سُوْرَةُ الْاَعْرَافِ
Surah Al-A'raaf (7) — Ayah 12
قَالَ مَا مَنَعَكَ أَلَّا تَسْجُدَ إِذْ أَمَرْتُكَ ۖ قَالَ أَنَا۠ خَيْرٌ مِّنْهُ خَلَقْتَنِى مِن نَّارٍ وَخَلَقْتَهُۥ مِن طِينٍ ﴿12﴾
Translation by Dr. Muhammad Muhsin Khan & Dr. Taqi-ud-Din al-Hilali
(Allâh) said: "What prevented you (O Iblîs) that you did not prostrate yourself, when I commanded you?" Iblîs said: "I am better than him (Adam), You created me from fire, and him You created from clay."
Word by Word — Arabic, Transliteration & Meaning
قَالَ
qāla
(Allah) said
مَا
mā
What
مَنَعَكَ
manaʿaka
prevented you
أَلَّا
allā
that not
تَسْجُدَ
tasjuda
you prostrate
إِذْ
idh
when
أَمَرْتُكَ ۖ
amartuka
I commanded you
قَالَ
qāla
(Shaitaan) said
أَنَا۠
anā
I am
خَيْرٌۭ
khayrun
better
مِّنْهُ
min'hu
than him
خَلَقْتَنِى
khalaqtanī
You created me
مِن
min
from
نَّارٍۢ
nārin
fire
وَخَلَقْتَهُۥ
wakhalaqtahu
and You created him
مِن
min
from
طِينٍۢ
ṭīnin
clay
Tafsir Ahsan al-Bayan — Hafiz Salahuddin Yusuf
Tafsir Ahsan al-Bayan is a well-known Quran commentary by Hafiz Salahuddin Yusuf, a renowned Salafi (Ahl al-Hadith) scholar from Pakistan. This tafsir explains the meanings of the Quran in accordance with the methodology of the Salaf (early righteous generations), relying on authentic sources and straightforward language. Due to its reliability and adherence to sound Islamic scholarship, the Saudi government publishes and distributes this tafsir among the Hujjaj (pilgrims) visiting the Haramain. The tafsir is originally written in Urdu, translated to English by tohed.com.
12. 1 In "ان لا تسجدوا", the "لا" is extra, meaning "ان تسجد" — Who forbade you from prostrating? Or the phrase is omitted, meaning: What compelled you to not prostrate? Shaytan was not from the angels, but according to the explicit statement of the Quran, he was from the jinn (الكهف: 50). However, due to residing in the heavens with the angels, he was included in the command of prostration that Allah gave to the angels. Therefore, he was questioned and rebuked. If he had not been included in this command, he would not have been questioned nor declared accursed.
12. 2 Shaytan's excuse is "an excuse for sin worse than the sin itself." Firstly, his understanding that the superior cannot be commanded to honor the inferior is incorrect, because the main thing is Allah's command; to argue about superiority or inferiority in the face of Allah's command is rebellion against Allah. Secondly, he gave the reason for being better that he was created from fire and Adam from clay. But he ignored the honor and greatness that Adam (AS) received: Allah created him with His own hand and breathed into him from His spirit. Can anything in the world compare to this honor? Thirdly, he used analogy in the face of explicit text, which is not the way of anyone who believes in Allah, and this analogy was also corrupt. How is fire better than clay? Fire has nothing but speed, flaring, and burning, whereas clay has calmness and stability, and the ability for growth, increase, and improvement. These qualities are certainly better and more beneficial than fire. From this verse, it is known that Shaytan was created from fire, as is also mentioned in the hadith: "The angels were created from light, Iblis from the flame of fire, and Adam (AS) from clay."
12. 2 Shaytan's excuse is "an excuse for sin worse than the sin itself." Firstly, his understanding that the superior cannot be commanded to honor the inferior is incorrect, because the main thing is Allah's command; to argue about superiority or inferiority in the face of Allah's command is rebellion against Allah. Secondly, he gave the reason for being better that he was created from fire and Adam from clay. But he ignored the honor and greatness that Adam (AS) received: Allah created him with His own hand and breathed into him from His spirit. Can anything in the world compare to this honor? Thirdly, he used analogy in the face of explicit text, which is not the way of anyone who believes in Allah, and this analogy was also corrupt. How is fire better than clay? Fire has nothing but speed, flaring, and burning, whereas clay has calmness and stability, and the ability for growth, increase, and improvement. These qualities are certainly better and more beneficial than fire. From this verse, it is known that Shaytan was created from fire, as is also mentioned in the hadith: "The angels were created from light, Iblis from the flame of fire, and Adam (AS) from clay."
