Exegesis of the saying of Allah the Exalted: “And when We said to the angels, ‘Prostrate to Adam,’ so they prostrated, except for Iblis; he refused and became arrogant, and he was among the disbelievers,” and the difference between refusal and arrogance
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Then Allah the Exalted said: [Al-Baqarah 2:34] meaning “Remember when.” This kind of expression is repeated frequently in the Qur'an, and the scholars estimate the word “Remember” to be implied. They need this estimation because “when” is a temporal adverb, and an adverb must be attached to something, either mentioned or omitted; this is necessary. And in the arrangement of sentences,
a prepositional phrase must be attached to a verb or its meaning, such as “expected.”
The same applies to the adverb. So we estimate “Remember when”[Al-Baqarah 2:34]. We have previously spoken about the mention of the angels and where this term is derived from, is that not so? Yes. [Al-Baqarah 2:34] It is prostration on the ground by placing the upper part of the body on the ground in submission and humility. The intended meaning is not merely bowing, because Allah distinguished between bowing and prostration. [Al-Baqarah 2:34] without delay, so the “fa” here indicates sequence and immediate succession. [Al-Baqarah 2:34] And refuge is sought in Allah. Iblis is Shaytan, and he is called Iblis because he was cut off from the mercy of Allah, meaning he despaired of it with a despair that leaves no hope.
And His saying: Someone might say, “Does this verse indicate that Iblis was among the angels?” It has been established that the angels were created from what? From light. And Iblis? From fire. The answer to this issue is to say: Iblis appeared to be among the angels, because he would come and gather and worship Allah as the angels worshipped Him, until the hidden thing, refuge is sought in Allah, appeared in his heart and it became clear that he was a disbeliever. He says: [Al-Baqarah 2:34] This phrase occurs in the Qur'an in three ways: sometimes the refusal is mentioned without arrogance, sometimes the arrogance is mentioned without the refusal, and sometimes both the refusal and the arrogance are mentioned. In which surah are both the refusal and the arrogance mentioned? Here in Surat al-Baqarah. And in which surah is the refusal mentioned without the arrogance?
The student: In al-Kahf.
The Shaykh : In al-Kahf, not in al-Hijr.[Al-Hijr 15:31] And in which surah is the arrogance mentioned without the refusal?
The student: ....
The Shaykh : No, in Surat Sad, the arrogance is mentioned without the refusal. So does the meaning imply that Shaytan is described sometimes with this and sometimes with that and sometimes with this? Or do we say he is described with both, but there is no harm in the described one being described with one of the attributes in one place and with both attributes in another place, because there is no contradiction? meaning he refused, meaning he became arrogant.
And [mention] when We said to the angels, "Prostrate before Adam"; so they prostrated
وإذ قلنا للملائكة اسجدوا لآدم فسجدواa prepositional phrase must be attached to a verb or its meaning, such as “expected.”
The same applies to the adverb. So we estimate “Remember when”
And [mention] when We said to the angels, "Prostrate before Adam"
وإذ قلنا للملائكة اسجدوا لآدمProstrate before Adam"; so they prostrated, except for Iblees
اسجدوا لآدم فسجدوا إلا إبليسProstrate
اسجدواYou see them bowing and prostrating
تراهم ركعا سجداProstrate before Adam"; so they prostrated
اسجدوا لآدم فسجدواexcept for Iblees. He refused and was arrogant and became of the disbelievers.
إلا إبليس أبى واستكبر وكان من الكافرينAnd His saying:
Except for Iblis
إلا إبليسexcept for Iblees. He refused and was arrogant and became of the disbelievers.
إلا إبليس أبى واستكبر وكان من الكافرينThe student: In al-Kahf.
The Shaykh : In al-Kahf, not in al-Hijr.
he refused to be with those who prostrated.
أبي أن يكون مع الساجدينThe student: ....
The Shaykh : No, in Surat Sad, the arrogance is mentioned without the refusal. So does the meaning imply that Shaytan is described sometimes with this and sometimes with that and sometimes with this? Or do we say he is described with both, but there is no harm in the described one being described with one of the attributes in one place and with both attributes in another place, because there is no contradiction?
