|
|
And when all the angels in the assembly threw themselves down in prostration at Allah's bidding, there was at least one who refused to comply. It was he who later declared his open enmity against Man. 'So the angels prostrated themselves, all of them together: not so Iblis: he was haughty and became one of those who reject Faith.' 38:Saad:74-75
Most of us know that Iblis is in fact Shaitaan and of the Jinns. But
there
are some who believe that he belonged to the tribe of angels. These
have
based their conviction on the fact that the address was made to the
angels,
and the defiant one could only have been from that race. Their
confusion is
cleared in another part of Quran;
'Behold! We said to the angels, "Bow down to Adam": they bowed down
except
Iblis. He was one of the Jinns, and he broke the Command of his Lord.'
18:Al-Kahf:50
Question is sometimes asked if Iblis indeed was a Jinn how came he to
be
present among the company of angels. Iblis is undoubtedly a Jinn, who
through his piety and constant worship had gained admittance into the
inner
circle of angels and Allah's assembly. In any event, it is not within
an
angel to defy Allah's word; the all important discretion of choice and
decision-making has been given to mankind and Jinns only. The
unquestioning
obedience of angels is described in Quran in the following ayah;
'Who flinch not (from executing) the Commands they receive from Allah,
but
do (precisely) what they are commanded. 66:Al-Tahrim:6
2. Who is Azaazeel?:
Azaazeel is the original name of Iblis or Shaitaan. After his
disobedience
and avowed rebellion, he was accursed in front of the entire august
assembly in Allah's court and banished from that exalted circle.
'(Allah) said: "Then get thee out from here: for thou art rejected,
accursed."
15:Al-Hijr-34, 38:Saad:77
It was thereafter that he was tagged with the abominable appellations,
Shaitaan and Iblis. Ablasa, Yublisu means totally despondent and
dejected.
When he was removed from Allah's mercy on account of his defiance, he
became worthy of Allah's curse, and being dismissed and banished from
an
exalted assembly, he had no hope left for his redemption. Iblis is,
therefore, one who has lost all hope.
3. Reason for Iblis' refusal:
It should intrigue our minds to think why Iblis refused to prostrate
himself before one who was Allah's appointed Khalifa (vice-regent) and
before whom all the angels had bowed down. The angels had not only
absorbed
the arguments that Allah Jalla Shanahu had made prior to the command to
bow
down, but they had also paid heed to the display of Adam's (PBUH)
superior
knowledge.
Iblis, on the other hand, did not see beyond Adam's (PBUH) material
self.
He compared the mud creation to his own fiery substance and found the
former woefully wanting. He failed to account for in his judgement the
infusion of Allah's Spirit into Adam (PBUH) and the knowledge imparted
to
him. He ignored the mantle of Khilafah bestowed upon Adam (PBUH). Worst
of
all he failed to realise the weight of Allah's command in its own
right,
and was swept away in the flush of his pride.
'(Allah) said: "What prevented thee from bowing down when I commanded
thee?" He said: "I am better than he: Thou didst create me from fire,
and
him from clay." 7:Al-A'raaf:12
Today, also, we find that these same instruments have become the seeds
for
Man's intransigence. He is blinded by the apparent lustre of this
temporal
life; he preens over his own intellectual conquests, and based on the
conflicts that arise between his self determined philosophies and the
simple truths of the divine messages, he causes to dismiss the latter.
Ultimately, his pride and sheer indifference to Allah's Message
plunges
him into the swirling eddies of turbid rebellion, from where more often
than not return is improbable.
'Or (the Unbeliever's state) is like the depths of darkness in a vast
deep
ocean, overwhelmed with billow topped by billow, topped by (dark)
clouds;
depths of darkness, one above another." 24:Al-Nur:40
Better Muslim: Abdullah bin Amr bin Al Aas (RAA) is reported to have
said:
Verily a person asked the Messenger of Allah (SAW) who amongst the
Muslims
was better. Upon this the Holy Prophet (SAW) remarked: "From whose hand
and
tongue the Muslims are safe." Sahih Muslim
WHO IS A MOMIN:
It is reported on the authority of Anas (RAA) that the
Messenger of Allah (SAW) said: "None of you is a believer till I am
dearer
to him than his child, his father and the whole of mankind." Sahih
Muslim
Our love for Prophet Muhammad(SAW) has to be more than just a verbal
declaration. Otherwise, it will be only what has been described as full
of
sound and fury, signifying nothing. It is not possible to love a person
without first knowing him. Prophet Muhammad's (SAW) character has been
indelibly etched in Quran. His life's details can be found in the
Ahadith
and books on his Seerah. Unless our characters and lives are modelled
on
Prophet Muhammad's life and his teachings, there is faint hope of being
considered a Momin. May Allah Hadi wa Al-Naasir guide us accordingly.
Aameen.
Muslim Brothers and Sisters, spreading of Islam is a responsibility
placed
upon all of us. In Quran, Allah commands: 'Let there arise out of you a
band of people inviting to all that is good, enjoining what is right,
and
forbidding what is wrong.' Al-Imran:104.
Allah also instructed Prophet Muhammad (SAW) as follows; 'O Messenger!
Proclaim the (Message) which hath been sent to thee from thy Lord.'
5:Al-Maidah:67 As his Ummah, we share this burden. Kindly forward these
writings on Islam to whomsoever you may. May Allah Kareem accept our
insignificant efforts. Aameen.
+ It is incumbent upon us to respect the Quranic ayahs. If you possess
text
with Quranic ayahs please ensure that it is given due respect.
Wassalaam,
Salman.
mini browser below. All results will shown in a new window.
(include www. In order to search the net, press search)