The Dangerous Facade of Donald Trump: A Study in Contradiction, Incompetence, and Shame
There is something profoundly wrong with Donald Trump’s personality, and the longer the world refuses to name it plainly, the more we all pay the price. To observe him closely is to witness a man trapped in a perpetual loop of contradiction, superficiality, and unreliable impulse. He declares one thing with absolute certainty one day, only to reverse himself the next, as though truth itself is merely a tool to be discarded once used. This is not political strategy; it is the hallmark of a deeply fractured psyche. Behind the bluster and the gold-plated veneer lies an inferiority complex so glaring that it dictates every move he makes. Perhaps it stems from his past—decades of desperate craving for legitimacy among New York’s elite who never truly accepted him—but whatever the origin, the result is a man who cannot abide anyone else’s strength. Except, that is, for Benjamin Netanyahu. Toward the Israeli prime minister, Trump behaves not as a peer, but as a slave—unquestioning, obsequious, and willing to torch American interests and international law for a nod of approval. That grotesque deference alone should have disqualified him from high office.
Then there are the Epstein files. While much of the political class has tried to bury the connection, the records are unmistakable: Trump and Jeffrey Epstein moved in the same circles for years, with Trump once calling Epstein a “terrific guy” who shared his taste for beautiful women and immature girls. When the files began to surface, so did Trump’s shameful record—not merely of association, but of a pattern of behavior that treats women as commodities and accountability as an enemy. For any normal leader, such revelations would end a career. For Trump, they are just another layer of rot that his base has been conditioned to ignore.
His language, too, reveals the sickness. He does not debate; he degrades. He describes Iranians with dehumanizing epithets, referring to them as though they are subhuman threats rather than citizens of a proud civilization. This is not tough talk; it is the tantrum of an immature child who never learned to manage frustration. And make no mistake: that childishness is lethal. Donald Trump has repeatedly pushed the world to the brink of nuclear war—over tweets, over provocations, over his own need to look strong. Later, during the war he helped provoke, he committed acts that many international jurists would classify as war crimes, including strikes on cultural sites and disproportionate retaliation. And yet, when the tide turned against him, he did what he always does: he begged for a ceasefire. The condition? The opening of the Strait of Hormuz—a humiliating concession that revealed his entire war effort as a fraud. He had promised to change Iran’s regime, to make it bend. Instead, Iran emerged not only victorious but stronger: a unified regional power, its domestic factions rallying around the flag in the face of foreign aggression. The exact opposite of Trump’s stated objective. He wanted regime change; he got national consolidation.
What is perhaps most terrifying is that no one around him protested. No one resigned. His team of supposed adults—generals, diplomats, so-called patriots—watched a man with a clear personality disorder steer the planet toward Armageddon, and they stayed silent. They enabled him. They normalized the abnormal. And that collective cowardice made an already dangerous situation infinitely worse. A man who cannot regulate his own emotions, who lies as easily as he breathes, who fetishizes strongmen while groveling before one foreign leader, and who has the nuclear codes—that is the definition of a clear and present danger. The world survived Trump once, but barely. To let him return to power would be not a political choice but a psychiatric failure. He should have been removed long ago, not through partisan revenge but through basic self-preservation. Because when a child plays with matches, you take the matches away. When a disordered man plays with nuclear war, you remove him—before he burns everything down.
Trump's Contradictions: From Epstein's Files to the War on Iran by Netanyahu's Order
In a political scene brimming with contradictions, US President Donald Trump emerges as a problematic figure combining hollow rhetoric of power, lingering personal files, and absolute loyalty to the Israeli project. The war on Iran did not come as an American strategic necessity, but as another link in a long chain of contradictions haunting the businessman who became president.
From Epstein's File to Atomic Bombs
Before Trump bombed Iran, his name echoed in the corridors of Jeffrey Epstein's case. Recently published court documents include allegations against Trump of sexual assault of a minor in the 1980s, where a woman claimed that Epstein brought her to Trump when she was thirteen years old, and that the American president tried to force her to perform oral sex before she bit him, prompting him to punch her and throw her out (1). Despite White House denial, questions remain: How can a man accused of such crimes lead a war under the banner of "morality"?
Megalomania and the Dignity of Leaders
Trump was not content with the lingering Epstein file; he added rare arrogant behavior. His recent statements towards European leaders crossed all diplomatic boundaries. When French President Emmanuel Macron tried to contact him with a working dinner proposal, Trump publicly replied: "No one wants him because he'll be gone soon" (2). As for British Prime Minister Keir Starmer, he described him as "very stupid" for intending to give up the island of Diego Garcia (3). Even more pathetic was the scene of NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte addressing Trump as "Dear Donald" and signing his letters "Yours, Mark," only to be surprised by Trump publishing the letter on social media as proof of submission (4). This behavior reveals a deep inferiority complex, making Trump imagine himself an emperor who appoints and dismisses world leaders according to his mood.
Between Denying the Nuclear Program and Obsession with Striking
The greatest contradiction lies in the stance towards Iran. After the June 2025 bombing, Trump confidently announced: "Iran's nuclear sites have been completely destroyed!" (5). But only eight months later, he returned to declare that Iran "was close to obtaining a nuclear bomb" and had to be struck (6). He repeatedly threatened to protect Iranian protesters, then suddenly backed off, claiming Tehran had stopped the killing, while international reports indicate over 7,000 protesters killed (7). This confusion is not a weakness in information, but evidence that the war was predetermined, and justifications change as needed.
Netanyahu: The Real Godfather of the War
But the thread of blood connecting all these contradictions carries one name: Benjamin Netanyahu. New York Times reports confirm that the Israeli Prime Minister began pressuring Trump to launch the war last December at the Mar-a-Lago resort (8). According to sources, Netanyahu set potential strike dates and discussed with Trump ways to topple the Iranian leadership (9). To confirm absolute Israeli control, when Netanyahu requested delaying the strike in January to strengthen Israel's defenses, Trump immediately agreed (10).
Trump even indirectly admitted he was merely an executor, telling reporters: "Based on how the negotiations were going, I think they (Israel) would have struck first, and if that had happened, I would have been forced to join" (11). The translation is clear: the war was not an American decision, but an Israeli dictate. Netanyahu himself admitted his joy, saying: "This allows us to do what I've wanted to do for 40 years: deliver a crushing blow to the terrorist regime" (12).
Conclusion
If Trump had the power to protect Iranian protesters and did not, if he could reveal the truth in the Epstein case but hides it, if he could respect America's allies but insults them, then why all this? The answer is simple: the war was not for Iran, but to please Netanyahu. In the theater of American politics, Trump stands on the stage of leadership, but he moves puppets whose strings are held by the Israeli Prime Minister, while behind the curtain hang Epstein's papers soaked in the blood of victims, and the dignity of European leaders torn between "Donald's" shoes.
Sources
1. Democratic National Committee. (2026, February 24). New Reports Suggest Trump's Department of Justice Hid Epstein Files That Include Serious Allegations About Trump. democrats.org.
2. The Telegraph. (2026, January 21). Trump's parody of Macron would be a hate crime in many European states. telegraph.co.uk.
3. Daily Mail. (2026, January 20). Trump leaks private texts from world leaders as he heads to Davos for showdown over Greenland. dailymail.co.uk.
4. France 24. (2026, March 6). US releases Epstein files with uncorroborated Trump allegations. france24.com.
5. The Topeka Capital-Journal. (2026, March 3). Kansas congressmen thought Iran's nuclear program had been obliterated. cjonline.com.
6. Ahram Online. (2026, March 3). Trump insists Iran nuclear program set back 'decades'. english.ahram.org.eg.
7. Media Indonesia. (2026, March 4). Donald Trump Kritik PM Keir Starmer, Sebut Hubungan AS-Inggris Retak. mediaindonesia.com.
8. The Times of Israel. (2026, March 4). US officials say diplomatic path was at dead end when Trump approved Iran strikes. timesofisrael.com.
9. U.S. House of Representatives, Committee on Oversight and Government Reform. (2026, February 23). Ranking Member Robert Garcia Statement After Department of Justice Withheld Epstein Files, Includes Allegation President Donald Trump Sexually Abused a Minor. oversightdemocrats.house.gov.
10. Orden, E. (2026, March 5). Justice Department publishes documents with sexual assault allegations against Trump. POLITICO.
11. The Wall Street Journal. (2026, February 15). Trump's Iran Strategy: Between Netanyahu's Demands and Military Realities. wsj.com.
12. The Jerusalem Post. (2026, March 2). Netanyahu: 'This allows us to do what I've wanted for 40 years'. jpost.com.
تناقضات ترامب: من أوراق إبستين إلى حرب إيران بأمر نتنياهو
في مشهد سياسي يضج بالتناقضات، يبرز الرئيس الأمريكي دونالد ترامب كشخصية إشكالية تجمع بين خطاب القوة المفرغة من المضمون، وملفات شخصية عالقة، وولاء مطلق للمشروع الإسرائيلي. فالحرب على إيران لم تأت كضرورة استراتيجية أمريكية، بل كحلقة في سلسلة طويلة من التناقضات التي تطارد رجل الأعمال الذي أصبح رئيساً.
من ملف إبستين إلى القنابل الذرية
قبل أن يقصف ترامب إيران، كان اسمه يتردد في أروقة قضية جيفري إبستين. فالمستندات القضائية المنشورة حديثاً تتضمن اتهامات لترامب بالاعتداء الجنسي على قاصر في الثمانينيات، حيث زعمت امرأة أن إبستين قدمها لترامب وهي في الثالثة عشرة من عمرها، وأن الرئيس الأمريكي حاول إجبارها على ممارسة الجنس الفموي قبل أن تعضه فيرد بلكمها وطردها (1). ورغم نفي البيت الأبيض، تبقى الأسئلة معلقة: كيف لرجل متهم في مثل هذه القضايا أن يقود حرباً تحت شعار "الأخلاق"؟
داء العظمة وكرامة القادة
لم يكتف ترامب بملف إبستين العالق، بل أضاف إليه سلوكاً استعلائياً نادراً. فتصريحاته الأخيرة لقادة أوروبا تجاوزت كل الحدود الدبلوماسية. فعندما حاول الرئيس الفرنسي إيمانويل ماكرون التواصل معه باقتراح عشاء عمل، رد ترامب علناً: "لا أحد يريده لأنه سيرحل قريباً" (2). أما رئيس الوزراء البريطاني كير ستارمر، فوصفه بأنه "غبي جداً" لأنه ينوي التخلي عن جزيرة دييغو غارسيا (3). والأكثر إثارة للشفقة كان مشهد الأمين العام لحلف الناتو مارك روته وهو يخاطب ترامب بعبارة "Dear Donald" ويوقِّع رسائله بـ"Yours, Mark"، ليُفاجأ بنشر ترامب للرسالة على وسائل التواصل كدليل على الخضوع (4). هذا السلوك يكشف عقدة نقص عميقة، تجعل ترامب يتصور نفسه إمبراطوراً يعين رؤساء الدول ويقيلهم حسب مزاجه.
بين نفي النووي والهوس بالضرب
التناقض الأكبر يتجلى في الموقف من إيران. فبعد قصف يونيو 2025، أعلن ترامب بكل ثقة: "المواقع النووية الإيرانية دُمِّرت بالكامل!" (5). لكنه بعد ثمانية أشهر فقط، عاد ليصرح بأن إيران "كانت قريبة من الحصول على قنبلة نووية" وكان لا بد من ضربها (6). بل إنه هدد مراراً بحماية المتظاهرين الإيرانيين، ليتنحى فجأة مدعياً أن طهران أوقفت القتل، بينما تشير التقارير الدولية إلى مقتل أكثر من 7000 متظاهر (7). هذا التخبط ليس ضعفاً في المعلومات، بل دليل على أن الحرب كانت مقررة سلفاً، والتبريرات تتغير حسب الحاجة.
نتنياهو: العراب الحقيقي للحرب
لكن خيط الدم الواصل بين كل هذه التناقضات يحمل اسماً واحداً: بنيامين نتنياهو. تقارير نيويورك تايمز تؤكد أن رئيس الوزراء الإسرائيلي بدأ الضغط على ترامب لشن الحرب منذ ديسمبر الماضي في منتجع مار-أ-لاغو (8). وبحسب المصادر، فإن نتنياهو حدد مواعيد الضربة المحتملة، وناقش مع ترامب سبل إسقاط القيادة الإيرانية (9). ولتأكيد السيطرة الإسرائيلية المطلقة، عندما طلب نتنياهو تأجيل الضربة في يناير لتعزيز دفاعات إسرائيل، وافق ترامب فوراً (10).
حتى أن ترامب اعترف بشكل غير مباشر بأنه مجرد منفذ، قائلاً للصحفيين: "بناءً على سير المفاوضات، أعتقد أنهم (إسرائيل) كانوا سيضربون أولاً، ولو حدث ذلك لكنت اضطررت للانضمام" (11). الترجمة واضحة: الحرب لم تكن قراراً أمريكياً، بل إملاء إسرائيلي. ونتنياهو نفسه اعترف بفرحته قائلاً: "هذا يسمح لنا بفعل ما كنت أتمنى فعله منذ 40 عاماً: توجيه ضربة ساحقة لنظام الإرهاب" (12).
خاتمة
إذا كان ترامب يمتلك القدرة على حماية المتظاهرين الإيرانيين ولم يفعل، وإذا كان قادراً على كشف الحقيقة في قضية إبستين لكنه يخفيها، وإذا كان يستطيع احترام حلفاء أمريكا لكنه يهينهم، فلماذا كل هذا؟ الجواب بسيط: الحرب لم تكن لإيران، بل لإرضاء نتنياهو. ففي مسرح السياسة الأمريكية، يقف ترامب على خشبة القيادة، لكنه يحرك دمىً يمسك خيوطها رئيس وزراء إسرائيل، بينما تتدلى خلف الستار أوراق إبستين المبتلة بدماء الضحايا، وكرامة القادة الأوروبيين الممزقة بين أحذية "دونالد".
المصادر
1. Democratic National Committee. (2026, February 24). New Reports Suggest Trump's Department of Justice Hid Epstein Files That Include Serious Allegations About Trump. democrats.org.
2. The Telegraph. (2026, January 21). Trump's parody of Macron would be a hate crime in many European states. telegraph.co.uk.
3. Daily Mail. (2026, January 20). Trump leaks private texts from world leaders as he heads to Davos for showdown over Greenland. dailymail.co.uk.
4. France 24. (2026, March 6). US releases Epstein files with uncorroborated Trump allegations. france24.com.
5. The Topeka Capital-Journal. (2026, March 3). Kansas congressmen thought Iran's nuclear program had been obliterated. cjonline.com.
6. Ahram Online. (2026, March 3). Trump insists Iran nuclear program set back 'decades'. english.ahram.org.eg.
7. Media Indonesia. (2026, March 4). Donald Trump Kritik PM Keir Starmer, Sebut Hubungan AS-Inggris Retak. mediaindonesia.com.
8. The Times of Israel. (2026, March 4). US officials say diplomatic path was at dead end when Trump approved Iran strikes. timesofisrael.com.
9. U.S. House of Representatives, Committee on Oversight and Government Reform. (2026, February 23). Ranking Member Robert Garcia Statement After Department of Justice Withheld Epstein Files, Includes Allegation President Donald Trump Sexually Abused a Minor. oversightdemocrats.house.gov.
10. Orden, E. (2026, March 5). Justice Department publishes documents with sexual assault allegations against Trump. POLITICO.
11. The Wall Street Journal. (2026, February 15). Trump's Iran Strategy: Between Netanyahu's Demands and Military Realities. wsj.com.
12. The Jerusalem Post. (2026, March 2). Netanyahu: 'This allows us to do what I've wanted for 40 years'. jpost.com.
The Devil's Machinery: Epstein and Quranic Warnings
In the Holy Quran, Satan is not merely a symbol of evil, but a specific psychological and spiritual force whose methodology is meticulously detailed.
Satan is the "temptor."
He embodies the essence of the "deception" and "whispering" he seeks. God Almighty said: "Then Satan whispered to them, to reveal to them what was hidden from them of their Vulnerabilities. He said, 'Your Lord did not forbid you this tree except that you become angels or become of the immortal.'" (7:20) The word "seducer" carries connotations of deception, temptation, and false promises that portray ugliness as beauty and falsehood as truth.
He is "the embellisher"—a fitting and apt description.
This is derived directly from the verse: “And when Satan made their deeds seem fair to them and said, ‘No one can overcome you today, and I am your protector.’ But when the two armies came face to face, he turned on his heels and said, ‘I am disassociated from you. Indeed, I see what you do not see; indeed, I fear Allah, and Allah is severe in punishment.’” (8:48). This is the most accurate description of what Epstein's machine does: beautify vice and exploitation, making them acceptable, even desirable, to some to varying degrees.
As for Satan's plan in the Holy Quran, it describes his strategy with alarming clarity. This strategy moves from internal deception to external tyranny, from accepting minor sins to committing more heinous, powerful, and widespread evils until he completely encircles them, as in his threats and warnings mentioned more than once in the Holy Quran: “He said, ‘Because You have put me in error, I will surely sit in wait for them on Your straight path. Then I will come at them from their front and from their rear and from their right and from their left, and You will not find most of them grateful [to You].’” (7:16-17). Satan works through malicious whispers, spreading ideas of contempt, desire, and superiority. It doesn't begin with heinous acts, but rather with the normalization of minor corruption, gradually descending to the lowest depths, making the forbidden appear permissible. The word "I will surely sit" in the verse refers to sitting with unwavering persistence. "Before them" refers to their present, "behind them" to their past, and to their centers of power—all at once—so that they forget that God is the source of their blessings, and thus they become ungrateful, continuing their descent while mistaking it for ascent.
Satan strives to beautify evil (as described in the Quran): he embellishes and adorns people's wicked deeds, causing them to deny God's blessings and use them for evil and wrongdoing instead of being grateful. God Almighty says: “And thus We have made for every prophet an enemy – devils from mankind and jinn, inspiring to one another deceptive speech in delusion. But if your Lord had willed, they would not have done it, so leave them to their fabrications.” (6:112) This applies to these scandals. Perhaps this is Satan’s most powerful tool: the art of beautification. He cloaks sin in a veneer of sophistication, rebellion, and exclusivity. Wrong is no longer ugly; rather, it is portrayed as a privilege of the powerful and enlightened. The verse says: Do not worry about the "mechanism of Satan"... rather, expose it, admonish against it, and remind others of it. For every sin that is not committed in this world, God will punish it severely, so that it will be even more severe in the Hereafter. They will wish they had been punished in this world, for it would have been better for them than having their punishment postponed in the Hereafter.
The gradual decline (the descent from the innate human values) is clearly stated in the Holy Quran, as in the verse: "O mankind, eat from whatever is on earth [that is] lawful and good and do not follow the footsteps of Satan. Indeed, he is to you a clear enemy." (2:168). The call here is to all people in all ages (mankind). The Quran warns that sin is a gradual descent. Every concession leads to another, and every step facilitates the next, until the unimaginable becomes commonplace. The devil's steps begin with accepting minor sins and mistakes, followed by increasingly severe and comprehensive steps toward the abyss.
The devil's steps begin with accepting minor sins and mistakes, then progress toward greater and more comprehensive downfall. This is the gradual decline (downward spiral): as in the verse: “O you who have believed, do not follow the footsteps of Satan. And whoever follows the footsteps of Satan - indeed, he enjoins immorality and wrongdoing. And were it not for the favor of Allah upon you and His mercy, not one of you would have been pure, ever. But Allah purifies whom He wills, and Allah is Hearing and Knowing.” (21:21). The Quran warns that sin is a gradual descent. Every concession leads to another, and every step facilitates the next, until the unimaginable becomes commonplace. And His saying, may He be exalted: “Then Satan caused them to slip from it and removed them from that [condition] in which they had been. And We said, ‘Descend, being enemies to one another, and you will have upon the earth a place of settlement and enjoyment for a time.’” (2:36) The word “descend” here means a decline in the human values that God established and instilled in human nature, not a physical descent. Rather, it refers to a deterioration in values and morals. This is a call directed to every human being in all ages.
Therefore, gradual decline is Satan's ultimate goal: to mislead people (change). The Holy Quran states: "And whoever turns away from My remembrance - indeed, he will have a life of hardship, and We will raise him up on the Day of Resurrection blind." (20:124) He will say, "My Lord, why have You raised me up blind while I was seeing?" (20:125) The blindness here is the blindness of insight, which God has made a witness and judge of human actions. Those who follow Satan have their insights obscured by their actions. He said, “Thus did Our signs come to you, but you forgot them; and thus will you be forgotten this Day.” (20:126)
Those who took their religion as amusement and play, and whom worldly life deluded, so today We will forget them as they forgot the meeting of this Day of theirs, and as they used to deny Our signs. (7:51)
And it will be said, “This Day We will forget you as you forgot the meeting of the Day of yours.”
This is your Day, and your abode is the Fire, and you will have no helpers. (45:34)
The ultimate result is a complete reversal of reality. The sinner loses his moral compass, and his inner compass is shattered until he can no longer distinguish between right and wrong. He lives in a state of delusion, believing that his actions are justified or insignificant.
The Epstein Network: A Case Study in Satanic Methodology. Jeffrey Epstein's world was a distorted mirror of these Quranic principles and human values.
Whispers were the ideology of absolute privilege. Epstein and his associates whispered—through lavish parties, a pretense of culture, and connections to power—that they were above the law and above morality. The desires of the flesh, especially toward the young and vulnerable, were not sins to be resisted, but desires to be indulged by a self-appointed elite.
This elite legitimized evil, which was the essence of Epstein's work and that of his ilk. He didn't run a brothel in a back alley; he built a gilded cage on private islands and in luxurious mansions. He trafficked young girls, but cloaked his abuse in the trappings of wealth, education, and high society. In his narrative, the victims weren't victims; they were "willing" and "given opportunities." The ugliness of the predation was concealed behind sophistication, a secret club for the world's most powerful men with multiple objectives that Epstein couldn't manage alone, but which were backed by institutions, networks, and vast sums of money.
The goal was to legitimize evil: this was the core of Epstein's work. The descent was gradual: participants weren't immediately required to commit the worst acts. It began with accepting his money, enjoying his hospitality, overlooking his obvious eccentricities, and perhaps even overlooking minor transgressions. Every act of complicity—signing a plea agreement, silencing a victim, or feigning ignorance—facilitated the next. Lawyers, politicians, academics, and billionaires found themselves gradually entangled in a web where ethical lines blurred and then vanished entirely. No values, no principles, no constraints, no limits…
The state of feeling guilty: The most terrifying consequence, exemplified by Epstein’s own behavior and that of his closest associates like Ghislaine Maxwell, was this complete reversal of reality. They showed little remorse and often appeared arrogant and conceited. Their moral blindness was total. They saw their victims as commodities, justice as a burden on the weak, and themselves as above accountability. This is the “blindness” of the Quran on the Day of Judgment—a spiritual blindness, a blindness of insight.
This manifests itself in this life, where the conscience has become so dulled that it can no longer see its own evil.
The Epstein story is not an anomaly; it is a classic example. The Quran's description of the role of Satan is a profound psychological and social insight. It teaches us that systematic evil does not suddenly appear fully formed, but is planted in secret, adorned with the trappings of power, and gradually developed through collusion. It is nurtured by a culture that has lost its ability to distinguish between right and wrong (blindness of insight) and a lack of fear of God, until total collapse occurs. At that point, Satan withdraws, leaving them to utter loss in this world and the Hereafter. The most severe example is: “And when Satan made their deeds seem fair to them and said, ‘No one can overcome you today, and I am your protector.’ But when the two armies came face to face, he turned on his heels and said, ‘I am disassociated from you. Indeed, I see what you do not see. Indeed, I am your protector.’” I fear God, and God is severe in punishment. (8:48) This means that Satan still fears God, but they have become worse than him; they have no fear.
The Epstein case was a contemporary embodiment of Satan’s promises: “He promises them and deludes them, and Satan promises them nothing but delusion.” (4:120) Promises of pleasure, power, and immunity, which are ultimately hollow and destructive. This scandal reminds us, starkly and realistically, that when societies abandon moral vigilance and allow the powerful to normalize deviance, they enable Satan’s machinery to operate openly. Therefore, the Quran’s warning transcends time: Beware of temptations, refuse to beautify sin, and never take the first step on a path that makes falsehood appear right. The consequence of this path is not only personal destruction, but also the collective moral blindness that allowed Epstein's island and other islands to exist in the first place. These people are paving the way for God's wrath and the inevitable downfall of their empires:
“And when We intend to destroy a city, We command its affluent ones [to obey Us], but they defiantly disobey therein; so the word comes into effect upon it, and We destroy it with [complete] destruction.” (17:16)
“Until, when We seize their affluent ones with punishment, at once they cry out [in despair].” (23:64)
“And We did not send a warner to any city except that its affluent ones said, ‘Indeed, we are disbelievers in that with which you were sent.” (34 Saba)
And similarly, We did not send before you any warner to a city except that its affluent ones said, “Indeed, we found our fathers following a certain way, and we are following in their footsteps.” (23 Az-Zukhruf)
Indeed, before that they were living in luxury. (45 Al-Waqi’ah)
The affluent ones are those who are above the law, and here the meaning of the verse is that God gives them a chance to repent, but they persist until the matter reaches the point of their being eradicated by God. And We commanded its affluent ones—meaning, We made them rulers, governors, princes, and decision-makers—and these are the ones capable of change, not the poor. The poor are responsible for their own actions, while the affluent have the consequences of their actions that extend to others. God has given them the opportunity to change. That is, He did not command them to commit immorality, but He gave them opportunities to repent as a universal, existential, and not a legislative, measure.
Here are some other Quranic verses that speak of the danger of Satan in daily life and his use of worldly temptations such as wealth, status, and power to mislead people:
Satan is a clear enemy who promises poverty and commands evil: {Satan threatens you with poverty and orders you to immorality, while Allah promises you forgiveness from Him and bounty. And Allah is all-Encompassing and Knowing.} (2:268)
The life of this world is a false pleasure.
Beware of arrogance.
Know that the life of this world is but amusement and diversion and adornment and boasting to one another and competition in increase of wealth and children - like the example of rain whose growth pleases the disbelievers; then it withers and you see it turn yellow; then it becomes debris. And in the Hereafter is severe punishment and forgiveness from Allah and approval. And the life of this world is nothing but the enjoyment of delusion. (Al-Hadid 20)
The greatest misguidance: The pursuit of wealth and status God
And keep yourself patient with those who call upon their Lord morning and evening, seeking His countenance. And do not let your eyes turn away from them, desiring the adornments of this worldly life. And do not obey one whose heart We have made heedless of Our remembrance and who has followed his desire and whose affair has become excessive. (28 Al-Kahf)
Thus, the Holy Quran speaks in many verses about Satan's arrogance and his determination to mislead. After refusing to prostrate before Adam, he said defiantly, “Do you see this man whom You have preferred over me? If You delay me until the Day of Resurrection, I will surely seize his descendants and lead them astray, except for a few.”
He uses the phrase "I will surely seize control of you":
"I will surely seize control of you": a powerful emphatic form (the letter "lām" for oath + the emphatic particle + the emphatic nun)
The linguistic meaning: Derived from "ahtanak," it means to seize, besiege, and completely control, like the bridle with which a rider controls his horse. It is a promise to enslave humanity, control it, and direct it as one is led by a bridle.
The exception here is real; he acknowledges his inability to mislead those whom God has chosen to guide and protect from among mankind who have refused to submit to Satan and his schemes. These are the sincere, the righteous, the allies of God who seek refuge in Him and follow His will: "Indeed, those who fear God - when an impulse from Satan touches them - remember [Him], and at once they have insight." (7:201) Insight!
Satan is arrogant and weak, displaying clear and persistent hatred, envy, and hostility toward humanity.
This hostility is declared openly: he does not conceal his enmity but proclaims it publicly, warning us against complacency.
His challenge is within the bounds of God's will: he can only challenge what God has permitted ("You have delayed me"); he has no power outside of God's decree and predestination.
Therefore, reliance on God and seeking refuge in Him is the path to salvation—that is, turning to God, adhering to His guidance, and being wary of Satan's schemes.
In the context of discussing wealth and power (as Epstein did), these verses remind us how Satan exploits worldly tools like money, power, and fame (which Epstein, his associates, and his followers enjoyed) as a "bridle" to control and mislead people. Thus, some people use wealth and status as an excuse for deviance, injustice, and arrogance towards creation, tempting others with their worldly power, forgetting that true salvation lies in the divine exception: “except for a few” - those who refused to be horses led by the reins of Satan.
