Iblis
Definition
Iblis is the proper name of the being who refused to prostrate — derived from a root meaning 'despair of Allah's mercy.' He was among the jinn who had worshipped alongside the angels for so long that he had risen to their level in the celestial hierarchy. But his worship had fed pride rather than humility, and when the moment of test came, his hidden disease became visible. His refusal was grounded in a single argument: 'I am better than him — You created me from fire and created him from clay.' Ibn Kathir uses this to illustrate how theological error and moral failure are inseparable — his wrong belief about his own superiority produced his wrong action.
As understood in the classical tradition of Ibn Kathir and the scholars of his school.
How the scholars use Iblis.
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"from anyone what I have encountered from you oh son of Mary. These accounts illustrate the trials and steadfastness of Jesus son of Mary in the face of Iblis's challenges. It is narrated that Jesus prayed in Baid al-maqdis Jerusalem and as he was leaving Iblis appeared to him on a certain path. Iblis detained Jesus persistently making offers and speaking to him saying it is not befitting for you to be a servant. Despite Iblis's persistence Jesus sought to be freed from him but could not escape. Among Iblis's words were it is not fitting for you oh Jesus to be a servant. It is said that Jesus sought help from his Lord and Gabriel and Michael approached. Upon seeing them"
— Ibn Kathir, The Story of Isa
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"of the polytheists was left without having dust strike his eyes, nostrils, and mouth from that handful. They turned away in retreat. Gabriel approached Iblis, and when Iblis saw him, his hand was in the hand of a man from the polytheists. He withdrew his hand and fled along with his followers. The man said, �O Suraka, did you not claim to be our protector?� Iblis replied, �Indeed, I see what you do not see. I fear Allah, and Allah is severe in punishment.� This was when he saw the angels, as narrated by Al-Bayhaqi in his Book of Proofs. It is narrated that when Iblis saw what the angels did to the polytheists"
— Ibn Kathir, Volume 3 — The Sīrah: From the First Revelation to Badr
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"of them in tribe, holding authority over the gardens in the lower heaven. Iblis had dominion over the earth. Salih narrated from Ibn Abbas that Iblis governed all that was between the heaven and the earth. Qatada narrated from Said ibn al-Musayyab that Iblis was the chief angel of the lowest heaven. However, Al-Hasan al-Basri stated that Iblis was never among the angels, even for the blink of an eye, and that he is the progenitor of the jinn, just as Adam is the progenitor of humankind."
— Ibn Kathir, Volume 1 — From Creation to Mūsā
Appears in
1 book in the library
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