He—the Almighty—has alerted us to the unspecific (Mutashabih) sayings which are from Satan by His saying in Surah Al-Isra: {And tell My servants to say that which is best. Indeed, Satan induces [dissension] among them} (Al-Isra: 53).

Our Master, the Commander of the Faithful (Amir al-Mu'minin), pointed to this meaning in Nahj al-Balagha, saying: "Verily, Satan facilitates his ways for you (meaning, he makes them easy), and he wishes to untie your religion knot by knot, and to give you division in place of unity, and discord (fitna) in place of division. So turn away from his incitements (nazaghat) and his whisperings (nafathat), and accept the advice from him who offers it to you, and bind it (wa‘qiluha) upon yourselves."

The Almighty said with a similar meaning: {And Satan made their deeds fair-seeming to them} (Al-Naml: 24).

As for the meaning of his saying: {and to give you division in place of unity}, it means he gives you division instead of unity, as if he sells you the second for the first. {So turn away} (asdifu), meaning turn away from his whisperings; {and bind it} (wa‘qiluha), meaning hold it fast to yourselves and do not leave it, lest it be lost from you and you suffer loss. God has warned us against obeying the devils by His saying: {And indeed, the devils inspire their allies to dispute with you; and if you were to obey them, indeed, you would be polytheists} (Al-An'am: 121).