Page 48 - The Arrogance of Satan

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THE ARROGANCE OF SATAN

evaluating everything from one' s own perspective, causes
one to become deprived of insight. Such an outlook
eventually makes a person apt to perceive and interpret
things incorrectly.

Satan' s Provocation

Because of his unsound reasoning, Satan saw man as the
main cause of his humiliation. Thus, he asked Allah for an
amount of time to be able to mislead man, and thus, to take
revenge upon him. His aim is to lead man away from the
straight path, and by that, to make him rebellious towards
Allah. It hurt his pride to see man exalted above him, and
himself humbled. The story of Satan is related in the Qur' an
as follows:
He (Allah) said, "What prevented you from prostrating
when I commanded you to?"
He (Iblis) replied, "I am better than him. You created me
from fire and You created him from clay."

He (Allah) said, "Descend from Heaven. It is not for you
to be arrogant in it. So get out! You are one of the
abased."
He (Iblis) said, "Grant me a reprieve until the day they
are raised up."
He (Allah) said, "You are one of the reprieved."

He (Iblis) said, "By Your misguidance of me, I will lie in
ambush for them on your straight path. Then I will
come at them, from in front of them and behind them,
from their right and from their left. You will not find
most of them thankful." (Surat al-A' raf: 12-17)