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 Taiseer ul-Quran — Maulana Abdul Rahman Kilani
Tafsir Taiseer ul-Quran (Facilitation of the Quran) is a comprehensive Quran commentary by Maulana Abdul Rahman Kilani, a renowned Salafi (Ahl al-Hadith) scholar from Pakistan. Known for his eloquent and accessible writing style, Kilani authored this tafsir with a focus on clarity — making Quranic meanings understandable to the common reader. The tafsir provides detailed historical context for verses related to battles and expeditions, and firmly refutes modernist ideologies using strong scriptural evidence. It is widely regarded as an invaluable resource for understanding the Quran and countering deviant interpretations. The tafsir is originally written in Urdu, translated to English by tohed.com.
Allah asked him, "What prevented you from prostrating when I commanded you?" He replied, "I am better than him; You created me from fire [11] and created him from clay."
[11]
Comparison of the Properties of Fire and Clay:
Iblis thought that fire is superior to clay because fire is subtle and clay is dense. Fire rises from below to above, while clay falls from above to below. Fire can change its shape and color, but clay does not possess this quality without great effort. After this apparent superiority, if we look at the outcome, fire burns everything and destroys it, whereas from clay grow plants, all kinds of fruits, grains, and trees. The nature of fire is rebellious, while the nature of clay is humility and modesty. It was due to this nature of fire that Iblis disobeyed Allah and chose the path of arrogance, thus becoming accursed and rejected by Allah. When Adamؑ disobeyed Allah, he sought forgiveness for his sin and became one of those close to Allah. Some scholars, by comparing fire and clay, have declared clay superior to fire for these reasons.
[11]
Comparison of the Properties of Fire and Clay:
Iblis thought that fire is superior to clay because fire is subtle and clay is dense. Fire rises from below to above, while clay falls from above to below. Fire can change its shape and color, but clay does not possess this quality without great effort. After this apparent superiority, if we look at the outcome, fire burns everything and destroys it, whereas from clay grow plants, all kinds of fruits, grains, and trees. The nature of fire is rebellious, while the nature of clay is humility and modesty. It was due to this nature of fire that Iblis disobeyed Allah and chose the path of arrogance, thus becoming accursed and rejected by Allah. When Adamؑ disobeyed Allah, he sought forgiveness for his sin and became one of those close to Allah. Some scholars, by comparing fire and clay, have declared clay superior to fire for these reasons.
