Ramadan Lecture Series 1445 A.H.
Presented by Al-Sayyid Abdul Malik Badruddin Al-Houthi
Lecture Ten
Friday, 12 Ramadan 1445 A.H. (22 March 2024 A.D.)
Through the Story of Adam in Surah Al-A'raf
(Part Four)
The Position of Iblis and His Horrific Loss!
I seek refuge in Allah from Satan, the outcast.
In the name of Allah, the Compassionate, the Merciful.
Praise is to Allah, Lord of the Worlds. I believe that there is no god but Allah, the Sovereign and the Manifest Truth, and that Muhammad, our master, is His servant, Messenger, and Last Prophet.
O Allah! Confer Your salat and blessings upon Muhammad and the Family of Muhammad as You conferred Your salat and blessings upon Ibrahim and the Family of Ibrahim. You are Owner of Praise, Owner of Glory! And be pleased with Muhammad's good companions and all Your righteous servants and mujahidin.
O Allah! Guide us and grant us acceptance, for You are the Hearing, the Knowing; accept our repentance, for You are the Relenting and the Merciful.
Brothers and sisters, peace be upon you and the mercy of Allah and His blessings.
We continue our discussion on the Quranic stories based on the blessed verses, starting with the story of our father Adam (PBUH). Based on the blessed verses in Surah Al-Baqarah, we have previously discussed the story of our father Adam (PBUH). In the blessed surahs that shed light on this story, we find that this story, as we said before, comes in various contexts, with each context focusing on many very important lessons and wide divine guidance that we are in dire need of.
The story is also mentioned in Surah Al-A'raf, and it comes in a very important context that we need to benefit from. In this context, Allah (Glory be to Him) has mentioned certain aspects of the story that were not mentioned in Surah Al-Baqarah, because, as we mentioned, the matter is connected to the context. So when we come to read the story in Surah Al-Baqarah, then in Surah Al-A'raf, and then move on to the rest of the surahs that have mentioned this story (such as Surah Al-Hijr, Surah Taha, Surah Al-Isra), we also find great integration and a wide variety of benefits that we can derive from these important and magnificent lessons.
As the story of our father Adam (PBUH) is repeatedly mentioned within different contexts in the Holy Quran and provides lessons and insights therein, this story was also mentioned in Allah’s previous scriptures sent to His messengers and prophets and contained important lessons. If humans had comprehended these lessons in all past stages—not just in this final era of sealing the messages and prophethood since the coming and sending of Allah's Prophet Muhammad (PBUH&F), the seal of the prophets and messengers, but even with the previous prophets, and since the beginning—if humans had comprehended the lessons and insights in this story, their reality would have been completely different. That is because these are extremely important lessons. Furthermore, understanding them protects people and those who have benefited and learned such lessons and insights from immense loss and misery in both worldly life and the Hereafter: the manifest, grave eternal loss (We seek refuge in Allah).
The empowerment of man on the earth: The material and spiritual aspects
Allah (Glory be to Him) says in Surah Al-A’raf, {‘We have indeed established you on the earth and provided you with a means of livelihood. you seldom give any thanks’}. It is the same as we noticed in Surah Al-Baqarah: Before starting the story, Allah (Glory be to Him) speaks about how blessed humans are with this earth and the abundant, numerous, countless blessings He has provided for them.
This is an important introduction for us to recognise that Allah (Glory be to Him) is the source of all blessings. He brought us into existence and created us in this world surrounded by His blessings, His immense care, and His great grace, along with significant honour. He has combined for us both material blessings—which are diverse and numerous—with spiritual blessings that relate to moral, ethical, and religious aspects and practical commitments in human life, which elevate a person and allow them to use those blessings in a proper way. The empowerment on earth has two aspects:
- The first aspect is the vast blessings Allah has entrusted to and created for humans on this earth.
- The second aspect is the insights, energies, abilities, and talents Allah has placed within each individual to benefit from these blessings, harness them, and make use of them in various ways according to divine facilitation. This is because Allah has made these blessings available to humanity in such a way that they can be utilised in diverse forms and produce various benefits.
Therefore, Allah (Glory be to Him) has made the material resources available on this earth at the disposal of humans, harnessed them for humans’ benefit, and provided them with the potentials, talents, abilities, and energies that enable them to benefit from these resources, making them capable of widely utilising such resources and benefiting from them through manufacturing, invention, and creativity.
Indeed, Allah is the One Who granted these blessings to humans: He granted these blessings to humans through what He has instilled in them, created for them, and empowered them with. Therefore, it is inappropriate for humans to use the blessings of Allah (Glory be to Him) to transgress against Him. What is expected of a person, what is fitting and his duty, is to express gratitude for the immense goodness and great blessings bestowed upon him by Allah, rather than responding to Allah's great blessings with transgression against Him.
{‘… and provided you with a means of livelihood’}—at the forefront of these blessings that Allah has bestowed upon us on the earth are the things we need for our livelihoods, our food, our sustenance, and the requirements of our lives. This encompasses a very wide range of things. When it comes to the list of agricultural crops and plants that humans can benefit from as food, one can find a very long list of legumes, grains, fruits, and so on! There are very long lists and numerous varieties! Allah has made it possible for countries to cultivate a wide variety of agricultural crops and plants. Even when it comes to seasons, one can see that each season comes with specific fruits, crops, and many things. Similarly, Allah (Glory be to Him) has also provided all other needs that people need for their livelihood. However, despite this, humans must still work and exert effort.
Therefore, Allah is the source of all these abundant blessings and numerous benefits. In addition, Allah (Glory be to Him) has provided humans with all necessary means of livelihood and sustenance in abundance. Even the manner of providing these things shows great respect: When considering the good things that Allah made lawful, which are numerous and diverse, one finds that Allah made them suitable for humans in terms of form, taste, benefit, and appearance that is appealing. This is to mention but a few.
{‘ you seldom give any thanks.’} Unfortunately, human beings are often ungrateful. Despite the fact that Allah is the source of all blessings upon them and despite the fact that in their livelihood and basic needs of life, they rely on what Allah has bestowed upon them, created for them, and blessed them with, they frequently misuse those blessings and capabilities to transgress against Allah (Glory be to Him)!
The blessing of creating humans in the best form and honouring them through the prostration to Adam
{'Surely, We created you and then shaped you; then We said to the angels, "Prostrate to Adam," so they all did, but not Iblis: He did not prostrate with the others'}. Allah created our father Adam (PBUH), marking the beginning of human existence: It was the start of human existence. Allah (Glory be to Him) brought him into existence, and this was the beginning of human life, the creation of human beings. The way Allah created humans is a blessing, as He could have created humans like animals in their physical form, for example, their limbs and legs. Life would have been difficult for them, and they would have suffered in many ways. In fact, they could have played a limited role in this life due to their creation. However, Allah (Glory be to Him) created humans in the best of form, as He said, {'We have certainly created man in the best form'}. Indeed, none of the creatures that move on the face of the earth, on land or in the seas, is similar or equal to humans. The human is distinct in his creation, in terms of physical structure, composition, ability of movement, capacities, limbs and organs, faculties, and so on.
{'Surely, We created you.'} The way of creation itself is a tremendous blessing. Allah has granted us life and brought us into existence, and He is the source of this great blessing. {'Surely, We created you and then shaped you.'} Allah has given humans a beautiful form, distinct from all other creatures on the earth. In fact, it is a form more beautiful than that of any animal. Allah's grace upon humanity is evident. The way humans look is also a remarkable miracle: People, whether men or women, differ in looks despite their multitude. It showcases a wonderful miracle of Allah's creation. Moreover, throughout the different stages of human life, a person's appearance changes from childhood to youth, then to middle age, and finally to old age. So Allah has given humanity this unique and beautiful form, which is both a blessing and an honour.
{'Then We said to the angels, "Prostrate to Adam."'} That prostration was an honour to Adam (PBUH), and it is a blessing upon humanity. This honour extends to humanity: that Allah honoured the first human and the beginning of human existence by the angels' prostrating to him, honouring him and worshipping Allah. That is because it was an act of submission and obedience to Allah's command. Therefore, it was an act of worship to Allah, as well as an honour to Adam.
Iblis refusing to prostrate to Adam—Why?
{'So they all did, but not Iblis.'} Iblis was among the angels, and as we mentioned previously in earlier lectures, Allah (Glory be to Him) explained to us in Surah Al-Kahf that his origin was from the jinn, but he had elevated to the ranks of the angels to settle among them and worship Allah as one of them; therefore, he was commanded along with them and addressed with them. Iblis refused to prostrate: {'He did not prostrate with the others.'} He resisted this command with utmost determination and rejected it entirely, taking a stance that was different from that of the angels. In these blessed verses, we will see a broader explanation than what we read in Surah Al-Baqarah about Iblis's enmity towards humanity and his methods, his hatred, and much more.
What is the reason for Iblis's refusal to prostrate? Allah (Glory be to Him) revealed this reason to us through a direct confession from Iblis himself. {'Allah asked, "What prevented you from prostrating when I commanded you?'''}—when Allah asked him, it was not because He did not know the reason or the motivation behind Iblis's refusal. Allah (Glory be to Him) knows the unseen and the witnessed; He understands what every creature's soul whispers, and He is aware of both the outward and inward of all beings—humans, jinn, angels, and all creations. Nothing is hidden from Him, the Almighty. However, He wanted to provide us, the children of Adam, with a direct confession from Iblis himself regarding the true reason for his refusal to prostrate to Adam (PBUH).
{'Allah asked, "What prevented you from prostrating when I commanded you?'''}—it was Allah Who commanded him. There is no justification whatsoever for a being (whether from angels, jinn, or humans) to refuse a command given by Allah (Glory be to Him), since everyone is a servant of Allah (Glory be to Him). We should consider who is the one who has given the command. Indeed, we should stick to this as a principle: to consider who has given the command and not to look for other reasons, interpretations, or justifications. As long as there is a command from Allah (Glory be to Him), there is no option for a person or any other creature—be it angels or jinn—other than obedience and adherence to this command. We believe that Allah is the Knowing, the Wise, the Most Just of Judges, the Merciful, and the Great. Therefore, even if we do not understand the wisdom behind a particular command or if a human or any other creature has some objections for other reasons, they should set those aside and submit to Allah's will, the Almighty. There was no justification for Iblis' disobedience, since he was commanded by Allah. Therefore, the question was not about seeking justification, because there was no justification in the first place, no justification at all. The question was not about justification but rather about the reason that was not a valid justification—the reason that Allah intended to disclose to the sons of Adam through a direct confession from Iblis.
{'He replied, “I am better than he is: You created me from fire and him from clay"'}. Iblis's refusal to prostrate was the first act of disobedience he committed against Allah. It is a very grave transgression that had to do with practical commitment through actions. However, it became evident that behind that transgression was something more dangerous, worse, and greater: It resulted and branched from the complex of arrogance. Indeed, he was arrogant and thought that he was better than Adam and that it was not appropriate to prostrate to Adam. He here accused Allah of injustice and lack of wisdom and openly declared that accusation against Allah, questioning His justice and wisdom. That is, he thought it was not fair nor wise for him to be commanded to prostrate to Adam because he was better than Adam. He falsely perceived himself to be so based on the element each one of them was created from. However, the element itself, whether it is soil or fire, does not determine the superiority of one creature over the other. If we were to consider it this way, soil has many blessings; it is the source from which trees, fruits, and numerous other things grow. There are countless goods and blessings in it. However, the essence of the matter is not that one creature is better than the other based on the material they are made from—whether it is from fire or from soil. This kind of thinking is absurd; at its core, it is rooted in arrogance, which is a very dangerous state.
Arrogance: Its definition, consequences, and the sins that stem from it!
Arrogance is a state in which a creature perceives itself as too great to accept a divine command. It involves a disdain for accepting the truth and a refusal to submit to the will of Allah (Glory be to Him). This attitude stems from the illusion that one is greater than what is being asked of them, whether a human or a non-human creature, like Iblis, who is from the jinn. He believed that he was above carrying out that divine command and therefore refused it. This definition shows the reason behind arrogance, which is one of the worst most serious sins. If a creature—whether human or jinn—considers himself too important to comply with any of Allah's commands or to accept any aspect of the truth because he sees himself above that, then he is indeed arrogant.
Arrogance is a very grave sin. In fact, it was the first transgression against Allah, as mentioned in some narrations. Arrogance is a very dangerous complex, and whenever it takes hold of anyone and becomes the root of his transgressions, it makes the person strongly persist in his sins, as it leads to other sins in reality: It may make a person refuse to follow the truth and the people of truth, to do certain deeds, or to accept a particular truth. Indeed, many sins branch from arrogance in practical reality. So an arrogant individual clings to his sins and refuses to abandon them. Whenever reminded, he grows more insolent in arrogance and stubbornness. This state of stubbornness and insistence on sin is often prominently displayed in the various transgressions that arise from arrogance. This is why Satan was so persistent, moving from one sin to another grave and horrendous sin: His refusal to prostrate (which was an act of disobedience) was followed by the sin of accusing Allah, which revealed his questioning of Allah's wisdom and justice, and that sin was followed by his crime of insisting on sin and continuing in it. He transitions from one major sin to another, leading to even greater calamities—a truly terrifying state!
Arrogance is an extremely dangerous state, and that is why it is frequently warned against in the Holy Quran. It is one of the reasons that drove many people to reject the previous messages of Allah, as He narrates to us what His messengers and prophets had faced and how the arrogant elites were the ones who opposed them, confronted their message, and took the lead in disbelief and tyranny. Arrogance is one of the main factors that drive some people to become the leading force of stubbornness and opposition against the divine message, the prophets, the beacons of guidance, and the righteous among the servants of Allah.
What is the result of such arrogance? The outcome is quite the opposite. Arrogance is inherently linked to a decline: The arrogant person ultimately falls, loses, and diminishes in value. They desire to elevate themselves, seeking high status and importance, but the first thing they lose is precisely that. They end up having no weight, no status, and no significance. They find themselves without the high regard they once had.
{'Allah said, "Then get down from it!"'}. He was cast out in a humiliating and degrading way from where he used to join the angels in worshipping Allah (the Almighty), losing everything. He had risen to be with the angels in their places of worship, but in that moment, he lost his faith and all his previous acts of worship, as his deeds were rendered void, which means he was left with no reward or value for his deeds. At the same time, he lost his esteemed position; he once held a respected and high status among the angels, but he lost it all in an instant due to his disobedience to that divine command and due to his arrogance. The state of arrogance is a truly dangerous state (We seek refuge in Allah). {'Allah said, "Then get down from it!"'}: The descent here means expulsion, being expelled from that sacred place and at the same time being expelled from the position and status he had attained. Thus, he lost everything.
{'It is not for you to be arrogant here'}. This is because the realm of the angels, where they worship Allah, is a sacred place dedicated purely to worship and obedience, and there is no room for disobedience to Allah (Glory be to Him) or for arrogance. It is in that realm where the angels engage in their worship of Allah, completely immersed in their worship of Him. They embody the highest levels of servitude to Allah, submitting themselves to Him and worshipping Him with utmost devotion. They exemplify the utmost humility, submission, reverence, and worship of Allah (Glory be to Him).
{'So get out!'}: This is a confirmation of his expulsion in anger, wrath, and displeasure from Allah (May Allah be our refuge). {'So get out! You are truly one of the debased'}. He was expelled and sentenced to be among the debased. Debasement means degradation and disgrace, so his arrogance did not preserve any particular status for him; it did not maintain a high standing or a place of honour. The result was completely contrary to that; he transformed to become one of the debased, engulfed in humiliation, shame, and disgrace (May Allah be our refuge). He is a loser, and the outcome is a tremendous loss in every sense of the word, involving humiliation and disgrace in both this life and the Hereafter, which will accompany him forever.
Iblis asking for respite until the Day of Resurrection: What's the reason?
Despite everything, he remained obstinate, clinging to his wrongdoing, sin, and disobedience. He did not turn to Allah in repentance, nor did he reconsider his actions or recognise his loss, which kept growing with time. The more stubborn he became, the more he lost, falling further into disgrace and humiliation. So what did he request? {'He appealed, "Then give me respite until the day of their resurrection"'}. He asked Allah to give him respite. He wanted Allah to postpone his death, wishing to remain alive for as long as humans live on this earth, up until the Day of Resurrection. This was his request. He had knowledge about this since he was among the angels and Allah had told the angels very important things that clarified significant truths about human life, its beginning and end, the events in between, the matter of accountability and reward, and much more. {'He appealed, "Then give me respite until the day of their resurrection."'}
Why does he ask Allah to not hasten his death? Allah (Glory be to Him) revealed to him, {'Indeed, you are of those who have respite'}. Some interpreters and preachers may misunderstand this and believe that Allah (Glory be to Him) granted his request and prayer. However, the truth is that Allah revealed to him that he was among those who would have respite, which had already been decreed, even before his disobedience. It was predetermined by Allah (Glory be to Him) that he would be among those who remain alive until the appointed time. Allah knows best for how long he will live! It is certainly a long time, so he will see many human generations come and go while continuing to wage his war against humankind.
{'He appealed, "Then give me respite until the day of their resurrection." Allah said, "Indeed, you are of those who have respite"'}. In other surahs, Allah added, {'Until the day of the well-known time'}. {'He said, "Because You have led me astray, I will surely sit in wait for them on Your straight path"'}: Notice how he turned from one sin to another, from one disobedience to another. Arrogance is extremely dangerous (We seek refuge in Allah).
Here, when he said {'because You have led me astray'}, he is holding Allah responsible for the error that he had caused himself to fall into. It was Satan who led himself astray when he acted arrogantly and disobeyed Allah’s command. He could have prostrated! The angels themselves—who are better than him—did not refuse to prostrate in honour of Adam, in submission to Allah's command, and in obedience to Him. They did not hesitate to do so, although they are better than Satan. He could have talked himself into prostrating, considering the fact that the angels, who are better than him, had prostrated. That would have ended up good for him. But instead, he chose to lead himself astray and then blamed Allah for it! He audaciously addresses Allah with such insolence, disrespect, and false accusations.
{'He said, "Because You have led me astray, I will surely sit in wait for them on Your straight path."'} He then made an oath, as evident from the emphatic tone here: {'I will surely sit in wait for them.'} This is further illustrated in other verses: {'Satan said, “By Your Glory! I will certainly mislead them all"'}—this is an oath. This indicates the intensity of his grudge. He harbours great anger towards Allah (the Almighty), unjustly blaming Him for the error he had caused himself to fall into. He harbours very great anger towards Allah, as well as Adam and Hawwa (Peace be upon them) and all of Adam’s descendants.
{'He said, "Because You have led me astray, I will surely sit in wait for them on Your straight path."'} He swears that his fierce war against Adam and his descendants will focus on diverting them from the straight path of Allah, and that he will take on the role of misleader. He pledges to dedicate all his efforts, actions, activities, and plans throughout his respite to seduce the offspring of Adam, turning them away from the straight path of Allah. He has gone astray. In fact, he confesses here that he has gone astray, turned away, and deviated from the path of truth. He acknowledges that he is now on the path of misguidance and has abandoned the straight path. Although he transgressed against Allah by blaming Him for his own error, he acknowledges his deviation. Then he declares that he will dedicate his respite to misleading Adam and his descendants (which is a tremendously grave sin), exerting all his efforts to lead the children of Adam astray across generations. This indicates the depth of his deviation and profound malice—his soul has become corrupted in an astonishing way!
One of the most dangerous consequences of transgressions, including those arising from arrogance, is the corruption of the soul. The creature—whether human or jinn—loses his righteousness, purity, element of goodness, and will for goodness in himself. As a result, evil grows and intensifies within its psychological and internal realm; wickedness prevails, dominates, and eventually overwhelms the creature, be it human or jinn. Such a state is serious and frightening! That's why the Holy Quran encourages prompt repentance from sin, as transgressions have harmful consequences and extremely serious effects on the spiritual aspect, due to how they defile the soul. This shows the state of tremendous wickedness that Iblis reached. Therefore, he committed another transgression—an immensely grave and serious one—by positioning himself as a leader of misguidance, evil, corruption, wrongdoing, and deception (We seek refuge in Allah). This is an extremely alarming matter and a highly perilous path he pursued, one that he indulged in and succumbed to. This is a tremendous loss. {'I will surely sit in wait for them on Your straight path"'}. He makes it clear that he will pursue this direction. This exposes the depth of his wickedness and his anger towards Allah, Adam, and his descendants, and it also unveils his plan.
Allah (Glory be to Him) has revealed to mankind the plan of Satan and the nature of the war he will wage against them. This is because it is not the kind of war aimed at stripping them of their capabilities or destroying their possessions, or anything of that sort, though he will indeed incite some individuals to engage in such actions. However, it is a soft war, targeting them to mislead and divert them from the straight path that leads to great results and outcomes and elevates humanity to achieve success, goodness, and tremendous victory. He wants humans to go astray as he did, fall as he fell, and lose the divine honour that Allah bestowed upon them through His religion, His path, and His blessings upon them, as well as what He has prepared for them in the Hereafter. He seeks to deprive them of all of that!
{'I will surely sit in wait for them on Your straight path"'}. He acknowledges that Allah’s path is straight and leads to great outcomes and significant goals, including tremendous victory and triumph. He wants to divert them so they suffer loss. This is because he perceives himself to have lost everything and wants them to share in his loss. He wants them to join him in loss, misery, misguidance, and deviation, to be forsaken by Allah like him, and to therefore end up in the fire of Jahannam. He aims to make them among the companions of the Blaze and deprive them of the Jannah of eternity in the Hereafter.
Iblis vows to use every means and method to mislead humanity!
{'I will approach them from their front, their back, their right, their left, and then You will find most of them ungrateful'}: He says that he will spare no effort and employ all means and methods to mislead humanity—that is, he will target humans from every direction, seeking ways to influence their psyches and lead them astray. This is because people's psyches differ—some are swayed by desires, others by ambitions, some by moral status, and others by fears, among other factors. He searches for any vulnerability through which he can use to mislead them in a particular matter:
- For those who are weak before lusts—whether material, sexual, or other forms—Satan uses these same means to mislead them into sin.
- For those who seek moral status, power, authority, or influence, Satan tries to influence them through that very doorway.
- For those who are inclined towards religiosity, love to lead a religious life, and holds firmly to religion, Satan also attempts to tempt them in their religious practice, be it through extremism, innovation in religion, ostentation, self-admiration, vanity, or any other ways that can influence them.
Therefore, he will examine the file of every individual he seeks to mislead, identifying the method through which he can influence him and pinpointing his point of weakness. This is what he means when he says, {'I will approach them from their front, their back, their right, their left'}. In other words, he will attack from every direction through which he can influence them, aiming to exploit their weaknesses.
{'Then You will find most of them ungrateful.'} That is because Satan wants humans to respond to Allah’s immense blessings and His honour with ingratitude and transgression against Him, the Generous, the Bestower, the Giver. This stems from Satan's perception that humans are responsible for his own error and sin. However, neither Allah nor Adam or the descendants of Adam bears responsibility for the error and sin that Satan caused himself to fall into—he himself is responsible for that. It is due to his complex of arrogance. He tries to lead people away from gratitude, which means to use Allah’s blessings in the right way without transgressing against Him, because dealing with blessings in a manner that constitutes transgression against Allah leads to harm and corruption for the individual himself. Allah, however, is self-sufficient and stands in no need of our gratitude, worship, obedience, and commitment. Nevertheless, this is the truth that misusing Allah's blessings (Glory be to Him) is a transgression against Him and results in harm and corruption for the individuals in this life, and they will be held accountable for it in the Hereafter.
We will continue the story and also explore more lessons and insights in the next lectures.
We ask Allah (Glory be to Him) to grant us success in seeking what pleases Him. O Allah! Have mercy on our virtuous martyrs, heal the wounded among us, set free our captives, and grant us victory. You are the Hearer of Prayer!
Peace be upon you and the mercy of Allah and His blessings.