Iblees (Satan)
Ibless, also known as Shaytaan (Satan) is one of the jinn, which are a creation separate from angels and humans. Jinn are created from smokeless fire and cannot be seen by humans (unless Allah wills). Muslims do not believe that Iblees was a fallen angel, since Allah tells us in the Qur'an that he was one of the jinn.
Furthermore, angels do not have the ability to disobey Allah and they do exactly what they are commanded (i.e. Allah did not create angels with free will). Jinn, on the other hand, like humans, are given free will and so amongst them some are Muslims (those who believe in Allah), and some are not (those who do not believe in Allah).
Before Allah created mankind, Iblees dwelled on the earth along with the angels and would imitate the angels' actions and behaviour. At this time Iblees was named Azazil, and indeed he was a Muslim and one of the most devout worshippers of Allah. Iblees was also very knowledgeable and in time this caused him to be very proud and consider himself one of the best of Allah's creation.
Then Allah created Adam and
asked the angels (and Iblees also, since he was with them, trying to
imitate them) to prostrate themselves to Adam. Iblees and the angels were
commanded by Allah to prostrate before Adam in recognition of the high
status of mankind amongst Allah's creation. The request was in no way
a kind of worship of mankind, rather an act of obedience towards Allah who
was honouring the status of mankind by asking them to prostrate before
Adam.
Iblees refused to prostrate out of envy, disbelief, stubbornness,
arrogance, and false pride. He disobeyed Allah and became a
disbeliever. Iblees' true nature (i.e. that he was one of the jinn,
not one of the angels - despite his best efforts in trying to imitate
them) showed itself at this moment.
And (remember) when We said to the angels: "Prostrate yourselves before Adam.". And they prostrated except Iblees (Satan), he refused and was proud and was one of the disbelievers (disobedient to Allah).
(Qur'an 2:34)
"So the angels prostrated themselves, all of them together. Except Iblees (Satan) - he refused to be among the prostrators. (Allah) said: 'O Iblees (Satan)! What is your reason for not being among the prostrators?' [Iblees (Satan)] said: 'I am not the one to prostrate myself to a human being, whom You created from dried (sounding) clay of altered mud.'"
(Qur'an 15:30-33)
Not only did Iblees refuse to prostrate, but denied that Allah could create something better than him, by saying that he (Iblees) was better than Adam, because Adam was made of clay, whilst he was made of fire. This claim is also false since fire does not have desirable qualities - recklessness, burning, hastiness and so on. Mud (or clay) on the other hand has the qualities of wisdom, forbearance, patience and assurance. Mud is where plants grow, flourish and provide good food. Whilst mud supports and gives life, fire destroys and burns.
Allah then expelled Iblees, humiliated him and cursed him for refusing to prostrate to Adam.
"(Allah) said: 'Then get out from here; for verily, you are outcast.
And verily, My Curse is on you till the Day of Recompense'"(Qur'an 38:77-78)
This was the opposite of what Iblees wanted, since he had intended pride, but instead got humiliation and rejection. When Iblees was told of his fate, he pleaded with Allah to give him respite until the Day of Resurrection:
"[Iblees (Satan)] said: 'My Lord! Give me then respite till the Day the (dead) are resurrected.' (Allah) said: 'Verily, you are of those allowed respite till the Day of the time appointed'"
(Qur'an 38:79-81)
Iblees did not ask for forgiveness, only respite. Allah then gave Him the name "Iblees" which is taken from "Ablasa min Ar-Rahman" (despaired of Mercy) meaning that he had lost any hope of receiving mercy through his actions.
Allah, in His wisdom, agreed to Iblees' request and has thus delayed his punishment until a day appointed, and that day is only known to Allah. Once Iblees knew he was safe from destruction he rebelled and declared war on Adam and his descendents, and became determined to make disobedience attractive to humans and to tempt them to commit immoral actions and go against everything that is pleasing to Allah so that they would share a similar fate to him on the Day of Judgement:
"[Iblees (Satan)] said: 'By Your Might, then I will surely mislead them all, except Your chosen slaves amongst them (i.e. faithful, obedient, true believers of Islamic Monotheism).'"
(Qur'an 38:82-83)
"[Iblees (Satan)] said: "O my Lord! Because you misled me, I shall indeed adorn the path of error for them (mankind) on the earth, and I shall mislead them all. Except Your chosen, (guided) slaves among them. (Allah) said: "This is the Way which will lead straight to Me. Certainly, you shall have no authority over My slaves, except those who follow you of the Ghawin (Disbelievers and those who go astray, criminals, polytheists, and evil-doers, etc.). And surely, Hell is the promised place for them all.""
(Qur'an 15:39-43)
Iblees blamed Adam and his future offspring for his downfall and because of mankind Iblees felt Allah has misguided him and led him astray, when it was really his own doing. Nevertheless, Iblees believed he got what he wanted, and from then until the Day of Judgement, he and his offspring will continue to try to get his revenge on humans. We know that Iblees has offspring from the following verse in the Qur'an, yet we are not told how these offspring are produced:
"Will you then take him (Iblees) and his offspring as protectors and helpers rather than Me...?"
(Qur'an 18:50)
None of this happens of course, without Allah's permission. Allah allows Iblees and his descendents to tempt us and try to get us to disobey Him, yet this does not mean that Allah approves of what Iblees does. Allah does not approve of or like disbelief and sin, but allows it all the same.
"If you disbelieve, then verily, Allah is not in need of you, He likes not disbelief for His slaves. And if you are grateful (by being believers), He is pleased therewith for you. No bearer of burdens shall bear the burden of another..."
(Qur'an 39:7)
He has His divine reasons for allowing Iblees to spread corruption on Earth (one of which will be mentioned below). Those who seek refuge with Allah from Iblees and his followers will be kept safe from them. The believer can be saved from Satan's plots and traps by obeying his Lord and adhering to His religion, for Satan has no power over those who believe, as Allah says (interpretation of the meaning):
"So when you want to recite the Qur'an, seek refuge with Allah from Shaytaan (Satan), the outcast (the cursed one). Verily, he has no power over those who believe and put their trust only in their Lord (Allah). His power is only over those who obey and follow him (Satan), and those who join partners with Him (Allah, i.e. those who are Mushrikoon, i.e., polytheists)"
(Qur'an 16:98-100)
Allowing Satan to tempt is one of the ways in which Allah tests and tries people. Allah says:
"that Allah might test what is in your chests; and to purify that which was in your hearts (sins), and Allah is All Knower of what is in (your) chests"
(Qur'an 3:154)
Anyone who turns away from Allah, Satan gains control of him/her and makes sin and immoral actions seem attractive and belief and good actions a waste of time.
"See you not that We have sent the Shayaateen (devils) against the disbelievers to push them to do evil"
(Qur'an 19:83)
The freewill that Allah has given us ensures that we choose our own ends (and Allah already knows what our ends will be based on what He knows we will do) - either in Hell (with those who have gone astray and follow Iblees and his ways) or in Paradise (with those who follow Allah and His commands).
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