Iblis

The Angels meet Adam for the first time. They are scared of the new creation. However, only Iblis shows complete rejection of Adam by moving his head away.

Iblis is a character mentioned in the Quran. He is from the Djinn and refused to bow before Adam. This is because Iblis thought that he was better than Adam. Because he felt from heaven, he is often compared to Lucifer. However, Iblis is not God's enemy, he is only the enemy of djinn and humans.

Story of Iblis

Since the Quran tells about stories, the explanation is provided in books called tafsir. The tafsirs explain that before Adam, djinn lived on earth. Djinn have, like humans, free will. However, the djinn became more and more evil. When God was fed up with the djinn, he decided to kill the djinn by an army of angels. The leader of the angels was Iblis. After the djinn died or hid themselves from the angels, Iblis felt proud. He thought he was the favorite creature of God now.

However, God decided to create a new creature with free will instead. Then God commanded Iblis to bow before Adam as a sign of respect. Iblis was disappointed and felt that this command was unjust. Instead, he wanted to destroy humans as he destroyed the djinn before. Because of his arrogant actions, he was dismissed from his angelic duties. When Iblis lost his angelic nature, he became a devil and was not able to return to heaven. Some scholars also add, that his name before his fall was Azazel, but his name became Iblis when he turned into a devil. As a devil, he wants to prove that the other creatures are inferior to him.

Dispute

Since the tafsir is an explanation, disagreements are also recorded. The story of Iblis is not mentioned in the Quran, but is explained by Muhammad 's followers. Two followers disagreed. Ibn Abbas said that Iblis was an angel called Azazel, who was made from fire and he was the leader of the angels. Hasan Basri said, that he was not a real angel, since angels would not make bad decisions. He argues, that Iblis has always been a devil. Therefore, traditional Muslims have one of these two views about Iblis.

Theology

Islam scholars explain the meaning and purpose of the story for the Muslims. First, they explain, Iblis did not create evil. This is different from some Christians and Zoroastrianism who believe that Satan creates evil. Muslims believe that God creates both good and evil, but evil has a better purpose in the end.

Next, Muslims should not compare themselves to others (not be envious), because Iblis sinned when he compared himself to Adam. Muslims should also not be arrogant, since Iblis was arrogant.

Iblis is also said to have children. His own children are called shayāṭīn (satans or devils). They come from eggs, because Iblis has no gender. Next, humans and remaining djinn who decide to become evil, also turn into devils and are Iblis' children. Since Iblis' children betrayed God, Iblis does not like them. Instead, he betrays his own people whenever he meets God or his angels. This is, for example, supposed to have happened at a battle between Muhammad and his enemies.

Iblis Media

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  Painting from a Herat manuscript of the Persian rendition by Bal'ami of the Annals/Tarikh (universal chronicle) of al-Tabari, depicting angels honoring Adam, except Iblis, who refuses. Held at the Topkapi Palace Museum Library.

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  Depiction of Iblis in the epic poem Shahnameh

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  Adam honoured by Angels – Persian miniature. Iblis, black-faced and without hair (top-right of the picture). He refuses to prostrate himself with the other Angels.

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  Another painting of angels prostrating before Adam with Iblis refusing, here depicted with a headcover

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  Portrayal of Islamic devils in the form of wild monsters. Siyah Qalem - Hazine 2153, s.31b