Iblis is the name given in the Quran to the being who refused God's command to bow before Adam and was consequently cast out of paradise. In Islamic tradition he is the chief of the devils (shayatin) and the tempter of humankind until the Day of Judgment. His story raises theological questions about pride, free will and obedience that Muslim scholars have debated for centuries.
Iblis at a glance
| Tradition | Islam |
|---|---|
| Also called | Al-Shaytan ("the Satan"); chief of the shayatin |
| Quranic references | Including 2:34, 7:11-18, 15:28-44, 18:50 and 38:71-85 |
| Nature | Described in Quran 18:50 as "of the jinn"; angelic status debated |
| Defining act | Refusal to prostrate before Adam out of pride |
| Role | Tempter of humans, granted respite until the Day of Judgment |
The Quranic Account
The story of Iblis appears in several chapters (suras) of the Quran. God announces the creation of Adam and commands the angels to prostrate before him. All obey except Iblis, who refuses, arguing that he is better than Adam because he was created from fire while Adam was created from clay. For this arrogance he is expelled and cursed. Iblis then asks for a reprieve until the Day of Resurrection, which God grants, and he vows to lead humans astray, approaching them from every side. God replies that he will have no authority over God's sincere servants, and that those who follow him will share his fate.
The account continues in the garden, where Satan whispers to Adam and his wife and leads them to eat from the forbidden tree. In the Quranic narrative the couple repent and are forgiven, and Islamic theology therefore does not include a doctrine of inherited original sin.
Angel or Jinn?
A long-standing question concerns what kind of being Iblis was. Because he was included in the command given to the angels, some early exegetes considered him an angel, sometimes of high rank. Others pointed to Quran 18:50, which says he "was of the jinn," and to the teaching that angels do not disobey God, concluding that he was a jinn who lived among the angels. Classical commentaries record both views, and some attempted to reconcile them, for example by suggesting that "jinn" referred to a class of angels. The question has no single agreed answer across Islamic scholarship.
Name and Relation to Shaytan
The etymology of the name Iblis is uncertain. Many Western scholars derive it from the Greek diabolos, "slanderer," the source of the English word devil, perhaps through Syriac. Some Muslim philologists connected it instead with the Arabic root b-l-s, associated with despair, since Iblis despaired of God's mercy. The Quran uses the proper name Iblis mainly in the story of the refusal to bow, while elsewhere it speaks of al-shaytan, "the Satan," and of shayatin in the plural, meaning devils or evil spirits, human or jinn, who whisper temptation. The figure invites comparison with the Satan of Jewish and Christian tradition and with other adversary figures such as Belial and the Zoroastrian Ahriman, though Islam firmly rejects any cosmic dualism: Iblis remains a creature wholly subject to God.
Theology and Sufi Interpretations
Mainstream Islamic theology presents Iblis as a warning against pride and disobedience and as an example of how knowledge without humility leads to ruin. His whisperings (waswasa) are resisted through remembrance of God, prayer and seeking refuge in God, as in the final chapters of the Quran.
Some Sufi writers developed more complex readings. The 10th-century mystic al-Hallaj, in his Kitab al-Tawasin, portrayed Iblis as a tragic figure whose refusal to bow to anyone but God expressed a distorted but intense monotheism. Later Sufis, including Ahmad Ghazali, explored similar ideas of Iblis as a lover of God condemned by his own choice. These views were controversial and are not representative of mainstream belief, but they have attracted considerable attention from scholars of mysticism.
Iblis in Hadith and Popular Belief
Beyond the Quran, the hadith literature, reports of the sayings and actions of the Prophet Muhammad, contains many references to Satan and his activity. Well-known reports describe Satan as flowing through human beings like blood, as fleeing at the call to prayer, and as encouraging yawning, haste and discord. Muslims commonly recite the formula "I seek refuge in God from Satan the accursed" before reading the Quran and in moments of anger or temptation.
Popular belief across the Muslim world developed further stories about Iblis, his offspring and his encounters with prophets, found in collections of qisas al-anbiya ("stories of the prophets"). Scholars distinguish these narrative traditions, which vary by region and period, from the doctrinal core shared by Sunni and Shia Islam: Iblis is a created being, has no power to compel, and can only invite humans to evil, who remain responsible for their own choices.
In Culture and Comparative Study
Iblis appears throughout Islamic literature, from collections of stories of the prophets to Persian and Urdu poetry, where Muhammad Iqbal gave him a voice in several poems. Scholars of comparative religion study him alongside related figures in Judaism, Christianity and Manichaeism, noting both shared motifs, such as the fall through pride, and the distinctive features of the Islamic account. Respectful study recognizes that for Muslims these texts are scripture, not myth in the everyday sense.
Related entries
Frequently asked questions
Why did Iblis refuse to bow to Adam?
According to the Quran, Iblis refused out of pride. He claimed to be better than Adam because he had been created from fire, while Adam was made from clay. Muslim scholars treat this as the first act of arrogance and disobedience, and as a lesson that judging worth by origin leads to ruin.
Is Iblis the same as Satan?
Largely, yes. Iblis is the personal name used in the Quran for the being who refused to bow to Adam, while al-shaytan, "the Satan," is the title under which he tempts humans. The plural shayatin refers to devils more generally. Islamic tradition treats Iblis as the chief of these beings, subordinate to God.
Was Iblis an angel or a jinn?
Muslim scholars have disagreed. Quran 18:50 says he was "of the jinn," and many hold that angels cannot disobey God, so Iblis must have been a jinn living among the angels. Others argued he was an angel, since the command to bow was addressed to the angels. Both views appear in classical commentaries.
Sources and further reading
- Iblis | Meaning, Name, & Significance · Encyclopaedia Britannica
- Iblis · Wikipedia
- Shaitan · Wikipedia (Spanish)
- Iblis · Wikipedia (Arabic)
This entry replaces an article from the original Mystica encyclopedia (online since 2001). It was rewritten from the sources above by The Mystica Editorial Team under our editorial standards. Last reviewed: September 30, 2026.