How the Devil of Envy Tempts You into Sin… and How to Overcome Him

When the Demon of Envy takes hold of the human body, he is not content with merely causing fleeting pain or limited physical exhaustion. He seeks something far more dangerous and profound: to distance the servant from his Lord, and to make sin the path toward his full domination over the body, the soul, and the spirit.

He slips secretly into the human frame, as smoke seeps through a narrow crack, until he finds a dwelling deep within. There he begins his silent war—a battle unseen by the eyes, yet its effects are felt in every pulse of the afflicted one’s being: inner turmoil, weakened will, heaviness in worship, aversion to good, and a strange longing for sin.

He whispers in secrecy, repeating his insinuations until the idea becomes familiar in the mind, then adorns it until the person perceives it as a natural desire, harmless and even justified. He does not rush to make his victim fall; rather, he weaves around him threads of temptation and justification, until the forbidden seems a source of relief, release, or escape from the pain he endures.

This demon does not strike the body first — he strikes the heart, for he knows that if the heart weakens, the whole body will follow. The Messenger of Allah (Peace be upon him) said:

“Indeed, in the body there is a morsel of flesh; if it is sound, the whole body is sound, and if it is corrupt, the whole body is corrupt. Verily, it is the heart.”
(Bukhari and Muslim)

When the heart is corrupted by sin and desire, the demon finds an open road within the body and moves freely as he wishes, just as the Prophet (Peace be upon him) said:

“Indeed, Satan flows through the son of Adam as blood flows.”
(Bukhari and Muslim)

He flows through the veins, yet his target is not the body itself, but the spirit that gives it light. He knows that when faith weakens, the body is left without protection, and the soul without armor. Then he begins his inner assault — whispering during prayer, weighing down acts of worship, and enticing toward sin — until the afflicted feels trapped, powerless to resist.

And with every time the servant responds to those whispers, the demon grows stronger and more deeply rooted within him. To him, sin is not merely a wrongdoing — it is a gate of nourishment and empowerment.
Every forbidden glance, every sinful act, every corrupt thought feeds him anew, strengthening his grip upon the body and renewing his presence within it.

When the afflicted one feels remorse after sinning, the demon strikes again — from another angle — planting despair of repentance in his heart, whispering softly: “You have sinned too much. You will not be forgiven now.”

So then, how does the Demon of Envy entice you into sin... and how can you overcome him?

First: How Does the Demon of Envy Entice You into Sin?

1. Through Persistent Whispering and Stirring of Desire

The Demon of Envy begins his work within the human body through subtle whispering. He plants dark thoughts in the mind of the afflicted, calling him — with cunning and gentleness — toward what angers Allah Almighty, especially the sins of desire and hidden lusts.

He awakens within him a vague craving for forbidden looks, or pushes him toward self-gratification, or adorns for him the path of fornication, until what he once found shameful and detestable begins to feel “natural” and without guilt.

He does not whisper only once — rather, he repeats his insinuations over and over, until the idea seeps deep into the soul and transforms from a “foreign whisper” into an “inner desire.”
Here lies his greatest deception: he wraps sin in the guise of need, convincing the afflicted that what he does is simply a natural release or a way to find temporary relief.

But in truth, he does not wish him comfort — he wishes him downfall. He commands indecency not to bring you happiness, but to break your spirit, weaken your bond with your Lord, and extinguish within you the light of repentance and faith. Each time you respond to him, he finds a wider entrance, until the body grows accustomed to sin, and the soul of obedience slowly fades.

Allah Almighty said:

“Indeed, Satan threatens you with poverty and commands you to immorality.”
(Surah Al-Baqarah, 2:268)

He commands you to indecency not to give you pleasure, but to make it a chain around your neck, drawing you away from Allah — until your resistance weakens, and he gains greater power over your body and your soul.

2. Making Sin a Means of Relief

When pain intensifies upon a person—because of that evil affliction and the enemy that dwells within his body—whether the pain is physical or a heaviness in the heart, and when worries and whispers multiply, Satan slyly slips into his thoughts to convince him that the way to relief is through committing sin. He decorates falsehood in the image of comfort and whispers in his ear: “Do it, you’ll forget your pain, and you’ll feel better.”

But it is a false comfort, a fleeting moment that quickly turns into deep regret, sorrow that weighs down the heart, and weakness that only increases a person’s submission to his enemy.

Satan never offers true relief; rather, he gradually drags a person into a circle of illusion and confusion, until sin becomes his false refuge whenever he feels distress—while in reality, it is the very source of his suffering.

And Allah Almighty has told us of Satan’s deceit, saying:

“And Satan will say when the matter has been decided, ‘Indeed, Allah promised you the promise of truth, and I promised you, but I betrayed you.’” (Ibrahim: 22)

He promises comfort knowing it will never come, and he tempts the soul with happiness while only intending misery. His ultimate goal is to deepen his control over the body and the soul—weakening faith, exhausting the heart, and leaving his victim trapped in an endless cycle of weakness and fatigue that can only end through sincere return to Allah.

3. Weakening the Will and Faith

Whenever a person afflicted by satanic whispers gives in to them, he grows weaker without realizing it. Every time he obeys those whispers, the light of faith within his heart dims little by little, and acts of worship that once felt easy become heavy and difficult. Sin is not just a passing mistake—it is a dark doorway through which Satan finds his way into the depths of the heart and soul, gaining more control over the body, the mind, and the emotions.

The Prophet   (peace and blessings be upon him) warned us about this control when he said:

 “Indeed, Satan flows through the son of Adam as blood flows.”

(Narrated by Al-Bukhari and Muslim)

When a person commits a sin, Satan spreads through his body just as blood flows through his veins, infiltrating his inner being and becoming more capable of spreading laziness, anxiety, and confusion within his thoughts and will. With repeated submission to him, the heart’s resistance weakens, and the soul becomes more easily led astray, until the person gradually loses the sweetness of worship, the humility in prayer, and the purity of remembrance.

Thus begins the spiritual decline—step by step—until one finds himself distant from obedience, burdened with worry, and stripped of determination, while Satan gains influence over his emotions and actions. The only salvation from this downfall lies in awakening the heart through true faith, sincere repentance, and a genuine return to Allah, closing every door that was once opened to Satan in the heart and body.

4. Planting the Feeling of Despair After Sin

One of the most dangerous and deceptive stages of Satan’s envy is that after making a person fall into sin, he does not stop there — he then casts despair into the heart. He whispers deceitfully: “You have sinned too much. Your repentance will never be accepted. You’ve become corrupt and hopeless.” Thus, the person finds himself trapped between two fires — the fire of sin and the fire of despair. He stops repenting, distances himself from worship, and closes the door of hope, which is the very soul of faith.

This trap is more dangerous than the sin itself, because a sin can be followed by repentance, but despair blocks the way to repentance entirely. It imprisons the soul in darkness and weakness, making it an easy prey for Satan. Allah Almighty warned us against this despair in His Noble Book:

 “Indeed, none despairs of relief from Allah except the disbelieving people.” (Yusuf: 87)

Satan knows that whoever clings to hope in Allah’s mercy will be saved, so he strives to convince you that Allah will never forgive you — while in truth, Allah’s mercy is greater than any sin.

The Prophet Muhammad (peace and blessings be upon him) said in an authentic hadith:

“Allah is more pleased with the repentance of His servant than one of you who finds his camel after having lost it in a vast desert.”

(Narrated by Al-Bukhari and Muslim)

And in another beautiful hadith that shows the vastness of Allah’s forgiveness:

Allah Almighty said: O son of Adam, as long as you call upon Me and have hope in Me, I will forgive you for what you have done, and I do not mind.”

(Narrated by Al-Tirmidhi)

These hadiths remind the believer that the door of repentance is always open, no matter how great the sins may be, and that Allah never tires of forgiving those who sincerely return to Him.

Satan wants to cut you off from Allah and fill you with hopelessness, to complete his control over you. But Allah, out of His infinite mercy, calls you back at every moment, saying:

 “Say, ‘O My servants who have transgressed against themselves, do not despair of the mercy of Allah.’”

So return to Him — for no matter how far you’ve gone astray, His mercy is always closer to you than the whispers of your enemy.

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Secondly: How can you overcome the demon of envy?

1. Persevering in Worship and Remembrance (Dhikr)

One of the greatest weapons a believer possesses in resisting Satan and his harm is steadfastness in worship and remembrance of Allah. Every remembrance (dhikr) of Allah ignites a fire that burns this enemy dwelling in the body, and every prayer tightens the paths through which he flows, leaving him no place to settle—neither in the body nor in the heart.

Remembrance gives life to the soul, light to the heart, and protection that no devil can penetrate. Allah Almighty says:

 “Indeed, those who fear Allah—when an impulse touches them from Satan—they remember [Him], and at once they have insight.”

(Al-A‘raf: 201)

So when the believer is attacked by whispers or overwhelmed by worries, he quickly remembers Allah, and the darkness and delusion vanish—because light cannot coexist with darkness, and the remembrance of Allah cannot coexist with satanic whispers.

The Prophet Muhammad (peace and blessings be upon him) said:

 “Satan runs away from the house in which Surah Al-Baqarah is recited.”

(Narrated by Muslim)

If Satan flees from a house where the Qur’an is recited, then how much more will he flee from a heart and tongue that remember Allah every single day?

The Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) also said in another authentic hadith:

 “The example of the one who remembers his Lord and the one who does not is like the living and the dead.”

(Narrated by Al-Bukhari)

The one who remembers Allah is truly alive—his soul is vibrant, his heart at peace, and he is protected from the whispers of his enemy. But the one who neglects remembrance is like the dead, even if his body moves, for his heart lacks the life that dhikr brings.

Remembrance is an invisible weapon, yet stronger than any physical one. It drives Satan out of the body, weakens his whispers, and purifies the soul from his influence until he fades away completely. For Satan has no power over a heart that is filled with the remembrance of Allah. Whoever perseveres in worship and remembrance lives under Allah’s protection, surrounded by light instead of darkness, and by tranquility instead of turmoil.

2.Abandoning Sin No Matter How Weak You Feel

There are moments in life when a person feels completely overwhelmed—his body heavy, his mind clouded, and satanic whispers pressing upon him until he almost collapses. In those moments, Satan tries to deceive him, suggesting that committing a sin will bring him relief or ease his struggle. But it is in these very moments that the true strength of a believer appears—when he chooses to resist, to say “no” despite the pain, and to remain patient in the face of temptation and weakness.

Do not please your enemy by committing sin, for when you do, you are not weakening him—you are feeding him new strength. Sin is his nourishment, while obedience is his poison. The more you resist, the more Satan breaks within you and loses his power.

Allah Almighty says:

 “Indeed, those who fear Allah—when an impulse touches them from Satan—they remember [Him], and at once they have insight.”

(Al-A‘raf: 201)

Taqwa (piety) does not mean being strong all the time; it means remembering Allah at the moment of weakness and choosing what is right when sin seems easier. When Satan attacks you with his whispers and you remember Allah, he collapses within you, for the remembrance of Allah is a light that darkness cannot withstand.

Know that that single moment of patience may be the key to your salvation, that resisting even a small sin can close a great door of evil, and that every time you struggle against your desires, Allah raises your rank in faith and weakens your enemy further. Standing firm against sin is not just an inner struggle—it is a hidden victory, seen by Allah and written in the record of those who truly strive for His sake.

3.By Frequent Repentance and Seeking Forgiveness

Among the strongest weapons that weaken Satan and nullify his deceit is frequent repentance and seeking forgiveness. No matter how often this enemy causes you to fall into sin, never stop repenting, and never let despair find its way into your heart. You may sin today and repent tomorrow; you may fall a thousand times and rise a thousand times again — for Allah never tires of His mercy as long as you return to Him with a sincere heart.

Satan rejoices when you sin, but he loses hope when you repent, because every act of repentance tears apart his ropes and weakens his control over you. Every word of Astaghfirullah (I seek forgiveness from Allah) restores purity and light to your heart, washing away the stains of sin until your soul becomes as pure as it once was. Repentance is not a sign of weakness; rather, it is the highest sign of strength, for it declares the victory of the soul over desire, and of faith over whisperings.

Allah Almighty says:

“Indeed, Allah loves those who repent and loves those who purify themselves.”

(Surah Al-Baqarah, 2:222)

See how Allah’s love for His servant is linked to repentance—as if every time you return to Him, you draw closer to His mercy and affection.

And the Prophet Muhammad (peace and blessings be upon him) said in the authentic hadith:

“By Allah, Allah does not tire until you tire.”

(Narrated by Al-Bukhari and Muslim)

Meaning that Allah, exalted is He, never tires of accepting your worship, remembrance, and repentance; He never closes the door of His mercy. Even if you become weary or weak, His mercy never tires and never ceases.

Every repentance weakens Satan’s grip on you, brings light back into your heart, and draws you closer to Allah. Satan cannot bear the light of repentance, for it burns his hidden essence which feeds on sins. Every time you feel remorse, every time you say “Astaghfirullah,” a part of his whispering within you burns away until it vanishes completely.

So remain constant in repentance and remembrance, and keep your tongue moist with the remembrance of Allah. As long as the servant renews his repentance, he remains under Allah’s protection — pure of heart, radiant in face, and elevated in rank before his Creator.

4.With Patience and Perseverance

One of the greatest weapons that weakens the devil and nullifies his deceit is patience and perseverance in the face of affliction — not despair or complaint. When a person afflicted by this trial understands that it is not meaningless, but rather a test from Allah to purify his faith and elevate his rank, pain turns into peace, and suffering becomes a hidden act of worship with immense reward.

Patience during hardship is not simply enduring pain; it is a living expression of faith — a declaration that Allah is more merciful to you than you are to yourself, and that whatever has befallen you was never meant to miss you, and whatever has missed you was never meant to befall you. Every moment of patience is recorded in your book of good deeds and extinguishes one of the fires kindled by Satan, who delights in seeing you angry and despairing. For impatience is his nourishment, while patience is his poison.

The Prophet Muhammad (peace and blessings be upon him) said:

 “No fatigue, nor disease, nor sorrow, nor sadness, nor hurt, nor distress befalls a Muslim, even if it were the prick he receives from a thorn, but that Allah expiates some of his sins for that.”

(Agreed upon – narrated by Al-Bukhari and Muslim)

Reflect on this — even the pain of a small thorn removes some of your sins and purifies you. So what about a greater trial that brings with it the whispers of the devil? Indeed, Allah turns it into a means of elevation and a purification for your soul.

Allah Almighty also says:

 “And give glad tidings to the patient, who, when disaster strikes them, say, ‘Indeed, we belong to Allah, and indeed to Him we will return.’”

(Surah Al-Baqarah, 2:155–156)

The patient believer knows that trials are a path to closeness with Allah, not destruction. The more he endures and seeks reward, the more light of contentment fills his heart — a serenity that only those who know Allah in hardship can feel.

Know that Satan loves to see you despairing and weak, for despair opens the door for him to control your emotions and body. But when he sees you patient, calm-hearted, and trusting in Allah, he realizes he has no power over you — he weakens and shrinks until he fades away.

Patience is not surrender; it is the stance of the strong believer who knows that his Lord sees and knows all things, that every pain has an end, and every tear a reward. Each time you say, “Alhamdulillah (Praise be to Allah) in every circumstance,” one of Satan’s chains over your heart breaks, and your face shines with more light and steadfastness.

So be patient and persevere, and say to yourself: “Indeed, my Lord is with me; He will guide me.”

No matter how long the hardship lasts, Allah has promised:

 “Indeed, with hardship comes ease.”

(Surah Ash-Sharh, 94:6)

And Allah’s promise is always true — whoever is patient will triumph, whoever seeks reward will succeed, and whoever trusts his Lord will emerge from his trial purer and closer to Allah than ever before.

Conclusion

The Demon of Envy is a hidden entity that dwells within the body and seeps into its depths.

He waits for moments of weakness to release his whispers, tempting the soul with sin, planting weariness and despair — until faith weakens and the inner light of the person begins to fade.

He attacks the heart first, for he knows that whoever controls the heart controls the entire body.

He strives to extinguish the warmth of remembrance within it and to make the servant a prisoner of his own desire and heedlessness.

Yet no matter how fierce his schemes may seem, his power remains weak before those who seek refuge in Allah and rely upon Him, as Allah the Almighty said:

 “Indeed, the plot of Satan has ever been weak.”

(Surah An-Nisa, 4:76)

Every time you resist his whispers, his presence within you shrinks and his strength melts away.

Every time you sincerely repent to Allah, his existence within you burns and his influence fades.

And every time you remember Allah, his place inside your body and soul narrows until he flees humiliated and defeated.

Do not think that the battle against this enemy depends on physical strength — it is a battle of steadfastness and faith.

Every remembrance, every prayer, and every act of repentance is a spiritual strike that weakens his rule and breaks his power.

So stand firm and never despair, for Allah is with you as long as you fight for His sake.

And if you fall, rise again. If you weaken, return once more — for your Lord never tires of welcoming you back, and Satan cannot endure your sincerity.

As long as you keep striving and returning to Allah, he will never overcome you — for the light within you is stronger than his darkness, and the mercy of Allah is greater than all his whispers.