and from the Greek philosophers’ doctrine of intellects and souls.

The Magian doctrine ultimately rests on identifying the darkness that rivals light with Iblīs, together with the philosophers’ doctrine of the soul. The root of evil, then, is worshipping the self and Satan, making them partners of the Lord and regarding them as His equals. The human soul commits evil at Satan’s command. The Prophet, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, taught Abū Bakr, may Allah be pleased with him, to say—in the morning, in the evening, and when going to bed:

“O Allah, Lord of Gabriel, Michael, and Isrāfīl, Originator of the heavens and the earth, Knower of the unseen and the seen! You judge between Your servants concerning that over which they differed. Guide me, by Your permission, to the truth concerning which they have differed. Indeed, You guide whom You will to a straight path.”

This is part of fully realizing the meaning of Allah’s words:

“Whatever good befalls you is from Allah, and whatever evil befalls you is from yourself,”

alongside His words:

“You will have no authority over My servants, except those among the wayward who follow you,”

and His words:

“I will surely fill Hell with you and all those among them who follow you.”

The self’s claim to divinity manifested itself in Pharaoh and others like him who claimed to be gods alongside Allah or apart from Him. It also manifested itself among those who claimed divinity for a human being alongside Allah, such as the Messiah and others.