By Anonymous

At the Rays of Faith seminar, Sheikh Waleed Basyouni taught us about the origins of Iblis. Scholars disagree on his status prior to his damnation, some holding the opinion that he was an angel, while the majority believe that he is a jinn. The master of fitnah, a cause of controversy? Could we expect anything else?

Before we talk abut the opposing views amongst the Islamic scholars, let’s take a look at what others have said about Iblis. The pagan Arabs believed that the shaytan was the evil brother of God. We know that this can’t possibly hold any truth, as Allah (SWT) is One. The Christians commonly believe that Iblis, or Lucifer was an angel who rebelled against God. They believe that he and his followers launched a war in the heavens. Lucifer’s loss resulted in his expulsion from heaven and he as well as his followers were demons or “fallen angels.”.

One thing that both parties agree on is that Iblis was a very devout believer in Allah prior to his descent. So devout, that he was present at the monumental event when Allah (SWT) breathed life into His creation: Adam.

“And recall when We when we said to the Angels, “Prostrate yourselves before Adam”; all of them fell prostrate, except Iblis. He was of the Jinn and so disobeyed the command of his Lord.

-(Surat Al-Kahf) 18:50

This iyat is where the controversy begins. Some scholars believe that this is proof that Iblis was an angel, why else would he be grouped among them? Imam Al-Shafi said that the quote

“he was of the Jinn” means that Iblis was an angel belonging to a tribe called “jinn.”

Others (Sheikh Waleed among them) believe that this same iyat proves that Iblis was a jinn and not an angel. Firstly, because the iyat directly identifies Iblis as a jinn. The second proof is in the fact that he disobeyed Allah’s decree, something angels aren’t able to do since they have no free will. As a jinn, Iblis had the free will to disobey.

The question remains then why Allah (SWT) would group Iblis among the angels in this iyat. Ibn Taymiyya said that Iblis was an angel in the sense that he was given the shape of an angel in the form of a reward for his piousness. He was a very righteous jinn, and so, while he was with the angels, he wasn’t from them.

The other point lies in Shaytan’s arrogant protest to prostrating. Surah Sad shows us this scene in more detail:

The Lord said:

“O Iblis, what prevented you from prostrating yourself before him whom I created of My Two Hands. Are you waxing proud, or fancy yourself to be too exalted?” He replied: “I am nobler than he. You created me from fire and created him from clay.[38:75-76]

In this iyat, Shaytan clearly states that he is made from fire, not light which is what the angels are made from. We know that jinn are made from fire because Surah Al Rahman says:

He [Allah (SWT)] has created man from dry, rotten clay like the potter’s, and has created the jinn from the flame of fire. -[55:14-15]

Ibn Taymiyah said that Iblis is the father of all jinn, citing Surat-Al Kahf as proof of this.

…Will you, then, take him and his progeny as your guardians rather than Me although they are your open enemies? What an evil substitute are these wrong-doers taking!-(Surat Al-Kahf) 18:50

Ibn Taymiyah believed that the term “progeny” implied that the jinn are Shaytan’s children.

While we have been offered very strong evidence that Iblis is a jinn (and Allah knows best), the point here is not to cause divisions amongst ourselves arguing over Shaytan (of all things.) The point is to draw a lesson from what became of Iblis.

No matter how devout we think we are, no matter how favorable we delude ourselves into thinking we are in Allah’s eyes, we must remain ever vigilant of our complete submission to Allah. We must not let arrogance lead us astray, as Iblis has shown us that a single act of arrogance can bring us far, far from Allah. And whomsoever Allah leads astray, none but Allah can guide.