Volume 10 Surah 12 - 15 - Enjoy Islam

Al-Ĥijr | MAN AND HIS SWORN ENEMY
irrevocably with that mud. In his insolence he declares that a great creature like him
could not prostrate himself to a human being whom God has created out of mud
moulded into shape.
Such an attitude leads to its natural consequence: “God said: ‘Then get out of here, for
you are accursed, and the curse shall be on you till the Day of judgement.’“ (Verses 34-35)
This is a just reward for disobedience and rebellion.
At this point, his evil characteristics come out in full force. We see how he nurses
his grudges and how he plans to spread evil: “He said: My Lord, grant me a respite till
the Day when all shall be resurrected.’ [God] said: ‘You are among those who are granted
respite till the Day of the appointed time.’“ (Verses 36-38) He requests respite to the Day
of Judgement, but not to have the opportunity to repent of his sin which he has
committed in the presence of God Almighty. It is not to atone for his sin that he
wants to be spared death until the Day of Judgement, but rather to exact revenge on
Adam and his offspring. He is avenging himself against mankind for his expulsion
and the curse that he has incurred. He thus blames Adam for his expulsion, instead
of acknowledging that it was the result of his own sinful insolence.
“[Iblīs] said: ‘My Lord, since You have let me fall in error, I shall make [evil] seem fair to
them on earth, and I shall most certainly beguile them all into grievous error, except for those
of them who are truly Your faithful servants.’“ (Verses 39-40) It is Iblīs himself who has
chosen the battleground, which is the earth. “I shall make evil seem fair to them on
earth.” (Verse 39) He also states what he will use for a weapon. He will simply tempt
mankind by making what is foul appear to be fair, so that they are tempted to do it.
In fact, no human being resorts to foul things unless these seem fair to him by some
trick perpetrated by Satan. Thus he sees such foul things in a guise which is different
from what they truly are. Hence people should always remember the weapon which
Satan uses. If they find something attractive and are tempted, they should make sure
lest it has been made to appear so by Satan. Proper refuge is to ensure that their link
with their Lord is kept in fine tuning by worshipping Him as He should be
worshipped. Even according to his own statement, Satan has no power over God’s
faithful servants: “I shall most certainly beguile them all into grievous error, except for those
of them who are truly Your faithful servants.” (Verses 39-40) God chooses from among
His servants those who purge themselves of all evil and worship Him alone, as
though they see Him. It is over such people that Satan holds no sway.
Satan knows that this condition which he himself has stated is one which he
cannot change because it is part of the laws governing human nature. Hence, the
reply to Satan’s words: “Said He: This is, with Me, a straight way. You shall have no
power over My servants, except for those who, having fallen into error, choose to follow you.’“
(Verses 4142) This is the way established by the will of God as a final arbiter with
regard to guidance and going astray. “You shall have no power over My servants.”
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