I was just wondering if Iblis was actually a jinn oran angel. This
particular issue recently sparked my curiosity when it was presented
to me by a person I know. If he is an angel, then how is it he
disobeyed Allah, when Angels have no will of their own and follow
onlyAllah's command. If he is really a jinn, then it wouldbetter
explain his disobedience as then he actually had the choice to obey or
disobey Allah. I would appreciate a response, even if it is a brief
one.
Praise be to Allaah.
Ibless – may Allaah curse him – is one of the jinn. He was not an
angel for a single day, not even for an instant. The angels were
created noble; they never disobey Allaah when He commands themto do
something and theydo what they are commanded. This is clearly stated
in the Qur'aanic texts which indicate that Iblees is one of the jinn
and not one of the angels. These texts include the following:
1. Allaah says (interpretation of the meaning):
"And (remember) when We said to the angels: "Prostrate yourselves unto
Adam." So they prostrated themselves except Iblees (Satan). He was one
of thejinn; he disobeyed the Command of his Lord. Willyou then take
him (Iblees)and his offspring as protectors and helpers rather than Me
while theyare enemies to you? Whatan evil is the exchange forthe
Zaalimoon (polytheists, and wrongdoers, etc)." [al-Kahf 18:50]
2. Allaah stated that He created thejinn from
fire, as He says (interpretation of the meaning):
"And the jinn, We created aforetime from the smokeless flame of fire"
[al-Hijr 15:27]
"And the jinn He created from a smokeless flame offire" [al-Rahmaan 55:15]
And it was narrated in a saheeh hadeeth that 'Aa'ishah said: the
Messenger of Allaah (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) said:
"The angels were created from light, the jinn were created from
smokeless fire and Adam was created from that which has been described
to you." (Narrated by Muslimin his Saheeh, no. 2996; also narrated by
Ahmad, no. 24668; by al-Bayhaqi in al-Sunan al-Kubra, no. 18207 and by
Ibn Hibbaan, no. 6155).
One of the attributes of the angels is that they were created from
light, and the jinn were created from fire. It was mentioned in the
Qur'aan that Iblees – may Allaah curse him – was created from fire.
This is what Iblees himself said when Allaah, may He be glorified and
exalted, asked him the reason for his refusal to prostrate to Adam
when Allaah commanded him to do so.He – may Allaah curse him– said:
" 'I am better than him (Adam), You created me from fire, and him You
created from clay'" [al-A'raaf 7:12; Saad 38:76– interpretation of the
meaning]. This indicates that he was one of the jinn.
3. Allaah has described the angels in His Book,
where He says (interpretation of the meaning):
"O you who believe! Wardoff yourselves and your families against a
Fire (Hell) whose fuel is men and stones, over which are (appointed)
angels stern (and) severe, who disobey not, (from executing) the
Commandsthey receive from Allâh, but do that which they are commanded"
[al-Tahreem 66:6]
"And they say: 'The Most Gracious (Allaah) has begotten a son (or
children).' Glory to Him! They [whom they call children of Allaah i.e.
the angels, 'Eesaa (Jesus) son of Maryam (Mary), 'Uzair (Ezra)], are
but honoured slaves. They speak not until He has spoken, and they act
on His Command"[al-Anbiyaa' 21:26-27]
"And to Allaah prostrate all that is in the heavens and all that is in
the earth,of the moving (living) creatures and the angels, and they
are not proud [i.e. they worship their Lord (Allâh) with humility].
They fear their Lord above them, and they do what they are commanded"
[al-Nahl 16:49-50]
So it is not possbile for the angels to disobey their Lord, because
they are protected from sin and they are naturally inclined to obey
Allaah.
4. The fact that Iblees is not one of the angels
means that he is not compelled to obey Allaah. He has freedom of will
just as we humans do. Allaah says (interpretation of the meaning);
"Verily, We showed him the way, whether he be grateful or ungrateful"
[al-Insaan 76:3]
There are also Muslims and kaafirs among the jinn. It says in Soorat
al-Jinn (interpretation of the meaning):
"Say (O Muhammad): 'It has been revealed to me that a group (from
three to ten in number) of jinn listened (to this Qur'aan). They said:
'Verily, we haveheard a wonderful Recitation (this Qur'aan)! It guides
to the Right Path, and we have believed therein, and we shall never
join (in worship) anything with our Lord (Allaah).'" [al-Jinn72;1-2]
In the same soorah, it states that the jinn said: :->
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