These include the devil and man's own animal soul or the nafs al-ammarah. This is the beginning level of man's spiritual existence in which the soul is subject to control of his animal desires. Man is in constant danger of being overwhelmed and led astray, even to the point of spiritual demise by the devil and his own animal soul. The Holy Quran informs us that refuge from both of these elements can be obtained by seeking the protection of our Lord, and urges us to hasten towards it. Another situation in which a man hastens is when the task he has undertaken is important and the time to complete it is short.
Nothing can be of greater importance then man's own spiritual salvation and success.
The time to achieve this great task is, however, very short and can run out at any moment. Man also hastens towards something which is so very attractive and supreme par excellence as to be a great blessing for mankind. The protection of Allah is certainly such a blessing for man. Besides it, this invitation is also for the great blessing which is the Garden of paradise and is to be experienced in the Life after Death as seven levels of heavenly life. It can, however, also be acquired in this life in the form of the Garden of serenity of the heart.