What are the characteristics of Satan?

It is a known fact that Satan is the enemy of humans, he pledged to deceive humans, and he will take so many of those who do not believe with him to the hell. What he can do to deceive and where he can hit humans are announced in Quran.

Some of his characteristics, in other words, his deceits and tricks, his delusions and intrigues are listed below.

1. Liar and Pledger

One of the most significant characteristics of Satan is Lying. Anyhow, he would not deceive anyone in any other way. The lie that he told to Adam and Eve is announced in Quran as:

And he swore to them: "Truly, I am for you a sincere adviser." Thus he led them on by delusion; and when they tasted the tree, their private parts (and all the apparently shameful, evil impulses in their creation) were revealed to them, and both began to cover themselves with leaves from the Garden. And their Lord called out to them: "Did I not prohibit you from that tree, and did I not say to you that Satan is a manifest enemy to you?" They said (straightaway): "Our Lord! We have wronged ourselves, and if You do not forgive us and do not have mercy on us, we will surely be among those who have lost!" He said: "Go down, (all of you,) (and henceforth you will live a life,) some of you being the enemies of the others. There shall be for you on the earth a habitation and provision until an appointed time." (Al-Araf Surah, 7:21-24)

Satan has always been trying to deceive humans, from the first lie he told (to Eve). Considering this, one should always assess the accuracy of whatever he is going to do according to religious teachings and measurements.

2. No authority to impose anything

As it is clearly announced in the following verse, "My servants – you shall have no authority over any of them, unless it be such as follow you being rebellious (against Me, as you are)," (Al-Hijr, 15:42) he has no authority over humans.

As it is explained in the verse, Satan cannot force a human to do his will. However, God is always close and helpful to you. In fact, a related verse announces as, And yet, he had no authority over them (to compel them to do anything), except in that (by testing humankind through him) We distinguish those who truly believe in the Hereafter from those who are in doubt concerning it. Your Lord keeps watch and record of all things. (Saba Surah, 34:21) In this verse, it is signified the importance of the wisdom of time that is granted to Satan as to distinguish those who believe in the Hereafter from those who do not.

3. Hypocrite

Doubtless to say, hypocrisy is an attribute of Satan. Self-love, to make people love you, to do things for the sake of other people, to show-off while praying, or to pray for worldly benefits are the attributes of Satan or followers of him.

O you who believe! Render not vain your almsgiving by putting (the receiver) under an obligation and taunting – like him who spends his wealth to show off to people and be praised by them, and believes not in God and the Last Day. The parable of his spending is that of a rock on which there is soil; a heavy rain falls upon it, and leaves it barren. They have no power (control) over what they have earned. God guides not such disbelieving people (to attain their goals). (Al-Baqarah Surah, 2:264)

4. Satan offers truth as fallacious, and fallacious as truth

We see that Quran explains such words, phrases, and philosophical interpretations, which delude humans into blasphemy and disbelief by stopping humans to follow Gods way as satanic.

Narrated Abdullah ibn Amr ibn al-'As:
The Apostle of Allah (peace be upon him) said: Allah, the Exalted, hates the eloquent one among men who moves his tongue round (among his teeth), as cattle do. (Book 41, Number 4987)

Holy Quran, on this matter orders as:
And thus it is that (as a dimension of human earthly life taking place according to Our eternal Will embracing human free will, and according to the wisdom in sending the Religion) We have set against every Prophet a hostile opposition from among the satans of humankind and jinn, whispering and suggesting to one another specious words, by way of delusion. Yet had your Lord willed (and compelled everybody to behave in the way He wills), they would not do it. So leave them alone with what they have been fabricating. And the hearts of those who do not believe in the Hereafter incline towards it (their deluding speech) and take pleasure in it, and they continue perpetrating the evils that they have long been perpetrating. (Al-Anam Surah, 6:112, 113)

5. His enemy is Humanity

Satan is eternal enemy of humans. By making mention of this expression in so many verses of Quran and similar phrases such as, Do not follow in the footsteps of Satan, Do not fall for him, do not follow him, indeed he is a manifest enemy to you. (2:168, 208-209; 12:5; 36:60-64; 6:142; 17:53; 35:6; 43:62) humans are warned.

And again, in some of the verses by emphasizing Satans being a sneaky mischief-maker, humans are warned not to be fooled by him, and also are advised to be kind and speak beautifully (meaning politely and pleasantly) to other people with the manner and morality of Quran; Quran which has the most beautiful words of all.

6. Bad Company

In the following verses, it announced that Satan is the confidants of disbelievers.

We have made satans the confidants and fellow-criminals of those who do not believe.(Al-Araf Surah, 7:27) Whereas their brothers (the brothers of the satans in the form of human beings) – satans draw them deeper into error and do not give over relax in their efforts. (Al-Araf Surah, 7:202)

7. Intimate friend of those who keep away from Quran

Whoever willfully ignores the remembrance of the All-Merciful (and lives as if He did not exist always watching him), We assign to him a devil, who becomes his closest comrade. Such devils certainly bar them from the way (of truth). Yet they think (in themselves) that they are rightly guided. But in the end, when such a one comes to Us (on Judgment Day), he says (to his comrade): "Ah, would that between me and you were the distance of the two easts. How evil a comrade!" (Az-Zukhruf Surah, 43:36-38)


8. Sees you from everywhere and tries to deceive you

In Quran, it is mentioned that Satan can see humans from where they do not see him and deceit them by sneaking where they do not expect. The intention of this is to warn humans to be more careful and not to leave doors open to Satan. He sneaks up and tries to hit every one at our weakest points (vulnerable spot). This matter is explained in Quran as:

Children of Adam! Never let Satan seduce you (and cause you to fail in similar trials) as he caused your (ancestral) parents to be driven out of the Garden, pulling off from them their garment and revealing to them their private parts (and the carnal impulses ingrained in them). He sees you, he and his host (see you), from where you do not see them. We have made satans the confidants and fellow-criminals of those who do not believe. (Al-Araf Surah, 7:27)