الأعراف
بِسْمِ اللَّهِ الرَّحْمَٰنِ الرَّحِيمِ المص 1 كِتَابٌ أُنزِلَ إِلَيْكَ فَلَا يَكُن فِي صَدْرِكَ حَرَجٌ مِّنْهُ لِتُنذِرَ بِهِ وَذِكْرَىٰ لِلْمُؤْمِنِينَ 2 اتَّبِعُوا مَا أُنزِلَ إِلَيْكُم مِّن رَّبِّكُمْ وَلَا تَتَّبِعُوا مِن دُونِهِ أَوْلِيَاءَ ۗ قَلِيلًا مَّا تَذَكَّرُونَ 3 وَكَم مِّن قَرْيَةٍ أَهْلَكْنَاهَا فَجَاءَهَا بَأْسُنَا بَيَاتًا أَوْ هُمْ قَائِلُونَ 4 فَمَا كَانَ دَعْوَاهُمْ إِذْ جَاءَهُم بَأْسُنَا إِلَّا أَن قَالُوا إِنَّا كُنَّا ظَالِمِينَ 5 فَلَنَسْأَلَنَّ الَّذِينَ أُرْسِلَ إِلَيْهِمْ وَلَنَسْأَلَنَّ الْمُرْسَلِينَ 6 فَلَنَقُصَّنَّ عَلَيْهِم بِعِلْمٍ ۖ وَمَا كُنَّا غَائِبِينَ 7 وَالْوَزْنُ يَوْمَئِذٍ الْحَقُّ ۚ فَمَن ثَقُلَتْ مَوَازِينُهُ فَأُولَٰئِكَ هُمُ الْمُفْلِحُونَ 8 وَمَنْ خَفَّتْ مَوَازِينُهُ فَأُولَٰئِكَ الَّذِينَ خَسِرُوا أَنفُسَهُم بِمَا كَانُوا بِآيَاتِنَا يَظْلِمُونَ 9 وَلَقَدْ مَكَّنَّاكُمْ فِي الْأَرْضِ وَجَعَلْنَا لَكُمْ فِيهَا مَعَايِشَ ۗ قَلِيلًا مَّا تَشْكُرُونَ 10 وَلَقَدْ خَلَقْنَاكُمْ ثُمَّ صَوَّرْنَاكُمْ ثُمَّ قُلْنَا لِلْمَلَائِكَةِ اسْجُدُوا لِآدَمَ فَسَجَدُوا إِلَّا إِبْلِيسَ لَمْ يَكُن مِّنَ السَّاجِدِينَ 11
THE INCIDENT OF SATAN'S REBELLION
In seven chapters of Quran, mention is made of the creation of man, to show his dignity and position among the creatures. Here it says:
``We created you, (i.e. your constructing materials) and then we shaped you. (in the form of human as it is) After that we ordered the angels to prostrate before Adam.''
This was not of the kind of prostration which is done in the prayers and worship which belongs to God alone. Such prostrations may either be for curtsy, which is an act of civility, respect or reverence, which was to be done for Adam's knowledge, and being the elect of God. (Q. S 2:31) Or it might have been a prostration to acknowledge the glory and greatness of God as the best of Creator; and so it was merely to celebrate the praise of God. (Quran - S23: 11)
All the angels obeyed the command, and prostrated themselves to celebrate the praise of God, for His amazing creation of Man, as His Vicegerent in the earth; except Satan, (IBLIS) who was not of those who prostrated! Those who obeyed the command and prostrated were all angels in the race; but Iblis was of the race of Jinns. We may add here that SATAN is a common noun, while IBLIS is a proper noun of the same group and kind.
VERSE NO. 12
God remonstrated with IBLIS about his rudeness, saying:
``What did prevent you to prostrate when I ordered you to do that? He answered: `I am better than him; because you created me of FIRE and him from CLAY!''
Was this assertion of Satan by a mistake or through his ignorance - or was he intentionally telling lies? Because it is evident that soil is the source of all sorts of materials and means of supporting and even creating life. Even the fire is kindled from the materials that are found in the soil! Why should then Satan think that fire is better than soil!?
On the other hand, Satan knew that Adam was respected for the knowledge given him of the names of things; which means the inner natures and qualities of all things, (Quran -S 2: 31-33) and that he was the elect of God from among other creatures, and His vicegerent in the earth.