Iblis: The Enemy Within

In the Qur’an, Iblis (إبليس)—the figure identified as Satan or the Devil—is a central character who embodies pride, disobedience, and the ongoing moral struggle facing humanity.

The Qur’an recounts his origin, his fall from grace, and his role as the arch-tempter across several chapters (most prominently in Surah Al-Baqarah, Surah Al-A’raf, Surah Al-Hijr, Surah Al-Isra, Surah Al-Kahf, and Surah Sad).

1. Origin and Nature: Jinn, Not a Fallen Angel
Unlike Christian tradition, where Satan is a fallen angel, Islamic theology and the Qur’an explicitly state that Iblis belongs to the species of the Jinn:
“And [remember] when We said to the angels, ‘Prostrate to Adam,’ and they prostrated, except Iblis. He was of the jinn and departed from the command of his Lord.” (18:50)

وَإِذۡ قُلۡنَا لِلۡمَلَـٰٓئِكَةِ ٱسۡجُدُواْ لِأٓدَمَ فَسَجَدُوٓاْ إِلَّآ إِبۡلِيسَ كَانَ مِنَ ٱلۡجِنِّ فَفَسَقَ عَنۡ أَمۡرِ رَبِّهِۦٓۗ أَفَتَتَّخِذُونَهُۥ وَذُرِّيَّتَهُۥٓ أَوۡلِيَآءَ مِن دُونِي وَهُمۡ لَكُمۡ عَدُوُّۢۚ بِئۡسَ لِلظَّـٰلِمِينَ بَدَلٗا

Creation: Angels in Islam are created from light (nur) and possess no free will to disobey Allah. Jinn are created from smokeless fire (marijin min nar) and possess free will, similar to humans.
Pre-Fall Status: Prior to his disobedience, Iblis had elevated his spiritual status through worship to the point where he was admitted into the company of the angels.

بِسْمِ ٱللَّهِ ٱلرَّحْمٰنِ ٱلرَّحِيمِ
(الْحَمْدُ للهِ) أَنْتَ الاْبَدُ فَلاَ أَمَدَ لَكَ، وَأَنْتَ الْمُنْتَهَى فَلاَ مَحِيصَ عَنْكَ، وَأَنْتَ الْمَوْعِدُ فَلاَ مَنْجَى مِنْكَ إلاَّ إِلَيْكَ، بِيَدِكَ نَاصِيَةُ كُلِّ دَابَّة، وَإِلَيْكَ مَصِيرُ كُلِّ نَسَمَة.

“You are Everlasting, with no limit to Your existence. You are the Ultimate Goal, and there is no escape from You. You are the final Destination, and there is no safety from You except by turning to You. In Your hand is the control of every living creature, and to You every soul will return.
Eternal & Absolute Power: Expresses that God is infinite, without beginning or end, and that everything depends on Him.

وَنَشْهَدُ أَنْ لاَ إِلهَ إِلاَّ اللهُ وَحْدَهُ لاَ شَرِيكَ لَهُ، وَأَنَّ مُحَمَّداً عَبْدُهُ وَرَسُولُهُ، وَنَشْهَدُ أَنَّ عليا و أبىنائه المعصومين حجج الله ،
أُوصِيکُمْ عِبَادَاللهِ و نفسي، بِتَقْوَى اللهِ وَطَاعَتِهِ،
قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ (صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَآلِهِ): «أَغْلِقُوا أَبْوَابَكُمْ، وَاذْكُرُوا اسْمَ اللَّهِ؛ فَإِنَّ الشَّيْطَانَ لاَ يَفْتَحُ بَاباً مُغْلَقاً، وَأَطْفِئُوا مَصَابِيحَكُمْ، وَاذْكُرُوا اسْمَ اللَّهِ، وَوَكِّئُوا سِقَاءَكُمْ، وَاذْكُرُوا اسْمَ اللَّهِ، وَخَمِّرُوا آنِيَتَكُمْ، وَاذْكُرُوا اسْمَ اللَّهِ وَلَوْ أَنْ تَعْرُضُوا عَلَيْهَا شَيْئاً»

The Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him and his progeny) said:
“Close your doors and mention the name of Allah (say Bismillah), for indeed, Satan does not open a closed door. Extinguish your lamps and mention the name of Allah. Tie shut your waterskins and mention the name of Allah. And cover your vessels and mention the name of Allah, even if you only place something across them.”
Sermon 2:

اَلْحَمْدُ للهِ وَالْحَمْدُ حَقُّهُ كَما يَسْتَحِقُّهُ حَمْداً كَثيراً وَاَعُوذُ بِهِ مِنْ شَرِّ نَفْسى اِنَّ النَّفْسَ لاَمّارَةٌ بِالسُّوءِ اِلاّ ما رَحِمَ رَبّى وَاَعُوذُ بِهِ مِنْ شَرِّ الشَّيْطانِ الَّذى يَزيدُنى ذَنْباً اِلى ذَنْبى وَاَحْتَرِزُ بِهِ مِنْ كُلِّ جَبّار فاجِر وَسُلْطان جائِر وَعَدُوّ قاهِر اَللّـهُمَّ اجْعَلْنى مِنْ جُنْدِكَ فَاِنَّ جُنْدَكَ هُمُ الْغالِبُونَ وَاجْعَلْنى مِنْ حِزْبِكَ فَاِنَّ حِزْبَكَ هُمُ الْمُفْلِحُونَ وَاجْعَلْنى مِنْ اَوْلِيآئِكَ فَاِنَّ أولياءك لا خَوْفٌ عَلَيْهِمْ وَلا هُمْ يَحْزَنُونَ
والصلاه والسلام علی حبیب رب العالمین، شفیع المذنبین، رحمه للعالمین ابی القاسم محمد….

Parenting Insight:
Advice of Luqman (Verses 12 to 19)

وَلَقَدْ آتَيْنَا لُقْمَانَ الْحِكْمَةَ أَنِ اشْكُرْ لِلَّهِ ۚ وَمَن يَشْكُرْ فَإِنَّمَا يَشْكُرُ لِنَفْسِهِ ۖ وَمَن كَفَرَ فَإِنَّ اللَّهَ غَنِيٌّ حَمِيدٌ

And We certainly granted wisdom to Luqman, saying: “Be grateful to Allah.” And whoever is grateful, he is only grateful for the benefit of his own soul; and whoever is ungrateful, then surely Allah is Self-Sufficient and Praiseworthy.(12)

وَإِذْ قَالَ لُقْمَانُ لِابْنِهِ وَهُوَ يَعِظُهُ يَا بُنَيَّ لَا تُشْرِكْ بِاللَّهِ ۖ إِنَّ الشِّرْكَ لَظُلْمٌ عَظِيمٌ

And recall when Luqman said to his son while advising him: “O my dear son! Do not associate partners with Allah; indeed, polytheism is a great injustice.”(13)
Why the UN is often ineffective:

• The P5 Veto Power: The 5 permanent Security Council members (US, Russia, China, UK, France) can block any action that conflicts with their own or their allies’ political interests.
• No Enforcement Power: The UN has no standing army or independent police force; it relies entirely on voluntary troop and resource contributions from member nations.
• State Sovereignty: Article 2(7) prevents the UN from interfering in a country’s internal affairs, allowing regimes to shield human rights abuses under national sovereignty.
• Non-Binding Resolutions: Decisions made by the General Assembly (where all 193 nations vote) are only recommendations and carry no legal force.
• Outdated 1945 Structure: The UN reflects post-WWII power dynamics, leaving major modern regions (Africa, Latin America, South Asia) without permanent Security Council representation.
• Financial Dependency: The UN relies on contributions from wealthy nations, allowing top donors to exert financial pressure on its decisions.