A Closer Look at IBLIS

In the Name of Allah, the Beneficent, the Merciful...the Best Knower.

"The Sin of Ignorance is the Dissatisfaction with the Apparent Slowness of Allah's Reward for Faithful Service." --The Hon. Louis Farrakhan

If we study the words of Iblis in the Holy Qur'an, we find that at the root of his rebellion against Allah was disappointment. His disappointment was caused by his expectations for himself being thwarted, or not being met, by Allah's Command for him to "make obeisance" to that which Iblis felt he was BETTER than.

Allah said to the angels, "I am going to create a mortal of sounding clay, of black mud fashioned into shape. So when I have made him complete, and breathed into him of MY Spirit, fall down making obeisance to him."

Because Iblis had an exaggerated perception of himself, which produced unrealistic expectations of his relationship with Allah and possibly his future, this command by Allah caused Iblis to become offended, and he refused to obey Allah's command. He was so blinded by his own anger and disappointment that he could not even SEE Allah's Spirit in the Man that Allah created.

All Iblis could see was the "mud".

So Allah asked Iblis, "What hindered thee, that thou didst not make obeisance when "I" commanded thee?"

Iblis responded, "I am not going to make obeisance to a mortal....I am BETTER than he..." He simply REFUSED to obey Allah because of his resentment of, and dissappointment with, Allah's command.

Whether he, or we, realized it or not, Iblis' vow to "come after them" in retaliation for his exile, was actually an accusation against Allah, Himself; that Allah was somehow unjust in failing to recognize Iblis as being "better than he"; unjust for failing to cater to Iblis's EGO.

Iblis: "You are wrong, Allah. I am better than he. You can't expect me, whom you made of Fire, to submit to this which you have made of mud, can you? No, I refuse your command, Allah. I reject YOU, Allah."

NOW...HOW does this relate to YOU and I...and what the Hon. Elijah Muhammad said, "Any of us can turn devil overnight"?

Notice the chronology. IBLIS had been around a long time before Adam was created, and he had an established place of nearness to Allah. Unfortunately, he became so proud over his position that he forgot the One Who gave him the position - Allah. So when a new arrival to the scene comes, and Allah shows favor to that which Iblis considered less than himself, not only does he refuse to accept this new arrival as being from God, he actually ACCUSES God of wrongdoing.

In one sense, "IBLIS" represents any established or "orthodox" community who has enjoyed over time the status of "the chosen" people. In that same sense, "Adam" represents a new arrival in the community of Prophets and Messengers and their Followers.

Two thousand years go, "Iblis" was the Jews and "Adam" was Jesus and his followers.

1,400 years ago, "Iblis" was the Christians and "Adam" was Muhammad and his followers.

Today, "Iblis" is the Muslim world, and "Adam" is the Hon. Elijah Muhammad and the Nation of Islam.

Will we learn from this history? Or will we repeat it?

All Praise is due Allah for the Hon. Elijah Muhammad AND the Hon. Louis Farrakhan!

RM