The Danger of Believing You’re Already On the Right Path - Salam

As-salamu alaykum. The phrase “I will sit upon Your straight path” from A‘rāf 16 reminds me that Iblis doesn’t always pull people away by openly urging kufr. More often he sneaks in by making people sure they’re correct. The real risk isn’t someone admitting they’re lost, but someone feeling securely convinced they’re exactly where they ought to be. Iblis doesn’t wait on the roadside; he takes a place on the path itself. He doesn’t change the route outwardly, he strips it of its true purpose. That’s why the most effective trick isn’t just making sin look attractive, but copying the look of truth. People who speak smoothly, quote verses, and look like scholars can be dangerous if their heart’s orientation is off. Someone can think they’re drawing near to Allah, while actually becoming attached-often without realizing it-to a person, a group, a custom, or an authority. That’s where shirk begins: an idol isn’t only a statue; anything that asks for blind obedience can become one. This trap isn’t only for those who call themselves believers. Non-believers fall into it too when they put their reason, ideology, or moral self-image above everything. The problem isn’t the label you wear but who or what you submit to. Everyone relies on something; the question is whether that reliance is for the sake of the truth or merely a comfortable habit pretending to be truth. A‘rāf 16 warns us plainly: the worst drifting is by those who don’t know they’ve drifted. The person who feels safe, stops questioning, and says “I’m already on the right side” is exactly who Iblis targets. Remember that seeking truth is a continual process; it isn’t a badge you can claim once and stop pursuing. Wa-salam.