The story of Adam and Iblis is mentioned often in the Quran, sometimes by a brief reference, and other times taking up a whole page. One of these is in Surat al-Hijr, where Allah talks about Shaytan’s promise to lead people astray and beautify evil for them.
Humans can make their own choices
قَالَ رَبِّ بِمَآ أَغْوَيْتَنِى لَأُزَيِّنَنَّ لَهُمْ فِى ٱلْأَرْضِ وَلَأُغْوِيَنَّهُمْ أَجْمَعِينَ إِلَّا عِبَادَكَ مِنْهُمُ ٱلْمُخْلَصِينَ
He said, “My Lord, since You made me go astray, I swear that I shall beautify for them (evils) on the earth, and shall lead all of them astray, except those of Your servants from among them who are chosen (by You).” [15:39-40]
Allah asked all the angels to prostrate to Adam, and Iblis refused out of arrogance. This was the first sin ever committed, and one of the biggest after shirk. This was a prostration of salutation, like a greeting to Adam, but Iblis felt he was too good to lower himself to this.
All beings who have been given free will by Allah (i.e. humans and jinn, not angels) have also been made accountable for their own actions, and will bear the consequences of them. We see in the ayah that Shaytan blames Allah for leading him astray, whereas in reality, Allah gave him a choice, and he led himself down the wrong path.
He promised Allah he would beautify evil, and we can see the results of this today. For example, in the Epstein files, where we see crimes that are so horrific we can barely talk about them. This is the fulfilment of Shaytan’s promise.
The ones who are protected
The only people who won’t be led astray are the mukhlasin. There are two authentic narrations with different pronunciations for this word: one says mukhlisin, the ones who are sincere, and one says mukhlasin, the people who are so sincere at their core that they become Allah’s chosen servants.
قَالَ هَـٰذَا صِرَٰطٌ عَلَىَّ مُسْتَقِيمٌ
He (Allah) said, “This is the straight path leading to Me (that a person is chosen by Me through his good deeds). [15:41]
These are the people Iblis can’t touch: their firewalls are too strong, their software is updated too often. This is Allah’s counter-promise: Iblis will beautify evil, but He will protect His mukhlasin.
Don’t stray from the path
إِنَّ عِبَادِى لَيْسَ لَكَ عَلَيْهِمْ سُلْطَـٰنٌ إِلَّا مَنِ ٱتَّبَعَكَ مِنَ ٱلْغَاوِينَ
My servants are such that you have no power over them except those of the deviators who will follow you. [15:42]
Just as this started with Iblis’ choice, the surah then comes back to our choices: the mukhlasin choosing to go off the path. Some people will choose to jump over a fence into a minefield, even when there are warning signs all around it. Allah has warned you many times; if you choose to jump, it is your choice and you will bear whatever consequences result.
Don’t follow the footsteps of Shaytan
The bottom line is that Shaytan has no control over you. He himself blamed Allah for his own actions, he didn’t want to carry any responsibility. When you start blaming anyone and everyone except yourself, know that you are following Shaytan’s example.
In Surat an-Nur, Allah says:
يَـٰٓأَيُّهَا ٱلَّذِينَ ءَامَنُوا۟ لَا تَتَّبِعُوا۟ خُطُوَٰتِ ٱلشَّيْطَـٰنِ
O believers! Do not follow the footsteps of Satan. [24:21]
When we hear the word footsteps, we may think of prints in the sand or mud. It’s a visual explanation for something you usually see in front of you from a leader whom you are following. Don’t walk behind Shaytan. Don’t make him your leader.
Take the choice to be among the mukhlasin, the selected, sincere people whose fortress Shaytan can’t penetrate. We ask Allah to make us among the mukhlasin and protect us from Shaytan and our own egos.
Ramadan Reflection Night 5 delivered by Shaykh Haytham Tamim. Transcribed by Hana Khan.