I heard Allah's Apostle (ﷺ) as saying: Verily, the Satan has lost all hopes that the worshippers would ever worship (him) in the peninsula of Arabia, but he (is hopeful) that he would sow the seed of dissension amongst them.
Hadith Text
I heard Allah's Apostle (ﷺ) as saying: Verily, the Satan has lost all hopes that the worshippers would ever worship (him) in the peninsula of Arabia, but he (is hopeful) that he would sow the seed of dissension amongst them.
Source Reference
Book: Characteristics of the Day of Judgment, Paradise, and Hell
Author: Sahih Muslim
Hadith: Sahih Muslim 2812 a
Scholarly Commentary
This noble hadith contains profound glad tidings and warnings. The first portion announces the great blessing that Allah has protected the Arabian Peninsula from manifest shirk and idolatry, fulfilling the Prophet's prayer that this land remain pure for Islamic monotheism. This divine protection ensures the heartlands of Islam remain free from open polytheistic worship.
The second portion reveals Satan's ongoing strategy - when direct worship is impossible, he turns to sowing discord (fitnah) among Muslims. This includes theological disputes, sectarian divisions, political conflicts, and personal enmities that weaken the Muslim community. Scholars explain that Satan's despair from being worshipped directly in Arabia makes him more determined to corrupt Muslims through subtle means.
The lesson for believers is twofold: gratitude for being protected from major shirk, and vigilance against Satan's attempts to divide the ummah through arguments, pride, and innovation. Unity upon the Quran and Sunnah is our protection against his schemes.