إِلَّآ إِبْلِيسَ ٱسْتَكْبَرَ وَكَانَ مِنَ ٱلْكَـٰفِرِينَ 74
Translations
Except Iblees; he was arrogant and became among the disbelievers.
Transliteration
Illa iblis istakbara wa kana min al-kafireen
Tafsir (Explanation)
This ayah refers to Iblis (Satan) as the exception to Allah's command for the angels to prostrate before Adam. Ibn Kathir explains that Iblis refused out of arrogance (istikbar), considering himself superior to Adam due to his creation from fire, whereas Adam was created from clay. Al-Qurtubi notes that this refusal marked Iblis's transformation from obedience to disbelief (kufr), making him among those who reject Allah's commands and deny His wisdom in creation.
Revelation Context
This ayah occurs within Surah Sad's narrative of Adam's creation and the angels' prostration, a foundational account in Islamic theology. The broader context (38:71-85) describes how Allah created Adam, commanded the angels to prostrate, and how Iblis alone refused—establishing the theological origin of Satan's rebellion and enmity toward humanity.
Related Hadiths
Sahih Muslim records that the Prophet (peace be upon him) said Iblis was among the jinn and disobeyed the command of his Lord. Additionally, a hadith in Sunan Ibn Majah describes how Iblis's arrogance ('ujub) and refusal to obey Allah's direct command led to his expulsion from Allah's mercy.
Themes
Key Lesson
This ayah teaches that arrogance toward Allah's commands is the root of spiritual ruin and disbelief, regardless of one's perceived status or intellect. For believers, it serves as a warning to maintain humility and instant obedience to Allah's guidance, lest pride blind us to truth as it blinded Iblis.
Related Ayahs
وَإِنَّ عَلَيْكَ لَعْنَتِىٓ إِلَىٰ يَوْمِ ٱلدِّينِ
And indeed, upon you is My curse until the Day of Recompense."
وَمَا خَلَقْنَا ٱلسَّمَآءَ وَٱلْأَرْضَ وَمَا بَيْنَهُمَا بَـٰطِلًا ۚ ذَٰلِكَ ظَنُّ ٱلَّذِينَ كَفَرُوا۟ ۚ فَوَيْلٌ لِّلَّذِينَ كَفَرُوا۟ مِنَ ٱلنَّارِ
And We did not create the heaven and the earth and that between them aimlessly. That is the assumption of those who disbelieve, so woe to those who disbelieve from the Fire.
كَمْ أَهْلَكْنَا مِن قَبْلِهِم مِّن قَرْنٍ فَنَادَوا۟ وَّلَاتَ حِينَ مَنَاصٍ
How many a generation have We destroyed before them, and they [then] called out; but it was not a time for escape.
أَمْ عِندَهُمْ خَزَآئِنُ رَحْمَةِ رَبِّكَ ٱلْعَزِيزِ ٱلْوَهَّابِ
Or do they have the depositories of the mercy of your Lord, the Exalted in Might, the Bestower?