Names
- Iblis
- Eblīs
- Azazil
- Azazel
- Abū Murrah (Father of Bitterness)
- Aduwallah (Enemy of God)
- Abū Kardūs
- Abū Al-Harith
- Abu Al-Harith (the father of the plowmen)
- διάβολος (diábolos) – also the source of the English word ‘devil’
- Lucifer?
- Iblis’ appearance before he fell was said to be unique and grand even amongst the ranks of the Jinn
Is Iblis an Anunnaki?
Iblis worshipped above the seven heavens for more than 70,000 years, until he was raised to the station of Ridwan which is very high station, Ridwan being the guardian of Paradise. Iblis was the guardian of Paradise for 1000 years. source Hassan Al Basri
After 25,000 years, the jinn became proud and arrogant and began to disobey the divine rules. Allah sent legions of angels to punish the jinn, and many of the wrongdoers were destroyed.
The rest were dispersed to distant islands – all except for Iblis, an impressive jinn who was captured and brought to heaven. There he was educated and raised to the ranks of the angels. Because of his eloquence, he became a teacher of the younger angels. Meanwhile, the scattered jinn on the earth came together again and formed a nation on an island in the Southern Ocean. Iblis saw this development and was drawn by the lure of power. He left heaven and descended to the island, where he persuaded the jinn to accept him as their king. He then took a second name: Azazil.
When the newly created Adam got to his feet, the angels fell down, prostrating themselves before him, as Allah had ordered. Iblis refused to do so. Allah said, ‘O Iblis! What prevents thee from prostrating thyself to one whom I have created with My hands? … I will certainly fill Hell with thee and those who follow thee – every one’ (Qur’an 38:76–86).
Characteristics of Iblis
- He was proud
- He becomes one of the unbelievers
- He is nobler than Humans
- He is created from fire (humans are created from clay)
- He is going to mislead (them all)
Appearance
Before his fall, Iblis was notably distinct and magnificent even among the Jinn. Islamic scholars describe him as having seven hairs on his chin and being blind in his right eye. In a female guise, Iblis takes the form of a dark-skinned woman, garbed like a belly dancer, with yellow eyes and a third eye on her forehead, her body seemingly radiating flames.
Much like Lucifer, Iblis was splendid and powerful, surpassing his counterparts in grandeur. Following his descent from Heaven, Iblis transformed into a being of molten lava or brimstone, and ice, shifting forms. Initially, he was a vast, swirling inferno. Scholars note that in human form, he retains the seven chin hairs and bears a threatening scowl, with eyes like glowing coals. His right eye became blind after an encounter with Idris.
Upon his release, Iblis underwent a massive transformation, developing four arms and a head encased in molten rock armor. His subsequent form resembled a colossal serpent, maintaining the rugged, armored head. His ultimate and most formidable shape, larger than the previous ones, is more humanoid: with two arms, legless feet, and a less armored head, adorned with horns on both sides and at the back, where he also sprouts a tail. Source
Qur’an 38:76–86
(38:71) When your Lord said to the angels “Verily I am creating a human being from clay.
(38:72) After I have created him and breathed into him of My spirit, fall you down, prostrating yourselves to him.
Prostration (lying face down on the ground)
Prostration can carry the symbolism of death–the death to self that comes before the candidate’s rebirth into priestly service. At some ordinations, you will even see shrouds placed over the prostrate candidates. Prostration is a rare sight.
(38:73) Then the angels, all of them, prostrated themselves before Adam
Adam – The first humans (homo sapiens sapiens)
(38:74) except Iblis. He waxed proud and became one of the unbelievers.
(38:75) The Lord said: “O Iblis, what prevented you from prostrating yourself before him whom I created of My Two Hands. Are you waxing proud, or fancy yourself to be too exalted?”
(38:76) He replied: “I am nobler than he. You created me from fire and created him from clay.”
(38:77) He said: “Get out of here; surely you are accursed,
(38:78) and My curse shall remain upon you till the Day of Resurrection.
(38:79) Satan said: “My Lord, then grant me respite till the Day that they are raised up.”
(38:80) He said: “You are of those who have been granted respite
(38:81) till the Day whose Hour I know.”
(38:82) (Iblis) said: “By Your glory, I shall mislead them all
(38:83) except those of Your servants, the chosen ones from amongst them.”
(38:84) He (i.e. Allah) said: “This is the Truth and I only speak the Truth
(38:85) I will certainly fill the Gehenna with you and with all those among them who follow you.”
Gehenna, originally known as the Valley of Hinnom, is indeed a real geographical location on Earth. It is a valley in Jerusalem that, in ancient times, was used for a variety of purposes, including as a place of idolatrous sacrifice and as a waste disposal site. Over time, it gained notoriety and a dark reputation, particularly in Jewish and Christian traditions.
In the context of religious texts and traditions:
Jewish Tradition: Gehenna, or Gehinnom in Hebrew, initially referred to a physical valley south of Jerusalem. This place is associated with the ancient practice of sacrificing children by fire to pagan deities, such as Moloch, mentioned in the Hebrew Bible. In later Jewish Rabbinic literature, Gehenna evolved into a metaphor for a place of divine punishment or purification for the wicked after death. It is described more as a temporary purgatory where souls are purified rather than an eternal hell.
(38:86) (O Prophet), tell them: “I do not ask you for any recompense for the performance of this task; nor am I given to affectation.
(38:87) This is nothing but an Admonition for all people the world over.
(38:88) You will know the truth of the matter after a while.”
Iblis persisted in his refusal, so Allah cursed him and drove him from the Garden of Eden, condemning him and his followers to Hell Gehenna, but according to the Qur’an, he also granted them ‘a stay of execution’ until the Day of Judgement.
In the meantime, Iblis and his followers inhabit what can best be described as a ‘parallel universe’, from which they can pass over into the mortal world and where they devise sinful temptations for humankind.
Adam and the eve
While this was happening, Iblis approached the animals of the world to see which one would bear him into the Garden of Eden so that he could speak with Adam and his wife and tempt them towards evil.
All of the animals refused except the serpent. He told her: ‘I will protect you from the children of Adam; you will be under my protection if you get me into the Garden.’ She placed him between her two fangs. They entered the Garden and they both spoke from her mouth.
The serpent walked on 4 legs
In Ishaq’s sirah, the serpent is depicted as a graceful animal that walked on four legs, but as a result of her collaboration with Iblis, Allah punished her and condemned her to travel on her belly.
“Do you know why God cast me out of Heaven? Because I loved Him. More than anything. And then he created you, you little… hairless apes, and He asked us to bow down before you, to love you more than him. And I said “Father, I can’t. These human beings are flawed. Murderous!” And for that, God cast me into Hell. Tell me Black, does the punishment fit the crime? Especially when I was right. Look what seven billion of you have done to this planet. And how many of you blame me for it.”
Iblis to Carl Black
