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 al-Quran al-Karim — Hafiz Abdus Salam Bin Muhammad Bhutvi
Tafsir al-Quran al-Karim is a 4-volume Quran commentary by Hafiz Abdus Salam bin Muhammad Bhutvi, a renowned Salafi (Ahl al-Hadith) scholar and Sheikh ul-Hadith from Pakistan. Based on over 45 years of teaching and research, this tafsir follows the methodology of Tafsir bil-Ma'thur — interpreting the Quran through authentic Hadith, statements of the Companions, and the understanding of the early generations (Salaf). It is distinguished by its complete avoidance of Israeliyyat (Judeo-Christian narratives) and unverified reports. The tafsir is originally written in Urdu, translated to English by tohed.com.
(Ayah 12) ➊ {قَالَ مَا مَنَعَكَ اَلَّا تَسْجُدَ اِذْ اَمَرْتُكَ:} Here, {’’ اَلَّا ‘‘} is for emphasis and stress; the proof of this is that in Surah Sad (75) it is said: «{مَا مَنَعَكَ اَنْ تَسْجُدَ} » "What prevented you from prostrating?" And here it is: "What prevented you that, because of its preventing, you did not prostrate."
➋ This resolves the difficulty that the command to prostrate was given to the angels, Iblis was from among the jinn, he was not an angel, so why was he considered disobedient? Strange and peculiar answers have been given to this. From this verse, it is understood that besides the angels, Iblis was specifically addressed and commanded.
➌ { خَلَقْتَنِيْ مِنْ نَّارٍ:} Fire is superior to clay, and how can the superior prostrate to the inferior? He did not consider Who was giving the command, but instead, in the presence of Allah’s clear command, he relied on analogical reasoning; as a result, he was rejected and Allah’s wrath descended upon him. That is why the scholars say that the first person who made an analogy in the presence of a clear command was Iblis. Ibn Sirin said that the foundation of shirk was also analogy. (Tabari) Even now, whoever, in opposition to the verses and hadiths, relies on such analogical reasoning, his action is satanic, and his end will be the same as that of Iblis.
➍ {وَ خَلَقْتَهٗ مِنْ طِيْنٍ:} Here, Satan made several mistakes: firstly, it is wrong to say that the superior cannot prostrate to the inferior. The matter is not of superiority or inferiority, but of command, and Allah can command whomever He wills as He wills. Secondly, his claim that he is better than Adam is also wrong, because the honor and dignity that Allah granted to Adam (peace be upon him) by creating him with His own hands was not granted to any other creature. That is why it is said: «مَا مَنَعَكَ اَنْ تَسْجُدَ لِمَا خَلَقْتُ بِيَدَيَّ » [صۤ : ۷۵ ] "What prevented you from prostrating to the one whom I created with My two hands?" And thirdly, it is also wrong to say that fire is better than clay, because fire has the qualities of haste, burning, and flaring up, while clay has the qualities of humility, being a place of settlement, growing, and increasing. Even now, those who make analogies in opposition to the Quran and Hadith, if they reflect a little, it will be easy to understand the corruption and invalidity of such reasoning.
➋ This resolves the difficulty that the command to prostrate was given to the angels, Iblis was from among the jinn, he was not an angel, so why was he considered disobedient? Strange and peculiar answers have been given to this. From this verse, it is understood that besides the angels, Iblis was specifically addressed and commanded.
➌ { خَلَقْتَنِيْ مِنْ نَّارٍ:} Fire is superior to clay, and how can the superior prostrate to the inferior? He did not consider Who was giving the command, but instead, in the presence of Allah’s clear command, he relied on analogical reasoning; as a result, he was rejected and Allah’s wrath descended upon him. That is why the scholars say that the first person who made an analogy in the presence of a clear command was Iblis. Ibn Sirin said that the foundation of shirk was also analogy. (Tabari) Even now, whoever, in opposition to the verses and hadiths, relies on such analogical reasoning, his action is satanic, and his end will be the same as that of Iblis.
➍ {وَ خَلَقْتَهٗ مِنْ طِيْنٍ:} Here, Satan made several mistakes: firstly, it is wrong to say that the superior cannot prostrate to the inferior. The matter is not of superiority or inferiority, but of command, and Allah can command whomever He wills as He wills. Secondly, his claim that he is better than Adam is also wrong, because the honor and dignity that Allah granted to Adam (peace be upon him) by creating him with His own hands was not granted to any other creature. That is why it is said: «مَا مَنَعَكَ اَنْ تَسْجُدَ لِمَا خَلَقْتُ بِيَدَيَّ » [صۤ : ۷۵ ] "What prevented you from prostrating to the one whom I created with My two hands?" And thirdly, it is also wrong to say that fire is better than clay, because fire has the qualities of haste, burning, and flaring up, while clay has the qualities of humility, being a place of settlement, growing, and increasing. Even now, those who make analogies in opposition to the Quran and Hadith, if they reflect a little, it will be easy to understand the corruption and invalidity of such reasoning.
