Satan did not fall prostrate, He demurred through pride, so became a disbeliever

Satan did not fall prostrate, He demurred through pride, so became a disbeliever

Surah ‘Al-Baqarah (The Cow) – Chapter – 2)

Stage – 1, Verses – 33 & 34 of 286, Section – 4 of 40 (Part - 1)

BisMIllaahir-Rahmaanir-Rahiim

In the name of Allah, the Beneficent, the Merciful

He said: O Adam! Inform them of their names, and when he had informed them of their names, He said: Did I not tell you that I know the secret of the heavens and the earth? And I know that which ye disclose and which ye hide.

Qaala  “Yaaa-‘Aadamu ‘ambi’-hum- bi-‘asmaaa-‘ihim.”  Falammaaa   ‘amba-‘ahum- bi-‘Asmaaa-ihim,  qaala   ‘alam ‘aqul-lakum  ‘iniii   ‘a’-lamu gay-bas-samaawaati wal-‘arz, wa ‘a’-lamu maa tubdunna  wa maa kuntum taktu-muun.

Lesson

           

The Caliphate’s event of the Adam (Peace be upon Him) is being narrated continuously. When Allah Almighty declared the Caliphate of Adam before Angels (Peace be upon Them), at first they requested, “Wilt thou place therein one who will do harm therein and will shed blood, while we, we hymn Thy praise and sanctify Thee?” He said: “Surely I know that which ye know not.”

God Almighty arranged a trial of knowledge before them to prove the merit of Adam. Adam (peace be upon Him) was bestowed by the knowledge of things according to His natural ability and purity. The Angels were not able to know about the names and characteristics of the things. When the questions were asked from the both, the Angels accepted their ignorance but Adam told the names of all things and proved His superiority.

At such stage, God Almighty said, “I had already told you that I know about everything’s apparent and hidden condition. I am well-informed about the secrets of the earth and the heavens. The doubts about Adam you disclosed, I know them and I also know about that, which was not disclosed clearly by you.” As though, the knowledge of God is containing all the things, He bestows dignity and responsibility to everyone according to one’s ability and qualification.  

And when We said unto the angels: Prostrate yourselves before Adam, they fell prostrate, all save Iblis. He demurred through pride, and so became a disbeliever.

Wa  ‘iz  qulNaa  lil- malaaa-‘ikatis-judduu  li-‘Aadama fasajaduuu  ‘illaaa ‘Ibliis ‘abaa  wastakbara  wa  kaana minal-kaafiriin.

Lesson

           

As-judduu – (Prostrate yourselves), literally and particularly in the Divine precepts of religion - Sajdah means prostration; to bow the body and put the forehead on the ground before someone as in the prayer. Sajdah is the most venerable token, so according to the religious Law of God Almighty, Sajdah is forbidden for anyone except Him. In this verse, aim of falling prostrate before Adam (peace be upon Him) is that the Angels (peace be upon Them) bow their heads towards Adam accepting His superiority and reverence for His respect. If we take its meanings in accord with the Divine then also its aim is to fall prostrate before God Almighty turning their faces towards Adam (peace be upon Him) because here meanings of the word li-‘Aadama are ‘towards Adam’ for obeying the Order of Allah Almighty and not (to fall prostrate) for Adam (peace be upon Him).

  ‘Ibliis – (Satan, the Devil) literal meanings of this word are ‘hopeless’. This ‘Ibliis was not an Angel but He was from the genealogy of  demons, created from the Fire. Because the Angel have been created from the Light, so it cannot be hoped that the Angels will refuse, disagree, deny or violate the Order of God Almighty. Satan was included in the community of the Angels due to His worship and obedience of Allah Almighty.

‘abaa Wastakbara-(He demurred through pride) the Devil ‘Satan’ disobeyed the Command of Allah Almighty intentionally and behaved arrogantly.

When it was cleared that Adam (peace be upon Him) was superior to the Angels due to His knowledge and dignity, and was rightful owner of the Caliphate of God on the earth, then Allah Almighty ordered to the Angels to bow towards Adam (peace be upon them); admitting His grandeur.

Obeying the Order of God Almighty, all the Angels fell prostrate, however; the Devil demurred and said, “I am created from the fire and Adam is created from the mud, so I shall not fall prostrate toward Adam” (peace be upon Him). Due to denying the Command of God, Ibliis became infidel and He was deprived of the Kindness of Allah Almighty. He had lost his nearness with God, was arrested in the curse of Allah Almighty, and was cursed (deemed worthy of agony).

Transliterated Holy Qur’an in Roman Script & Translated from Arabic to English by Marmaduke Pickthall, Published by Paak Company, 17-Urdu Bazar, Lahore, Lesson collected from Dars e Qur’aan published By Idara Islaah wa Tableegh, Lahore (translated Urdu to English by Muhammad Sharif)