Muslims? Satan (Iblis, the Devil) is not an angel, right? So why was he mentioned with the angels?

Question

002.034

YUSUFALI: And behold, We said to the angels: "Bow down to Adam" and they bowed down. Not so Iblis: he refused and was haughty:..."

Angels were ordered, not jinn, right? So are they automatically included with angels or is Iblis an angel afterall?

Please explain. Thanks.

Answer 1

Iblees is not an angel as angels do not have the ability to disobey God.  He was another creation of God and due to his arrogance, did not submit to mankind.

EDIT:

@Asker - I understood your question but what I failed to understand is this.  Why is Iblees' being mentioned with Angels an indication that he might be an angel?  If we know for a fact that angels cannot disagree with God, and Iblis disagreed with God, then by logic, Iblis is not an angel.  

The fact that he is mentioned at the time mankind is created is simply to show that one of Gods creatures to whom He had given free will chose not to obey God.  By no means could it indicate that the creature in question was an angel.

love for all, hatred for none

Answer 2

No he was not an angel, because angels were made out of Nour ( Light), and the sheytan is made from Fire, to answer the rest of your question, allahu a3lem.

Answer 3

All praise is due to Allah.

Iblees/satan first and foremost is a Jinnee, not an angel. In Islam, there is no such thing as a "fallen angel" as angels do not have the ability to disobey Allah.

"And (remember) when We said to the angels; 'Prostrate to Adam.' So they prostrated except iblees (Satan). He was one of the jinns; he disobeyed the Command of his Lord. Will you then take him (iblis) and his offspring as protectors and helpers rather than Me while they are enemies to you? What an evil is the exchange for the wrong-doers."

(Qur'an 18:50)

The reason satan is mentioned with the angels is because Iblees/satan at one time was an extremely righteous slave of Allah, so much so that Allah honoured him by bringing him up to Paradise with the angels. This is why he is mentioned with the angels.

When Iblees/satan refused to obey Allah and refused to submit to Allah by prostrating to Adam (PBUH), he was banished from Paradise back to earth.

Allah knows best.

EDIT: Those who keep claiming that Iblees/satan is an angel, can they provide proof from the Qur'an and/or Sunnah?

EDIT 2: It was Iblees' own actions and choices. Of course Allah knew what Iblees would do just as Allah knows everything that has happened and everything that will happen.

Answer 4

According to the Islamic belief all that were present were to bow to Adam.

Since Iblees was there he was meant to bow. But since he did not he was cursed and banished from Heaven.

Answer 5

u need a precise answer?? here u go:

The Iblees did acts like Angels, i.e. he used to praise Allah and worship Him all the time. That's y Allah gave him the rank with the angels. Simple? :)

Answer 6

no, Iblis is a Jinn not an angel at all.

"الكهف (آية:50): واذ قلنا للملائكه اسجدوا لادم فسجدوا الا ابليس كان من الجن ففسق عن امر ربه افتتخذونه وذريته اولياء من دوني وهم لكم عدو بئس للظالمين بدلا  "

"Behold! We said to the angels, "Bow down to Adam": They bowed down except Iblis. He was one of the Jinns, and he broke the Command of his Lord. Will ye then take him and his progeny as protectors rather than Me? And they are enemies to you! Evil would be the exchange for the wrong-doers! "

Answer 7

The order was given to everyone that was present in heaven at that time.  

Satan/Iblees had the highest place amongst them(before Adam was created), because of his obidience to Allah *out of choice*, unlike the angels who don't have choice.  He was also the best amongst other jinns. And because of this he grew arrogant with his high position amongst the inhibitants of paradise, he refused, and said, he's made of fire and therefore better than the one made of clay.

From reading every verse where this incidence is explained,

1) it is obvious that Satan WAS ordered also along with the angels, or else he couldn't have refused.

2) also we know that he WAS living amongst the angels as an obidient worshipper of Allah, out of choice.

3) and it is also made very clear that satan is made of the smokeless part of the fire and was a jinn, unlike the angels, who are made of light.  

So he cudn't have been an angel afterall, but he was amongst them.

It simply referred to everyone present in that gathering.

Edit:

The following is detail explanation if you want to know everything I mentioned above from a scholar.

Here is tafseer(explanation) by ibn katheer of the Qur'aan:

Surah Baqarah(2):

Honoring Adam when the Angels prostrated before Him

This Ayah mentions the great honor that Allah granted Adam, and Allah reminded Adam's offspring of this fact. Allah commanded the angels to prostrate before Adam, as this Ayah and many Hadiths testify, such as the Hadith about the intercession that we discussed. There is a Hadith about the supplication of Musa, "O my Lord! Show me Adam who caused us and himself to be thrown out of Paradise.'' When Musa met Adam, he said to him, "Are you Adam whom Allah created with His Own Hands, blew life into and commanded the angels to prostrate before'' Iblis was among Those ordered to prostrate before Adam, although He was not an Angel

When Allah commanded the angels to prostrate before Adam, Iblis was included in this command. Although Iblis was not an angel, he was trying - and pretending - to imitate the angels' behavior and deeds, and this is why he was also included in the command to the angels to prostrate before Adam. Satan was criticized for defying that command, as we will explain with detail, Allah willing, when we mention the Tafsir of Allah's statement,

[إِلاَّ إِبْلِيسَ كَانَ مِنَ الْجِنِّ فَفَسَقَ عَنْ أَمْرِ رَبِّهِ]

(Except Iblis (Satan). He was one of the Jinn; he disobeyed the command of his Lord.) (18:50)

Similarly, Muhammad bin Ishaq reported that Ibn `Abbas said, "Before he undertook the path of sin, Iblis was with the angels and was called `Azazil.' He was among the residents of the earth and was one of the most active worshippers and knowledgeable persons among the angels. This fact caused him to be arrogant. Iblis was from a genus called Jinn.''

______________________

Surah Kahf(18)

The Story of Adam and Iblis

Allah points out to the Children of Adam the enmity of Iblis towards them and their father before them, and rebukes those who follow him and go against their Creator and Master. It is He who created them from nothing and sustains and nourishes them by His kindness, yet they still took Iblis as their friend and declared their enmity towards Allah. So Allah says:

[وَإِذْ قُلْنَا لِلْمَلَـئِكَةِ]

(And (remember) when We said to the angels), meaning all the angels, as was mentioned in the beginning of Surat Al-Baqarah.

[اسْجُدُواْ لاًّدَمَ]

(Prostrate yourselves unto Adam) a prostration of respect and honour, as Allah says:

[وَإِذْ قَالَ رَبُّكَ لِلْمَلَـئِكَةِ إِنِّى خَـلِقٌ بَشَرًا مِّن صَلْصَـلٍ مِّنْ حَمَإٍ مَّسْنُونٍ - فَإِذَا سَوَّيْتُهُ وَنَفَخْتُ فِيهِ مِن رُّوحِى فَقَعُواْ لَهُ سَـجِدِينَ ]

(And (remember) when your Lord said to the angels, "I am going to create a human (Adam) from dried (sounding) clay of altered mud. So, when I have fashioned him completely and breathed into him the soul which I created for him, then fall (you) down prostrating yourselves unto him.) [15:28-29]

[فَسَجَدُواْ إِلاَّ إِبْلِيسَ كَانَ مِنَ الْجِنِّ]

(So they prostrated themselves except Iblis. He was one of the Jinn;) meaning, his original nature betrayed him. He had been created from smokeless fire, whereas the angels had been created from light, as is stated in Sahih Muslim where it is reported that `A'ishah, may Allah be pleased with her, said that the Messenger of Allah said:

«خُلِقَتِ الْمَلَائِكَةُ مِنْ نُورٍ، وَخُلِقَ إِبْلِيسُ مِنْ مَارِجٍ مِنْ نَارٍ، وَخُلِقَ آدَمُ مِمَّا وُصِفَ لَكُم»

(The angels were created from light, Iblis was created from smokeless fire, and Adam was created from that which has been described to you.) When matters are crucial, every vessel leaks that which it contains and is betrayed by its true nature. Iblis used to do what the angels did and resembled them in their devotion and worship, so he was included when they were addressed, but he disobeyed and went against what he was told to do. So Allah points out here that he was one of the Jinn, i.e., he was created from fire, as He says elsewhere:

[أَنَاْ خَيْرٌ مِّنْهُ خَلَقْتَنِي مِن نَّارٍ وَخَلَقْتَهُ مِن طِينٍ]

(I am better than he. You created me from fire, and You created him from clay.)[38:76] Al-Hasan Al-Basri said, "Iblis was not one of the angels, not even for a second. He was the origin of the Jinn just as Adam, upon him be peace, was the origin of mankind.'' This was narrated by Ibn Jarir with a Sahih chain.

Answer 8

Iblees is a fallen Angel. He was an Angel, still is an angel, but he is no longer angelic. He turned against Allah, but by nature he is an angel and that's just a fact.  

Answer 9

Satan/Iblees was an angel, but angel made from fire. That's why he had an attitude of bowing down in front of Adam who was made from clay and it seemed to him to compromise his dignity by bowing down.

Iblees was an angel before, still is an angel but now he is just iblees (the devil).

Answer 10

Ali A is right. Iblees isn't an angel, he's a jinn made out of fire, but 'cos he was such a good slave of Allah (SWT) and worshipped Him for many many years, his status was elevated to that of the angels, that's why he was included when Allah (SWT) told the angels to bow down before Adam (AS). But he refused and Allah (SWT) threw him out from heaven, all 'cos Iblees was too arrogant. So this shows us how having arrogance can ruin the best of us.

Answer 11

[18:50] We said to the angels, "Fall prostrate before Adam." They fell prostrate, except Satan. He became a jinn, for he disobeyed the order of His Lord. Will you choose him and his descendants as lords instead of Me, even though they are your enemies? What a miserable substitute!

[18:50] … He became a jinn, for he disobeyed the order of His Lord.

...He (Satan) and his tribe can see you, while YOU DO NOT SEE THEM. We appoint the devils as companions of those who do not believe. [7:27]

We have permitted the enemies of every prophet—human and jinn devils—to inspire in each other fancy words, in order to deceive. Had your Lord willed, they would not have done it. You shall disregard them and their fabrications. This is to let the minds of those who do not believe in the Hereafter listen to such fabrications, and accept them, and thus expose their real convictions. (6:112-113)

We have committed to h**l multitudes of jinns and humans. They have minds with which they do not understand, eyes with which they do not see, and ears with which they do not hear. They are like animals; no, they are far worse—they are totally unaware. (7:179)

Answer 12

To be sure look at this verse:

018.050 وَإِذْ قُلْنَا لِلْمَلائِكَةِ اسْجُدُوا لآدَمَ فَسَجَدُوا إِلا إِبْلِيسَ كَانَ مِنَ الْجِنِّ فَفَسَقَ عَنْ أَمْرِ رَبِّهِ أَفَتَتَّخِذُونَهُ وَذُرِّيَّتَهُ أَوْلِيَاءَ مِنْ دُونِي وَهُمْ لَكُمْ عَدُوٌّ بِئْسَ لِلظَّالِمِينَ بَدَلا

018.050 Behold! We said to the angels, "Bow down to Adam": They bowed down except Iblis. He was one of the Jinns, and he broke the Command of his Lord. Will ye then take him and his progeny as protectors rather than Me? And they are enemies to you! Evil would be the exchange for the wrong-doers!

Al-Qur'an, 018.050 (Al-Kahf [The Cave])

You know that jinns are formed from fire , so look  at this verse :

038.076 قَالَ أَنَا خَيْرٌ مِنْهُ خَلَقْتَنِي مِنْ نَارٍ وَخَلَقْتَهُ مِنْ طِينٍ

038.076 (Iblis) said: "I am better than he: thou createdst me from fire, and him thou createdst from clay."

Al-Qur'an, 038.076 (Sad [The Letter Sad])