Is the Heart of Satan Just a Metaphor, or Can We Truly Become Like Satan?
Perhaps you have thought that the “heart of Satan” is only a literary metaphor for expressing the extreme wickedness of individuals. However, it may surprise you to know that the heart of Satan is a true reality in the realm of creation. That means, there is a certain “mathematics” behind this: If our actions do not align with this mathematics, our heart gradually shifts away from the realm of humanity and we will develop a heart of Satan.
You may have encountered individuals who seem completely devoid of humanity. Or perhaps you have heard the saying, “He knows one point more than the devil.” But how is it possible for us to become like Satan? Why does the heart, which is meant to be the dwelling place of our true Beloved—Allah—turn toward Satan, and why do we choose to submit to Satan rather than become like Allah?
In previous lessons, we understood that in the hereafter, our hearts are all that matters. Thus, we need a heart, but not just any heart! Only a sound heart will serve us in the end. The heart can be influenced by any of the dimensions of our existence and lose its human state. A heart that is fed incorrectly, becoming like stones, inanimate objects, plants, or animals, is no longer similar to the sound heart. The heart is the only part of our being that is made of infinity; hence, there are no limits to it. Just as it can ascend infinitely and become like Allah, it can also move in the opposite direction and turn into a heart of Satan. But the question is: How does this happen? What is the process of becoming like Satan, and what are the key features of a heart of Satan?
The Difference Between a Human Heart and a Heart of Satan
To answer the question of how our heart transforms from a human heart to a heart of Satan, we must understand that our heart acts like a container that contains our beloveds. Depending on which beloved we choose for our heart, we shape it accordingly. If we pay attention to how we prioritize our beloveds, we will cultivate a sound heart, which will be the instrument that guides us in the eternal world.
A sound heart accepts Allah as its true Beloved and organizes the relationship with other beloveds according to the desires of the Infinite Beloved. However, with improper prioritization of our desires, wants, and ambitions, we will have a sick heart, which will definitely be less resistant to external threats and will be more vulnerable to damage.
A weak heart, lacking the strength and will to fight, is aimless and may be swayed by the environment it has created. It surrenders to Satan’s desires and ultimately becomes like Satan. A sick heart is more easily led astray, and when a heart falls, it signifies the failure to reach the purpose of creation. In fact, a sick heart, due to its distance from the true Beloved, falls out of balance, and depending on the level of imbalance, it opens the path for deviation and transformation into the heart of Satan.
How Does Satan Change Our Hearts?
Now, the question is, do we become like Satan the moment we lose our balance? The answer is certainly no. It is not the case that we develop a heart of Satan overnight, nor is Satan so foolish as to make us immediately submit to his desires. In fact, the process of becoming like Satan depends on our previous acquisitions and the things we have fed our hearts with. Satan does not act recklessly in leading us astray; he uses the footholds we have provided him in various dimensions of our soul. In reality, he enters through a door where he knows we are weak, making success possible for him. Of course, Satan does not tempt the average religious person with obvious sins like murder or drinking alcohol. He has a specific plan tailored for each of us, based on how we have ordered and prioritized the dimensions of our being. He is like a competitor who plans strategically to eliminate their opponent from the race. The ultimate goal of Satan is to lead us astray from the Straight Path, make us submit to his desires, and create the heart of Satan within us.
Our goal on the Straight Path is to become similar to Allah and acquire His names and attributes. However, we know that for each attribute, there are two aspects: one is the virtue, and the other is its opposite, which is considered a vice. Just as we can attain the attribute of being generous, we can also move in the opposite direction and cultivate the vice of stinginess. Similarly, we can become a guide (hadi) or its opposite, a misleader (mudhill), be kind or hard-hearted, and so on. The key point is that on our path of human journey, we are constantly in the process of becoming and acquiring assets. There is no neutral state or stagnation. In every situation, we either receive the light and move toward Allah’s names and attributes, or we choose the fire and move toward Satan. Put simply, our acquisitions and choices determine whether we become more like God or more like Satan.
If we are enamored with the perfections of the lower dimensions of our existence or even our intellect and have structured our life around them, we have essentially shown Satan the way to dominate us. A person who constantly seeks luxury, a more beautiful home, a more luxurious car, or finer possessions has opened their heart to Satan. By pursuing Satan’s temptations, they have paved the way for their own downfall and destruction.
Can Satan Gain Control Over Me?
If we are not careful in our acquisitions, choices, and the way we prioritize our beloveds, any perfection or factor could lead us to develop a heart of Satan. Satan uses every opportunity and every opportunity—including sacred perfections—to divert us from the Straight Path. However, he cannot control us unless we provide him with the means. It is we who show him where to invest, follow him, and gradually hand over our hearts to him.
Essentially, God has designed the system of creation in such a way that no external force can control us unless we allow it. We ourselves prepare the ground and create the conditions for dominance. In other words, our choices, the nourishment we give our hearts, the imaginations we cultivate, and what we acquire in various aspects of our being all create the conditions for accepting Satan’s promises and temptations.
Satan is the lurking whisperer. He speaks, then hides. He presents something based on the structure of our existence and the weaknesses of our soul. If we show interest and follow it, he steps in further, gradually changing our tastes and leading us down the path of becoming like Satan. Before we know it, we find ourselves similar to Satan, surrendering our heart to him. Our viewpoint, the words we use, and our behavior change to the point where we may even become a source of misguidance for others.
Identifying a Heart of Satan
We have certainly wondered how to recognize a heart of Satan or how to tell if we have become like Satan. If we are familiar with the structure of our beloveds and the hierarchy of love, recognizing this issue is not difficult. Every action or thought that harms our relationship with our true Beloved, i.e., Allah, or our heavenly family, whether it is seen as positive or sacred, is not divine and is from Satan. In other words, if our heart’s inclinations are moving in a direction that contradicts the desires and expectations of our true Beloved, then our heart is not aligned with Allah, and we are heading toward acquiring the heart of Satan.
It is important to know that as long as our heart has not become hard, there is still a way back. Even though a heart of Satan is one of the most dangerous types and the manifestation of the name mudhill, it can still be transformed through a moment of awakening and turn back to Allah.
In this article, we explained how it is possible to become like Satan. The process of becoming like Satan and acquiring a heart of Satan is not an instantaneous event—it is a result of our previous acquisitions. Satan uses the hooks we have provided in the various dimensions of our soul, and when he sees our desire, he gradually infiltrates our hearts. Before we realize it, we find ourselves surrendering to him.
Before continuing to the next lesson, take time to reflect on your reactions in different situations and evaluate the direction of your life. What does your heart desire?