Who is Shaytan ?
Shaytan is one of the jinns created by Allah (SWT). Like other jinns, he was also created from smokeless fire.He is the most powerful evil spirit among the jinns. He encourages man to do evil. The Qur’an refers to Shaytan as,Iblis because of his deceptive, arrogant and misleading nature. The Jews or Christians call the Shaytan , the Devil or Satan.
Shaytan’s position before the creation of Adam (AS)
Before the creation of Adam, Shaytan was highly honoured by Allah (SWT) because of his great knowledge and devotion to Allah (SWT).Allah (SWT) honoured him by raising him to the position of the angels, and putting him in paradise.
How Shaytan became accursed by Allah (SWT)
When Prophet Adam was created, Allah gave a test to the angels, but all of them, including Shaytan , failed the test. Then Allah (SWT) made Adam (AS) do the same test, and he passed it.Because of that, Allah (SWT) told all the angels to honour Adam (AS), by bowing or prostrating to him. All the angels did it except Shaytan, who disobeyed because he was proud and arrogant. So Allah (SWT) cursed him and sent him out of paradise.Shaytan, therefore, vowed to deceive all human beings, to do wrong things and disobey Allah (SWT).
But Allah (SWT) assured the believers that Shaytan would not be able to do that, because such action would lead them into hell fire on the Day of Judgement.
So anybody looking for help, favour or protection from Shaytan and his followers are committing a great sin, known as Associating partner s(shirk).
NOTE
- Human beings, Shaytan (LA) and jinns were all created by Allah(SWT).
- Shaytan belonged to the jinns, and Adam belonged to human beings.
- Jinns were created from smokeless fire, and human beings were created from clay or dust (earth), while angels were created from light.
- Human beings and jinns share some similarities, but they also have some differences.
- Allah (SWT) created jinns before human beings.
- Human beings must beware of Shaytan , because he had promised he would lead them away from Allah (SWT).
- Anyone who obeys Shaytan will go to hell fire.
- Those who follow and obey Allah (SWT) will enter paradise.