Answer by: Fadhīlat al-ʿĀlim ʿAbd al-ʿAzīz Āzād (ḥafiẓahullāh)
Was Iblīs from among the angels or the jinn? A detailed, evidence-based answer is required.
Iblīs was not an angel but was from among the jinn, as Allah ﷻ clearly states in the Qur’an:
"وَإِذْ قُلْنَا لِلْمَلَائِكَةِ اسْجُدُوا لِآدَمَ فَسَجَدُوا إِلَّا إِبْلِيسَ كَانَ مِنَ الْجِنِّ فَفَسَقَ عَنْ أَمْرِ رَبِّهِ"
[Sūrah al-Kahf: 50]
“And [mention] when We said to the angels, ‘Prostrate to Adam,’ and they prostrated—except for Iblīs. He was one of the jinn and he disobeyed the command of his Lord.”
◈ Iblīs was a jinn:
The Qur’an clearly identifies Iblīs as being from the jinn, confirming that he was not an angel.
◈ Angels do not disobey:
Allah describes the angels in the Qur’an:
"لَا يَعْصُونَ اللَّهَ مَا أَمَرَهُمْ وَيَفْعَلُونَ مَا يُؤْمَرُونَ"
[Sūrah al-Taḥrīm: 6]
“They do not disobey Allah in what He commands them but do what they are commanded.”
Iblīs disobeyed Allah, which proves that he could not have been an angel, as angels do not disobey.
◈ The creation of Iblīs:
Allah also states regarding the creation of jinn:
"وَخَلَقَ الْجَانَّ مِنْ مَارِجٍ مِنْ نَارٍ"
[Sūrah al-Raḥmān: 15]
“And He created the jinn from a smokeless flame of fire.”
Angels, on the other hand, are created from light. Thus, Iblīs’s origin from fire further confirms that he was a jinn.
Iblīs was not from among the angels, rather he was from the jinn, and he disobeyed the command of his Lord. The Qur’an affirms this with clear and decisive evidence.
❖ Question:
Was Iblīs from among the angels or the jinn? A detailed, evidence-based answer is required.
❖ Qur’anic Evidence:
Iblīs was not an angel but was from among the jinn, as Allah ﷻ clearly states in the Qur’an:
"وَإِذْ قُلْنَا لِلْمَلَائِكَةِ اسْجُدُوا لِآدَمَ فَسَجَدُوا إِلَّا إِبْلِيسَ كَانَ مِنَ الْجِنِّ فَفَسَقَ عَنْ أَمْرِ رَبِّهِ"
[Sūrah al-Kahf: 50]
“And [mention] when We said to the angels, ‘Prostrate to Adam,’ and they prostrated—except for Iblīs. He was one of the jinn and he disobeyed the command of his Lord.”
❖ Key Points:
◈ Iblīs was a jinn:
The Qur’an clearly identifies Iblīs as being from the jinn, confirming that he was not an angel.
◈ Angels do not disobey:
Allah describes the angels in the Qur’an:
"لَا يَعْصُونَ اللَّهَ مَا أَمَرَهُمْ وَيَفْعَلُونَ مَا يُؤْمَرُونَ"
[Sūrah al-Taḥrīm: 6]
“They do not disobey Allah in what He commands them but do what they are commanded.”
Iblīs disobeyed Allah, which proves that he could not have been an angel, as angels do not disobey.
◈ The creation of Iblīs:
Allah also states regarding the creation of jinn:
"وَخَلَقَ الْجَانَّ مِنْ مَارِجٍ مِنْ نَارٍ"
[Sūrah al-Raḥmān: 15]
“And He created the jinn from a smokeless flame of fire.”
Angels, on the other hand, are created from light. Thus, Iblīs’s origin from fire further confirms that he was a jinn.
❖ Conclusion:
Iblīs was not from among the angels, rather he was from the jinn, and he disobeyed the command of his Lord. The Qur’an affirms this with clear and decisive evidence.
