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Iblis

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Iblis is a very famous figure in Islamic tradition. He is often called Shaitan, which means the devil. Many people know him as the one who leads others toward bad choices.

Paris BnF Supplément Persan 1559 fol 10v All angels except Iblis bow to Adam cropped
Paris BnF Supplément Persan 1559 fol 10v All angels except Iblis bow to Adam cropped

In many stories, he is called the father of the devils. This means he is the starting point for many other evil forces. Some people call him the enemy of God. His name appears eleven times in the Quran, which is the holy book of Islam.

Berlin, Wetzstein II 1913 fol 114r Iblis
Berlin, Wetzstein II 1913 fol 114r Iblis

The story of Iblis explains how he lost his place in heaven. According to the Quran, God created a man named Adam. God then told the angels to bow down before Adam. All the angels followed this command right away. However, Iblis refused to bow to the new human.

Adam honored
Adam honored

He argued that he was better than Adam. Iblis said he was made from fire. He said Adam was only made from clay and mud. Because of this pride, God banished him from heaven.

Biblioteka Czartoryskich 3885 II, rękopis Safran 93 fol 38v The angels face Adam
Biblioteka Czartoryskich 3885 II, rękopis Safran 93 fol 38v The angels face Adam

Scholars have long debated what kind of being Iblis actually was. One group of thinkers believes he was an angel. They say he was a heavenly being who lived in paradise. Another group believes he was the father of the jinn. Jinn are different from angels and can choose between good and evil.

Berlin MS Petermann I 38 fol 16v Quran Sura 21 Aya 29
Berlin MS Petermann I 38 fol 16v Quran Sura 21 Aya 29

Some people, like the scholar Hasan al-Basri, believe he was a jinn. Others follow the ideas of ibn Abbas regarding his heavenly origins. These different views help people understand how different groups view free will.

Different parts of Islamic history offer many names for Iblis. Some call him the father of bitterness. This comes from a word meaning bitter. Other names link him to grief or even to being a foe.

New York Public Library, Spencer Collection Turk. MS. 3 Siyar-i Nabî fol. 252v Quraysh leaders discuss the second pledge at al-Aqabah
New York Public Library, Spencer Collection Turk. MS. 3 Siyar-i Nabî fol. 252v Quraysh leaders discuss the second pledge at al-Aqabah

Some teachers even link his name to confusion. This is because they believe God's command confused him. His story is not just in the Quran, but also in many books of stories. These stories help explain his role as a tempter in the world.

People find many different meanings in the life of Iblis. In Sufism, which is a mystical way of thinking, some see him differently. Some Sufis believe he was a true monotheist. They think he refused to bow to Adam because he only wanted to bow to God.

Khalili Collection Islamic Art mss 1030 fol 25v miniature crop Death of King Mirdas
Khalili Collection Islamic Art mss 1030 fol 25v miniature crop Death of King Mirdas

Other thinkers, like the poet Rumi, warn that he can be deceptive. He might act kind at first but hide bad motives. Even the thinker Muhammad Iqbal said Iblis tests humans. He believed these tests help people learn to overcome selfish feelings.

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🖼️ Images & Media (9)
File:Istanbul, Topkapı Saray Müzesi Kütüphanesi, MS Bağdat 282 fol 16 Adam and the Angels watched by Iblis.jpg
Istanbul, Topkapı Saray Müzesi...
File:Berlin,_Wetzstein_II_1913_fol_114r_Iblis.jpg
Berlin,_Wetzstein_II_1913_fol_114r_Iblis.jpg
File:Berlin MS Petermann I 38 fol 16v Quran Sura 21 Aya 29.jpg
Berlin MS Petermann I 38 fol 16v Quran...
File:Biblioteka Czartoryskich 3885 II, rękopis Safran 93 fol 38v The angels face Adam.png
Biblioteka Czartoryskich 3885 II, rękopis...
File:New York Public Library, Spencer Collection Turk. MS. 3 Siyar-i Nabî fol. 252v Quraysh leaders discuss the second pledge at al-Aqabah.jpg
New York Public Library, Spencer...
File:Khalili Collection Islamic Art mss 1030 fol 25v miniature crop Death of King Mirdas.jpg
Khalili Collection Islamic Art mss 1030...
File:Adam honored.jpg
Adam honored.jpg
File:Paris BnF Supplément Persan 1559 fol 10v All angels except Iblis bow to Adam cropped.jpg
Paris BnF Supplément Persan 1559 fol 10v...
File:Siyah Qalem - Hazine 2153, s.31b.jpg
Siyah Qalem - Hazine 2153, s.31b.jpg
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