Satanic tricks and diabolical schemes are promoted by the hypocrites and fall into the traps of the heedless, but the believers recognize them. They neither respond to them nor get caught in their snares. These are the methods of adorning falsehood, which lead to the distortion of facts, the multiplication of obstacles, and the worsening of calamities. So, what are these methods?

1. Claiming to intend goodness and reform:

Satan invented this method when he whispered to Adam and his wife, saying:
"O Adam, shall I direct you to the tree of eternity and possession that will not deteriorate?" (Surah Taha, 120), al-Tabari explained: Satan whispered to Adam, saying: Shall I guide you to a tree, that if you eat from it, you will live forever and possess a kingdom that will never end. And he said to him: If you eat from it, you will become a king like Allah or you will be among the immortals, and you will never die.⁽¹⁾ He claimed to want good for Adam and his wife and whispered to them to do what he desired, so they could reach the so-called "good."

This is the way of the devils and those who follow them among tyrants and hypocrites. Pharaoh, for example, when he wanted to entice his people to follow him, claimed he only sought their good and reform. Allah said: "Pharaoh said: I do not show you except what I see, and I do not guide you except to the way of right conduct." (Surah Ghafir, 29).
Similarly, the hypocrites corrupt the earth and try to make their ways seem appealing to people, claiming they are reformers, not corrupters. Allah says:
"And when it is said to them, 'Do not cause corruption on the earth,' they say, 'We are only reformers.' Unquestionably, it is they who are the corrupters, but they perceive [it] not." (Surah Al-Baqarah, 11-12).

2. Donning the cloak of advice:

Another method by which devils adorn falsehood is by pretending to offer advice, as if they want nothing for themselves but to guide others for their own benefit. Allah warned us about this, showing us that it is the way of Satan. Allah says: "But Satan whispered to them to make apparent to them that which was concealed from them of their private parts. He said, 'Your Lord did not forbid you this tree except that you become angels or become of the immortal.' And he swore [by Allah]  to them, 'Indeed, I am to you from among the sincere advisors.' So he made them fall, through deception. And when they tasted of the tree, their private parts became apparent to them, and they began to fasten together over themselves from the leaves of Paradise. And their Lord called to them, 'Did I not forbid you from that tree and tell you that Satan is to you a clear enemy?'" (Surah Al-A'raf, 20-22).

3. Deceiving people with false oaths:

In the previous verses, Allah explained that Satan swore to Adam and his wife, meaning he falsely took oaths to make his advice seem sincere. This is a method used by the devils and their hypocritical followers—taking false oaths. Hypocrites are keen to swear by Allah that they only seek reform, but they are liars in this.

The Quran has exposed this behavior in several places. Allah says:
"So how [will it be] when disaster strikes them because of what their hands have put forth and then they come to you swearing by Allah, 'We intended nothing but good conduct and accommodation.'" (Surah An-Nisa, 62), and He also said: "And [there are] those [hypocrites] who took a mosque as harm, disbelief, and division among the believers and as a station for whoever had warred against Allah and His Messenger before. And they will surely swear, 'We intended only the best.' And Allah testifies that indeed they are liars." (Surah At-Tawbah, 107).

4. Pretending to be with the believers:

Devils and their hypocritical followers always try to appear as though they are siding with the people, standing by them in times of calamity, just to make it easier for them to lead them astray. This devilish behavior is seen in what the Quran narrates about Satan: "And [remember] when Satan made their deeds pleasing to them and said, 'No one can overcome you today from among the people, and indeed, I am your protector.' But when the two armies sighted each other, he turned on his heels and said, 'Indeed, I am dissociated from you. Indeed, I see what you do not see; indeed, I fear Allah. And Allah is severe in penalty.'" (Surah Al-Anfal, 48). Satan pretended to stand by those who followed him, but in reality, he deceived them.

Similarly, hypocrites also pretend to be with the believers, but they hide their true intentions. Allah says: "And of the people are some who say, 'We believe in Allah and the Last Day,' but they are not believers. They [think to] deceive Allah and those who believe, but they deceive not except themselves and perceive [it] not." (Surah Al-Baqarah, 8-9), and He also said: "And when they meet those who believe, they say, “We believe”; but when they are alone with their evil ones, they say, “Indeed, we are with you; we were only mockers.'" (Surah Al-Baqarah, 14), and: "Those who await [and watch] you. Then if you gain a victory from Allah, they say, 'Were we not with you?' But if the disbelievers have a success, they say [to them], 'Did we not gain the advantage over you, but we protected you from the believers?' Allah will judge between [all of] you on the Day of Resurrection. And never will Allah give the disbelievers over the believers a way [to overcome them]." (Surah An-Nisa, 141).

5. Claiming to fight corruption and showing concern for people:

Allah has explained that tyrants often deceive people by making false claims of fighting corruption and pretending to care for the people. For example, Pharaoh, when he fought against Prophet Musa (Moses), wanted to win the people's support by making them believe that Musa’s call would lead to corruption, and that opposing Musa was only to prevent this corruption.

Allah says: "And Pharaoh said, 'Let me kill Moses and let him call upon his Lord. Indeed, I fear that he will change your religion or that he will cause corruption in the land.'" (Surah Ghafir, 26), and: "And the eminent among the people of Pharaoh said, 'Will you leave Moses and his people to cause corruption in the land and abandon you and your gods?' [Pharaoh] said, 'We will kill their sons and keep their women alive; and indeed, we are subjugators over them.'" (Surah Al-A'raf, 127), these are tricks and schemes aimed at fighting the truth and adorning falsehood.

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(1) Tafsir al-Tabari (1/526).

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