Satan: A Good Muslim?
According to the Quran, Satan turns out to be a good Muslim after all, since he is depicted as believing in Allah and fearing his wrath. He even disassociates himself from sinners who try to put the blame for their sins upon him:
And (remember) when Shaitan (Satan) made their (evil) deeds seem fair to them and said, "No one of mankind can overcome you this Day (of the battle of Badr) and verily, I am your neighbour (for each and every help)." But when the two forces came in sight of each other, he ran away and said "Verily, I have nothing to do with you. Verily! I see what you see not. Verily! I FEAR ALLAH for Allah is Severe in punishment." S. 8:48 Hilali-Khan
And Shaitan (Satan) will say when the matter has been decided: "Verily, Allah promised you a promise of truth. And I too promised you, but I betrayed you. I had no authority over you except that I called you, so you responded to me. So blame me not, but blame yourselves. I cannot help you, nor can you help me. I deny your former act in associating me (Satan) as a partner with Allah (by obeying me in the life of the world). Verily, there is a painful torment for the Zalimun (polytheists and wrong-doers, etc.)." S. 14:22 Hilali-Khan
(Their allies deceived them) like Shaitan (Satan), when he says to man: "Disbelieve in Allah." But when (man) disbelieves in Allah, Shaitan (Satan) says: "I am free of you, I FEAR ALLAH, the Lord of the 'Alamin (mankind, jinns and all that exists)!" S. 59:16 Hilali-Khan
In fact, Satan is such a good Muslim that he also recognizes and admits that he is able to corrupt and deceive people only because Allah has empowered him to do so. Satan even says that he is merely imitating Allah in misleading people since this is exactly what Allah did to him:
(Iblis) said: "Allow me respite till the Day they are raised up (i.e. the Day of Resurrection)." (Allah) said: "You are of those allowed respite." (Iblis) said: "Because YOU HAVE SENT ME ASTRAY, surely I will sit in wait against them (human beings) on Your Straight Path. Then I will come to them from before them and behind them, from their right and from their left, and You will not find most of them as thankful ones (i.e. they will not be dutiful to You)." (Allah) said (to Iblis) "Get out from this (Paradise) disgraced and expelled. Whoever of them (mankind) will follow you, then surely I will fill Hell with you all." S. 7:14-18 Hilali-Khan
[Iblis (Satan)] said: "O my Lord! Give me then respite till the Day they (the dead) will be resurrected." Allah said: "Then, verily, you are of those reprieved, Till the Day of the time appointed." [Iblis (Satan)] said: "O my Lord! BECAUSE YOU MISLED ME, I shall indeed adorn the path of error for them (mankind) on the earth, and I shall mislead them all. Except Your chosen, (guided) slaves among them." (Allah) said: "This is the Way which will lead straight to Me. Certainly, you shall have no authority over My slaves, except those who follow you of the Ghawin (Mushrikun and those who go astray, criminals, polytheists, and evil-doers, etc.). And surely, Hell is the promised place for them all. It (Hell) has seven gates, for each of those gates is a (special) class (of sinners) assigned. Truly! The Muttaqun (pious and righteous persons – see V.2:2) will be amidst Gardens and water-springs (Paradise). (It will be said to them): 'Enter therein (Paradise), in peace and security.' And We shall remove from their breasts any sense of injury (that they may have), (So they will be like) brothers facing each other on thrones. No sense of fatigue shall touch them, nor shall they (ever) be asked to leave it." S. 15:36-48 Hilali-Khan
[Iblis (Satan)] said: "My Lord! Give me then respite till the Day the (dead) are resurrected." (Allah) said: "Verily! You are of those allowed respite Till the Day of the time appointed." [Iblis (Satan)] said: "BY YOUR MIGHT, then I will surely mislead them all, Except Your chosen slaves amongst them (faithful, obedient, true believers of Islamic Monotheism)." (Allah) said: "The Truth is, and the Truth I say, That I will fill Hell with you [Iblis (Satan)] and those of them (mankind) that follow you, together." S. 38:79-85 Hilali-Khan
It seems that Satan’s theology is much better than many, if not most, Muslims. One thing for certain is that he obviously has strong faith in and accurate knowledge of Allah’s true character.
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