Devil (Islam)
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In Islam the Devil is known as Iblīs (Arabic: إبليس, plural: ابالسة abālisah) or Shayṭān (Arabic: شيطان, plural: شياطين shayāṭīn). In Islam Iblis is a jinni who refused to bow to Adam (Adem). The primary characteristic of the Devil, besides hubris, is that he has no power other than the power to cast evil suggestions into the heart of men, women, and jinn, although the Quran does mention appointing jinn to assist those who are far from God in a general context. "We made the evil ones friends (only) to those without faith."[1]
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Namings and etymology [edit]
Muslims traditionally derived the name from the Arabic verbal root balasa بَلَسَ, meaning 'he despaired'; therefore, the meaning of Iblīs would be 'he/it that causes despair'.[2]
In popular Islamic culture, "Shaytan" (Arabic: شيطان), is often simply translated as "the Devil," but the term can refer to any of the jinn who disobeyed God and followed Iblīs. Some scholars are of the view that Iblīs is the father of all of the jinn, as Adam is the father of all of humanity[3] as mentioned in the Quran (sura 18, Al-Kahf), "Will ye then take him and his progeny as protectors rather than Me? And they are enemies to you!"[4]
The Devil in Islamic theology [edit]
According to The Oxford Dictionary of Islam, shaytan is used in the Quran in the singular, and the plural shayatin often interchangeably with Iblis, who is "considered to be a particular shaytan."[5]
According to basic Islamic teachings, God revealed the creation of three intelligent species: angels, jinn, and humans, of which the latter two have been granted free will to choose between good and evil,[6][7] and the Quran states that there is other creation beyond human knowledge "and He has created (other) things of which ye have no knowledge."[8]
Iblis was a jinni and a devoted servant of God, according to the Quran, which Muslims take as the authoritative word of God.[4][9][10] However, according to other non-Quranic sources he was a "disobedient angel."[5][11] This view is also backed by a different interpretation of the same verse that commanded the whole order of the angels, whom Iblis was part of until he broke away from the qualities of the order, to prostrate to Adam who was not part of the angelic order.[4][12] There are other verses that may be considered as a reinforcement to this view in that humans are referred to as "bashar," while other than bashar are referred to as "malāʼikah" (angels) which is consistent with the previous verse.[13][14]
It is important to point out that bashar ( Arabic:بَشر) is not the only word used in Islamic text to refer to humans. There are also words like Banu Adam (Arabic: بنو آدم) 'children of Adam', insan (Arabic:إنسان) 'human being', and nas (Arabic: ناس) 'people'.
The angels do not have free will and cannot sin because they were not granted the freedom by God to disobey. When God created Adam, he commanded all the angels and Iblis (whose rank allowed him to be considered equal to that of an angel) to prostrate to Adam as was termed "the Best of Creation". All the angels did so but Iblis refused to obey, and was brought into a state of rebellion against God.[15] For this God cast him out of Jannah (paradise), and intended to punish him. Iblis begged God to delay the punishment until Yawm al-Qiyāmah (Last Judgment), which was granted by god.[16]
It is We Who created you and gave you shape; then We bade the angels prostrate to Adam, and they prostrate; not so Iblis; He refused to be of those who prostrate.
(Allah) said: "What prevented thee from prostrating when I commanded thee?" He said: "I am better than he: Thou didst create me from fire, and him from clay."
Iblis was proud and arrogant and considered himself superior to Adam, since Adam was made from clay and Iblis from smokeless fire. For this act of disobedience, God cursed him to Hell for eternity, but gave him respite until the Day of Judgment, after Iblis requested it.[18] Iblis obtained permission from God and vowed that he would use this time to lead all men and women astray to Hell as a way of revenge against them. By refusing to obey God’s order he was thrown out of paradise and thereafter he was called "Shaytan."
He said: "Give me respite till the day they are raised up."
(Allah) said: "Be thou among those who have respite."
He said: "Because thou hast thrown me out of the way, lo! I will lie in wait for them on thy straight way:
"Then will I assault them from before them and behind them, from their right and their left: Nor wilt thou find, in most of them, gratitude (for thy mercies)."
(Allah) said: "Get out from this, disgraced and expelled. If any of them follow thee,- Hell will I fill with you all.—Quran sura 7 (Al-Aʻraf), ayah 14-18[19]
Although God grants the request, he also warns Satan that he would have no authority over his sincere ʻubūd 'devoted servants'.[15]
"As for My servants, no authority shalt thou have over them:" Enough is thy Lord for a Disposer of affairs.
Shaytan as a "whisperer" [edit]
In Islamic theology, Shaytan and his minions are "whisperers," who whisper into the hearts of men and women, urging them to commit sin. This is where the desire to sin comes from, according to Islam.
The Quran provides a supplication for mankind, aimed at fighting the tempting of Satan and his minions:
Say: I seek refuge with the Lord and Cherisher of Mankind,
The King (or Ruler) of Mankind,
The god (or judge) of Mankind,-
From the mischief of the Whisperer (of Evil), who withdraws (after his whisper),-
(The same) who whispers into the hearts of Mankind,-
Among Jinns and among men.
References [edit]
- ^ Quran 7:27
- ^ Iblis
- ^ Is Iblees the father of all Jinn, evil and righteous ones, or a father for only the evil Jinn?.
- ^ a b c Quran 18:50
- ^ a b Esposito, Oxford Dictionary of Islam, 2003, p.279
- ^ Quran 10:44
- ^ Quran 7:12
- ^ Quran 16:8
- ^ Quran 15:27
- ^ Quran 38:76
- ^ Glasse, Cyril, The New Encyclopedia of Islam, Altamira, 2001, p.189
- ^ Jeffrey Burton Russell. Lucifer: The Devil in the Middle Ages. p. 56.
- ^ Quran 17:94
- ^ Quran 17:95
- ^ a b Juan Eduardo Campo. Encyclopedia of Islam. p. 603.
- ^ Jerald D. Gort, Henry Jansen, H. M. Vroom. Probing The Depths of Evil And Good: Multireligious Views and Case Studies. p. 250.
- ^ Quran 7:11–12
- ^ Jerald D. Gort, Henry Jansen, H. M. Vroom. Probing The Depths Of Evil And Good: Multireligious Views and Case Studies. p. 250.
- ^ Quran 7:14–18
- ^ Quran 17:65
- ^ Quran 114:1–6
Bibliography [edit]
- G. Basetti Sani, Il peccato di Iblis e degli angeli nel Corano, Iperbole, Palermo 1987
- C. Saccone, Iblis, Il Satana del Terzo Testamento. Santità a perdizione nell'Islam. Letture coraniche II, Centro Essad Bey, Padova 2012 (Amazon, Kindle Edition)
External links [edit]
"Iblis". New International Encyclopedia. 1905.
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