10 Principles for Identifying Your Enemy
Written by: Qari Usama bin Abdus Salam
In every person’s life, there are individuals who smile to your face but harbor hatred and schemes in their hearts. Through the light of the Qur’an and Sunnah, coupled with intellect, observation, and experience, you can easily recognize who your true enemy is.
Below are 10 clear principles for identifying such people:
One who always meets you with a fake smile but harbors suspicion or plots against you in your absence.
Qur’an:
﴿فِي قُلُوبِهِم مَّرَضٌ فَزَادَهُمُ ٱللَّهُ مَرَضٗا﴾
“In their hearts is a disease, so Allah has increased their disease.”
(Al-Baqarah 2:10)
One who cannot be happy at your achievements, envies you, and even jokingly prays against you.
Signs:
◈ Instead of praise, remains silent.
◈ Says, “You’re just lucky,” with a tone of belittlement.
◈ Blames you for his own failures.
An enemy is the one who praises you in person but assassinates your character behind your back.
Hadith:
“Among the signs of a hypocrite is that when alone, he mocks, and when in front, he flatters.”
(Meaning from Bukhari & Muslim)
Engages in gossip, twisting words to create hatred among hearts.
Qur’an:
﴿هَمَّازٖ مَّشَّآءٍۭ بِنَمِيمٍ﴾
“A slanderer, going about with malicious gossip.”
(Al-Qalam 68:11)
Often extracts information from you to show others or to tarnish your name.
Remembers your one mistake, repeats it constantly, and ignores your good qualities.
Causes you to doubt your friends, your intentions, or even your own intelligence.
Puts you down under the guise of humor.
Examples:
◈ “You’re just good at talking, what about doing?”
◈ “Oh, so you’ve become a saint now!”
Joins your enemies, damages your reputation, and portrays himself as pious.
One who is an enemy to your faith, beliefs, or principles, tries to push you into sin, or casts doubts in your religion.
Qur’an:
﴿إِنَّ ٱلشَّيۡطَٰنَ لَكُمۡ عَدُوّٞ فَٱتَّخِذُوهُ عَدُوًّا﴾
“Indeed, Satan is an enemy to you, so take him as an enemy.”
(Fatir 35:6)
Daily Du‘a:
اللّٰهُمَّ أَرِنِي الْحَقَّ حَقًّا وَارْزُقْنِي اتِّبَاعَهُ، وَأَرِنِي الْبَاطِلَ بَاطِلًا وَارْزُقْنِي اجْتِنَابَهُ
“O Allah! Show me the truth as truth and grant me the ability to follow it, and show me falsehood as falsehood and grant me the ability to avoid it.”
Summary:
An enemy does not always come holding a sword — often, he hides a dagger beneath his shirt. Keep your heart pure, but never keep your eyes closed.
Written by: Qari Usama bin Abdus Salam
Recognizing Your Enemy is a Great Insight
In every person’s life, there are individuals who smile to your face but harbor hatred and schemes in their hearts. Through the light of the Qur’an and Sunnah, coupled with intellect, observation, and experience, you can easily recognize who your true enemy is.
Below are 10 clear principles for identifying such people:
➊ Smiling Face, Poisoned Heart
One who always meets you with a fake smile but harbors suspicion or plots against you in your absence.
Qur’an:
﴿فِي قُلُوبِهِم مَّرَضٌ فَزَادَهُمُ ٱللَّهُ مَرَضٗا﴾
“In their hearts is a disease, so Allah has increased their disease.”
(Al-Baqarah 2:10)
➋ Burns at Your Success
One who cannot be happy at your achievements, envies you, and even jokingly prays against you.
Signs:
◈ Instead of praise, remains silent.
◈ Says, “You’re just lucky,” with a tone of belittlement.
◈ Blames you for his own failures.
➌ Speaks Against You in Your Absence
An enemy is the one who praises you in person but assassinates your character behind your back.
Hadith:
“Among the signs of a hypocrite is that when alone, he mocks, and when in front, he flatters.”
(Meaning from Bukhari & Muslim)
➍ Attempts to Turn You Against Others
Engages in gossip, twisting words to create hatred among hearts.
Qur’an:
﴿هَمَّازٖ مَّشَّآءٍۭ بِنَمِيمٍ﴾
“A slanderer, going about with malicious gossip.”
(Al-Qalam 68:11)
➎ Seeks Your Advice, Then Misuses It
Often extracts information from you to show others or to tarnish your name.
➏ Always Counts Your Weaknesses
Remembers your one mistake, repeats it constantly, and ignores your good qualities.
➐ Keeps You in Constant Doubt
Causes you to doubt your friends, your intentions, or even your own intelligence.
➑ Injects Poison Through Sarcasm
Puts you down under the guise of humor.
Examples:
◈ “You’re just good at talking, what about doing?”
◈ “Oh, so you’ve become a saint now!”
➒ Forms Alliances Against You Behind Your Back
Joins your enemies, damages your reputation, and portrays himself as pious.
➓ Religious Enemy – The Most Dangerous
One who is an enemy to your faith, beliefs, or principles, tries to push you into sin, or casts doubts in your religion.
Qur’an:
﴿إِنَّ ٱلشَّيۡطَٰنَ لَكُمۡ عَدُوّٞ فَٱتَّخِذُوهُ عَدُوًّا﴾
“Indeed, Satan is an enemy to you, so take him as an enemy.”
(Fatir 35:6)
Recipe for Recognizing an Enemy: Heart + Du‘a + Insight
Daily Du‘a:
اللّٰهُمَّ أَرِنِي الْحَقَّ حَقًّا وَارْزُقْنِي اتِّبَاعَهُ، وَأَرِنِي الْبَاطِلَ بَاطِلًا وَارْزُقْنِي اجْتِنَابَهُ
“O Allah! Show me the truth as truth and grant me the ability to follow it, and show me falsehood as falsehood and grant me the ability to avoid it.”
Summary:An enemy does not always come holding a sword — often, he hides a dagger beneath his shirt. Keep your heart pure, but never keep your eyes closed.
