Iblis (Satan): Difference between revisions

'''Iblis''' (إبليس), also known as '''al-Shaytan''' (الشيطان) or "The Devil" (as opposed to other, lesser [[Shaytan (Devil)|devils, or ''shayatin'']], who are not ''The'' Devil), is the Islamic equivalent of Satan who is responsible for Adam and Eve's fall from Heaven as well as for the perennial temptation of humankind to sin. Iblis is understood to be the specific name of the being who eventually becomes ''The'' Devil after disobeying [[Allah|Allah's]] order to prostrate to Adam, the first human. The classical Islamic tradition was divided as to whether Iblis is a fallen angel or merely a [[jinn]] who, after having been so devout as to ''rank'' among the angels, became arrogant and then irredeemably evil. Today, however, Iblis is almost universally held to be a uniquely corrupt jinn.<ref name=":0">{{Citation|title=Encyclopaedia of Islam|publisher=E.J. Brill|volume=3 H-IRAM|editor1=B. Lewis|editor2=V.L. Menage|editor3=Ch. Pellat|editor4=J. Schacht|edition=New Edition [2nd]|location=Leiden|chapter=Iblis|pages=668-669|publication-date=1986|isbn=90 04 08118 6}}</ref> The Qur'an reads, "And (remember) when We said unto the angels: Fall prostrate before Adam, and they fell prostrate, all save Iblis. He was of the jinn, so he rebelled against his Lord's command."<ref>{{Quran|18|50}}</ref>

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