The story of Iblis: A timeless lesson on kufr (a term traditionally translated as disbelief)
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Wanted to add that I also think about how God’s creation itself records everything. Today we see that humans can already build systems that capture every movement CCTV everywhere, cloud storage that keeps data forever, phones tracking locations, microphones recording voices. If human technology can do this, then surely God’s system is far more complete.
So for me, the verses may not be describing two “personal scribes” sitting beside each newborn. They may be describing the forces and laws of nature that God designed where every action leaves an imprint and nothing is lost. In that sense, angels could be symbolic of God’s operating forces in the universe, not necessarily two beings assigned to sit and write. I’m not rejecting your understanding Good Logic, just sharing another way to reflect on it: maybe the Quran was using imagery that people of that time could grasp, while pointing to a much deeper system that we are only now beginning to understand. -
Thanks brother Fusion.
I take your points of view .
I take the view that GOD chooses His words carefully and with precise measure and meanings.
Let me give you few verses as an example:
1- GOD knows exactly when to bring a person to this life, how long they stay and in what time,community/family they will belong . Only GOD Alone does the choosing and the judgement.Your Lord is the One who creates whatever He wills, and chooses; no one else does any choosing. Glory be to God, the Most Exalted. He is far above needing partners.
وَرَبُّكَ يَخلُقُ ما يَشاءُ وَيَختارُ ما كانَ لَهُمُ الخِيَرَةُ سُبحٰنَ اللَّهِ وَتَعٰلىٰ عَمّا يُشرِكونَ
Your Lord knows the innermost thoughts hidden in their chests, as well as everything they declare.
وَرَبُّكَ يَعلَمُ ما تُكِنُّ صُدورُهُم وَما يُعلِنونَ
He is the one God; there is no other god beside Him. To Him belongs all praise in this first life, and in the Hereafter. All judgment belongs with Him, and to Him you will be returned.
وَهُوَ اللَّهُ لا إِلٰهَ إِلّا هُوَ لَهُ الحَمدُ فِى الأولىٰ وَالـٔاخِرَةِ وَلَهُ الحُكمُ وَإِلَيهِ تُرجَعونَ2-The test , coupling and warnings to humans:
He said, "On it you will live, on it you will die, and from it you will be brought out."
قالَ فيها تَحيَونَ وَفيها تَموتونَ وَمِنها تُخرَجونَ
O children of Adam, we have provided you with garments to cover your bodies, as well as for luxury. But the best garment is the garment of righteousness. These are some of God's signs, that they may take heed.
يٰبَنى ءادَمَ قَد أَنزَلنا عَلَيكُم لِباسًا يُوٰرى سَوءٰتِكُم وَريشًا وَلِباسُ التَّقوىٰ ذٰلِكَ خَيرٌ ذٰلِكَ مِن ءايٰتِ اللَّهِ لَعَلَّهُم يَذَّكَّرونَ
O children of Adam, do not let the devil dupe you as he did when he caused the eviction of your parents from Paradise, and the removal of their garments to expose their bodies. He and his tribe see you, while you do not see them. We appoint the devils as companions of those who do not believe.
يٰبَنى ءادَمَ لا يَفتِنَنَّكُمُ الشَّيطٰنُ كَما أَخرَجَ أَبَوَيكُم مِنَ الجَنَّةِ يَنزِعُ عَنهُما لِباسَهُما لِيُرِيَهُما سَوءٰتِهِما إِنَّهُ يَرىٰكُم هُوَ وَقَبيلُهُ مِن حَيثُ لا تَرَونَهُم إِنّا جَعَلنَا الشَّيٰطينَ أَولِياءَ لِلَّذينَ لا يُؤمِنونَ3- Freedom of choice: Purpose of the human- GOD s way or rebellion?
Most exalted is the One in whose hands is all kingship, and He is Omnipotent.
تَبٰرَكَ الَّذى بِيَدِهِ المُلكُ وَهُوَ عَلىٰ كُلِّ شَىءٍ قَديرٌ
The One who created death and life for the purpose of distinguishing those among you who would do better/ follow the guidance.... He is the Almighty, the Forgiving.
الَّذى خَلَقَ المَوتَ وَالحَيوٰةَ لِيَبلُوَكُم أَيُّكُم أَحسَنُ عَمَلًا وَهُوَ العَزيزُ الغَفورُ3- Purpose and test : Reminder about the covenant/instinct - roles of the souls /humans and Iblis/devils/Jinns:
Did I not covenant with you, O Children of Adam, that you shall not Ubud/serve/follow the devil? That he is your most ardent enemy?
أَلَم أَعهَد إِلَيكُم يٰبَنى ءادَمَ أَن لا تَعبُدُوا الشَّيطٰنَ إِنَّهُ لَكُم عَدُوٌّ مُبينٌ
And that you shall serve/Ubud/follow Me alone? This is the right path.
وَأَنِ اعبُدونى هٰذا صِرٰطٌ مُستَقيمٌ
He has misled multitudes of you. Did you not possess any understanding?
وَلَقَد أَضَلَّ مِنكُم جِبِلًّا كَثيرًا أَفَلَم تَكونوا تَعقِلونَ4- The Nafs can go one way or another: Guidance or whispers and misguidance:
2 Kad Aflaha man Zakkaha, Wa Kad Khaba Man Dassaha"- Successful is the one who cleans/controls/saves..the nafs , looser is the one who corrupts/rebelswith/deceives/..it.
Of course the Qareen has a role and the soul has a role . The soul can save the qareen or the qreen can destroy/starve the soul.
A tug of war between the couple.
In other words , every human being receives a message from GOD advocating His absolute authority, as well as a message from Satan pushing his polytheistic principles.
That is the responsibility/Amana. Our choice and no one else to blame for our destiny.
GOD bless you.
Peace. -
Thanks brother Good logic.
I think we are aligned in substance the only clarification I am making is about the wording you used specifically the tug of war description and the phrase about the qareen “destroying or starving” the soul. I understand these as metaphorical but I just want to keep the balance clear: the qareen accompanies and suggests, while the nafs remains the place where response and choice occur. Success and failure are therefore attributed to the purification or corruption of the nafs itself not to the other party overpowering it. This keeps the test intact and responsibility exactly where the Quran places it. -
I concur brother Fusion.
We choose GOD or the opposition. GOD Alone or other gods- Ilahahu Hawahu-.
It seems so simple ; My creator or my Hawa/desires.Have you seen the one whose god is his own ego? Will you be his advocate?
أَرَءَيتَ مَنِ اتَّخَذَ إِلٰهَهُ هَوىٰهُ أَفَأَنتَ تَكونُ عَلَيهِ وَكيلًاYet, they still set up beside God idols that cannot benefit them, nor harm them. Indeed, the disbeliever is an enemy of his Lord.
وَيَعبُدونَ مِن دونِ اللَّهِ ما لا يَنفَعُهُم وَلا يَضُرُّهُم وَكانَ الكافِرُ عَلىٰ رَبِّهِ ظَهيرًاThen we return to the Creator /our Lord and He will classify His Abeed/creatures.
It took me a while to learn the difference between Abeed and Ibad.
Every creature is GOD s Abeed including humans.
Ibad are the humans who manage to save themselves and surrender to GOD s way.
Example of Ibad in some verses:وَعِبادُ الرَّحمٰنِ الَّذينَ يَمشونَ عَلَى الأَرضِ هَونًا وَإِذا خاطَبَهُمُ الجٰهِلونَ قالوا سَلٰمًا
...i.e
Those who repent and lead a righteous life, God redeems them; a complete redemption.
وَمَن تابَ وَعَمِلَ صٰلِحًا فَإِنَّهُ يَتوبُ إِلَى اللَّهِ مَتابًاAs for those who discard the worship of all idols, and devote themselves totally to God alone, they have deserved happiness. Give good news to My Ibad/ servants.
وَالَّذينَ اجتَنَبُوا الطّٰغوتَ أَن يَعبُدوها وَأَنابوا إِلَى اللَّهِ لَهُمُ البُشرىٰ فَبَشِّر عِبادِ
They are the ones who examine all words, then follow the best. These are the ones whom God has guided; these are the ones who possess intelligence.
الَّذينَ يَستَمِعونَ القَولَ فَيَتَّبِعونَ أَحسَنَهُ أُولٰئِكَ الَّذينَ هَدىٰهُمُ اللَّهُ وَأُولٰئِكَ هُم أُولُوا الأَلبٰبِProclaim: "O My Ibad/ servants who exceeded the limits, never despair of God's mercy. For God forgives all sins. He is the Forgiver, Most Merciful."
قُل يٰعِبادِىَ الَّذينَ أَسرَفوا عَلىٰ أَنفُسِهِم لا تَقنَطوا مِن رَحمَةِ اللَّهِ إِنَّ اللَّهَ يَغفِرُ الذُّنوبَ جَميعًا إِنَّهُ هُوَ الغَفورُ الرَّحيمُ
You shall obey your Lord, and submit to Him totally, before the retribution overtakes you, then you cannot be helped.
وَأَنيبوا إِلىٰ رَبِّكُم وَأَسلِموا لَهُ مِن قَبلِ أَن يَأتِيَكُمُ العَذابُ ثُمَّ لا تُنصَرونَ
And follow the best path that is pointed out for you by your Lord, before the retribution overtakes you suddenly when you least expect it.
وَاتَّبِعوا أَحسَنَ ما أُنزِلَ إِلَيكُم مِن رَبِّكُم مِن قَبلِ أَن يَأتِيَكُمُ العَذابُ بَغتَةًI": Ya Ibadi La Khawfun Alaikum Al Yawm Wa La Antoum Tahzanoon"
Here are the consequences of the two choices, Clear and strongly put to the humans Ibad and Abeed:
"And protect them( Ibad) from falling in sin. Whomever You protect from falling in sin, on that day, has attained mercy from You. This is the greatest triumph."
وَقِهِمُ السَّيِّـٔاتِ وَمَن تَقِ السَّيِّـٔاتِ يَومَئِذٍ فَقَد رَحِمتَهُ وَذٰلِكَ هُوَ الفَوزُ العَظيمُ
Those who disbelieve( Abeed) will be told, "God's abhorrence towards you is even worse than your own abhorrence towards yourselves. For you were invited to believe, but you chose to disbelieve."
إِنَّ الَّذينَ كَفَروا يُنادَونَ لَمَقتُ اللَّهِ أَكبَرُ مِن مَقتِكُم أَنفُسَكُم إِذ تُدعَونَ إِلَى الإيمٰنِ فَتَكفُرونَ
They will say, "Our Lord, you have put us to death twice,* and You gave us two lives; now we have confessed our sins. Is there any way out?"
قالوا رَبَّنا أَمَتَّنَا اثنَتَينِ وَأَحيَيتَنَا اثنَتَينِ فَاعتَرَفنا بِذُنوبِنا فَهَل إِلىٰ خُروجٍ مِن سَبيلٍ
This is because when God ALONE was advocated, you disbelieved, but when others were mentioned beside Him, you believed. Therefore, God's judgment has been issued; He is the Most High, the Great.
ذٰلِكُم بِأَنَّهُ إِذا دُعِىَ اللَّهُ وَحدَهُ كَفَرتُم وَإِن يُشرَك بِهِ تُؤمِنوا فَالحُكمُ لِلَّهِ العَلِىِّ الكَبيرِ
He is the One who continuously shows you His proofs, and sends down to you from the sky provisions. Only those who totally submit will be able to take heed.
هُوَ الَّذى يُريكُم ءايٰتِهِ وَيُنَزِّلُ لَكُم مِنَ السَّماءِ رِزقًا وَما يَتَذَكَّرُ إِلّا مَن يُنيبُ
Therefore, you shall devote your Ibada/worship absolutely to God ALONE, even if the disbelievers dislike it.
فَادعُوا اللَّهَ مُخلِصينَ لَهُ الدّينَ وَلَو كَرِهَ الكٰفِرونَ
Possessor of the highest ranks, and Ruler of the whole dominion. He sends inspiration, bearing His commands, to whomever He chooses from among His Ibadihi/ servants, to warn about the Day of Summoning.
رَفيعُ الدَّرَجٰتِ ذُو العَرشِ يُلقِى الرّوحَ مِن أَمرِهِ عَلىٰ مَن يَشاءُ مِن عِبادِهِ لِيُنذِرَ يَومَ التَّلاقِ
That is the day when everyone will be completely exposed; none of them will hide anything from God. To whom belongs all sovereignty on that day? To God, the One, the Supreme.
يَومَ هُم بٰرِزونَ لا يَخفىٰ عَلَى اللَّهِ مِنهُم شَىءٌ لِمَنِ المُلكُ اليَومَ لِلَّهِ الوٰحِدِ القَهّارِ
On that day, every soul will be requited for whatever it had earned. There will be no injustice on that day. God is most efficient in reckoning.
اليَومَ تُجزىٰ كُلُّ نَفسٍ بِما كَسَبَت لا ظُلمَ اليَومَ إِنَّ اللَّهَ سَريعُ الحِسابِ
Warn them about the imminent day, when the hearts will be terrified, and many will be remorseful. The transgressors will have no friend nor an intercessor to be obeyed.
وَأَنذِرهُم يَومَ الـٔازِفَةِ إِذِ القُلوبُ لَدَى الحَناجِرِ كٰظِمينَ ما لِلظّٰلِمينَ مِن حَميمٍ وَلا شَفيعٍ يُطاعُ
He is fully aware of what the eyes cannot see, and everything that the minds conceal.
يَعلَمُ خائِنَةَ الأَعيُنِ وَما تُخفِى الصُّدورُ
God judges equitably, while the idols they implore beside Him cannot judge anything. God is the One who is the Hearer, the Seer.
وَاللَّهُ يَقضى بِالحَقِّ وَالَّذينَ يَدعونَ مِن دونِهِ لا يَقضونَ بِشَىءٍ إِنَّ اللَّهَ هُوَ السَّميعُ البَصيرُ
Did they not roam the earth and note the consequences for those before them? They used to be stronger than they, and more productive on earth. But God punished them for their sins, and nothing could protect them from God.
أَوَلَم يَسيروا فِى الأَرضِ فَيَنظُروا كَيفَ كانَ عٰقِبَةُ الَّذينَ كانوا مِن قَبلِهِم كانوا هُم أَشَدَّ مِنهُم قُوَّةً وَءاثارًا فِى الأَرضِ فَأَخَذَهُمُ اللَّهُ بِذُنوبِهِم وَما كانَ لَهُم مِنَ اللَّهِ مِن واقٍ
May the Lord help us make the right choice and keep on His right path and Be His Ibad./loyal servants;:"
If you disbelieve, God does not need anyone. But He dislikes to see His Ibad/servants make the wrong decision. If you decide to be appreciative, He is pleased for you. No soul bears the sins of any other soul. Ultimately, to your Lord is your return, then He will inform you of everything you had done. He is fully aware of the innermost thoughts.
إِن تَكفُروا فَإِنَّ اللَّهَ غَنِىٌّ عَنكُم وَلا يَرضىٰ لِعِبادِهِ الكُفرَ وَإِن تَشكُروا يَرضَهُ لَكُم وَلا تَزِرُ وازِرَةٌ وِزرَ أُخرىٰ ثُمَّ إِلىٰ رَبِّكُم مَرجِعُكُم فَيُنَبِّئُكُم بِما كُنتُم تَعمَلونَ إِنَّهُ عَليمٌ بِذاتِ الصُّدورِ
GOD bless you.
Peace -
I want to throw a question in order to get a better understanding and not aiming to show opposition.
Verses starting from 38:75.... reached verses:
Iblis appealed, “My Lord! Then delay my end until the Day of their resurrection.”
“By Your Glory! I will certainly mislead them all...We have billions of people living with trillions of thoughts being produced in a sec. How is that Iblis able to infiltrate all these?
Could it be that Iblis was not an entity but in actual fact Iblis is "the rebellious desires of man" which exists as nafs in all of us to misguide us and this nafs got arrogant with our body.
Thanks
@Fusion said in The story of Iblis: A timeless and universal lesson on kufr (a term traditionally translated as disbelief):
I want to throw a question in order to get a better understanding and not aiming to show opposition.
Verses starting from 38:75.... reached verses:
Iblis appealed, “My Lord! Then delay my end until the Day of their resurrection.”
“By Your Glory! I will certainly mislead them all...We have billions of people living with trillions of thoughts being produced in a sec. How is that Iblis able to infiltrate all these?
Could it be that Iblis was not an entity but in actual fact Iblis is "the rebellious desires of man" which exists as nafs in all of us to misguide us and this nafs got arrogant with our body.
Thanks
Peace Fusion,
Those are interesting questions. When you think about the Quran, do you recall any verses that state that Iblis is able to infiltrate billions of people? Or that Iblis is the rebellious desires of man which exist as nafs (self/soul) in all of us? Could it be that we are tested through the nafs (see 7:165)? Could it be that we are responsible for preventing the nafs from rebellious desires (see 79:40-41)? Could it be that favourable outcomes, whether they are spiritual or matierial and individual or collective, depends on change/growth/development of the nafs (see 8:53 and 91:7-10)? Also, could it be that Iblis has nothing to do with the nafs?
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Peace everyone,
I have come to realize something I want to share. As truth is pursued and reality better understood, beliefs, choices, and the sense of self inevitably transform. What once felt certain tends to dissolve. Doubts, discomfort and unease begin to arise. But over time, understanding deepeens, decisions feel more grounded, and life and the universe begin to reveal patterns, purpose and possibilities in ways one never imagined were possible. This appears to fortify a trust in ones journey and destiny, a sense of duty and personal responsibility, inspires awe and humility, and awakens a deep, unifying sense of connection to everything that exists.
The more one seeks truth, learns about reality, engages honestly and sincerely with the Quran, strives to live by its teachings, and obeys the Creator, the more fatalism diminishes, ego-based identity dissolves, magic and illusions disappear, superstitions get dismantled, and events once attributed to luck, supernatural forces and miracles begin to be understood by natural and metaphysical laws. In their place arise increased faith and devotion, strengthened rationality and logic, empirical observation and verification, critical and evidence-based thinking, causal and probabilistic reasoning, compatibalism and kasb (earned action), a naturalistic and theistic moral framework, a dynamic and flexible sense of self, self-determination and social responsibility, awareness of randomness and contingency, acceptance of the limits of one's knowledge, and wonder at the complexity and scale of life and the universe.
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GOD created the laws and perfected this by the equilibrium.
Equilibrium exist because everything created has two opposite sides:
This starts at the top: GOD and Iblis, good and bad,...
This leads to upholding laws and breaking laws...
For example , if one chooses GOD ,then they do not transgress the laws that GOD created. This establishes justice because laws are not violated.
Then , throughout life one sees this played out in people , communities, tribes, countries...
Throughout history equilibrium plays part in the continuation of the survival of the human race, every tyrant will meet their counterpart tyrant that stops their dominion and helps the extension of humans carry on ... and so on.
We have a modern situation playing right before our eyes with America and Russia/ China.This will prevent a one sided force demolishing all other systems.
Coming back to the topic, the fight that exist in each one of us is a bit different. it is a tug of war . Obeying the creator , being honest and sincere,upholding good morals, doing good deeds , relying on the Creator s help will go a long way to tip the scale towards saving our soul. Iblis/evil/bad... will be defeated eventually with patience and persistence.
May the Lord help His Ibad/loyal servants.
GOD bless you all.
Peace. -
I think what Ronin summarizes feels quite universal, and I imagine people of different faiths would resonate with it and relate to it from within their own perspectives. Well said.
Everyone has certain experiences or pressure points that shape how they grow and what conclusions they reach. For example, I was recently reflecting on the verse where God describes how humans, when touched by hardship, tend to despair, complain, or blame yet when ease returns, they often forget. That observation alone explains a lot about human behavior and spiritual growth.
11:9-10
“And if We let man taste mercy from Us, then We withdraw it from him, indeed he is despairing and ungrateful.
But if We let him taste favor after hardship has touched him, he says, ‘Bad times have left me.’ Indeed, he is exultant and boastful.”41:49
“Man is never weary of supplication for good; but if evil touches him, he is despairing and hopeless.”70:19
“Indeed, mankind was created anxious:
when evil touches him, impatient;
and when good touches him, withholding.”So, the theme is When people suffer deeply, they cry out, question, and complain even when they are faithful only a few genuinely cry out
Personally, I found the following verse understanding impactful
155-156 This struggle will provide you with many opportunities to test your own mettle. You may encounter wars and massacres and also be confronted with scarcity of food and loss of life and property or with devastation of fields and orchards. Such ordeals may take place but ultimately those who remain steadfast and do not waver in their commitment to establish Allah’s System, will be successful. They meet every challenge saying: “We have dedicated ourselves to the establishment of the Divine System and come what may we will continue advancing towards that goal.” -
Peace good logic and Fusion,
Thank you for your thoughtful replies. I really appreciate the valuable insights from both of you.
If you have any thoughts or questions about the article in the Original post, please know that your feedback is valued and welcome. I'd be grateful if you could take a moment to read the article again.
As a side note, another article will be coming in the future, inshallah (If God wills it).
My next article aims to shake the foundation of conventional assumptions until they crumble, invite a deep reconsideration of long-held beliefs, and lay the groundwork for a lasting reconstruction based on truth.
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I have reread the article. I do not see a conflict between its core thesis and the points I raised earlier about the nafs. The article addresses the reality and moral meaning of Iblis, while my comments were about how accountability unfolds within the human self. I see these as complementary rather than competing perspectives. Thank you Ronin
