I am interested in some explanations

ExplorerSeeker86

Is it possible to interpret Satan in the Koran metaphorically, like as the evil inclination?

Just wondering...

GODsubmitter

Thank you for your post, that is also what I thought, and it helped me to understand Iblees and shayitans in the Qur'an, as yetzer hara ("the evil inclination&quot.

But who knows...

ExplorerSeeker86

Doesn't the Koran say something to the effect of those who say they believe, but when they are alone with their satans (which I suppose could mean inner demons or inclinations/passions) they say we are with you, we were only mocking.

I'm just guessing though

lordfox

Is it possible to interpret Satan in the Koran metaphorically, like as the evil inclination?

Just wondering...

http//servantofthelight.com/content/view/51/81/

Bigmo

In the following verses in the Quran it states that angels are tempting people

They followed what the Shayatin (devils) gave out (falsely of the magic) in the lifetime of Sulaiman (Solomon). Sulaiman did not disbelieve, but the Shayatin (devils) disbelieved, teaching men magic and such things that came down at Babylon to the two angels, Harut and marut, but neither of these two (angels) taught anyone (such things) till they had said, "We are only for trial, so disbelieve not (by learning this magic from us)." And from these (angels) people learn that by which they cause separation between man and his wife, but they could not thus harm anyone except by Allah's Leave. And they learn that which harms them and profits them not. And indeed they knew that the buyers of it (magic) would have no share in the Hereafter. And how bad indeed was that for which they sold their ownselves, if they but knew. ( , Al-Baqara, Chapter #2, Verse #102)

No, I though always its what Satan and his followers do, not the angels. Can someone with more knowledgeable explain maybe why?

I would ask someone to find for me and post the part if the Quran that says that devils have done work for prophet Suleiman. My question is, why devils? Why not angels?

Anyway I suppose you can get the point of my post. Anyone's explanations would be greatly appreciated!

Thanks

Angels and magic

Main article Rabbinical literature

According to the Rabbinical literature, on account of his modest request for wisdom only, Solomon was rewarded with riches and an unprecedentedly glorious realm, which extended over the upper world inhabited by the angels and over the whole of the terrestrial globe with all its inhabitants, including all the beasts, fowl, and reptiles, as well as the demons and spirits. His control over the demons, spirits, and animals augmented his splendor, the demons bringing him precious stones, besides water from distant countries to irrigate his exotic plants. The beasts and fowl of their own accord entered the kitchen of Solomon's palace, so that they might be used as food for him, and extravagant meals for him were prepared daily by each of his 700 wives and 300 concubines, with the thought that perhaps the king would feast that day in her house.

Seal of Solomon

Main article Seal of Solomon

A magic ring called the "Seal of Solomon" was supposedly given to Solomon and gave him power over demons. The magical symbol said to have been on the Seal of Solomon which made it work is now better known as the Star of David. Asmodeus, king of demons, was one day, according to the classical Rabbis, captured by Benaiah using the ring, and was forced to remain in Solomon's service. In one tale, Asmodeus brought a man with two heads from under the earth to show Solomon; the man, unable to return, married a woman from Jerusalem and had seven sons, six of whom resembled the mother, while one resembled the father in having two heads. After their father's death, the son with two heads claimed two shares of the inheritance, arguing that he was two men; Solomon decided that the son with two heads was only one man. The Seal of Solomon, in some legends known as the Ring of Aandaleeb, was a highly sought after symbol of power. In several legends, different groups or individuals attempted to steal it or attain it in some manner.

Solomon and Asmodeus

Main article Asmodeus

One legend concerning Asmodeus goes on to state that Solomon one day asked Asmodeus what could make demons powerful over man, and Asmodeus asked to be freed and given the ring so that he could demonstrate; Solomon agreed but Asmodeus threw the ring into the sea and it was swallowed by a fish. Asmodeus then swallowed the king, stood up fully with one wing touching heaven and the other earth, and spat out Solomon to a distance of 400 miles. The Rabbis claim this was a divine punishment for Solomon having failed to follow three divine commands, and Solomon was forced to wander from city to city, until he eventually arrived in an Ammonite city where he was forced to work in the king's kitchens. Solomon gained a chance to prepare a meal for the Ammonite king, which the king found so impressive that the previous cook was sacked and Solomon put in his place; the king's daughter, Naamah, subsequently fell in love with Solomon, but the family (thinking Solomon a commoner) disapproved, so the king decided to kill them both by sending them into the desert. Solomon and the king?s daughter wandered the desert until they reached a coastal city, where they bought a fish to eat, which just happened to be the one which had swallowed the magic ring. Solomon was then able to regain his throne and expel Asmodeus. (The element of a ring thrown into the sea and found back in a fish's belly later appeared in Herodotus' account of Polycrates, the tyrant of Samos from c. 538 BC to 522 BC).

In another familiar version of the legend of the Seal of Solomon, Asmodeus disguises himself. In some myths, he's disguised as King Solomon himself, while in more frequently heard versions he's disguised as a falcon, calling himself Gavyn (Gavinn or Gavin), one of King Solomon?s trusted friends. The concealed Asmodeus tells travelers who have ventured up to King Solomon's grand lofty palace that the Seal of Solomon was thrown into the sea. He then convinces them to plunge in and attempt to retrieve it, for if they do they would take the throne as king.

Artifacts

Other magical items attributed to Solomon are his key and his Table. The latter was said to be held in Toledo, Spain during Visigoth rule and was part of the loot taken by Tarik ibn Ziyad during the Umayyad Conquest of Iberia, according to Ibn Abd-el-Hakem's History of the Conquest of Spain. The former appears in the title of the Lesser Key of Solomon, a grimoire whose framing tale is Solomon capturing demons using his ring, and forcing them to explain themselves to him.

Other forms of legend describe Solomon as having had a flying carpet that was 60 miles square, and could travel so fast that it could get from Damascus to Medina within a day. One day, due to Solomon exhibiting pride, the wind shook the carpet and caused 40,000 men to fall from it; Solomon on being told by the wind why this had happened, felt ashamed. Another day Solomon was flying over an ant-infested valley and overheard an ant warning its fellow ants to hide lest Solomon destroy them; Solomon desired to ask the ant a question, but was told it was not becoming for the interrogator to be above and the interrogated below. Solomon then lifted the ant above the valley, but the ant said it was not fitting that Solomon should sit on a throne while the ant remained on the ground, so Solomon placed the ant upon his hand, and asked it whether there was any one in the world greater than he. The ant replied that she was much greater as otherwise Yahweh would not have sent him there to place it upon his hand; this offended Solomon and he threw the ant down reminding it who he was, but the ant told him that it knew Solomon was created from a corrupted drop, causing Solomon to feel ashamed.

Angels

Angels also help out Solomon in building the Temple; though not by choice. The edifice was, according to rabbinical legend, throughout miraculously constructed, the large, heavy stones rising to and settling in their respective places of themselves. The general opinion of the Rabbis is that Solomon hewed the stones by means of a shamir, a mythical worm whose mere touch cleft rocks. According to Midrash Tehillim, the shamir was brought from paradise by Solomon's eagle; but most of the rabbis state that Solomon was informed of the worm's haunts by Asmodeus. The shamir had been entrusted by the prince of the sea to the mountain cock alone, and the cock had sworn to guard it well, but Solomon's men found the bird's nest, and covered it with glass. When the bird returned, it used the shamir to break the glass, whereupon the men scared the bird, causing it to drop the worm, which the men could then bring to Solomon.

http//en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Solomon#Solomon.27s_sins_and_punishment

youssef4342

This might be a mistranslation

Please see the orginal Text

No where in the verse states that the Angels taught people anything,

1)It was the Devils (SHaitains), which taught the Magic, NOT THE ANGELS
2) It was the Devils which taught the People the things which were descended by the angels (it doesn't say it was magic, it might be something else, since it was spoken of as other teachings)

Something was revealed to the angels, and the DEVILS took that and TAUGHT IT TO THE PEOPLE....., it was not the Angels themselves.
notice that the Jinns previously had the power to listen/spy (729), thus the devils might have spyed out and learned some kind of teaching/power and taught it to the people (which they weren't really supposed to do--- this is taken from the context of 2102, since the devils disbelieved (e.g went against right conduct/commands)

Ervin

Selam aleikum.

My explanation to it is that God is showing us by some examples how if He says that someone does something then they do it. If he wants any type of jin to do work for a prophet then they will do it. It's God showing us His power.

And with the angels doing something that is normally considered bad I would say that if God authorizes something then the angels would know that and there fore they just do it.

Thanks

Bigmo

Selam aleikum.

My explanation to it is that God is showing us by some examples how if He says that someone does something then they do it. If he wants any type of jin to do work for a prophet then they will do it. It's God showing us His power.

And with the angels doing something that is normally considered bad I would say that if God authorizes something then the angels would know that and there fore they just do it.

Thanks

But was not shaytan himself an angel? Plus there are Christian scriptures (Book of Enoch) about angels falling to Earth and mating with humans causing great problems. This issue is briefly talked about in Genesis in the OTand in Peter in the Gospel

http//sunandshield.wordpress.com/2010/01/30/did-angels-mate-with-women-in-genesis/

This documentary from the History Channel talks about scriptures in Christian history that have not been accepted as the official Bible collections for various reasons. Many of these scriptures talk about issues discussed in the Koran. There is a reference there about the Book of Enoch and many other issues.

http//www.youtube.com/watch?v=qNqHBpdv-D8

Great documentary

History of this life is filled with mystery

Ervin

Following is the answer I got from somewhere else. I pasted it and here it is. So what do you think of the following answer to the same question?

The Prophet of Allah taught us about Shirk, however he warned us to stay away from it. Does this mean that the Prophet promoted Shirk? No! We seek refuge in Allah from this.

These 2 Angels (Harut and Marut) taught about magic but clearly stated "We are a test for you, so do not disbelieve in Allah", meaning, do not practice this magic because it will cause you to disbelieve in Allah.

The reality is that they taught about magic so the people could be aware of it and avoid it. In the same way today shuyukh need to clarify what magic is so people do not fall into it. For example they will tell you about writing on amulets, causing Jinn possesion etc. so that we know what it is we are to stay away from.

At the time of Prophet Sulayman people were using magic, and you could imagine like today they claimed it was not magic but only trickery, or even c;aiming it is from Islam. The Angels came and taught what magic was so the people could clearly know what is Kufr. Like at the time of Musa the magicians claimed to have magical powers, and then Musa came and showed his miracles which caused them to realise he is a Prophet of Allah and his miracles are from Allah. So too Sulayman was granted miracles by Allah however these were NOT magic, rather they were miracles from the Almighty.

One of these miracles and blessings was that Sulayman was granted a kingdom like no other, he had control/use of the Jinn as well as humans. Normally Muslim Jinn are commanded not to have contact with humans, however in the time of Sulayman they were allowed to assist him. Magic is when someone uses the shayateen (non-Muslim Jinn) to assist them by means of Sihr. Sulayman did not use Sihr, rather Allah commanded the Jinn to assist him.

Normally for a Shaytan to assist someone they will ask them to commit kufr (eg. worship an idol or disrespect a book of Allah) however Sulayman did NOT do any of these, he did not commit kufr as Allah says, rather he received this blessing of a kingdom like no other human from Allah.

In terms of teaching magic so people may use it, this is Haram. However informing people of what magic is to allow them to recognise it and stay away is permissible. Further to this, the shari'ah of the Angels is not like the Shari'ah for mankind. What is Haram for us can be halal for them if Allah grants it, so even the teaching of magic may be Halal for them whilst it may be Haram for us. However it must be emphasised, they said "We are a test (fitnah) so do not disbelieve!" As with anything in life it is a test. Money is a test, it can be used for good or bad. Knoweldge is a test, it can be used for us or against us depending on how we use it. The knowledge given to Prophet Sulayman was a test and he did NOT disbelieve, meaning he did not use this knowledge to commit kufr at all.

Bender

Following is the answer I got from somewhere else. I pasted it and here it is. So what do you think of the following answer to the same question?

The Prophet of Allah taught us about Shirk, however he warned us to stay away from it. Does this mean that the Prophet promoted Shirk? No! We seek refuge in Allah from this.

These 2 Angels (Harut and Marut) taught about magic but clearly stated "We are a test for you, so do not disbelieve in Allah", meaning, do not practice this magic because it will cause you to disbelieve in Allah.

Salaam Ervin,

sorry I only read this post not the posts before so sorry if I say something that is already metnioned.

red part The 2 angels didn't teach sihr nope please read the verse again.

The reality is that they taught about magic so the people could be aware of it and avoid it. In the same way today shuyukh need to clarify what magic is so people do not fall into it. For example they will tell you about writing on amulets, causing Jinn possesion etc. so that we know what it is we are to stay away from.

At the time of Prophet Sulayman people were using magic, and you could imagine like today they claimed it was not magic but only trickery, or even c;aiming it is from Islam. The Angels came and taught what magic was so the people could clearly know what is Kufr. Like at the time of Musa the magicians claimed to have magical powers, and then Musa came and showed his miracles which caused them to realise he is a Prophet of Allah and his miracles are from Allah. So too Sulayman was granted miracles by Allah however these were NOT magic, rather they were miracles from the Almighty.

One of these miracles and blessings was that Sulayman was granted a kingdom like no other, he had control/use of the Jinn as well as humans. Normally Muslim Jinn are commanded not to have contact with humans, however in the time of Sulayman they were allowed to assist him. Magic is when someone uses the shayateen (non-Muslim Jinn) to assist them by means of Sihr. Sulayman did not use Sihr, rather Allah commanded the Jinn to assist him.

Normally for a Shaytan to assist someone they will ask them to commit kufr (eg. worship an idol or disrespect a book of Allah) however Sulayman did NOT do any of these, he did not commit kufr as Allah says, rather he received this blessing of a kingdom like no other human from Allah.

In terms of teaching magic so people may use it, this is Haram. However informing people of what magic is to allow them to recognise it and stay away is permissible. Further to this, the shari'ah of the Angels is not like the Shari'ah for mankind. What is Haram for us can be halal for them if Allah grants it, so even the teaching of magic may be Halal for them whilst it may be Haram for us. However it must be emphasised, they said "We are a test (fitnah) so do not disbelieve!" As with anything in life it is a test. Money is a test, it can be used for good or bad. Knoweldge is a test, it can be used for us or against us depending on how we use it. The knowledge given to Prophet Sulayman was a test and he did NOT disbelieve, meaning he did not use this knowledge to commit kufr at all.

There is a lot in here in which I don't agree.

Can you read arabic? I you can please read the verses of Musa and the Suhara (=most of time translated as magicians).
In those verses you can exactly learn what suhara and sihr means, which to my understanding doesn't mean magicians and magic.
see the verses where the suhara throw their ropes and staffs and diferrence when Musa casts his staff.

sorry for this compact answer as I have not much time right now.

Salaam,
Bender

farida

Salaam
Could it be that the angels taught secret about human psychology which, in turn, was used by Shayateen to cause discord between man and his wife, the main components for the furtherance of the human race. In other words playing on human psychology to make man and woman compete with each other until there is no love left between them.
Sahr is clearly defined as illusion, today's biggest driving force in most people?s lives and illusion, which tops the chart, is $$$. From the Sunni/Koranist/religious organs to the liberal politician, from the ordinary student, waiting to cash in on his/her studies, to women who stay home to look after kids instead of being on the career track, there is no other goal than to achieve/earn money/a great career/respect in the community/leadership/dictatorship.
Pleasing your boss/Mullah/well connected source, all to save your job or carry on up the ladder is the trick most appreciated. And why is that? Because people assume that they will be happy with loaded pockets which, in return, means they can afford/control respect and all the luxuries of the world.
Satan is laughting his head off seeing people competing with each others to make more bugs, regardless of its after effects and then queuing up for the most modern gadgets/luxuries. It seems most people are under some sort of spell to wipe off all what makes them human; no wonder Satan is laughting ?ho ho ho the future is mine?!
This illusion is the real magic, power over others which is at work at all times; maybe it started from the time of Suleyman, who did not commit kufr of magic but prayed for a kingdom like no other human from Allah and was granted a kingdom like no other, he had control/use of the Jinn as well as humans as he learned about their Psychology with the permission of Allah.

Peace

Bigmo