the rust of which Allah Most High said:

‘No! Rather, their hearts have been covered with rust by what they used to earn.’”

But Satan’s passing influence differs from the rust caused by sins: the latter is a punishment for sin. The veil over the heart is subtler than that, as in the authentic hadith in which the Prophet, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, said:

“A veil comes over my heart, and I seek Allah’s forgiveness seventy times a day.”

Satan casts evil into the soul, while the angel casts good into it. It is authentically reported that the Prophet, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, said:

“There is not one of you who has not been assigned a companion from among the angels and a companion from among the jinn.”

They asked, “Even you, O Messenger of Allah?”

He replied, “Even me, but Allah has aided me against him, so he has submitted.” In another version: “So he commands me only to do good.”

That is, he surrendered and yielded. Ibn ʿUyaynah used to narrate it as fa-aslamu (“so I am safe”), with a final u vowel, saying, “Satan does not embrace Islam.” However, the wording in the other version, “So he commands me only to do good,” indicates that he no longer commanded him to do evil. This is his submission, even if it is a figurative reference to his subjugation and abasement rather than to his belief in Allah.

It is like a man who subdues his visible enemy and takes him captive. The vanquished enemy knows that his conqueror recognizes the evil he suggests to him and will not accept it, but will instead punish him for it. Being overpowered, he is therefore compelled to suggest only good to him, out of humiliation and helplessness, not out of righteousness or religious devotion. Hence the Prophet, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, said:

“But Allah has aided me against him, so he commands me only to do good.”

Ibn Masʿūd said, “There is a prompting from the angel and a prompting from Satan. The angel’s prompting is a promise of good