Devil (Islam)

Iblis (Arabic إبليس, DMG Iblees ) or Azazil ( عزازل, DMG ʿ Azazil ) belongs to the Islamic view to the realm of the jinn. Iblis means Disappointed; he had only obtained after he had fallen out of favor with God that name. Iblis is also a Shaitan ( الشيطان, DMG aš - saitan 'devil' ); The word derives from the verb schatana and means as much as he was away. Shaitan So anyone jinns who stray from the good. This means that not everyone is a jinn shaytan. Iblis was the leader of the Shaitan and was regarded as the most learned among them. According to Islamic belief Iblis was before he fell out of favor with Allah, a very pious jinn; his position was so high that he got the privilege to guard the gates of paradise, what is actually the task of the angel Ridwan. Iblis was never the teacher or leader of the angels. Iblis is almost exclusively mentioned in connection with the creation story. Also in the Meccan suras is spoken by the hosts of Iblis (Sura 26:95 ). The Shaytan come in the Koran only in the plural. The names Shaitan and Iblis in Islam are usually interchangeable.

History Iblis in the Qur'an

Iblis guarded the gates of paradise for a thousand years. In an inscription at the gate, he read: " There are among the most honored servants of Allah one, a long time is obedient and ( then ) opposes his master and his master turns away from him and cursed him. " Iblis, who at the time still called Azazil, wondered about this prophecy, for he wondered who could presume to oppose his master. What he did not know was that he would be himself who was meant in this prophecy. He went to God and asked to be allowed to curse this wicked, which is found in the prophecy. " Oh Lord permit me to curse this unworthy sinner, whoever he may be. " Allah allowed him, and so he began to overwhelm these sinners with curses, ignorant of the fact that it was himself, he cursed.

When Allah created Adam and taught him the names of all things, Allah commanded that the angels to prostrate before Adam, for the reason, because he by what Allah had taught him, knowing was when the angels. All threw themselves on the Allah 's command down except Iblis.

The Angels may according to Islamic belief not ignore freely over the command of Allah, because they have no free will, as Iblis. This is also a proof that Iblis may be an angel for most Muslims.

As Iblis refused to get on your knees before Adam, Allah said:

And Allah cursed and banished him because of his pride.

Iblis asked for a deadline, which was also granted to him according to the Koran:

He ( Iblis ) said: " They certainly all lead by Thy majesty, I will astray. This does not include your chosen servants among them "( Sura 38: 82).

Attempts at rehabilitation of Satan ( Iblis ) in Sufism

Annemarie Schimmel writes in Mystical Dimensions of Islam: " In certain mystical circles tried a kind of rehabilitation of Satan. Apparently this idea was first formulated by Hallaj: Satan boasted to have served thousands of years God, ere Adam was created, and be Proud to be created from fire, makes him the command to prostrate before the dust created Adam, contravene. Hallaj saw only two genuine monotheists, namely Muhammad and Satan; However, while Muhammad is the treasurer of divine grace, Iblis is the treasurer of divine wrath. "(p. 276 f )

In fact, here is a not-too- often formulated problem: If the bid, only to worship God, to have the strictest validity, then how can the overthrow of Iblis before people are required? God requires not something impossible here? In other words: Performs full, even exaggerated love of Iblis to God ultimately to its misconduct and punishment?

After Hallaj calls Iblis (Satan ) from: " My rebellion is, sacred to tell you!" So imagine any other prostrate as God.

In this sense, Sarmad formulated (executed 1661): "Go, learn the method of real service of Satan, elect a prayer direction and throw yourself before anything else down! " (AP 238)

Man is in a similar dilemma as Satan, to act in faith, right and good (ie, according to God's instruction), he commits the worst crime and equal to the Iblis ( the Djinn as opposed to the angels, but like the man free will have! ) he must answer his own actions.