of Nokounam, May His Soul Rest in Peace (Session 1268)
Surah Al-A'raf, like a radiant gem in the Holy Qur'an, addresses fundamental theological and philosophical issues through profound and meaningful verses. This Surah, by recounting the expulsion of Iblis, his plea for respite, and his threat to mislead humanity, opens a window towards reflection on divine wisdom and human free will. The present text, with a deep examination of verses 13 to 18 of Surah Al-A'raf, elucidates the meanings of these verses and, drawing upon narrations of religious scholars, explores various dimensions of arrogance, misguidance, and the relationship between man and the Lord. This discourse, employing eloquent language and coherent structure, endeavours to present Qur'anic concepts clearly and richly for an audience interested in religious sciences.
The opening verses under discussion refer to the arrogance of Iblis towards the divine command. Iblis, citing his creation from fire and seeking superiority over Adam, refused to prostrate before him. This arrogance was not against Adam per se, but against the Most Holy Divine Essence who issued the command to prostrate.
قَالَ فَاهْبِطْ مِنْهَا فَمَا يَكُونُ لَكَ أَنْ تَتَكَبَّرَ فِيهَا فَاخْرُجْ إِنَّكَ مِنَ الصَّاغِرِينَ (الأعراف: 13)
He said: "Descend from it; for it is not for you to be arrogant therein. So get out, indeed you are of the abased."
This verse introduces Iblis' arrogance as a fundamental sin, the consequence of which is a fall from exalted status to abasement. Arrogance, as a barrier against divine obedience, distances humans and jinn from the proximity of God. In this context, obedience to the command of the Lord is like a key that opens the doors to felicity, and disobedience leads the way to destruction.
Key Point: The arrogance of Iblis was not merely disobedience to the command of prostration to Adam but was audacity against the Divine Essence itself, which led to his abasement.
To better understand this concept, one may refer to a human management analogy: If a manager appoints a position and asks subordinates to obey it, obedience to that position signifies order and harmony. Iblis, by disregarding this divine order, deprived himself of the mercy of the Lord.
The term "الصاغرين" (the abased) in the verse refers to the state into which Iblis fell following his arrogance and disobedience. This abasement is not only from a spiritual rank perspective but also in terms of his existential identity. Iblis, who was previously among the angels, descended to a rank lower than before due to this sin. This concept aligns with another Qur'anic verse:
وَمَن يَتَعَدَّ حُدُودَ اللَّهِ فَأُولَٰئِكَ هُمُ الظَّالِمُونَ (البقرة: 229)
"And whoever transgresses the limits of Allah it is they who are the wrongdoers."
Transgressing divine limits is akin to crossing the red lines of the wisdom of the Lord, leading humans and jinn towards injustice against themselves. Iblis, through this injustice, cast himself into the pit of abasement.
Iblis' arrogance, as a deeply rooted sin, not only caused his downfall but also exemplified the danger of defying divine command. Obedience is like a bridge to felicity, and arrogance like a deep pit towards destruction. This section, by emphasising the abasement of Iblis, demonstrated that disobedience to the Lord results in nothing but deprivation from divine mercy.
After his expulsion, Iblis made a bold request: respite until the Day of Resurrection. This request is explicitly mentioned in a verse from Surah Al-A'raf:
قَالَ أَنْظِرْنِي إِلَىٰ يَوْمِ يُبْعَثُونَ (الأعراف: 14)
He said: "Give me respite until the day they are resurrected."
"The Day They Are Raised" refers to the Day of Judgment, a day of which humanity has limited awareness. This unawareness acts as a veil over the reality of existence, preventing full comprehension of this concept by humans. Iblis, by requesting respite, sought an opportunity to prove his claim; yet this request inherently signifies part of divine wisdom in testing humans.
Key Point: Iblis' request for respite is not only a sign of his audacity but also part of divine wisdom in testing human free will.
The Resurrection, as a profound enigma, is described in Qur'anic verses in a manner that invites humans to humility before their ignorance. This concept is confirmed by another verse:
وَمَا أُوتِيتُمْ مِنَ الْعِلْمِ إِلَّا قَلِيلًا (الإسراء: 85)
"And you have not been given of knowledge except a little."
God's response to Iblis request is found in another verse:
قَالَ إِنَّكَ مِنَ الْمُنْظَرِينَ (الأعراف: 15)
He said: "Indeed, you are of those given respite."
"From the respite-givers" indicates the freedom of action granted to Iblis. This freedom is a double-edged sword, offering Iblis an opportunity to mislead humans and simultaneously serving as a test of human free will to choose guidance or misguidance. This concept aligns with another Qur'anic verse:
إِنَّ عِبَادِي لَيْسَ لَكَ عَلَيْهِمْ سُلْطَانٌ (الإسراء: 65)
"Indeed, My servants you have no authority over them."
This verse indicates that Iblis' power is only over those who incline towards misguidance themselves. His freedom is essentially part of the best possible divine system that holds humans accountable for their choices.
The respite granted to Iblis and his freedom of action act as a mirror reflecting human free will in the face of divine wisdom. His request for respite until the Day of Resurrection and its acceptance by the Lord are not signs of divine weakness but elements of a wise plan that tests human choice. Human limited knowledge invites humility before this wisdom.
Upon receiving respite, Iblis made a bold claim:
قَالَ فَبِمَا أَغْوَيْتَنِي لَأَقْعُدَنَّ لَهُمْ صِرَاطَكَ الْمُسْتَقِيمَ (الأعراف: 16)
He said: "Because You have put me in error, I will surely sit in wait for them on Your straight path."
The straight path, as a clear and slip-free road, symbolises divine guidance. Iblis claim to mislead humanity on this path appears paradoxical because the straight path is inherently immune to misguidance. To understand this claim, one might consider a daily-life analogy: a driver on a safe and direct road who mistakenly travels in the prohibited direction has, in fact, left the straight path and gone astray. Misguidance on the straight path essentially means deviation from it.
Key Point: Iblis claim to mislead on the straight path reflects his arrogance, as the straight path is inherently protected from misguidance.
Some mystical interpretations construe the straight path as encompassing whatever occurs as ultimately good. Such a perspective sometimes leads to oversimplification and departs from Quranic logic. The straight path is a way consistent with reason and revelation, and misguidance on it only occurs by departing from this route. This critique emphasises the necessity of rational engagement with Qur'anic verses and cautions against oversimplified interpretations.
Iblis claim to mislead humans on the
