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Adversary in the Quran

Iblis / Satan

إبليس / الشيطان

Iblis refuses the command, asks respite, and declares intent to mislead.

Both are Quranic designations; Iblis is identified as one of the jinn.

Across the surahs

The story through its verses

Read continuously: every passage is already open and arranged in narrative order.

01

Proud refusal

Iblis refuses the commanded prostration in arrogance.

Al-Baqara 2:34

وَإِذْ قُلْنَا لِلْمَلَـٰٓئِكَةِ ٱسْجُدُوا۟ لِـَٔادَمَ فَسَجَدُوٓا۟ إِلَّآ إِبْلِيسَ أَبَىٰ وَٱسْتَكْبَرَ وَكَانَ مِنَ ٱلْكَـٰفِرِينَ

And when We said to the angels, “Prostrate before Adam[18],” and they prostrated except Iblīs[19]; he refused and was arrogant, and was one of the disbelievers.

Al-A'raaf 7:12

قَالَ مَا مَنَعَكَ أَلَّا تَسْجُدَ إِذْ أَمَرْتُكَ ۖ قَالَ أَنَا۠ خَيْرٌ مِّنْهُ خَلَقْتَنِى مِن نَّارٍ وَخَلَقْتَهُۥ مِن طِينٍ

Allah said, “What prevented you from prostrating when I ordered you?” He said, “I am better than him; You created me from fire and created him from clay.”

02

Respite requested

He asks to be delayed and is granted respite.

Al-A'raaf 7:14

قَالَ أَنظِرْنِىٓ إِلَىٰ يَوْمِ يُبْعَثُونَ

He said, “Grant me respite until the Day they are resurrected.”

Al-A'raaf 7:15

قَالَ إِنَّكَ مِنَ ٱلْمُنظَرِينَ

Allah said, “You are of those who are granted respite”.

03

The declared campaign

He promises to approach humanity from every direction.

Al-A'raaf 7:16

قَالَ فَبِمَآ أَغْوَيْتَنِى لَأَقْعُدَنَّ لَهُمْ صِرَٰطَكَ ٱلْمُسْتَقِيمَ

He said, “Since You have led me astray[4], I will certainly lie in wait for them on Your straight path.

Al-A'raaf 7:17

ثُمَّ لَـَٔاتِيَنَّهُم مِّنۢ بَيْنِ أَيْدِيهِمْ وَمِنْ خَلْفِهِمْ وَعَنْ أَيْمَـٰنِهِمْ وَعَن شَمَآئِلِهِمْ ۖ وَلَا تَجِدُ أَكْثَرَهُمْ شَـٰكِرِينَ

Then I will come against them from their front and from their back, from their right and from their left[5], and You will not find most of them grateful.”

Al-Hijr 15:39

قَالَ رَبِّ بِمَآ أَغْوَيْتَنِى لَأُزَيِّنَنَّ لَهُمْ فِى ٱلْأَرْضِ وَلَأُغْوِيَنَّهُمْ أَجْمَعِينَ

He said, “My Lord, since You have sent me astray[18], I will surely make [sins] alluring to them on earth and mislead them all,

04

No authority over sincere servants

He has no authority over sincere servants.

Al-Hijr 15:42

إِنَّ عِبَادِى لَيْسَ لَكَ عَلَيْهِمْ سُلْطَـٰنٌ إِلَّا مَنِ ٱتَّبَعَكَ مِنَ ٱلْغَاوِينَ

You will have no authority over My slaves, except the deviants who follow you.

An-Nahl 16:99

إِنَّهُۥ لَيْسَ لَهُۥ سُلْطَـٰنٌ عَلَى ٱلَّذِينَ ءَامَنُوا۟ وَعَلَىٰ رَبِّهِمْ يَتَوَكَّلُونَ

Indeed, he has no power over those who believe[63] and put their trust in their Lord.

05

One of the jinn

The Quran identifies Iblis as a jinn who rebelled.

Al-Kahf 18:50

وَإِذْ قُلْنَا لِلْمَلَـٰٓئِكَةِ ٱسْجُدُوا۟ لِـَٔادَمَ فَسَجَدُوٓا۟ إِلَّآ إِبْلِيسَ كَانَ مِنَ ٱلْجِنِّ فَفَسَقَ عَنْ أَمْرِ رَبِّهِۦٓ ۗ أَفَتَتَّخِذُونَهُۥ وَذُرِّيَّتَهُۥٓ أَوْلِيَآءَ مِن دُونِى وَهُمْ لَكُمْ عَدُوٌّۢ ۚ بِئْسَ لِلظَّـٰلِمِينَ بَدَلًا

And [remember] when We said to the angels, “Prostrate before Adam,” so they all prostrated except Iblīs, who was one of the jinn, but he disobeyed the command of his Lord. Will you then take him and his progeny as protectors instead of Me[28], even though they are your enemies[29]? What a terrible exchange for the wrongdoers!

Later stories are not treated as Quranic description.