to define and know his real enemy, he will make a serious and deadly mistake by taking the enemy as his friend and the friend as his enemy. The result of that is the person will lose himself and his friend and only benefit his real enemy.

Allah (S.W.T.) defined to Adam his enemy after he created him and blew into him from His soul and commanded the angels to prostrate to him, that this enemy is envious, deceiving, and full of hatred; that is Iblees (Satan). Allah (S.W.T.) says in surat Taha, (verse 117), what can be translated as, "Then We said: "O Adam! Verily, this is an enemy to you and to your wife. So let him not get you both out of Paradise, so that you be distresses in misery."

Also, Allah (S.W.T.) defined the enemy for all the children of Adam through the messengers and the heavenly books so that they can take precautions. Allah (S.W.T.) says in surat Fater, (verse 5 & 6), what can be translated as, "O mankind! Verily, the promise of Allah is true. So let not this present life deceives you, and let not the chief deceiver (Satan) deceive you about Allah. Surely, Satan is an enemy to you, so treat him as an enemy. He only invites his "hizb" (party) that they may become the dwellers of the Blazing Fire."

Allah (S.W.T.), in this verse, clarifies to us that Satan is our greatest enemy so we should treat him as our enemy. He also clarifies to us that Satan has followers that form a party and that his invitation to them will lead them all to the Hell Fire.

Allah (S.W.T.) says in surat Al-Mujadilah, (verse 19), what can be translated as, "Satan has overtaken them. So he has made them forget the remembrance of Allah. They are the party of Satan. Verily, it is the party of Satan that will be the losers!"

Satan's Allies: In the group of Satan stand all his allies, from the humans who are all those that rebelled against Allah's rules, the divine way of life regardless of their ways, their methodologies, their banners, or their names.

So the result of that is that mankind became two divided groups and parties:

One group that allies themselves with Allah (S.W.T.) and obey Him and guide their life with His guidance and His rules and legislation, and execute His righteous plans to benefit the humanity. And another group that allies themselves with Satan and obey him and execute his corrupted plans.

It is not necessary that the group and party of Satan to declare and announce their allegiance to Satan. In fact, many of them, curse him, but in reality they are his allies and from his group. This is because they are guided with his ways, and every way that conflicts with what came from Allah (S.W.T.) is pleasing to Satan. He, Satan, will adopt it and bless those who are adopting it because his real goal is to destroy mankind. And every conflict with the guidance of Allah (S.W.T.) is definitely a partial or total destruction for mankind.

Allah (S.W.T.) knows that Satan's allies and his group will always be in conflict with Allah’s allies; this conflict starts small and simple, then continues and worsens and is not restricted to verbal confrontation, but it surpasses it to a serious planning and plotting with deceit till it reaches physical fighting. Allah (S.W.T.) says in surat An-Nisa’, (verse 76), what can be translated as, "Those who believe, fight in the Cause of Allah, and those who disbelieve, fight in the cause of at-taghut (Satan). So fight you against the allies of Satan; Indeed, the plot of Satan is weak."

And Allah (S.W.T.) ordered His allies, the believers to prepare themselves to be ready for the real and serious confrontation with His and their enemy, allies of Satan. He says in surat Al-Anfal, (verse 60), what can be translated as, "And make ready against them all you can of power, including steeds of war to threaten the enemy of Allah and your enemy, and others besides whom, you may not know but whom Allah does know…"

And Allah (S.W.T.) declare the goal and the objective of this fighting. He says in surat Al-Anfal, (verse 39), what can be translated as, "And fight them until there is no more fetnah and the deen (submission) will all be for Allah alone…"