وَإِذْ قُلْنَا لِلْمَلَـٰٓئِكَةِ ٱسْجُدُوا۟ لِـَٔادَمَ فَسَجَدُوٓا۟ إِلَّآ إِبْلِيسَ أَبَىٰ وَٱسْتَكْبَرَ وَكَانَ مِنَ ٱلْكَـٰفِرِينَ 34
Translations
And [mention] when We said to the angels, "Prostrate before Adam"; so they prostrated, except for Iblees. He refused and was arrogant and became of the disbelievers.
Transliteration
Wa-idh qulna lil-mala-ikati asjudu li-Adam fa-sajadu illa Iblis aba wa-stakbar wa-kana mina al-kafirun
Tafsir (Explanation)
This ayah describes the divine command to the angels to prostrate to Adam as a sign of respect and honor, to which all angels obeyed except Iblis (Satan), who refused out of arrogance and pride, deeming himself superior because he was created from fire while Adam was created from clay. Ibn Kathir and Al-Tabari explain that this refusal constituted disbelief (kufr) and marked the beginning of Iblis's enmity toward Adam and his descendants, establishing the foundational reason for Satan's rebellion against Allah's command.
Revelation Context
This ayah appears in the Medinan section of Al-Baqarah and provides crucial context for understanding the nature of Satan and the test of human obedience. It is part of the narrative establishing Adam's honored status in creation and serves as a thematic foundation for explaining human temptation and the eternal struggle between good and evil throughout Islamic history.
Related Hadiths
The Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) said regarding the angels: 'The angels were created from light, the jinn were created from fire, and Adam was created from what has been described to you' (Sahih Muslim). Additionally, the Quran itself references Iblis's refusal in Surah Al-Kahf 18:50, clarifying that Iblis was from the jinn, not among the angels.
Themes
Key Lesson
This ayah teaches that true honor comes through obedience to Allah's commands, while arrogance and refusal to submit lead to disgrace and separation from divine mercy, regardless of one's perceived status or origin. It reminds believers that Satan's enmity toward humanity stems from his jealousy and pride, motivating Muslims to remain steadfast in faith and humble before Allah.
Related Ayahs
وَإِذَا لَقُوا۟ ٱلَّذِينَ ءَامَنُوا۟ قَالُوٓا۟ ءَامَنَّا وَإِذَا خَلَوْا۟ إِلَىٰ شَيَـٰطِينِهِمْ قَالُوٓا۟ إِنَّا مَعَكُمْ إِنَّمَا نَحْنُ مُسْتَهْزِءُونَ
And when they meet those who believe, they say, "We believe"; but when they are alone with their evil ones, they say, "Indeed, we are with you; we were only mockers."
يَـٰٓأَيُّهَا ٱلَّذِينَ ءَامَنُوٓا۟ أَنفِقُوا۟ مِن طَيِّبَـٰتِ مَا كَسَبْتُمْ وَمِمَّآ أَخْرَجْنَا لَكُم مِّنَ ٱلْأَرْضِ ۖ وَلَا تَيَمَّمُوا۟ ٱلْخَبِيثَ مِنْهُ تُنفِقُونَ وَلَسْتُم بِـَٔاخِذِيهِ إِلَّآ أَن تُغْمِضُوا۟ فِيهِ ۚ وَٱعْلَمُوٓا۟ أَنَّ ٱللَّهَ غَنِىٌّ حَمِيدٌ
O you who have believed, spend from the good things which you have earned and from that which We have produced for you from the earth. And do not aim toward the defective therefrom, spending [from that] while you would not take it [yourself] except with closed eyes. And know that Allāh is Free of need and Praiseworthy.
إِنَّ ٱلَّذِينَ ءَامَنُوا۟ وَٱلَّذِينَ هَاجَرُوا۟ وَجَـٰهَدُوا۟ فِى سَبِيلِ ٱللَّهِ أُو۟لَـٰٓئِكَ يَرْجُونَ رَحْمَتَ ٱللَّهِ ۚ وَٱللَّهُ غَفُورٌ رَّحِيمٌ
Indeed, those who have believed and those who have emigrated and fought in the cause of Allāh - those expect the mercy of Allāh. And Allāh is Forgiving and Merciful.
يَـٰبَنِىٓ إِسْرَٰٓءِيلَ ٱذْكُرُوا۟ نِعْمَتِىَ ٱلَّتِىٓ أَنْعَمْتُ عَلَيْكُمْ وَأَنِّى فَضَّلْتُكُمْ عَلَى ٱلْعَـٰلَمِينَ
O Children of Israel, remember My favor which I have bestowed upon you and that I preferred you over the worlds.