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qāla yā-ʾiblīsu mā laka ʾallā takūna maʿa s-sājidīna
He said, ‘O Iblis! What kept you from being among those who have prostrated?’
— Ali Quli Qarai
15Al-ḤijrالحجرVerse 32 of 99
The Rocky Tract15. Al-Ḥijrالحجر
Al Ḥijr
The Rocky Tract
MeccanVerse 32 of 99
Surah Al-Hijr – Verses 32 - 35
32. “He said: ‘O’ Iblis! What is your reason for not being with those who prostrated (in obedience)?’”
33. “(’Iblis) said: ‘I am not such that I prostrate myself unto a man whom You have created of raw clay, of black mud moulded’.”
34. “He said: ‘Then get out of it, for verily you are driven away accursed’.”
35. “And, verily, the curse will be on you until the Day of Judgment.”
It was on this occasion that ’Iblis was interrogated, in the course of which he was addressed as follows:
“He said: ‘O’ Iblis! What is your reason for not being with those who prostrated (in obedience)?’”
’Iblis who was selfishly engaged in matters of pride and egoism, so much so that he had lost his wisdom, responded to the Lord in a rude way, as the verse says:
“(’Iblis) said I am not such that I prostrate myself unto a man whom you have created of raw clay, of black mud moulded’.”
He who had not been kept in touch with the secrets of creation due to his pride and egoism, and who fell down suddenly from the climax of his position, was no more eligible to be among the ranks of the angels. Therefore, he was immediately addressed by Allah, as such:
“He said: ‘Then get out of it, for verily you are driven away accursed’.”
And Satan was warned to beware that his arrogance served as the source of his disbelief. This disbelief made his cast off for ever. The verse says:
“And, verily, the curse will be on you until the Day of Judgment.”