Surah Kahf ayat 50 Tafsir Quran 18:50

﴿وَإِذْ قُلْنَا لِلْمَلَائِكَةِ اسْجُدُوا لِآدَمَ فَسَجَدُوا إِلَّا إِبْلِيسَ كَانَ مِنَ الْجِنِّ فَفَسَقَ عَنْ أَمْرِ رَبِّهِ ۗ أَفَتَتَّخِذُونَهُ وَذُرِّيَّتَهُ أَوْلِيَاءَ مِن دُونِي وَهُمْ لَكُمْ عَدُوٌّ ۚ بِئْسَ لِلظَّالِمِينَ بَدَلًا﴾
[ الكهف: 50]

18:50 And [mention] when We said to the angels, "Prostrate to Adam," and they prostrated, except for Iblees. He was of the jinn and departed from the command of his Lord. Then will you take him and his descendants as allies other than Me while they are enemies to you? Wretched it is for the wrongdoers as an exchange.

And when idh is dependent because it is governed by an implicit udhkur ‘mention when’ We said to the angels ‘Prostrate before Adam’ a prostration involving a bow not placing one’s forehead down to the ground as a greeting to him; and so they prostrated all except Iblīs. He was one of the jinn — some say that these creatures are a species of angels in which case the exceptive clause illā Iblīs ‘except Iblīs’ is a continuous one; but it is also said to be discontinuous since Iblīs is considered the progenitor of all the jinn having offspring who are mentioned alongside him further below; angels on the other hand do not have offspring; and he transgressed against his Lord’s command that is to say he rebelled against obedience to Him by refraining from performing the prostration. Will you then take him and his offspring — this address is to Adam and his progeny the final pronominal suffix hā’ in both words refers to Iblīs for your patrons instead of Me obeying them when they are an enemy to you? in other words when they are your enemies wa-hum lakum ‘aduwwun is a circumstantial qualifier. How evil for the evildoers is that substitute! of Iblīs and his offspring in obeying them instead of obeying God.

For once We said to the angels: Prostrate yourselves to Adam in adoration, and the angels prostrated to Adam in comely order praise and admiration except Iblis, AL-Shaytan-to-be, who was a Jinn juxtaposed* to the angels and by consequence he disobeyed Allah, his Creator. So conditioned, do you people take him and his progeny as tutelary guardians besides Allah when they are your avowed enemy! Evil indeed is the substitute adopted by the wrongful of actions

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 ﷺ 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. فَفَسَقَ عَنْ أَمْرِ رَبِّهِ ( he disobeyed the command of his Lord.
) meaning by stepping beyond the bounds of obedience to Allah.
Fisq ( disobeying ) implies going out or stepping beyond.
When the date emerges from its flower, the verb used in Arabic is Fasaqat; the same verb is used to describe a mouse coming out of its hole when it comes out to do damage.
Then Allah says, rebuking those who follow and obey Iblis: أَفَتَتَّخِذُونَهُ وَذُرِّيَّتَهُ أَوْلِيَآءَ مِن دُونِى ( Will you then take him and his offspring as protectors and helpers rather than Me ) meaning, instead of Me.
This is why Allah says: بِئْسَ لِلظَّـلِمِينَ بَدَلاً ( What an evil is the exchange for the wrongdoers. ) This is like the Ayah in Surah Ya Sin where, after mentioning the Resurrection and its terrors, and the ultimate end of the blessed and the doomed, Allah then says: وَامْتَازُواْ الْيَوْمَ أَيُّهَا الْمُجْرِمُونَ ( (It will be said ): "And O you the criminals! Get you apart this Day ( from the believers ).) until; أَفَلَمْ تَكُونُواْ تَعْقِلُونَ ( Did you not then understand ) 36:59-62

(18:50) Remember! When We said to the angels, "Bow down before Adam". They bowed down but Iblis did not. *47 He was one of the jinns, so he chose the way of disobedience to his Lord's Command. *48 What, would you then discard Me and make him and his offspring your patrons, though they are your enemies? What a bad substitute it is that these workers of iniquity are taking !

And [mention] when We said to the meaning

*47) The reference to the story of Adam and Iblis has been made here to warn the erring people of their folly.
It is an obvious folly that people should discard their Prophets, who were their well-wishers, and get entangled in the snare set by their eternal enemy, Iblis, who has been jealous of man ever since he refused to bow down before Adam and became accursed.

*48) It was possible for Iblis to disobey Allah because he was not one of the angels but one of the jinns.
It must be noted that the Qur'an is very explicit that the angels are inherently obedient:
( 1 ) " They do not show arrogance; they fear their Lord Who is above them, and do whatever they are bidden. " ( XVI: 50 )
( 2 ) " .....
They do not disobey the Command that is given to them by their Lord and do whatever they are bidden to do. " ( LXVI: 6 )
In contrast to the angels, the jinns have been, like human beings, given the option to obey or not to obey.
Therefore they have been given the power to believe or disbelieve, to obey or not to obey.
This thing has been made explicit here by saying that Iblis was one of the jinns, so he deliberately chose the way of disobedience.
Incidentally, this verse removes all those misunderstandings that are generally found among the common people that Iblis was one of the angels and not an ordinary angel but the instructor of the angels.
As regards the difficulty that arises because of this statement of the Qur'an, " When We said to the angels, `Bow down before Adam.
They bowed down but Iblis did not', " it should be noted that the Command to the angels was meant for all those on the Earth who were under the administration of the angels so that they should also be made submissive to man.
Accordingly all these creatures bowed along with the angels but Iblis refused to bow down along with them.

 

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 ﷺ 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. فَفَسَقَ عَنْ أَمْرِ رَبِّهِ ( he disobeyed the command of his Lord.
) meaning by stepping beyond the bounds of obedience to Allah.
Fisq ( disobeying ) implies going out or stepping beyond.
When the date emerges from its flower, the verb used in Arabic is Fasaqat; the same verb is used to describe a mouse coming out of its hole when it comes out to do damage.
Then Allah says, rebuking those who follow and obey Iblis: أَفَتَتَّخِذُونَهُ وَذُرِّيَّتَهُ أَوْلِيَآءَ مِن دُونِى ( Will you then take him and his offspring as protectors and helpers rather than Me ) meaning, instead of Me.
This is why Allah says: بِئْسَ لِلظَّـلِمِينَ بَدَلاً ( What an evil is the exchange for the wrongdoers. ) This is like the Ayah in Surah Ya Sin where, after mentioning the Resurrection and its terrors, and the ultimate end of the blessed and the doomed, Allah then says: وَامْتَازُواْ الْيَوْمَ أَيُّهَا الْمُجْرِمُونَ ( (It will be said ): "And O you the criminals! Get you apart this Day ( from the believers ).) until; أَفَلَمْ تَكُونُواْ تَعْقِلُونَ ( Did you not then understand ) 36:59-62

( And (remember ) when We said unto the angels) who were on the earth: ( Fall prostrate before Adam ) a prostration of greeting, ( and they fell prostrate, all save Iblis ) their leader. ( He was of the jinn ) of the tribe of the jinn, ( so he rebelled against his Lord’s command ) he disobeyed his Lord and refused to prostrate to Adam. ( Will ye choose him ) will you worship him ( and his seed for your protecting friends ) as lords ( instead of Me ) instead of Allah, ( when they are an enemy unto you ) whose enmity is quite manifest? ( Calamitous is the exchange ) in worship; it is also said that this means: evil is that which they exchanged: they exchanged the worship of Allah with the worship of Satan; and it is also said: they exchanged the protecting friendship of Allah with the protecting friendship of Satan ( for evil-doers ) for idolaters!

And (remember) when We said to the angels; "Prostrate to Adam." So they prostrated except Iblis (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 Zalimun (polytheists, and wrong-doers, etc).

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