Worshipping Allaah when young

Worshipping Allaah when young, and do the devils try to gain power over a person who worships Allaah a lot?


When the Shaytaan sees a person turning towards his Lord, he tries to stop him. The Shaytaan has sworn to undertake this evil mission, but Allaah tells us that he has no power over His sincere slaves.

Allaah says (interpretation of the meaning):

“[Iblees (Satan)] said: ‘O my Lord! Because You misled me, I shall indeed adorn the path of error for them (mankind) on the earth, and I shall mislead them all.

40. ‘Except Your chosen, (guided) slaves among them.’

41. (Allaah) said: ‘This is the Way which will lead straight to Me.’

42. ‘Certainly, you shall have no authority over My slaves, except those who follow you of the Ghaawoon (Mushrikoon and those who go astray, criminals, polytheists, and evildoers)’”

[al-Hijr 15:39-42]

It should be noted that the Shaytaan can do no more than call people to misguidance and make it look attractive to them. He has no power over them to force them to do what he wants. So blame is attached only to those who respond to him.

Allaah says (interpretation of the meaning):

“And Shaytaan (Satan) will say when the matter has been decided: Verily, Allaah promised you a promise of truth. And I too promised you, but I betrayed you. I had no authority over you except that I called you, and you responded to me. So blame me not, but blame yourselves. I cannot help you, nor can you help me. I deny your former act in associating me (Satan) as a partner with Allaah (by obeying me in the life of the world). Verily, there is a painful torment for the Zaalimoon (polytheists and wrongdoers)’”

[Ibraaheem 14:22]

Worshipping and obeying Allaah impedes the tricks and whispers of the Shaytaan, and remembrance of Allaah (dhikr) is a strong fortress by means of which Allaah protects the one who remembers Him from the plots and wiles of the Shaytaan.

It was narrated from Anas ibn Maalik that the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) said: “When a man leaves his house and says, Bismillaah, tawakkaltu ala Allaah wa laa hawla wa laa quwwata illa Billaah (In the name of Allaah, I put my trust in Allaah, and there is no power and not strength except with Allaah), it is said: You have been guided, taken care of and protected,’ and the devils turn away from him. And another devil says to him: What you can do with a man who has been guided, taken care of and protected?’”

Narrated by al-Tirmidhi, 3423; Abu Dawood, 5095; classed as saheeh by al-Albaani in Saheeh Abi Dawood.

The Shaytaan has no power over a heart that knows Allaah, or over physical faculties that have submitted to Allaah by doing acts of worship and obedience and by avoiding sin. The light of obedience burns the devils as the shooting stars burn their brethren.

Ibn al-Qayyim (may Allaah have mercy on him) said:

Worship and obedience illuminate the heart and make it strong and steadfast, until it becomes like a clear mirror, shining with light. When the Shaytaan draws close, he is struck by its light like those who try to eavesdrop (in the heavens) are struck by the shooting stars, and the Shaytaan flees from this heart with more terror than a wolf fleeing from a lion. End quote.

Al-Jawaab al-Kaafi, p. 64

Secondly:

Worshipping Allaah in ones youth is a sign that a person is good.

The Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) spoke of the great virtue of a young man who grows up worshipping and obeying Allaah, and said that he will be shaded by Allaah on the Day of Resurrection, the Day when the sun will be directly over the heads of the people.

It was narrated from Abu Hurayrah (may Allaah be pleased with him) that the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) said: “There are seven whom Allaah will shade with His shade on the Day when there will be no shade but His…” among whom he mentioned, “a young man who grew up worshipping Allaah.”

Narrated by al-Bukhaari, 1423; Muslim, 1031.

Whoever keeps his physical faculties away from sin when he is young, Allaah will protect him when he gets older.

The Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) said to Ibn Abbaas when he was a young boy: “Be mindful of Allaah and He will take care of you.”

Narrated by al-Tirmidhi, 2516; classed as saheeh by al-Albaani in Saheeh al-Tirmidhi.

So seek the help of Allaah in obeying Him and ask Him for more of His bounty, and do not let anyone discourage you from following this path.

Beware of the devils among mankind and the jinn. We ask Allaah to help you to remember Him and give thanks to Him and worship Him properly.

And Allaah knows best.