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We live in a world where fear often dictates our actions.

This fear is what Shaytan masterfully manipulates to steer us away from the path of righteousness.

Shaytan promises us poverty if we give from the best of what we have.

He says, "Don’t give out what you treasure because you’ll be left with nothing."

This fear of poverty is not just a religious concept; it’s a universal experience. Whether one believes in Allah or not, the reality is that many of us are driven by a fear of losing what we have.

The world around us constantly fuels our anxieties.

We see headlines screaming about economic collapse, wars, and disasters.

People are gripped by the fear of losing their jobs, savings, and security.

But let’s put this into perspective.

The one certainty in life is that we will all return to Allah, yet Shaytan distracts us with fears of material loss.

Shaytan can only promise us poverty, but he cannot promise us life. He cannot guarantee our safety or security; even if he tried, we know he is a deceiver.

His goal is to make us anxious and keep us in a state of worry so that we become more susceptible to his whispers, leading us away from what is good and righteous.

Imam Al-Ghazali described humanity as being created in a state of anxiety.

From the moment we are born, we are thrust into a world of uncertainty and fear.

A newborn’s first moments are filled with shock and distress as they leave the warmth and comfort of the womb for the harsh realities of the world.

And as we grow, this anxiety remains with us.

We fear hunger, cold, and rejection.

We fear being insignificant, being alone, and losing what we have.

This is the human condition—an ongoing struggle with anxiety.

But what does Shaytan do with this fear? He uses it to keep us from fulfilling our obligations to Allah and to others. He convinces us to hold back when we should give freely, to cling to what we have out of fear of losing it.

But we must remember that Allah is Ar-Razzaq, the Provider.

Our provision is not in our hands; it is in His. By giving from what we have, we are not diminishing our wealth, but rather, we are increasing it in ways that only Allah can measure.

As Imam Al-Ghazali noted, the entire foundation of human behavior can be interpreted as an attempt to stave off anxiety.

We eat to avoid the anxiety of hunger, we dress to avoid the anxiety of cold or humiliation, and we work to avoid the anxiety of poverty.

Even our pursuit of knowledge can be driven by a fear of ignorance or a fear of being looked down upon by others.

This is the reality of our existence—an endless cycle of fear and desire.

We must recognize that true peace comes not from accumulating more or seeking the approval of others but from trusting in Allah.

The more we give in to our fears, the more control Shaytan has over us. But when we place our trust in Allah, give freely, and live righteously, we break free from the chains of anxiety.

We must also know that Shaytan’s whispers do not stop at material fears.

He also feeds our desire for recognition and importance.

He tempts us with the need to prove ourselves and to be seen as significant by others.

But this, too, is a trap.

True greatness lies in humility and sincerity before Allah, not in the accolades of this world.

May Allah protect us from the whispers of Shaytan and grant us the strength to overcome our fears. Ameen.