Iblis إبليس

Overview

Iblis (إِبْلِيس) is the chief of the devils and the sworn enemy of humanity. Originally devout among the jinn, he was elevated to the company of the angels until his refusal to prostrate to Adam exposed his arrogance, and he was cursed and expelled from divine mercy until the Day of Judgement.

Etymology

Classical lexicographers derive إِبْلِيس from أَبْلَسَ, meaning "to despair" or "to be cut off from mercy." After his expulsion he became the archetype of the shaytan figure, though the term shaytan is broader and includes his progeny.

Quranic references

Surah Al-Baqarah 2:34 — 'And [mention] when We said to the angels, "Prostrate before Adam"; so they prostrated, except for Iblis. He refused and was arrogant and became of the disbelievers.' Surah Al-A'raf 7:12 — '[Allah] said, "What prevented you from prostrating when I commanded you?" [Satan] said, "I am better than him. You created me from fire and created him from clay."'

قَالَ أَنَا خَيْرٌ مِّنْهُ خَلَقْتَنِي مِن نَّارٍ وَخَلَقْتَهُ مِن طِينٍ

Surah Al-Kahf 18:50 — 'He was of the jinn and departed from the command of his Lord.' Surah Sad 38:82-83 — '[Iblis] said, "By your might, I will surely mislead them all, except, among them, Your chosen servants."' Surah Al-Hijr 15:39-40 affirms the limit of his power over the sincere.

Hadith and tradition

The Prophet ﷺ said: "When the son of Adam recites a verse of prostration and prostrates, Satan withdraws weeping, saying: 'Woe to me! The son of Adam was commanded to prostrate and he prostrated, so Paradise is his; I was commanded to prostrate and I refused, so the Fire is mine.'"— Sahih Muslim 81

The Prophet ﷺ said: "Iblis places his throne upon the water, then he sends his troops; the nearest to him in rank is the greatest of them in causing fitnah."— Sahih Muslim 2813

Significance

The fall of Iblis is the foundational lesson on the perils of arrogance (كِبْر) and qiyas in opposition to revelation. He measured fire against clay, judged by his own reasoning, and ignored the explicit command of Allah. He is granted respite (Surah Al-A'raf 7:14) and seeks to mislead all the descendants of Adam, yet his power is whisper alone (Surah An-Nas 114:5). The muttaqin are shielded by remembrance, the Quran, and seeking refuge in Allah.

See also

Shaytan · Adam · Jinn · Nafs al-Ammara · Jahannam

References

1. Ibn Kathir, Tafsir al-Quran al-Azim, exegesis of Surah Al-Baqarah 2:34 and Surah Sad 38:71-85.
2. al-Tabari, Jami al-Bayan, on the story of Iblis and Adam.
3. Ibn al-Qayyim, Ighathat al-Lahfan min Masayid ash-Shaytan, a treatise on the traps of Iblis.
4. Ibn Taymiyyah, Majmu al-Fatawa, vol. 4, on jinn and devils.