Satan in Islam

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Darth Ultor

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I believe Islam views Satan as an enemy of God, correct me if I'm wrong. Howeverm this begs the question: God commands us to fight temptations of immorality and evil. That along with faith is how you prevent going to Hell when you die. Now the question is if God is all-knowing and wanted humans to fight temptations, then why would Satan, the source of evil temptations be His enemy? Wouldn't it make more sense for him to be His servant?
 
What do you mean by enemy of God?

In Islam anyone or anything that dislikes to obey God and causes harm/deviation to those who do is an enemy of God and those who obey him.

Satan being the head of such enemies, is a servant of God. After Adam disobeyed the orders of Allah in Paradise, Satan said to Allah to allow him to live among us and that he would deceive us into disobeying God. Allah granted his request and as stated in the Qur'an told him that he will be allowed to do this until an appointed time, after that, Satan and all those who will follow him will be punished in hell.

In Islam, Satan isn't an equal to God, he doesn't rule over hell, nor is he exempt from the punishment of hell for his disobedience. He is just another creation/servant of Allah who chose to be disobedient and wanted to lead astray humans.
 
Darth Ultor said:
I believe Islam views Satan as an enemy of God, correct me if I'm wrong. Howeverm this begs the question: God commands us to fight temptations of immorality and evil. That along with faith is how you prevent going to Hell when you die. Now the question is if God is all-knowing and wanted humans to fight temptations, then why would Satan, the source of evil temptations be His enemy? Wouldn't it make more sense for him to be His servant?
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Actually, it would be clearer to say that Satan is an enemy of mankind.

{O you who have believed, enter into Islam completely [and perfectly] and do not follow the footsteps of Satan. Indeed, he is to you a clear enemy.} [Quran 2:208]

Why is this important? Because Islam doesn't have the same "concept" of God VS Satan as in some other religions. Satan/Iblis recognises God as his Lord, I believe there is a verse in the Quran which describes Iblis referring to God as "Rabb" which means Lord. So he still recognises that God is his Lord!

His issue is with mankind. When Iblis was commanded to prostrate to Adam(pbuh). He refused because he saw himself as better than Adam. If God had commanded him to prostrate to Him he perhaps would have because God is clearly the Greatest.

Also, notice that when Iblis refused to bow to Adam, God asked something along the lines of "Why do you not obey Me?". This is a very important question, because there is no "right answer" to not obey God! God did not ask "Why didn't you prostrate to Adam?". Yet, Iblis answered by saying that he is greater than Adam. Do you notice that this answer doesn't really have anything to do with the question?

One might ask why was he punished for disobeying God at that moment when we humans pretty much disobey God everyday. Well, I'm sure anyone can understand that to disobey "from far away" is different from "disobeying right in front". For example if my dad doesn't want me drinking Coke and I still drink it when I am out with my friends, it's not the same as me drinking it right in front of him.

Also, Satan is not the "source of evil temptations". At least from what I know. But I am still learning so it's better if I don't talk more about that until I learn more InshaAllah..
 
"O mankind, eat from whatever is on earth [that is] lawful and good and do not follow the footsteps of Satan. Indeed, he is to you a clear enemy.


He (shaytan) only orders you to evil and immorality and to say about Allah what you do not know." (Sura Baqara, 2 : 168-169)


"O you who have believed, enter into Islam completely [and perfectly] and do not follow the footsteps of Satan. Indeed, he is to you a clear enemy."
(Sura Baqara, 2 : 208)
 
Hulk said:
One might ask why was he punished for disobeying God at that moment when we humans pretty much disobey God everyday. Well, I'm sure anyone can understand that to disobey "from far away" is different from "disobeying right in front". For example if my dad doesn't want me drinking Coke and I still drink it when I am out with my friends, it's not the same as me drinking it right in front of him.
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Asalam wa Alaikom brother.

From what I read, that comparison isn't the best of comparisons because you basically said that God doesn't have the power to punish "from far away" and if he was able to punish from far away, then he didn't know about the evil sins as in the comparison you provided would be understood that the father wouldn't know that his son drank coke from far away so God wouldn't know either. In fact, God does punish the wrong doers in this world also as well as in the hereafter. "For those who reject faith and disbelieve, I will punish them with terrible pain in this world and in the Hereafter, and they will not have anyone to help." [3:56]

Other than that, everything else you've said stated explained everything pretty well on the subject of Satan and Islam.

Jazak Allaho khayr,
Sulayyman
 
Wa alaikumsalam akhi,

My example was meant to be seen from the context of adab and not a direct analogy perhaps I should have made it clearer. Thank you for bringing it up. Jazakallah khair.
 
To cut the story short, Satan (from the 3rd of God's creation, the Jinns) was a devout worshiper. He rose in ranks from centuries of worship but his arrogance and pride to bow down before Adam and thus disobey God made him the outcast. He asked for recompenses for his worship and ask for respite till J-day and the power to lead man astray. God being the most Just, gave him what he wanted but also stated that those who are God-fearing will not follow you and those who have evil in their hearts will only follow you.

You can read the whole story here - http://www.iqrasense.com/satan-and-...-methods-to-ward-off-influences-whispers.html

Lastly, on J-day satan will say this to his followers:

"And Shaitan (Satan) will say when the matter has been decided: "Verily, Allah promised you a promise of truth. And I too promised you, but I betrayed you. I had no authority over you except that I called you, so you responded to me. So blame me not, but blame yourselves. I cannot help you, nor can you help me. I deny your former act in associating me (Satan) as a partner with Allah (by obeying me in the life of the world). Verily, there is a painful torment for the Zalimun (polytheists and wrong-doers, etc.)." 14:22
 
Why did Satan become the enemy of humankind. Before the creation of Adam, God had told the angels that He was creating a being who would be vicegerent (khalifa) on earth. That meant that this being would have authority and free choice on earth and everything else would be subservient to him. The angels knew that whenever someone gets authority, he would cause bloodshed and mischief so they stated this before God. God told them that He knew what they did not.

After God created Adam, He tested the angels by asking them the names of things. The angels weren't able to answer. afterward, God asked Adam to tell them the names of things and he did. Then God told the angels to prostrate to Adam. Since Satan was sitting with the angels (and had obviously also not been able to pass the test) he also had to bow to Adam but refused to do so while the rest of the angels bowed to Adam. Then God asked Satan why he hadn't bowed to Adam when he had been ordered to do so. Satan replied that he was superior to Adam because satan was created from fire and Adam was created from soil. God told Satan to leave Paradise because he had no right to be arrogant there. Instead of simply leaving, Satan asked God for respite up till the Day of Judgment to mislead mankind. God gave him this respite but told Adam and Eve to beware of Satan because satan was mankind's enemy. God also told Adam and Eve to live in Paradise and eat of whatever they wanted to but to stay away from one particular tree.

After that, Satan came to Adam and Eve and told them that the reason they had been prevented from that tree because eating from it would turn them into angels or make them live forever. Thus, Adam and Eve were deceived by Satan and ate of the fruit. As soon as they did, their natural clothing fell away and they became naked. God then reminded them that He had warned them about Satan being their enemy. Adam and Eve both begged God to forgive them. God forgave them but told them that they had to live on earth. Thus Adam and Eve (along with Satan) were sent to earth.

There are few pointers in the story of Adam and Eve (some of them in a commentary of the Adam and Eve story): 1. the enmity of Satan was shown to Adam and Eve before they came to earth. 2. While Satan disobeyed God deliberately and then became arrogant instead of begging for forgiveness, Adam and Eve disobeyed God by mistake (because they were deceived) and as soon as they realized it, they asked God to forgive them. 3. Mankind has in its nature to always try to reach a superior point. 4. Satan takes advantage of this desire to deceive mankind. 5. Satan tries to remove the cover (clothing) of mankind and always tells mankind that they will become superior (or more advanced) if they remove their clothing. 6. Becoming naked will bring mankind's downfall just as it did back then. 7. Adam and Eve had eaten of a haram (forbidden) tree and because of it lost their dress. God has made some things on earth halal (allowed) and some things are forbidden. What happens when people eat of the forbidden things (such as alcohol, pork, etc)?
 
Iread the detailed information about shaitan people explained it very clearly. Jazak Allah
 
I think the original poster basically said the same thing everyone else is saying, that Satan is not God's enemy but His servant.
 
This is perhaps from Judaism -whom are saying now that Hell does not exist (but accept in the past they did, but attribute it to getting influenced by idol worshippers) and reject the existence of devils (but accept people doing sorcery)

Why would God have a servant and tell them to do evil??? How can you be a servant of God, and tell people to murder, rape sexually abuse children etc?? You wouldn't be.

God has allowed people to have free will including the Jinn as well as Mankind. Satan has many children and they follow humans around the world, are you saying they are all servants of Allah? Were they tell people to think about sex inappropriately etc??

Allah is testing people, that is accepted in Judaism, he allows people to be evil, and equally allows the good people to be tested by it and earn their reward in the next world. Why would God only send the sinful humans to Hell and not the demons when they are also being evil.

Allah loves pure, good, those that repent, and worship him only, remember the Day of Judgement, Paradise and Hell.
 

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