Follow not the Khutuwat of Shaytan (Surah An-Nur 24: 21)

A Warning against following the Footsteps of Shaytan

Allah says:

O you who believe! Follow not the Khutuwat of Shaytan meaning, his ways and paths and what he commands,

And whosoever follows the footsteps of Shaytan, then, verily, he commands immorality and the evil deeds.  This is a warning given in the most concise and eloquent manner. `Ali bin Abi Talhah recorded from Ibn `Abbas (Radhi Allahu Anhuma) that

the Khutuwat of Shaytan means his deeds. `Ikrimah said that it means his evil whispers. Qatadah said: "Every sin is one of the footsteps of Shaytan.'' Abu Mijlaz said: "Vowing to commit sin is one of the footsteps of Shaytan.'' Then Allah says:

And had it not been for the grace of Allah and His mercy on you, not one of you would ever have been pure from sins  meaning, if He did not help whomever He wills to repent and come back to Him and be purified from Shirk, evil and sin, and whatever bad characteristics each person has according to his nature, no one would ever attain purity and goodness.

But Allah purifies whom He wills means, among His creation, and He sends astray whomever He wills, leaving him to be doomed in his misguidance and sin.

and Allah is All-Hearer,  means, He hears what His servants say,

All-Knower of who deserves to be guided and who deserves to be misguided.



Source: Tafsir ibn Kathir (Abridged)