Angels: The Unique Creation of Allah (SWT)
Angels are a special and respectful Creation of Allah (SWT). They are a part of the ‘Unseen’ world and remain beyond humans’ eyesight. Belief in Angels is an essential part of ‘Imaan bil Ghayeb’ (Belief in Unseen) – the Articles of Faith in Islam. Allah (SWT) has mentioned angels in many verses of the Qur’an. The Hadiths of the Prophet (ﷺ) also have narrations about them. They are created from ‘Noor’ (light), as ‘Ummul Moo’minin Aishah () reported: “The Messenger of Allah (SWT) said: ‘The Angels are created from light, just as the jinn are created from smokeless fire and mankind is created from what you have been told about’.” (Sahih Muslim). The Angels are innumerable, and their actual number is known only to Allah (SWT). When describing ‘Miraj’ (his ascension to the heavens) Prophet (ﷺ) said, “Bayit al-M’amoor (Much-Frequented House by Angels) is placed in the seventh heaven. Then I was taken up to the Bayit al-M’amoor – every day seventy thousand angels visit it and leave, never returning to it again, another (fresh batch) coming after them.” (Sahih al-Bukhari 3207 and Sahih Muslim 164). This narration gives a picture of the vast numbers of the Angels. The Holy Qur’an also mentioned ‘Bayit al-M’amoor’ in Surah ‘Tur’, verse no. 52:4.
Names of Well-known Angels
- Jibreel (), also known as ‘Ruhul Ameen’ – is in the leading position. He has six hundred strong wings with extraordinary power to penetrate anywhere in a twinkle of the eye under the command of Allah (SWT). He too is known as ‘Messenger of Wahi’ to convey the revelation from Allah (SWT) to His Messengers and Prophets.
- Israfeel () is responsible for initiating Qiyamah (end of the world) by blowing the trumpet with the command of Allah (SWT) which will be followed by the Day of Resurrection and Judgement.
- Mikaeel () is the Angel of carrying out the command of Allah (SWT) related to ‘Rizq’ (sustenance of all creatures), i.e., raining, growing, and delivering food and drinks.
- Azraeel (), the Angel of Death who retrieves the soul from one’s body as dictated by Allah (SWT), at the particular moment that has been destined for one’s death, not a second ahead or later.
- Kiraaman-Kaatibin (كراماً كاتبين) – the two Honorable Recorders are engaged in recording the deeds of every person. One Angel symbolically sits on the right shoulder and records all good deeds, while the other one sits on the left shoulder and records all evil deeds. They preserve these records in the Book of Deeds of each person, which will be produced on the Day of Judgement.
- According to Hadith of the Prophet (ﷺ) there are two Angels named Munkar and Nakir (منكر ونكير) – These angels question the departed soul in the grave to justify its lodging place in Alam e Barzakh (Illiyeen or Sijjin).
- There are other Angels like Ridhwan رضوان)) – the (Chief) Angel of the Heaven, Maalik (مالك) – the (chief) Angel of Hell who is assisted by 19 Zabaniyah or wardens of Hell.
Besides them, there are innumerable Angels those exist as the workforce of Allah (SWT) as mentioned in the Qur’an and also in Hadiths.
Duties & Responsibilities of Angels
“Surely over you are watchers (Angels). Honorable Recorders (of deeds). They know everything you do.” (82:10-12)
Angels are created to serve the purpose of Allah (SWT). They are the most obedient creation, constantly praising and glorifying Him, and engaged in Allah’s service. They never feel bored or tired of remembering and worshipping Allah (SWT). They perform their assigned duties with complete loyalty and in a perfect manner without any deviation. They have been executing the commands, instructions, and decisions of Allah (SWT) with respect to the management of different affairs of His creations all over the earth and skies. They have no power or will to violate His commands anyway. They are invisible to humans, but they can take any shape at the will of Allah (SWT).
The verses related to the Angels are quoted below:
…..وَلٰكِنَّ الْبِرَّ مَنْ اٰمَنْ بِاللهِ وَالْيَوْمِ الْاٰخِرِ وَالْمَلٰٓئِكَةِ وَالْكِتٰبِ وَالنَّبِيْنَ…
“…….But righteous is he who believes in Allah, and the Last Day, and the angels, and the Scripture, and the prophets……” (2:177)
اٰمَنَ الرَّسُوْلُ بِمَاۤ اُنْزِلَ اِلَيْهِ مِنْ رَّبِّه وَالْمُؤْمِنُوْنَ كُلٌّ اٰمَنَ بِاللهِ وَمَلٰٓئِكَتِه وَكُتُبِه وَرُسُلِه لَا نُفَرِّقُ بَيْنَ اَحَدٍ مِنْ رُّسُلِه وَقَالُوْا سَمِعْنَا وَاَطَعْنَا غُفْرَانَكَ رَبَّنَا وَاِلَيْكَ الْمَصِيْرُ
“The Messenger has believed in what was revealed to him from his Lord, as did the believers. They all have believed in Allah, and His Angels, and His Scriptures, and His Messengers: (They say): We make no distinction between any of His messengers. And they say: We hear and we obey. (We ask) Your forgiveness – (O) our Lord, and to You is our return.” (2:285)
وَمَنْ يَكْفُرْ بِاللهِ وَمَلٰٓئِكَتِه وَكُتُبِه وَرُسُلِه وَالْيَوْمِ الْاٰخِرِ فَقَدْ ضَلَّ ضَلٰلًۢا بَعِيْدًا
“……… Whoever rejects Allah, His Angels, His Books, His messengers, and the Last Day, has strayed far in error.” (4:136)
اِنَّه لَقَوْلُ رَسُوْلٍ كَرِيْمٍ ذِىْ قُوْةٍ عِنْدَ ذِى الْعَرْشِ مَكِيْنٍ مُّطَاعٍ ثَمَّ اَمِيْنٍ
This is the Message (the Qur’an) brought by a noble messenger (Jibreel AS), He is Endowed with power, prestigious to the Lord of the Throne. He is also obeyed and trustworthy (in carrying the Messages of Allah SWT).” (81:19 – 21)
اَلْحَمْدُ لِلّٰهِ فَاطِرِ السَّمٰوٰتِ وَالْاَرْضِ جَاعِلِ الْمَلٰٓئِكَۃِ رُسُلًا اُولِیْۤ اَجْنِحَۃٍ مَّثْنٰی وَثُلٰثَ وَرُبٰعَ ؕ یَزِیْدُ فِی الْخَلْقِ مَا یَشَآءُ ؕ اِنَّ اللّٰهَ عَلٰی کُلِّ شَیْءٍ قَدِیْرٌ
“Praise be to Allah, the Originator of the heavens and the earth, sends the Angels as messengers with wings—double, triple, and quadruple. He adds to creation as He wills. Allah is Able to do all things.” (35:1)
وَمَا مِنَّآ اِلَّا لَه مَقَامٌ مَّعْلُوْمٌ وَاِنَّا لَنَحْنُ الصَّآفُّوْنَ وَاِنَّا لَنَحْنُ الْمُسَبِّحُوْنَ
“(Lined-up Angels will say) Every one of us has an assigned position. And indeed, we stand in rows (for obeying the commands). And indeed, we are the glorifiers.” (37:164 – 166)
وَلِلّٰهِ يَسْجُدُ مَا فِى السَّمٰوٰتِ وَمَا فِى الْاَرْضِ مِنْ دَآبَّةٍ وَّالْمَلٰٓئِكَةُ وَهُمْ لَا يَسْتَكْبِرُوْنَ يَخَافُوْنَ رَبَّهُم مِنْ فَوْقِهِمْ وَيَفْعَلُوْنَ مَا يُؤْمَرُوْنَ
“To Allah bows down everything in the heavens and everything on earth—every living creature, and the Angels, without being proud. They fear their Lord above them, and they do what they are commanded.” (16:49 – 50) [Ayah of Sajadah)
وَلَه مَنْ فِى السَّمٰوٰتِ وَالْاَرْضِ وَمَنْ عِندَه لَا يَسْتَكْبِرُوْنَ عَنْ عِبَادَتِه وَلَا يَسْتَحْسِرُوْنَ يُسَبِّحُوْنَ الَّيْلَ وَالنَّهَارَ لَا يَفْتُرُوْنَ
“To Him belongs everyone in the heavens and the earth. Those (Angels) near Him are neither feel mortified to worship Him, nor do they hesitate. They praise night and day, without ever tiring.” (21:19 – 20)
قُلْ مَنْ كَانَ عَدُوْا لِّجِبْرِيْلَ فَاِنَّه نَزَّلَه عَلٰى قَلْبِكَ بِاِذْنِ اللهِ مُصَدِّقًا لِّمَا بَيْنَ يَدَيْهِ وَهُدًى وَّبُشْرٰى لِلْمُؤْمِنِيْنَ مَنْ كَانَ عَدُوًّا لِلّٰهِ وَمَلٰٓئِكَتِه وَرُسُلِه وَجِبْرِيْلَ وَمِيْكٰىلَ فَاِنَّ اللهَ عَدُوًّا لِّلْكٰفِرِيْنَ
“Say, whoever is hostile to Jibreel – it is he who revealed it (Qur’an) to your heart by Allah’s leave, confirming what were revealed before it, and guidance and good news for the believers. Whoever is hostile to Allah, and His Angels, and His Messengers, and Gabriel, and Michael—Allah is hostile to these unbelievers.” (2:97 – 98)
وَمَا نَتَنَزَّلُ اِلَّا بِاَمْرِ رَبِّكَ لَه مَا بَيْنَ اَيْدِيْنَا وَمَا خَلْفَنَا وَمَا بَيْنَ ذٰلِكَ وَمَا كَانَ رَبُّكَ نَسِيْا
“(Jibreel said) We do not descend except by the command of your Lord. He belongs whatever is before us, and whatever is behind us, and whatever is between the two. Your Lord is never forgetful.” (19:64)
وَاِنَّه لَتَنْزِيْلُ رَبِّ الْعٰلَمِيْنَ نَزَلَ بِهِ الرُّوْحُ الْاَمِيْنُ عَلٰى قَلْبِكَ لِتَكُوْنَ مِنَ الْمُنْذِرِيْنَ
“It (The Qur’an) is a revelation from the Lord of the Worlds. The Trusted Spirit came down with it (the Qur’an). Upon your heart, that you may be one of the warners.” (26:192 – 194)
اَللهُ يَصْطَفِى مِنَ الْمَلٰٓئِكَةِ رُسُلًا وَّمِنَ النَّاسِ اِنَّ اللهَ سَمِيْعٌۢ بَصِيْرٌ
“Allah chooses Messengers from among the angels, and from among the people. Allah is All-Hearing and All-Seeing. (22:75)
لَه مُعَقِّبٰتٌ مِّنۢ بَيْنِ يَدَيْهِ وَمِنْ خَلْفِه يَحْفَظُوْنَه مِنْ اَمْرِ اللهِ
“For each person has a series of followers (guardian angels); before him and behind him, protecting him by Allah’s command……” (13:11)
جَنّٰتُ عَدْنٍ يَدْخُلُوْنَهَا وَمَنْ صَلَحَ مِنْ اٰبَآئِهِمْ وَاَزْوٰجِهِمْ وَذُرِّيْٰتِهِمْ وَالْمَلٰٓئِكَةُ يَدْخُلُوْنَ عَلَيْهِم مِنْ كُلِّ بَابٍ سَلٰمٌ عَلَيْكُم بِمَا صَبَرْتُمْ فَنِعْمَ عُقْبَى الدَّارِ
“Everlasting Gardens, wherein they will enter, along with their righteous parents, spouses, children. And the Angels will enter upon them from every gate. (saying) Peace be upon you, because you endured patiently. How excellent is the Final Home!” (13:23 – 24)
وَقَالَ الَّذِیْنَ لَا یَرْجُوْنَ لِقَآءَنَا لَوْ لَاۤ اُنْزِلَ عَلَیْنَا الْمَلٰٓئِكَۃُ اَوْ نَرٰی رَبَّنَا ؕ لَقَدِ اسْتَکْبَرُوْا فِیْۤ اَنْفُسِهِمْ وَعَتَوْ عُتُوًّا كَبِیْرًا یَوْمَ یَرَوْنَ الْمَلٰٓئِكَۃَ لَا بُشْرٰی یَوْمَئِذٍ لِّلْمُجْرِمِیْنَ وَیَقُوْلُوْنَ حِجْرًا مَّحْجُوْرًا
“Those who do not expect to meet Us say, ‘why the Angels are not sent down to us, or why we do not see our Lord?’ Certainly, they have grown arrogance within themselves, and have become excessively defiant. On the Day when they will see the Angels—there will be no good news for sinners on that Day; and they will shout, ‘stay far away’ (fearing the presence of Angels).” (25:21 – 22)
فَاِنِ اسْتَكْبَرُوْا فَالَّذِيْنَ عِندَ رَبِّكَ يُسَبِّحُوْنَ لَه بِالَّيْلِ وَالنَّهَارِ وَهُمْ لَا يَسْـَٔمُوْنَ
“But if they (unbelievers) are too proud—those (Angels) in the presence of your Lord praise Him night and day, and without ever tiring.” (41:38)
وَیَوْمَ تَشَقَّقُ السَّمَآءُ بِالْغَمَامِ وَنُزِّلَ الْمَلٰٓئِكَۃُ تَنْزِیْلًا اَلْمُلْکُ یَوْمَئِذِ الْحَقُّ لِلرَّحْمٰنِ ؕ وَكَانَ یَوْمًا عَلَی الْکٰفِرِیْنَ عَسِیْرًا
“The Day when the sky will be cleft with clouds, and the Angels will be sent down in streams. On that Day, true sovereignty will belong to the Merciful, and it will be a difficult Day for the disbelievers.” (25:25 – 26)
اَلَّذِيْنَ يَحْمِلُوْنَ الْعَرْشَ وَمَنْ حَوْلَه يُسَبِّحُوْنَ بِحَمْدِ رَبِّهِمْ وَيُؤْمِنُوْنَ بِه وَيَسْتَغْفِرُوْنَ لِلَّذِيْنَ اٰمَنُوْا رَبَّنَا وَسِعْتَ كُلَّ شَىْءٍ رَّحْمَةً وَعِلْمًا فَاغْفِرْ لِلَّذِيْنَ تَابُوْا وَاتَّبَعُوْا سَبِيْلَكَ وَقِهِمْ عَذَابَ الْجَحِيْمِ رَبَّنَا وَاَدْخِلْهُمْ جَنّٰتِ عَدْنٍ الَّتِى وَعَدتَّهُمْ وَمَنْ صَلَحَ مِنْ اٰبَآئِهِمْ وَاَزْوٰجِهِمْ وَذُرِّيْٰتِهِمْ اِنَّكَ اَنْتَ الْعَزِيْزُ الْحَكِيْمُ وَقِهِمُ السَّيِّـَٔاتِ وَمَنْ تَقِ السَّيِّـَٔاتِ يَوْمَئِذٍ فَقَدْ رَحِمْتَه وَذٰلِكَ هُوَ الْفَوْزُ الْعَظِيْمُ
“Those (Angels) who carry the ‘Arsh’ (Throne), and those around it, glorify their Lord with praise, and believe in Him, and ask for forgiveness for those who believe: “Our Lord, You have encompassed everything in mercy and knowledge; so forgive those who repent and follow Your path, and protect them from the agony of the Blaze. O Our Lord, and admit them, into the Gardens of Eternity, which You have promised for them, and the righteous among their parents, and their spouses, and their offspring. You are indeed the Almighty, the Most-Wise. And shield them from the evils. Whomever You shield from the evils, on that Day, You have had mercy on him. That is the supreme achievement.” (40:7 – 9)
تَكَادُ السَّمٰوٰتُ يَتَفَطَّرْنَ مِنْ فَوْقِهِنَّ وَالْمَلٰٓئِكَةُ يُسَبِّحُوْنَ بِحَمْدِ رَبِّهِمْ وَيَسْتَغْفِرُوْنَ لِمَنْ فِى الْاَرْضِ ۗ اَلَآ اِنَّ اللهَ هُوَ الْغَفُوْرُ الرَّحِيْمُ
“The heavens above them almost burst apart, while the Angels glorify the praises of their Lord, and ask forgiveness for those on earth. Allah is indeed the Forgiver, the Merciful.” (42:5)
وَنَادَوْا يٰمٰلِكُ لِيْقْضِ عَلَيْنَا رَبُّكَ قَالَ اِنَّكُم مّٰكِثُوْنَ
“And they (peoples of Hell) will cry, ‘O Malek (Chief Angel of Hell), let your Lord finish us off (by giving death).’ He will say, certainly You are staying (here eternally).” (43:77)
اَمْ يَحْسَبُوْنَ اَنَّا لَا نَسْمَعُ سِرَّهُمْ وَنَجْوٰىهُم بَلٰى وَرُسُلُنَا لَدَيْهِمْ يَكْتُبُوْنَ
“Or do they think that We cannot hear their secrets and their conspiracies? Yes indeed, Our messengers (Angels) are by them, writing down.” (43:80)
اِذْ يَتَلَقَّى الْمُتَلَقِّيَانِ عَنِ الْيَمِيْنِ وَعَنِ الشِّمَالِ قَعِيْدٌ مَّا يَلْفِظُ مِنْ قَوْلٍ اِلَّا لَدَيْهِ رَقِيْبٌ عَتِيْدٌ وَجَآءَتْ سَكْرَةُ الْمَوْتِ بِالْحَقِّ ذٰلِكَ مَا كُنْتَ مِنْهُ تَحِيْدُ وَنُفِخَ فِى الصُّوْرِ ذٰلِكَ يَوْمُ الْوَعِيْدِ وَجَآءَتْ كُلُّ نَفْسٍ مَّعَهَا سَآئِقٌ وَشَهِيْدٌ لَّقَدْ كُنْتَ فِى غَفْلَةٍ مِنْ هٰذَا فَكَشَفْنَا عَنكَ غِطَآءَكَ فَبَصَرُكَ الْيَوْمَ حَدِيْدٌ وَقَالَ قَرِيْنُه هٰذَا مَا لَدَىَّ عَتِيْدٌ اَلْقِيْا فِى جَهَنَّمَ كُلَّ كَفَّارٍ عَنِيْدٍ مَنْ اعٍ لِّلْخَيْرِ مُعْتَدٍ مُّرِيْبٍ الَّذِىْ جَعَلَ مَعَ اللهِ الٰهًا اٰخَرَ فَاَلْقِيْاهُ فِى الْعَذَابِ الشَّدِيْدِ
“As the two receivers (Angels) receive (one’s deeds), seated to the right and to the left. Not a word does he utter, but there is a watcher by him, ready. The shock of death will come in truth: ‘This is what you tried to evade.’ And the Trumpet will be blown: ‘This is the Promised Day.’ And every soul will come forward, accompanied by a driver (Angel) and a witness. ‘You were in neglect of this, so We lifted the veil from you, and your vision today is keen.’ And His escort (Angel) will say, “This is what (records of deeds) I have ready with me.’ (Allah will say) ‘Throw into Hell every stubborn disbelieve – preventer of good, aggressor, doubter, who adopted another god with Allah; toss him into the severe punishment’.” (50:17 – 26)
وَكَمْ مِّنْ مَّلَكٍ فِى السَّمٰوٰتِ لَا تُغْنِىْ شَفٰعَتُهُمْ شَيْـًٔا اِلَّا مِنْۢ بَعْدِ اَنْ يَّاْذَنَ اللهُ لِمَنْ يَّشَآءُ وَيَرْضٰۤى اِنَّ الَّذِيْنَ لَا يُؤْمِنُوْنَ بِالْاٰخِرَةِ لَيُسَمُّوْنَ الْمَلٰٓئِكَةَ تَسْمِيَةَ الْاُنْثٰى وَمَا لَهُمْ بِه مِنْ عِلْمٍ اِنْ يَّتَّبِعُوْنَ اِلَّا الظَّنَّ وَاِنَّ الظَّنَّ لَا يُغْنِىْ مِنَ الْحَقِّ شَيْـًٔا
“How many are Angels in the heavens whose intercession avails nothing, except after Allah gives permission to whomever He wills, and approves. Those who do not believe in the Hereafter give the angels the names of females. They have no knowledge of that. They only follow assumptions, and assumptions are not at all substitute for the truth.” (53:26 – 28)
وَ اِنَّ عَلَیْکُمْ لَحٰفِظِیْنَ كِرَامًا كَاتِبِیْنَ یَعْلَمُوْنَ مَا تَفْعَلُوْنَ
“Surely over you are watchers (Angels). Honorable Recorders (of deeds). They know everything you do.” (82:10 – 12)
اِنَّ الَّذِیْنَ قَالُوْا رَبُّنَا اللّٰهُ ثُمَّ اسْتَقَامُوْا تَتَنَزَّلُ عَلَیْهِمُ الْمَلٰٓئِكَۃُ اَلَّا تَخَافُوْا وَلَا تَحْزَنُوْا وَاَبْشِرُوْا بِالْجَنَّۃِ الَّتِیْ کُنْتُمْ تُوْعَدُوْنَ نَحْنُ اَوْلِیٰٓؤُکُمْ فِی الْحَیٰوۃِ الدُّنْیَا وَفِی الْاٰخِرَۃِ ۚ وَلَکُمْ فِیْهَا مَا تَشْتَهِیْۤ اَنْفُسُکُمْ وَلَکُمْ فِیْهَا مَا تَدَّعُوْنَ نُزُلًا مِّنْ غَفُوْرٍ رَّحِیْمٍ
“Surely, those who say: ‘Our Lord is Allah,’ and then be steadfast, the Angels will descend to them: ‘Neither fear, nor grieve, but rejoice with the news of the Jannah (paradise) which you were promised. We are your friends in this life and in the Hereafter, wherein you will have whatever your souls desire, and you will have therein whatever you call for. As Hospitality from an All-Forgiving, Merciful One.” (41:30 – 32)
يٰۤاَيُّهَا الَّذِيْنَ اٰمَنُوْا قُوْٓا اَنْفُسَكُمْ وَاَهْلِيْكُمْ نَارًا وَّقُوْدُهَا النَّاسُ وَالْحِجَارَةُ عَلَيْهَا مَلٰٓئِكَةٌ غِلَاظٌ شِدَادٌ لَّا يَعْصُوْنَ اللهَ مَآ اَمَرَهُمْ وَيَفْعَلُوْنَ مَا يُؤْمَرُوْنَ
“O, Believers! Protect yourselves and your families from a Fire, whose fuel will be people and stones. Over it are Angels (engaged), (who are) fierce and severe (by nature). They never disobey Allah in anything He commands them, and they carry out whatever they are commanded.” (66:6)
وَانْشَقَّتِ السَّمَآءُ فَهِیَ یَوْمَئِذٍ وَّاهِیَۃٌ وَالْمَلَکُ عَلٰۤی اَرْجَآئِهَا ؕ وَیَحْمِلُ عَرْشَ رَبِّكَ فَوْقَهُمْ یَوْمَئِذٍ ثَمٰنِیَۃٌ یَوْمَئِذٍ تُعْرَضُوْنَ لَا تَخْفٰی مِنْکُمْ خَافِیَۃٌ
“And heaven will crack; so, on that Day it will be frail. And the Angels will be ranged around its edges, while eight will be carrying the Throne of your Lord above them that Day. On that Day you will be presented (exposed), and no secret of yours will remain hidden.” (69:16 – 18)
عَلَیْهَا تِسْعَۃَ عَشَرَ وَمَا جَعَلْنَاۤ اَصْحٰبَ النَّارِ اِلَّا مَلٰٓئِكَۃً ۪ وَمَا جَعَلْنَا عِدَّتَهُمْ اِلَّا فِتْنَۃً لِّلَّذِیْنَ كَفَرُوْا ۙ لِیَسْتَیْقِنَ الَّذِیْنَ اُوْتُوا الْكِتٰبَ وَیَزْدَادَ الَّذِیْنَ اٰمَنُوْۤا اِیْمَانًا وَلَا یَرْتَابَ الَّذِیْنَ اُوْتُوا الْكِتٰبَ وَالْمُؤْمِنُوْنَ ۙ وَلِیَقُوْلَ الَّذِیْنَ فِیْ قُلُوْبِهِمْ مَّرَضٌ وَالْکٰفِرُوْنَ مَاذَاۤ اَرَادَ اللّٰهُ بِهٰذَا مَثَلًا ؕ كَذٰلِكَ یُضِلُّ اللّٰهُ مَنْ یَّشَآءُ وَ یَہْدِیْ مَنْ یَّشَآءُ ؕ وَمَا یَعْلَمُ جُنُوْدَ رَبِّكَ اِلَّا هُوَ ؕ وَمَا هِیَ اِلَّا ذِکْرٰی لِلْبَشَرِ
“Over it there are Nineteen (Angels). We have appointed only Angels to be wardens of the Fire, and caused their number to be a stumbling block for those who disbelieve; so that those given the Scripture may attain certainty; and those who believe may increase in faith; and holders of Scripture and the believers may not doubt; and those in whose hearts is sickness and the unbelievers may say, “What did Allah intend by this parable?” Thus, Allah leads astray whom He wills, and guides whom He wills. None knows the soldiers of your Lord except He. This is nothing but a reminder for the mortals.” (74:30 – 31)
لَيْلَةُ الْقَدْرِ خَيْرٌ مِّنَ الْفِ شَهْرٍ تَنَزَّلُ الْمَلٰٓئِكَةُ وَالرُّوْحُ فِيْهَا بِاِذْنِ رَبِّهِمْ مِّنْ كُلِّ اَمْرٍ سَلٰمٌ هِىَ حَتّٰى مَطْلَعِ الْفَجْرِ
“The Night of Decree is better than a thousand months. In it descend the Angels and the Spirit (Jibreel AS), by the leave of their Lord, with every command. Peace it is; until the rise of dawn.” (97:3 – 5)
وَاِذْ قَالَ رَبُّكَ لِلْمَلٰٓئِكَۃِ اِنِّیْ جَاعِلٌ فِی الْاَرْضِ خَلِیْفَۃً ؕ قَالُوْۤا اَتَجْعَلُ فِیْهَا مَنْ یُّفْسِدُ فِیْهَا وَیَسْفِکُ الدِّمَآءَ ۚ وَنَحْنُ نُسَبِّحُ بِحَمْدِكَ وَنُقَدِّسُ لَكَ ؕ قَالَ اِنِّیْۤ اَعْلَمُ مَا لَا تَعْلَمُوْنَ وَعَلَّمَ اٰدَمَ الْاَسْمَآءَ کُلَّهَا ثُمَّ عَرَضَهُمْ عَلَی الْمَلٰٓئِكَۃِ ۙ فَقَالَ اَنْۢبِـُٔوْنِیْ بِاَسْمَآءِ هٰۤؤُلَآءِ اِنْ کُنْتُمْ صٰدِقِیْنَ قَالُوْا سُبْحٰنَكَ لَا عِلْمَ لَنَاۤ اِلَّا مَا عَلَّمْتَنَا ؕ اِنَّكَ اَنْتَ الْعَلِیْمُ الْحَكِیْمُ قَالَ یٰۤاٰدَمُ اَنْۢبِئْهُمْ بِاَسْمَآئِهِمْ ۚ فَلَمَّاۤ اَنْۢبَاَهُمْ بِاَسْمَآئِهِمْ ۙ قَالَ اَلَمْ اَقُلْ لَّکُمْ اِنِّیْۤ اَعْلَمُ غَیْبَ السَّمٰوٰتِ وَالْاَرْضِ ۙ وَاَعْلَمُ مَا تُبْدُوْنَ وَمَا کُنْتُمْ تَکْتُمُوْنَ وَاِذْ قُلْنَا لِلْمَلٰٓئِكَۃِ اسْجُدُوْا لِاٰدَمَ فَسَجَدُوْۤا اِلَّاۤ اِبْلِیْسَ ؕ اَبٰی وَاسْتَکْبَرَ ق۫ وَ كَانَ مِنَ الْکٰفِرِیْنَ
“When your Lord said to the Angels, ‘I am placing a deputy on earth.’ They said, ‘Will You place in it someone who will cause corruption in it and shed blood, while we are (constantly) proclaiming Your praises and exalting Your sanctity?’ He said, ‘I know what you do not know.’ And He taught Adam the names, all of them (things); then he presented them (the names) to the Angels, and (Allah) said, ‘Tell Me the names of these, if you are truthful.’ They (Angels) said, ‘Glory be to You! We have no knowledge except what You have taught us. It is You Who are the Knowledgeable, the Wise.’ He said, ‘O Adam, tell them their names.’ And when he told them their names, He said, ‘Did I not tell you that I know the secrets of the heavens and the earth, and that I know what you reveal and what you conceal?’ And We said to the Angels, ‘Bow down to Adam.’ They bowed down, except for Satan. He refused, was arrogant, and was one of the disbelievers.” (2:30 – 34)
یٰۤاَیُّهَاالَّذِیْنَ اٰمَنُوا اذْکُرُوا اللّٰهَ ذِکْرًا كَثِیْرًا وَسَبِّحُوْهُ بُکْرَۃً وَ اَصِیْلًا هُوَ الَّذِیْ یُصَلِّیْ عَلَیْکُمْ وَمَلٰٓئِكَتُہٗ لِیُخْرِجَکُمْ مِّنَ الظُّلُمٰتِ اِلَی النُّوْرِ ؕ وَكَانَ بِالْمُؤْمِنِیْنَ رَحِیْمًا تَحِیَّتُهُمْ یَوْمَ یَلْقَوْنَہٗ سَلٰمٌ ۖۚ وَاَعَدَّ لَهُمْ اَجْرًا كَرِیْمًا
“O you who believe, remember Allah with frequent remembrance. And glorify Him morning and evening. It is He who bestows mercy on you, and so do His Angels too, to bring you out of darkness into the light. And He is Ever-Merciful towards the believers. On the Day they will meet Him – their greeting will be, ‘Peace’, and He has prepared for them a generous reward.” (33:41 – 44)
یُنَزِّلُ الْمَلٰٓئِكَۃَ بِالرُّوْحِ مِنْ اَمْرِہٖ عَلٰی مَنْ یَّشَآءُ مِنْ عِبَادِہٖۤ اَنْ اَنْذِرُوْۤا اَنَّہٗ لَاۤ اِلٰهَ اِلَّاۤ اَنَا فَاتَّقُوْنِ
“He sends down the Angels with the Spirit (Jibreel ) by His command, upon whom He wills of His servants (with message): “Give warning that there is no god but Me, and fear Me.” (16:2)
اِنَّ الَّذِیْنَ تَوَفّٰهُمُ الْمَلٰٓئِكَۃُ ظَالِمِیْۤ اَنْفُسِهِمْ قَالُوْا فِیْمَ کُنْتُمْ ؕ قَالُوْا کُنَّا مُسْتَضْعَفِیْنَ فِی الْاَرْضِ ؕ قَالُوْۤا اَلَمْ تَکُنْ اَرْضُ اللّٰهِ وَاسِعَۃً فَتُهَاجِرُوْا فِیْهَا ؕ فَاُولٰٓئِكَ مَاْوٰىهُمْ جَهَنَّمُ ؕ وَسَآءَتْ مَصِیْرًا
“While the Angels are removing the souls of those who have wronged themselves, they will say, ‘What was the matter with you?’ They will say, ‘We were oppressed in the land.’ They will say, ‘Was Allah’s earth not vast enough for you to emigrate in it?’ These—their refuge is Hell. What a wretched retreat!” (4:97)
الَّذِیْنَ تَتَوَفّٰىهُمُ الْمَلٰٓئِكَۃُ ظَالِمِیْۤ اَنْفُسِهِمْ ۪ فَاَلْقَوُا السَّلَمَ مَا کُنَّا نَعْمَلُ مِنْ سُوْٓءٍ ؕ بَلٰۤی اِنَّ اللّٰهَ عَلِیْمٌۢ بِمَا کُنْتُمْ تَعْمَلُوْنَ
“While the Angels will be taking out souls of those who are wronging upon themselves—they will say with submission: ‘We did no wrong.’ Yes, you did. Allah is aware of what you used to do.” (16:28)
…. وَمَاۤ اُنْزِلَ عَلَی الْمَلَكَیْنِ بِبَابِلَ هَارُوْتَ وَمَارُوْتَ ؕ وَمَا یُعَلِّمٰنِ مِنْ اَحَدٍ حَتّٰی یَقُوْلَاۤ اِنَّمَا نَحْنُ فِتْنَۃٌ فَلَا تَکْفُرْ ؕ…
“……. And they (Jews) taught the people witchcraft and what was revealed in Babylon to the two Angels Haroot and Maroot. They did not teach anybody until they had said, ‘We are a test, so do not lose faith.’ …” (2:102)
Race of Jinn
A complete Surah named Jinn (serial no. 72) and a number of verses in the Holy Qur’an give detailed accounts of Jinn. The Jinns were the successors of this earth before the advent of Mankind. But when they failed to rule the earth in accordance with the guidelines prescribed to them, Allah (SWT) replaced them with human beings. Jinn is the supernatural creature of Allah (SWT). They are invisible beings and their existence is acknowledged in the Qur’an and Hadith. In one verse Allah (SWT) says about the creation of Jinn: “And the Jinn We created before from scorching fire.” (15:27). In another verse He says, “And He created the Jinn from a smokeless flame of fire.” (55:15). Prophet Muhammad (ﷺ) said, “The Angels were created from light and the Jinn from smokeless fire.” (Sahih Muslim).
Like Humankind, Jinn was also created for worshipping only Allah (SWT) and doing good deeds in this world. The main purpose of creating both Human and Jinn is to worship Almighty Allah as He says: “And I did not create the Jinn and mankind except to worship Me”. (51:56). Only humans and jinn have free will. Among Jinn there are two categories – believers and non-believers. So, like humans, they are divided into Muslims and Kafirs. The Kafir Jinns are called ‘Satan’ – they are the arch enemy of believing humans. The Jinn have accountability and they will face trial on the Day of Judgement like human beings.
The Jinn live in this world invisible in their original form to human eyesight except for prophets and messengers. Jinns can see humans and take the shape of humans and animals. Because of their creation from fire, they live a different lifestyle. The Jinn possess huge strength, and they have intellect and a sense of good and evil. They can travel in space and their movement is as fast as lightning, and the flow of time is different for them. So, the life span of Jinn is much longer than that of humans. Jinns eat and drink, they marry and have children. They had their religion and guidance from Allah (SWT). Like human-being, they possess knowledge, reason, understanding, perception, and language. They have duties and responsibilities, and accountability to Almighty Allah (SWT).
The verses related to Jinn are quoted below:
وَمَا خَلَقْتُ الْجِنَّ وَالْاِنْسَ اِلَّا لِيْعْبُدُوْنِ
“I did not create the jinn and the humans except to worship Me.” (51:56)
وَالْجَآنَّ خَلَقْنٰهُ مِنْ قَبْلُ مِنْ نَّارِ السَّمُوْمِ
“And the jinn We created before (mankind), from the fire of scorching wind.” (15:27)
وَخَلَقَ الْجَآنَّ مِنْ مَّارِجٍ مِنْ نَّارٍ
“And created the jinn from a fusion of fire.” (55:15)
سَنَفْرُغُ لَکُمْ اَیُّهَ الثَّقَلٰنِ فَبِاَیِّ اٰلَآءِ رَبِّکُمَا تُكَذِّبٰنِ یٰمَعْشَرَ الْجِنِّ وَالْاِنْسِ اِنِ اسْتَطَعْتُمْ اَنْ تَنْفُذُوْا مِنْ اَقْطَارِ السَّمٰوٰتِ وَالْاَرْضِ فَانْفُذُوْا ؕ لَا تَنْفُذُوْنَ اِلَّا بِسُلْطٰنٍ فَبِاَیِّ اٰلَآءِ رَبِّکُمَا تُكَذِّبٰنِ یُرْسَلُ عَلَیْکُمَا شُوَاظٌ مِّنْ نَّارٍ ۬ۙ وَنُحَاسٌ فَلَا تَنْتَصِرٰنِ
“We will attend to you soon, O prominent two (jinn and humans). So, which of your Lord’s favors will you deny? O assembly of jinn and humans! If you can transcend the bounds of the heavens and the earth, go ahead and pass. But you will not pass except with the power. So, which of your Lord’s favors will you deny? Flares of fire and smoke will be unleashed upon you, and you will not succeed.” (55:31 – 35)
وَ جَعَلُوْا لِلّٰهِ شُرَكَآءَ الْجِنَّ وَخَلَقَهُمْ وَخَرَقُوْا لَہٗ بَنِیْنَ وَبَنٰتٍۭ بِغَیْرِ عِلْمٍ ؕ سُبْحٰنَہٗ وَتَعٰلٰی عَمَّا یَصِفُوْنَ
“Yet they attributed jinn as partners to Allah, although He created them. And they invented for Him sons and daughters, without any knowledge. Glory be to Him. He is exalted, beyond what they describe.” (6:100)
وَ یَوْمَ یَحْشُرُهُمْ جَمِیْعًا ۚ یٰمَعْشَرَ الْجِنِّ قَدِ اسْتَکْثَرْتُمْ مِّنَ الْاِنْسِ ۚ وَقَالَ اَوْلِیٰٓؤُهُمْ مِّنَ الْاِنْسِ رَبَّنَا اسْتَمْتَعَ بَعْضُنَا بِبَعْضٍ وَبَلَغْنَاۤ اَجَلَنَا الَّذِیْۤ اَجَّلْتَ لَنَا ؕ قَالَ النَّارُ مَثْوٰىکُمْ خٰلِدِیْنَ فِیْهَاۤ اِلَّا مَا شَآءَ اللّٰهُ ؕ اِنَّ رَبَّكَ حَكِیْمٌ عَلِیْمٌ وَ كَذٰلِكَ نُوَلِّیْ بَعْضَ الظّٰلِمِیْنَ بَعْضًۢا بِمَا كَانُوْا یَکْسِبُوْنَ
“One day will He gather them all together, (and say): ‘O you assembly of Jinn! Much (toll) did you take from men.’ Their friends amongst men will say: ‘Our Lord! we made a profit from each other: but (alas!) we reached our term – which you did appoint for us.’ He will say: ‘The Fire be your dwelling-place: you will dwell therein forever, except as Allah wills.’ for your Lord is full of wisdom and knowledge. Likewise, we make some of the wrong-doers companions of each other, because of what they perpetrate.” (6:128 – 129)
وَلٰكِنْ حَقَّ الْقَوْلُ مِنِّیْ لَاَمْلَـَٔنَّ جَهَنَّمَ مِنَ الْجِنَّۃِ وَالنَّاسِ اَجْمَعِیْنَ فَذُوْقُوْا بِمَا نَسِیْتُمْ لِقَآءَ یَوْمِکُمْ هٰذَا ۚ اِنَّا نَسِیْنٰکُمْ وَذُوْقُوْا عَذَابَ الْخُلْدِ بِمَا کُنْتُمْ تَعْمَلُوْنَ
“…… but the declaration from Me will come true: ‘I will fill Hell with jinn and humans, altogether. So, taste, because you forgot the meeting of this Day of yours; We too have forgotten you; so, taste the eternal torment for what you used to do.” (32:13 – 14)
وَاِذْ قُلْنَا لِلْمَلٰٓئِكَۃِ اسْجُدُوْا لِاٰدَمَ فَسَجَدُوْۤا اِلَّاۤ اِبْلِیْسَؕ كَانَ مِنَ الْجِنِّ فَفَسَقَ عَنْ اَمْرِ رَبِّہٖ ؕ اَفَتَتَّخِذُوْنَہٗ وَذُرِّیَّتَہٗۤ اَوْلِیَآءَ مِنْ دُوْنِیْ وَهُمْ لَکُمْ عَدُوٌّ ؕ بِئْسَ لِلظّٰلِمِیْنَ بَدَلًا
“When We said to the Angels, “Bow down to Adam.” So, they bowed down, except for Satan. He was from the Jinn, and he defied the command of his Lord. Will you take him and his offspring as friends instead of Me, when they are an enemy to you? Evil is the exchange for the wrongdoers.” (18:50)
وَ الشَّیٰطِیْنَ کُلَّ بَنَّآءٍ وَغَوَّاصٍ
“And all Satans who were builders and divers (were placed at SulaImaan’s service).” (38:37)
وَ لِسُلَیْمٰنَ الرِّیْحَ غُدُوُّهَا شَہْرٌ وَرَوَاحُهَا شَہْرٌ ۚ وَاَسَلْنَا لَہٗ عَیْنَ الْقِطْرِ ؕ وَمِنَ الْجِنِّ مَنْ یَّعْمَلُ بَیْنَ یَدَیْهِ بِاِذْنِ رَبِّہٖ ؕ وَمَنْ یَّزِغْ مِنْهُمْ عَنْ اَمْرِنَا نُذِقْهُ مِنْ عَذَابِ السَّعِیْرِ یَعْمَلُوْنَ لَہٗ مَا یَشَآءُ مِنْ مَّحَارِیْبَ وَتَمَاثِیْلَ وَجِفَانٍ كَالْجَوَابِ وَقُدُوْرٍ رّٰسِیٰتٍ ؕ اِعْمَلُوْۤا اٰلَ دَاوٗدَ شُکْرًا ؕ وَقَلِیْلٌ مِّنْ عِبَادِیَ الشَّکُوْرُ فَلَمَّا قَضَیْنَا عَلَیْهِ الْمَوْتَ مَا دَلَّهُمْ عَلٰی مَوْتِہٖۤ اِلَّا دَآبَّۃُ الْاَرْضِ تَاْکُلُ مِنْسَاَتَہٗ ۚ فَلَمَّا خَرَّ تَبَیَّنَتِ الْجِنُّ اَنْ لَّوْ كَانُوْا یَعْلَمُوْنَ الْغَیْبَ مَا لَبِثُوْا فِی الْعَذَابِ الْمُهِیْنِ
“And to SulaImaan (We made) the Wind (obedient): Its morning (stride) was a month’s (journey), and its evening (stride) was a month’s (journey); and We also flowed a fountain of melted copper for him; and there were Jinn that worked in front of him, by the leave of his Lord, and if any of them turned aside from our command, We made him taste of the Penalty of the Blazing Fire. They worked for him as he desired, (making) arches, images, basons as large as reservoirs, and (cooking) cauldrons fixed (in their places): ‘O Family of Dawood, Work with thanks! but few of My servants are grateful!’ Then, when We decreed (SulaImaan’s) death, nothing aware them of his death except a little termite of the earth by eating of his staff (stick): so, when he fell down, the Jinn saw plainly that if they had knowledge of the unseen, they would not have tarried in the humiliating Penalty (of their Task).” (34:12 – 14)
وَلَقَدْ زَيَّنَّا السَّمَآءَ الدُّنْيَا بِمَصٰبِيْحَ وَجَعَلْنٰهَا رُجُوْمًا لِّلشَّيٰطِيْنِ وَاَعْتَدْنَا لَهُمْ عَذَابَ السَّعِيْرِِ
“And we have adorned the lowest heaven with Lamps, and We have made such (Lamps) (as) missiles to drive away the Evil Ones, and have prepared for them the Penalty of the Blazing Fire.” (67:5)
قَالَ یٰۤاَیُّهَا الْمَلَؤُا اَیُّکُمْ یَاْتِیْنِیْ بِعَرْشِهَا قَبْلَ اَنْ یَّاْتُوْنِیْ مُسْلِمِیْنَ قَالَ عِفْرِیْتٌ مِّنَ الْجِنِّ اَنَا اٰتِیْكَ بِہٖ قَبْلَ اَنْ تَقُوْمَ مِنْ مَّقَامِكَ ۚ وَاِنِّیْ عَلَیْهِ لَقَوِیٌّ اَمِیْنٌ قَالَ الَّذِیْ عِنْدَہٗ عِلْمٌ مِّنَ الْكِتٰبِ اَنَا اٰتِیْكَ بِہٖ قَبْلَ اَنْ یَّرْتَدَّ اِلَیْكَ طَرْفُكَ ؕ فَلَمَّا رَاٰهُ مُسْتَقِرًّا عِنْدَہٗ قَالَ هٰذَا مِنْ فَضْلِ رَبِّیْ ۖ لِیَبْلُوَنِیْۤ ءَاَشْکُرُ اَمْ اَکْفُرُ ؕ وَمَنْ شَكَرَ فَاِنَّمَا یَشْکُرُ لِنَفْسِہٖ ۚ وَمَنْ كَفَرَ فَاِنَّ رَبِّیْ غَنِیٌّ كَرِیْمٌ
“He said: ‘O courtiers! Which of you can bring me her throne before they come to me in submission?’ Said an ‘Ifrit’ (a powerful type of demon) from Jinn: ‘I will bring it to you before you rise from your council: indeed, I have full strength for the purpose and may be trusted.’ Said (another) one who had knowledge of the Book: ‘I will bring it to you within the twinkling of an eye!’ Then when (SulaImaan) saw it placed firmly before him, he said: ‘This is by the Grace of my Lord! – to test me whether I am grateful or ungrateful! and if any is grateful, truly his gratitude is (a gain) for his own soul; but if any is ungrateful, truly my Lord is Free of all Needs, Supreme in Honor’!” (27:38 – 40)
A Group of Jinn received Hedayah from the Holy Qur’an
When Prophet Muhammad (ﷺ) was returning to Makkah from Ta’if, he spent the night in a valley called Jinn, where he prayed and recited the verses of the Quran. A group of the jinn heard his recitation there with deep attention. This created a profound impact in their mindset and attracted them towards receiving Hedayah (guidance). They accepted Islam after believing in the messages of the Qur’an and the prophethood of Muhammad (ﷺ). Being faithful Muslims, they returned to their community to spread the Islamic faith about Allah (SWT). The verse of the Qur’an: “We did not send you except as a mercy to the universe.” (21:107) – supports that the benefits of the prophethood of Muhammad (ﷺ) encompass all creatures of the universe. Surah Jinn gives an account of this incident as cited below:
قُلْ اُوْحِیَ اِلَیَّ اَنَّهُ اسْتَمَعَ نَفَرٌ مِّنَ الْجِنِّ فَقَالُوْۤا اِنَّا سَمِعْنَا قُرْاٰنًا عَجَبًا یَّہْدِیْۤ اِلَی الرُّشْدِ فَاٰمَنَّا بِہٖ ؕ وَلَنْ نُّشْرِكَ بِرَبِّنَاۤ اَحَدًا وَاَنَّہٗ تَعٰلٰی جَدُّ رَبِّنَا مَا اتَّخَذَ صَاحِبَۃً وَلَا وَلَدًا وَاَنَّہٗ كَانَ یَقُوْلُ سَفِیْهُنَا عَلَی اللّٰهِ شَطَطًا وَاَنَّا ظَنَنَّاۤ اَنْ لَّنْ تَقُوْلَ الْاِنْسُ وَالْجِنُّ عَلَی اللّٰهِ كَذِبًا وَ اَنَّہٗ كَانَ رِجَالٌ مِّنَ الْاِنْسِ یَعُوْذُوْنَ بِرِجَالٍ مِّنَ الْجِنِّ فَزَادُوْهُمْ رَهَقًا وَاَنَّهُمْ ظَنُّوْا كَمَا ظَنَنْتُمْ اَنْ لَّنْ یَّبْعَثَ اللّٰهُ اَحَدًا وَاَنَّا لَمَسْنَا السَّمَآءَ فَوَجَدْنٰهَا مُلِئَتْ حَرَسًا شَدِیْدًا وَشُهُبًا وَاَنَّا کُنَّا نَقْعُدُ مِنْهَا مَقَاعِدَ لِلسَّمْعِ ؕ فَمَنْ یَّسْتَمِعِ الْاٰنَ یَجِدْ لَہٗ شِهَابًا رَّصَدًا وَاَنَّا لَا نَدْرِیْۤ اَشَرٌّ اُرِیْدَ بِمَنْ فِی الْاَرْضِ اَمْ اَرَادَ بِهِمْ رَبُّهُمْ رَشَدًا وَاَنَّا مِنَّا الصّٰلِحُوْنَ وَمِنَّا دُوْنَ ذٰلِكَ ؕ کُنَّا طَرَآئِقَ قِدَدًا وَاَنَّا ظَنَنَّاۤ اَنْ لَّنْ نُّعْجِزَ اللّٰهَ فِی الْاَرْضِ وَ لَنْ نُّعْجِزَہٗ هَرَبًا وَاَنَّا لَمَّا سَمِعْنَا الْهُدٰۤی اٰمَنَّا بِہٖ ؕ فَمَنْ یُّؤْمِنْۢ بِرَبِّہٖ فَلَا یَخَافُ بَخْسًا وَلَا رَهَقًا وَاَنَّا مِنَّا الْمُسْلِمُوْنَ وَمِنَّا الْقٰسِطُوْنَ ؕ فَمَنْ اَسْلَمَ فَاُولٰٓئِكَ تَحَرَّوْا رَشَدًا وَ اَمَّا الْقٰسِطُوْنَ فَكَانُوْا لِجَهَنَّمَ حَطَبًا
“Say (O Prophet), it was revealed to me that a group of jinn overheard, and said, ‘We have heard a wondrous Qur’an. It guides us to rectitude, so we have believed in it, and we will never associate anyone with our Lord. And Exalted is the Grandeur of our Lord – He never had a mate, nor a child. But the fools among us used to say nonsense about Allah. And we thought that humans and jinn would never utter lies about Allah. Some individual humans used to seek power through some individual jinn, but they only increased in confusion. They thought as you thought, that Allah would never resurrect anyone. We probed the heaven and found it filled with stern guards and projectiles. We used to take up positions to listen in, but whoever listens now finds a projectile in wait for him. We do not know whether ill is intended for those on earth, or if their Lord intends goodness for them. Some of us are righteous, but some of us are less than that; we follow divergent paths. We realized that we cannot defeat Allah on earth and that we cannot escape Him by fleeing. And when we heard the guidance, we believed in it. Whoever believes in his Lord has neither loss nor burden to fear. Among us are those who are submitting, and among us are the compromisers. As for those who have submitted, it is they who pursue rectitude. But as for the compromisers – they will be firewood for Hell’.” (72:1 – 15)
وَاِذْ صَرَفْنَاۤ اِلَيْكَ نَفَرًا مِّنَ الْجِنِّ يَسْتَمِعُوْنَ الْقُرْاٰنَ فَلَمَّا حَضَرُوهُ قَالُوۤا اَنْصِتُوْا فَلَمَّا قُضِىَ وَلَّوْا اِلَىٰ قَوْمِهِمْ مُّنْذِرِيْنَ قَالُوا يٰقَوْمَنَاۤ اِنَّا سَمِعْنَا كِتٰبًا أُنْزِلَ مِنْۢ بَعْدِ مُوسَىٰ مُصَدِّقًا لِّمَا بَيْنَ يَدَيْهِ يَهْدِىۤ اِلَى الْحَقِّ وَاِلَىٰ طَرِيْقٍ مُّسْتَقِيْمٍ یٰقَوْمَنَاۤ اَجِیْبُوْا دَاعِیَ اللّٰهِ وَاٰمِنُوْا بِہٖ یَغْفِرْ لَکُمْ مِّنْ ذُنُوْبِکُمْ وَیُجِرْکُمْ مِّنْ عَذَابٍ اَلِیْمٍ وَمَنْ لَّا یُجِبْ دَاعِیَ اللّٰهِ فَلَیْسَ بِمُعْجِزٍ فِی الْاَرْضِ وَلَیْسَ لَہٗ مِنْ دُوْنِہٖۤ اَوْلِیَآءُ ؕ اُولٰٓئِكَ فِیْ ضَلٰلٍ مُّبِیْنٍ
“(O Prophet) Recall when We dispatched towards you a number of jinn, to listen to the Qur’an. When they came into its presence, they said, ‘Pay attention!’ Then, when it was concluded, they rushed to their people, warning them. They said, ‘O our people, we have heard a Scripture, sent down after Musa, confirming what came before it. It guides to the truth, and to a straight path. O our people! Answer the Caller to Allah (the prophet of Allah), and believe in Him (Allah), and He will forgive you your sins, and will save you from a painful punishment.’ He who does not answer the Caller to Allah will not escape on earth and has no protectors besides Him. Those are in obvious error.” (46:29 – 32)
Satan’s Defiance and Challenge
When the race of Jinn failed to accomplish their assigned tasks on earth, Allah (SWT) decided to replace them with a new creation. He created Adam () – the first human being, and empowered him with knowledge, intellect, and wisdom with the intent to make human beings His Khalifa (Viceroy) on the earth. Allah (SWT) commanded the angels and Iblis as well to bow down before Adam (). All bowed down except for Iblis, who was of the race of Jinn.
Iblis defied Allah’s command out of arrogance and jealousy that he was created from fire and Adam () was created from earth. Allah (SWT) cursed him and ousted him from heaven for his disobedience. He then turned into Satan and became an archenemy of humankind. Iblis prayed respite from worldly punishment till the Day of Qiyamah and sought the power of tempting humans to mislead humans to keep them away from the path of Allah. When Allah (SWT) accepted his prayer, he then threw an evil challenge to mislead humanity by any means. Thenceforth, Satan as an archenemy is always a great challenge for humanity.
The verses cited below give an account of Satan’s defiance and challenge:
وَاِذْ قُلْنَا لِلْمَلٰٓئِكَةِ اسْجُدُوْا لِاٰدَمَ فَسَجَدُوْۤا اِلَّاۤ اِبْلِيْسَ اَبٰى فَقُلْنَا يٰۤاٰدَمُ اِنَّ هٰذَا عَدُوْ لَّكَ وَلِزَوْجِكَ فَلَا يُخْرِجَنَّكُمَا مِنَ الْجَنَّةِ فَتَشْقٰىۤ اِنَّ لَكَ اَلَّا تَجُوْعَ فِيْهَا وَلَا تَعْرٰى وَاَنَّكَ لَا تَظْمَؤُا فِيْهَا وَلَا تَضْحٰى فَوَسْوَسَ اِلَيْهِ الشَّيْطٰنُ قَالَ يٰۤاٰدَمُ هَلْ اَدُلُّكَ عَلٰى شَجَرَةِ الْخُلْدِ وَمُلْكٍ لَّا يَبْلٰى فَاَكَلَا مِنْهَا فَبَدَتْ لَهُمَا سَوْءٰتُهُمَا وَطَفِقَا يَخْصِفَانِ عَلَيْهِمَا مِنْ وَرَقِ الْجَنَّةِ وَعَصٰىۤ اٰدَمُ رَبَّه فَغَوٰى ثُمَّ اجْتَبٰهُ رَبُّه فَتَابَ عَلَيْهِ وَهَدٰى
“And when We said to the angels, ‘Bow down to Adam.’ They bowed down, except for Iblis; he refused. Then We said, ‘O Adam, this is an enemy to you and to your wife. So, do not let him make you leave the Garden, for then you will suffer. In it you will never go hungry, nor be naked. Nor will you be thirsty in it, nor will you be naked.’ But Satan whispered to him. He said, ‘O Adam, shall I show you the Tree of Immortality, and a kingdom that never decays?’ And so, they ate from it; whereupon their bodies became visible to them, and they started covering themselves with the leaves of the Garden. Thus, Adam disobeyed his Lord and fell. But then his Lord chose him, and pardoned him, and guided him to the right path.” (20:116 – 122)
قَالَ یٰۤاِبْلِیْسُ مَا مَنَعَكَ اَنْ تَسْجُدَ لِمَا خَلَقْتُ بِیَدَیَّ ؕ اَسْتَکْبَرْتَ اَمْ کُنْتَ مِنَ الْعَالِیْنَ قَالَ اَنَا خَیْرٌ مِّنْهُ ؕ خَلَقْتَنِیْ مِنْ نَّارٍ وَ خَلَقْتَہٗ مِنْ طِیْنٍ قَالَ فَاخْرُجْ مِنْهَا فَاِنَّكَ رَجِیْمٌ وَاِنَّ عَلَیْكَ لَعْنَتِیْۤ اِلٰی یَوْمِ الدِّیْنِ قَالَ رَبِّ فَاَنْظِرْنِیْۤ اِلٰی یَوْمِ یُبْعَثُوْنَ قَالَ فَاِنَّكَ مِنَ الْمُنْظَرِیْنَ اِلٰی یَوْمِ الْوَقْتِ الْمَعْلُوْمِ قَالَ فَبِعِزَّتِكَ لَاُغْوِیَنَّهُمْ اَجْمَعِیْنَ اِلَّا عِبَادَكَ مِنْهُمُ الْمُخْلَصِیْنَ قَالَ فَالْحَقُّ ۫ وَالْحَقَّ اَقُوْلُ لَاَمْلَـَٔنَّ جَهَنَّمَ مِنْكَ وَمِمَّنْ تَبِعَكَ مِنْهُمْ اَجْمَعِیْنَ
“He (Allah) said, ‘O Satan, what prevented you from prostrating before what I created with My Own hands? Are you too proud, or were you one of the exalted?’ He (Satan) said, ‘I am better than he; You created me from fire, and You created him from clay.’ He (Allah) said, ‘Then get out of here! You are an outcast! And My curse will be upon you until the Day of Judgement.’ He (Satan) said, ‘Lord, defer me until the Day they are resurrected.’ He (Allah) said, ‘You are one of those deferred. Until the Day of the Time Appointed.’ He (Satan) said, ‘By Your majesty, I will seduce them all. Except for your loyal servants among them.’ He (Allah) said, ‘The truth is, and I say the truth. I will fill Hell with you, and with every one of them who follows you’.” (38:75 – 85)
وَلَقَدْ خَلَقْنٰكُمْ ثُمَّ صَوَّرْنٰكُمْ ثُمَّ قُلْنَا لِلْمَلٰٓئِكَةِ اسْجُدُوْا لِاٰدَمَ فَسَجَدُوْۤا اِلَّاۤ اِبْلِيْسَ لَمْ يَكُنْ مِّنَ السّٰجِدِيْنَ قَالَ مَا مَنَعَكَ اَلَّا تَسْجُدَ اِذْ اَمَرْتُكَ قَالَ اَنَا۠ خَيْرٌ مِّنْهُ خَلَقْتَنِىْ مِنْ نَّارٍ وَخَلَقْتَه مِنْ طِيْنٍ قَالَ فَاهْبِطْ مِنْهَا فَمَا يَكُوْنُ لَكَ اَنْ تَتَكَبَّرَ فِيْهَا فَاخْرُجْ اِنَّكَ مِنَ الصّٰغِرِيْنَ قَالَ اَنْظِرْنِىۤ اِلٰى يَوْمِ يُّبْعَثُوْنَ قَالَ اِنَّكَ مِنَ الْمُنْظَرِيْنَ قَالَ فَبِمَاۤ اَغْوَيْتَنِىْ لَاَقْعُدَنَّ لَهُمْ صِرٰطَكَ الْمُسْتَقِيْمَ ثُمَّ لَاٰتِيَنَّهُم مِّنْۢ بَيْنِ اَيْدِيْهِمْ وَمِنْ خَلْفِهِمْ وَعَنْ اَيْمٰنِهِمْ وَعَنْ شَمَاۤئِلِهِمْ وَلَا تَجِدُ اَكْثَرَهُمْ شٰكِرِيْنَ قَالَ اخْرُجْ مِنْهَا مَذْءُوْمًا مَّدْحُوْرًا لَّمَنْ تَبِعَكَ مِنْهُمْ لَاَمْلَاَنَّ جَهَنَّمَ مِنْكُمْ اَجْمَعِيْنَ
“We created you, then We shaped you, then We said to the Angels, ‘Bow down before Adam;’ so they bowed down, except for Satan; he was not of those who bowed down. He (Allah) said, ‘What prevented you from bowing down when I have commanded you?’ He (Satan) said, ‘I am better than he; You created me from fire, and You created him from mud.’ He (Allah) said, ‘Get down from it! It is not for you to act arrogantly in it. Get out! You are one of the lowly!’ He (Satan) said, ‘Give me respite, until the Day they are resurrected.’ He (Allah) said, ‘You are of those given respite.’ He (Satan) said, ‘Because you have deluded me, I will waylay them on Your straight path. Then I will come at them from their front side, and from behind of them, and from their right, and from their left; and you will not find most of them appreciative.’ He (Allah) said, ‘Get out of it, despised and vanquished. Whoever among them follows you – I will fill up Hell with you all’.” (7:11 – 18)
وَاِذْ قُلْنَا لِلْمَلٰٓئِكَۃِ اسْجُدُوْا لِاٰدَمَ فَسَجَدُوْۤا اِلَّا اِبْلِیْسَ ؕ اَبٰی وَاسْتَکْبَرَ ۫ وَ كَانَ مِنَ الْکٰفِرِیْنَ
“And We said to the Angels, “Bow down to Adam.” They bowed down, except for Satan. He refused, was arrogant, and was one of the disbelievers.” (2:34)
وَاِذْ قُلْنَا لِلْمَلٰٓئِكَةِ اسْجُدُوْا لِاٰدَمَ فَسَجَدُوْۤا اِلَّا اِبْلِيْسَ قَالَ ءَاَسْجُدُ لِمَنْ خَلَقْتَ طِيْنًا قَالَ اَرَءَيْتَكَ هٰذَا الَّذِىْ كَرَّمْتَ عَلَىَّ لَئِنْ اَخَّرْتَنِ اِلٰى يَوْمِ الْقِيٰمَةِ لَاَحْتَنِكَنَّ ذُرِّيْتَه اِلَّا قَلِيْلًا قَالَ اذْهَبْ فَمَنْ تَبِعَكَ مِنْهُمْ فَاِنَّ جَهَنَّمَ جَزَآؤُكُمْ جَزَآءً مَّوْفُوْرًا وَاسْتَفْزِزْ مَنْ اسْتَطَعْتَ مِنْهُمْ بِصَوْتِكَ وَاَجْلِبْ عَلَيْهِمْ بِخَيْلِكَ وَرَجِلِكَ وَشَارِكْهُمْ فِى الْاَمْوٰلِ وَالْاَوْلٰدِ وَعِدْهُمْ وَمَا يَعِدُهُمُ الشَّيْطٰنُ اِلَّا غُرُوْرًا اِنَّ عِبَادِىْ لَيْسَ لَكَ عَلَيْهِمْ سُلْطٰنٌ وَكَفٰى بِرَبِّكَ وَكِيْلًا
“When We said to the Angels, ‘Bow down before Adam,’ they bowed down, except for Iblis (Satan). He said, ‘Shall I bow down before someone You created from mud?’ He said, ‘Do You see this one whom You have honored more than me? If You reprieve me until the Day of Resurrection, I will bring his descendants under my sway, except for a few.’ He (Allah) said, ‘Begone! Whoever of them follows you—Hell is your reward, an ample reward. And entice whomever of them you can with your voice, and rally against them your cavalry and your infantry, and share with them in wealth and children, and make promises to them.’ But Satan promises them nothing but delusion. ‘As for My devotees, you have no authority over them.’ Your Lord is a sufficient Guardian.” (17:61 – 65)
يٰۤـَٔادَمُ اسْكُنْ اَنْتَ وَزَوْجُكَ الْجَنَّةَ فَكُلَا مِنْ حَيْثُ شِئْتُمَا وَلَا تَقْرَبَا هٰذِهِ الشَّجَرَةَ فَتَكُوْنَا مِنَ الظّٰلِمِيْنَ فَوَسْوَسَ لَهُمَا الشَّيْطٰنُ لِيُبْدِىَ لَهُمَا مَا ورِىَ عَنْهُمَا مِنْ سَوْءٰتِهِمَا وَقَالَ مَا نَهٰىكُمَا رَبُّكُمَا عَنْ هٰذِهِ الشَّجَرَةِ اِلَّاۤ اَنْ تَكُوْنَا مَلَكَيْنِ اَوْ تَكُوْنَا مِنَ الْخٰلِدِيْنَ وَقَاسَمَهُمَاۤ اِنِّى لَكُمَا لَمِنَ النّٰصِحِيْنَ فَدَلّٰىهُمَا بِغُرُوْرٍ فَلَمَّا ذَاقَا الشَّجَرَةَ بَدَتْ لَهُمَا سَوْءٰتُهُمَا وَطَفِقَا يَخْصِفَانِ عَلَيْهِمَا مِنْ وَرَقِ الْجَنَّةِ وَنَادٰىهُمَا رَبُّهُمَاۤ اَلَمْ اَنْهَكُمَا عَن تِلْكُمَا الشَّجَرَةِ وَاَقُل لَّكُمَاۤ اِنَّ الشَّيْطٰنَ لَكُمَا عَدُوْ مُّبِيْنٌ قَالَا رَبَّنَا ظَلَمْنَاۤ اَنفُسَنَا وَاِنْ لَّمْ تَغْفِرْ لَنَا وَتَرْحَمْنَا لَنَكُوْنَنَّ مِنَ الْخٰسِرِيْنَ
“And you, Adam, inhabit the Garden, you and your wife, and eat whatever you wish; but do not approach this tree, lest you become sinners. But Satan whispered to them, to reveal to them their nakedness, which was invisible to them. He said, ‘Your Lord has only forbidden you this tree, lest you become Angels, or become immortals.’ And he swore to them, ‘I am a sincere advisor to you.’ So, he lured them with deceit. And when they tasted the tree, their nakedness became evident to them, and they began covering themselves with the leaves of the Garden. And their Lord called out to them, ‘Did I not forbid you from this tree, and say to you that Satan is an avowed enemy to you?’ They said, ‘Our Lord, we have done wrong to ourselves. Unless You forgive us and have mercy on us, we will be among the losers’.” (7:19 – 23)
قَالَ يٰۤاِبْلِيْسُ مَا لَكَ اَلَّا تَكُوْنَ مَعَ السّٰجِدِيْنَ قَالَ لَمْ اَكُنْ لِّاَسْجُدَ لِبَشَرٍ خَلَقْتَه مِنْ صَلْصٰلٍ مِّنْ حَمَإٍ مَّسْنُوْنٍ قَالَ فَاخْرُجْ مِنْهَا فَاِنَّكَ رَجِيْمٌ وَاِنَّ عَلَيْكَ اللَّعْنَةَ اِلٰى يَوْمِ الدِّيْنِ قَالَ رَبِّ فَاَنْظِرْنِىۤ اِلٰى يَوْمِ يُبْعَثُوْنَ قَالَ فَاِنَّكَ مِنَ الْمُنْظَرِيْنَ اِلٰى يَوْمِ الْوَقْتِ الْمَعْلُوْمِ قَالَ رَبِّ بِمَا اَغْوَيْتَنِى لَاُزَيِّنَنَّ لَهُمْ فِى الْاَرْضِ وَلَاُغْوِيْنَّهُمْ اَجْمَعِيْنَ اِلَّا عِبَادَكَ مِنْهُمُ الْمُخْلَصِيْنَ قَالَ هٰذَا صِرٰطٌ عَلَىَّ مُسْتَقِيْمٌ اِنَّ عِبَادِىْ لَيْسَ لَكَ عَلَيْهِمْ سُلْطٰنٌ اِلَّا مَنْ اتَّبَعَكَ مِنَ الْغَاوِيْنَ وَاِنَّ جَهَنَّمَ لَمَوْعِدُهُمْ اَجْمَعِيْنَ
“He (Allah) said, ‘O Iblis, what kept you from being among those who prostrated themselves?’ He (Satan) said, ‘I am not one to prostrate myself before a human being, whom You created from sounded clay, from molded mud.’ He (Allah) said, ‘Then get out of here, for you are an outcast. And the curse will be upon you until the Day of Judgement.’ He (Satan) said, ‘My Lord, reprieve me until the Day they are resurrected.’ He (Allah) said, ‘You are of those reprieved. Until the Day of the time appointed.’ He (Satan) said, ‘My Lord, since You have strayed me away, I will glamorize them on earth, and I will lure them all away. Except for Your sincere servants among them.’ He (Allah) said, ‘This is the right way with Me. Over My servants, you have no authority, except for the sinners who follow you.’ And Hell is the meeting place for them all.” (15:32 – 43)
Satan: The Archenemy of Mankind
Iblis (the leader of Satans) and his accomplices have been constantly exerting every effort to deviate mankind from the right path of Allah (SWT) and keep them heedless from His remembrance. In making his evil design successful, he not only misguided people at different time, but also created a large number of his followers from them to run his evil affairs in this world till the Day of Qiyamah. Satan’s sole aim is to misguide humanity towards Jahannam (Hell) by destroying their Imaan (belief) and A’mal (good deeds). So, in the Holy Qur’an Allah (SWT) repeatedly warned humanity against Satan and asked them to take refuge in Him from its evil inspirations.
The Quranic verses are quoted below:
اِنَّ الشَّيْطٰنَ لَكُمْ عَدُوٌّ فَاتَّخِذُوْهُ عَدُوًّا اِنَّمَا يَدْعُوْا حِزْبَه لِيَكُوْنُوْا مِنْ اَصْحٰبِ السَّعِيْرِ
“Satan is an enemy to you, so treat him as an enemy. He only invites his gang to be among the inmates of the Inferno.” (35:6)
يٰبَنِىۤ اٰدَمَ لَا يَفْتِنَنَّكُمُ الشَّيْطٰنُ كَمَآ اَخْرَجَ اَبَوَيْكُمْ مِّنَ الْجَنَّةِ يَنْزِعُ عَنْهُمَا لِبَاسَهُمَا لِيَرِيَهُمَا سَوْءٰتِهِمَا ط اِنَّه يَرٰىكُمْ هُوَ وَقَبِيْلُه مِنْ حَيْثُ لَا تَرَوْنَهُمْ ط اِنَّا جَعَلْنَا الشَّيٰطِيْنَ اَوْلِيْآءَ لِلَّذِيْنَ لَا يُؤْمِنُوْنَ
“O Children of Adam! Do not let Satan seduce you, as he drove your parents out of the Jannah, stripping them of their garments, to show them their nudity. He and his accomplices see you from where you cannot see them. We have made the devils friends of those who do not believe.” (7:27)
وَاِمَّا يَنْزَغَنَّكَ مِنَ الشَّيْطٰنِ نَزْغٌ فَاسْتَعِذْ بِاللهِ اِنَّه سَمِيْعٌ عَلِيْمٌ اِنَّ الَّذِيْنَ اتَّقَوْا اِذَا مَسَّهُمْ طٰٓئِفٌ مِّنَ الشَّيْطٰنِ تَذَكَّرُوْا فَاِذَا هُمْ مُّبْصِرُوْنَ وَاِخْوٰنُهُمْ يَمُدُّوْنَهُمْ فِى الْغَىِّ ثُمَّ لَا يُقْصِرُوْنَ
“And indeed, when a temptation of Satan induces you, take refuge with Allah. He is Hearing and Knowing. Those who are righteous—when an impulse from Satan comes upon them, their eyes instantly open (with consciousness) and they remember (Allah’s guidance). But those are brethren (of Satan), he leads them relentlessly into error, and they never stop short.” (7:200 – 202)
فَرِيْقًا هَدٰى وَفَرِيْقًا حَقَّ عَلَيْهِمُ الضَّلٰلَةُ اِنَّهُمُ اتَّخَذُوْا الشَّيٰطِيْنَ اَوْلِيَآءَ مِنْ دُوْنِ اللهِ وَيَحْسَبُوْنَ اَنَّهُمْ مُّهْتَدُوْنَ
“Some He has guided, and some have deserved misguidance. They have adopted the devils for patrons rather than Allah, and they assume that they are rightly guided.” (7:30)
اَلَمْ اَعْهَدْ اِلَيْكُمْ يٰبَنِىۤ اٰدَمَ اَنْ لَّا تَعْبُدُوْا الشَّيْطٰنَ اِنَّه لَكُمْ عَدُوْ مُّبِيْنٌ وَاَنِ اعْبُدُوْنِىْ هٰذَا صِرٰطٌ مُّسْتَقِيْمٌ وَلَقَدْ اَضَلَّ مِنْكُمْ جِبِلًّا كَثِيْرًا اَفَلَمْ تَكُوْنُوْا تَعْقِلُوْنَ
“Had I not a covenant with you, O Children of Adam, that you shall not worship Satan? That he is your avowed enemy? And that you shall worship Me? This is a straight path. He (Satan) has misled a great multitude of you. Did you not understand?” (36:60 – 62)
وَیَوْمَ یَعَضُّ الظَّالِمُ عَلٰی یَدَیْهِ یَقُوْلُ یٰلَیْتَنِی اتَّخَذْتُ مَعَ الرَّسُوْلِ سَبِیْلًا یٰوَیْلَتٰی لَیْتَنِیْ لَمْ اَتَّخِذْ فُلَانًا خَلِیْلًا لَقَدْ اَضَلَّنِیْ عَنِ الذِّکْرِ بَعْدَ اِذْ جَآءَنِیْ ؕ وَكَانَ الشَّیْطٰنُ لِلْاِنْسَانِ خَذُوْلًا
“On that Day (Day of Judgement), the wrongdoer will bite his hands, and say, “If only I had followed the way with the Messenger. Oh, woe to me; I wish I never took so-and-so for a friend. He led me away from the Message after it had come to me; for Satan has always been a betrayer of man.” (25:27 – 29)
هَلْ اُنَبِّئُكُمْ عَلٰى مَنْ تَنَزَّلُ الشَّيٰطِيْنُ تَنَزَّلُ عَلٰى كُلِّ اَفَّاكٍ اَثِيْمٍ يُلْقُوْنَ السَّمْعَ وَاَكْثَرُهُمْ كٰذِبُوْنَ
“Shall I inform you upon whom the devils descend? They descend upon every sinful liar. They (Satans) cast (convey) what they hear (angels’ conversation in the sky), and most of them are liars.” (26:221 – 223)
يٰۤاَيُّهَا الَّذِيْنَ اٰمَنُوْا ادْخُلُوْا فِى السِّلْمِ كَآفَّةً وَلَا تَتَّبِعُوْا خُطُوْٰتِ الشَّيْطٰنِ اِنَّه لَكُمْ عَدُوْ مُّبِيْنٌ
“O Believers! Enter into submission, wholeheartedly, and do not follow the footsteps of Satan; he is to you an outright enemy.” (2:208)
وَمِنَ الْاَنْعٰمِ حَمُوْلَةً وَّفَرْشًا كُلُوْا مِمَّا رَزَقَكُمُ اللهُ وَلَا تَتَّبِعُوْا خُطُوٰتِ الشَّيْطٰنِ اِنَّه لَكُمْ عَدُوٌّ مُّبِيْنٌ
“Among the livestock some for carrying loads, and some for food. Eat of what Allah has provided for you, and do not follow the footsteps of Satan. He is to you an outright enemy.” (6:142)
وَلَقَدْ صَدَّقَ عَلَيْهِمْ اِبْلِيْسُ ظَنَّه فَاتَّبَعُوْهُ اِلَّا فَرِيْقًا مِّنَ الْمُؤْمِنِيْنَ وَمَا كَانَ لَه عَلَيْهِمْ مِنْ سُلْطٰنٍ اِلَّا لِنَعْلَمَ مَنْ يُّؤْمِنْ بِالْاٰخِرَةِ مِمَّنْ هُوَ مِنْهَا فِىْ شَكٍّ وَرَبُّكَ عَلٰى كُلِّ شَىْءٍ حَفِيْظٌ
“Indeed, Satan found his assessment about them correct. So, all of them except a group of believers followed him. He (Satan) had no authority over them; but We wanted to distinguish one who believes in the Hereafter, from that one who is doubtful about it. Your Lord is Watchful over all things.” (34:20 – 21)
اِدْفَعْ بِالَّتِى هِىَ اَحْسَنُ السَّيِّئَةَ نَحْنُ اَعْلَمُ بِمَا يَصِفُوْنَ وَقُلْ رَّبِّ اَعُوْذُ بِكَ مِنْ هَمَزٰتِ الشَّيٰطِيْنِ
“Repel evil by what is best. We are well aware of what they describe. And say, “My Lord, I seek refuge with You from the urgings of the devils.” (23:96 – 97)
وَاِمَّا يَنْزَغَنَّكَ مِنَ الشَّيْطٰنِ نَزْغٌ فَاسْتَعِذْ بِاللهِ اِنَّه هُوَ السَّمِيْعُ الْعَلِيْمُ
“When a temptation from the Devil provokes you, seek refuge in Allah; He is All-Hearer, All-Knower.” (41:36)
وَمَنْ يَّعْشُ عَنْ ذِكْرِ الرَّحْمٰنِ نُقَيِّضْ لَه شَيْطٰنًا فَهُوْ لَه قَرِيْنٌ وَاِنَّهُمْ لَيَصُدُّوْنَهُمْ عَنِ السَّبِيْلِ وَيَحْسَبُوْنَ اَنَّهُم مُّهْتَدُوْنَ حَتّٰۤى اِذَا جَآءَنَا قَالَ يٰلَيْتَ بَيْنِىْ وَبَيْنَكَ بُعْدَ الْمَشْرِقَيْنِ فَبِئْسَ الْقَرِيْنُ
“Whoever shuns the remembrance of the Most Gracious, We assign for him a devil, to be his companion. They hinder them from the right path, though they think they are rightly guided. Until, when the time arrives for him to come to Us, he will say (to Satan), ‘If only there were the distance of the East and the west between yourself and me.’ What an evil companion of yours he is!” (43:36 – 38)
تَاللّٰهِ لَقَدْ اَرْسَلْنَاۤ اِلٰۤی اُمَمٍ مِّنْ قَبْلِكَ فَزَیَّنَ لَهُمُ الشَّیْطٰنُ اَعْمَالَهُمْ فَهُوَ وَلِیُّهُمُ الْیَوْمَ وَلَهُمْ عَذَابٌ اَلِیْمٌ
“By Allah, We sent messengers to different communities before you, but Satan made their deeds appear alluring to them. He is their master today, and for them will have a painful punishment.” (16:63)
اَلَّذِيْنَ اٰمَنُوْا يُقٰتِلُوْنَ فِىْ سَبِيْلِ اللهِ وَالَّذِيْنَ كَفَرُوْا يُقٰتِلُوْنَ فِى سَبِيْلِ الطّٰغُوْتِ فَقٰتِلُوْٓا اَوْلِيَآءَ الشَّيْطٰنِ اِنَّ كَيْدَ الشَّيْطٰنِ كَانَ ضَعِيْفًا
“Those who believe fight in the cause of Allah, while those who disbelieve fight in the cause of Evil. So, fight the allies of the Devil. Surely the strategy of the Devil is weak.” (4:76)
وَقَالَ الشَّیْطٰنُ لَمَّا قُضِیَ الْاَمْرُ اِنَّ اللّٰهَ وَعَدَکُمْ وَعْدَ الْحَقِّ وَوَعَدْتُّکُمْ فَاَخْلَفْتُکُمْ ؕ وَمَا كَانَ لِیَ عَلَیْکُمْ مِّنْ سُلْطٰنٍ اِلَّاۤ اَنْ دَعَوْتُکُمْ فَاسْتَجَبْتُمْ لِیْ ۚ فَلَا تَلُوْمُوْنِیْ وَلُوْمُوْۤا اَنْفُسَکُمْ ؕ مَاۤ اَنَا بِمُصْرِخِکُمْ وَمَاۤ اَنْتُمْ بِمُصْرِخِیَّ ؕ اِنِّیْ كَفَرْتُ بِمَاۤ اَشْرَکْتُمُوْنِ مِنْ قَبْلُ ؕ اِنَّ الظّٰلِمِیْنَ لَهُمْ عَذَابٌ اَلِیْمٌ
“And (on the Day of Judgement) when all issues will be settled, Satan will say, ‘Certainly Allah had promised you the true promise, and I also promised you, but I breached. I had no authority over you, except that I called you, and you responded to me. So do not blame me, but blame yourselves. I cannot help your rescue, nor can I help myself for own salvation. I reject your act of associating me with Allah in the past. The wrongdoers will have a torment most painful.” (14:22)
هٰذَا صِرٰطٌ مُّسْتَقِيْمٌ وَلَا يَصُدَّنَّكُمُ الشَّيْطٰنُ اِنَّه لَكُمْ عَدُوْ مُّبِيْنٌ
“……. This is a straight way. And let not Satan diverts you (from this path). He is an open enemy to you.” (43:61 – 62)
الشَّيْطٰنُ يَعِدُكُمُ الْفَقْرَ وَيَاْمُرُكُمْ بِالْفَحْشَآءِ وَاللهُ يَعِدُكُمْ مَّغْفِرَةً مِّنْهُ وَفَضْلًا وَاللهُ وٰسِعٌ عَلِيْمٌ
“Satan promises you poverty, and urges you to immorality; but Allah promises you forgiveness from Himself, and grace. Allah is Embracing and Knowing.” (2:268)
يٰۤاَيُّهَا الَّذِيْنَ اٰمَنُوْا لَا تَتَّبِعُوْا خُطُوٰتِ الشَّيْطٰنِ وَمَنْ يَّتَّبِعْ خُطُوٰتِ الشَّيْطٰنِ فَاِنَّه يَاْمُرُ بِالْفَحْشَآءِ وَالْمُنْكَرِ وَلَوْلَا فَضْلُ اللهِ عَلَيْكُمْ وَرَحْمَتُه مَا زَكٰى مِنْكُمْ مِّنْ اَحَدٍ اَبَدًا وَلٰكِنَّ اللهَ يُزَكِّىْ مَنْ يَّشَآءُ وَاللهُ سَمِيْعٌ عَلِيْمٌ
“O Believers! Do not follow Satan’s footsteps. Whoever follows Satan’s footsteps—he directs obscenity and immorality. Were it not for Allah’s grace towards you, and His mercy, not one of you would have been pure, ever! But Allah purifies whomever He wills. Allah is All-Hearing, All-Knowing.” (24:21)
اسْتَحْوَذَ عَلَيْهِمُ الشَّيْطٰنُ فَاَنْسٰىهُمْ ذِكْرَ اللهِ اُوْلٰٓئِكَ حِزْبُ الشَّيْطٰنِ اَلَاۤ اِنَّ حِزْبَ الشَّيْطٰنِ هُمُ الْخٰسِرُوْنَ
“Satan has taken hold of them, and so has caused them to forget the remembrance of Allah. These are the partisans of Satan. Indeed, it is Satan’s partisans who are the losers.” (58:19)
اِنْ يَّدْعُوْنَ مِنْ دُوْنِه اِلَّآ اِنٰثًا وَاِنْ يَّدْعُوْنَ اِلَّا شَيْطٰنًا مَّرِيْدًا لَّعَنَهُ اللهُ ۘ وَقَالَ لَاَتَّخِذَنَّ مِنْ عِبَادِكَ نَصِيْبًا مَّفْرُوْضًا وَلَاُضِلَّنَّهُمْ وَلَاُمَنْ يْنَّهُمْ وَلَاٰمُرَنَّهُمْ فَلَيُبَتِّكُنَّ اٰذَانَ الْاَنْعٰمِ وَلَاٰمُرَنَّهُمْ فَلَيُغَيِّرُنَّ خَلْقَ اللهِ وَمَنْ يَتَّخِذِ الشَّيْطٰنَ وَلِيًّا مِّنْ دُوْنِ اللهِ فَقَدْ خَسِرَ خُسْرَانًا مُّبِيْنًا يَعِدُهُمْ وَيُمَنِّيْهِمْ وَمَا يَعِدُهُمُ الشَّيْطٰنُ اِلَّا غُرُوْرًا اُوْلٰٓئِكَ مَاْوٰىهُمْ جَهَنَّمُ وَلَا يَجِدُوْنَ عَنْهَا مَحِيْصًا
“Instead of Him (Allah), they invoke only females (goddesses). In fact, they invoke none but a rebellious Satan. Allah has cursed him. And he said, ‘I will definitely take a fixed share from Your servants. And I will mislead them, and I will entice them, and I will prompt them to slit the ears of cattle, and I will prompt them to alter the creation of Allah.’ Whoever takes Satan as a lord, instead of Allah, has surely suffered a profound loss. He promises them, and he raises their expectations, but Satan promises them nothing but delusions. The abode of those people is Hell, and they will find no escape from it.” (4:117 – 121)
وَمِنَ النَّاسِ مَنْ يُّجٰدِلُ فِى اللهِ بِغَيْرِ عِلْمٍ وَّيَتَّبِعُ كُلَّ شَيْطٰنٍ مَّرِيْدٍ كُتِبَ عَلَيْهِ اَنَّه مَنْ تَوَلَّاهُ فَاَنَّه يُضِلُّه وَيَهْدِيْهِ اِلٰى عَذَابِ السَّعِيْرِ
“Among the people, some are they who argue about Allah without knowledge, and follow every defiant Satan. It was decreed for him, that whoever follows him – he will misguide him, and lead him to the torment of the Blaze.” (22:3 – 4)
يٰۤاَيُّهَا الَّذِيْنَ اٰمَنُوْٓا اِنَّمَا الْخَمْرُ وَالْمَيْسِرُ وَالْاَنصَابُ وَالْاَزْلٰمُ رِجْسٌ مِنْ عَمَلِ الشَّيْطٰنِ فَاجْتَنِبُوْهُ لَعَلَّكُمْ تُفْلِحُوْنَ اِنَّمَا يُرِيْدُ الشَّيْطٰنُ اَنْ يُّوْقِعَ بَيْنَكُمُ الْعَدٰوَةَ وَالْبَغْضَآءَ فِى الْخَمْرِ وَالْمَيْسِرِ وَيَصُدَّكُمْ عَنْ ذِكْرِ اللهِ وَعَنِ الصَّلَوٰةِ فَهَلْ اَنْتُمْ مُّنْتَهُوْنَ
“O Believers! Intoxicants, gambling, idolatry, and divination are abominations of Satan’s doing. Avoid them, so that you may prosper. Satan wants to provoke strife and hatred among you through intoxicants and gambling and to prevent you from the remembrance of Allah, and from prayer. Will you not desist?” (5:90 – 91)
فَاِذَا قَرَاْتَ الْقُرْاٰنَ فَاسْتَعِذْ بِاللّٰهِ مِنَ الشَّیْطٰنِ الرَّجِیْمِ اِنَّہٗ لَیْسَ لَہٗ سُلْطٰنٌ عَلَی الَّذِیْنَ اٰمَنُوْا وَعَلٰی رَبِّهِمْ یَتَوَكَلُوْنَ اِنَّمَا سُلْطٰنُہٗ عَلَی الَّذِیْنَ یَتَوَلَّوْنَہٗ وَالَّذِیْنَ هُمْ بِہٖ مُشْرِکُوْنَ
“So, when you read the Qur’an, seek refuge with Allah from Satan, the outcast. He has no authority over those who believe and trust in their Lord. His authority is only over those who follow him, and those who associate others with Him.” (16:98 – 100)
وَمَنْ يَّكُنِ الشَّيْطٰنُ لَه قَرِيْنًا فَسَآءَ قَرِيْنًا
“Whoever has Satan as a companion—what an evil companion indeed he is.” (4:38)