Was Iblis one of the angels?
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Question : The questioner says: Allah the Exalted said: [Al-Baqarah 2:34] and He said in Surat al-Kahf: [Al-Kahf 18:50] The question is: Is Iblis one of the angels, or is he originally one of the jinn?
Answer : Iblis is not one of the angels, because Iblis was created from fire, while the angels were created from light. Also, the nature of Iblis is different from the nature of the angels. Allah the Exalted described the angels as[At-Tahrim 66:6], and described them by saying, “And those who are with Him only glorify the night and the day, and they do not cease.” As for Shaytan, he is the opposite of that; he was arrogant, as Allah the Exalted said, [Al-Baqarah 2:34].
However, when the address was directed to the angels to prostrate to Adam, and Iblis was among them—meaning with them, participating with them in worship—even though his heart, may Allah protect us from that, was harboring disbelief and arrogance, the address became directed to all of them. For this reason, it is correct to exclude him from them, so He said, “So prostrate, except Iblis.” Otherwise, his origin is certainly not from them, because we asked before this question.
Yes, this brother commented on the prostration of the angels to Adam. The prostration of the angels to Adam is a real prostration, because the default is to take words in their literal sense. But you might say, how do they prostrate to someone other than Allah? The answer is that if it is by the command of Allah, it is worship of Allah, because worship is obedience to Allah the Mighty and Majestic. And I say: Is killing a person’s child a major sin, or is it a permissible matter? It is a major sin. But when Allah commanded Ibrahim to kill his son, he was praised for carrying it out. He intended to carry it out and bent him down to the ground, and relief came from Allah. But Allah the Exalted praised him and said,[As-Saffat 37:106], meaning the great trial that revealed and displayed the reality of Ibrahim al-Khalil (peace and blessings be upon him). So the greatest crime committed against the children of Adam is killing, especially killing a son. Yet it became worship by the command of Allah. And the greatest crime committed against Allah is shirk (associating partners with Allah). Yet when Allah commanded the angels to prostrate to Adam, it became worship of Allah. Allah the Mighty and Majestic has the right to command what He wills. And Ibrahim (peace and blessings be upon him) was tested with this calamity, or this trial, and he submitted and presented the matter to his son to test him, not to consult him. So he said to him, [As-Saffat 37:102]. When he submitted and bent him down to the forehead, [As-Saffat 37:104-105]. And the slaughter was not completed. Yes.
to the angels, "Prostrate before Adam"; so they prostrated, except for Iblees. He refused and was arrogant and became of the disbelievers.
لِلْمَلَائِكَةِ اسْجُدُوا لِآدَمَ فَسَجَدُوا إِلَّا إِبْلِيسَ أَبَىٰ وَاسْتَكْبَرَ وَكَانَ مِنَ الْكَافِرِينَto the angels, "Prostrate to Adam," and they prostrated, except for Iblees. He was of the jinn
لِلْمَلَائِكَةِ اسْجُدُوا لِآدَمَ فَسَجَدُوا إِلَّا إِبْلِيسَ كَانَ مِنَ الْجِنِّAnswer : Iblis is not one of the angels, because Iblis was created from fire, while the angels were created from light. Also, the nature of Iblis is different from the nature of the angels. Allah the Exalted described the angels as
they do not disobey Allah in what He commands them but do what they are commanded.
لَّا يَعْصُونَ اللَّهَ مَا أَمَرَهُمْ وَيَفْعَلُونَ مَا يُؤْمَرُونَexcept for Iblees. He refused and was arrogant and became of the disbelievers.
إِلَّا إِبْلِيسَ أَبَىٰ وَاسْتَكْبَرَ وَكَانَ مِنَ الْكَافِرِينَHowever, when the address was directed to the angels to prostrate to Adam, and Iblis was among them—meaning with them, participating with them in worship—even though his heart, may Allah protect us from that, was harboring disbelief and arrogance, the address became directed to all of them. For this reason, it is correct to exclude him from them, so He said, “So prostrate, except Iblis.” Otherwise, his origin is certainly not from them, because we asked before this question.
Yes, this brother commented on the prostration of the angels to Adam. The prostration of the angels to Adam is a real prostration, because the default is to take words in their literal sense. But you might say, how do they prostrate to someone other than Allah? The answer is that if it is by the command of Allah, it is worship of Allah, because worship is obedience to Allah the Mighty and Majestic. And I say: Is killing a person’s child a major sin, or is it a permissible matter? It is a major sin. But when Allah commanded Ibrahim to kill his son, he was praised for carrying it out. He intended to carry it out and bent him down to the ground, and relief came from Allah. But Allah the Exalted praised him and said,
Indeed, this was the clear trial.
إِنَّ هَٰذَا لَهُوَ الْبَلَاءُ الْمُبِينُO my father, do as you are commanded. You will find me, if Allah wills, of the steadfast."
يَا أَبَتِ افْعَلْ مَا تُؤْمَرُ سَتَجِدُنِي إِن شَاءَ اللَّهُ مِنَ الصَّابِرِينَ(104) We called to him, "O Abraham, (105) You have fulfilled the vision." Indeed, We thus reward the doers of good.
وَنَادَيْنَاهُ أَن يَا إِبْرَاهِيمُ قَدْ صَدَّقْتَ الرُّؤْيَا إِنَّا كَذَٰلِكَ نَجْزِي الْمُحْسِنِينَ
Source
قناة «فضيلة الشيخ محمد بن صالح العثيمين»، لقاء[169 من 219] هل كان ابليس من الملائكة؟!! الشيخ ابن عثيمين - مشروع كبار العلماء — youtube.com
The Arabic text is a machine transcription of the audio recording.