Iblîs

Iblis is a figure in Islamic theology widely identified as the devil. According to the Qur'an, he was a jinn created from smokeless fire who refused to bow to Adam when commanded by God and, for this act of disobedience, was expelled from heaven. He is not an angel; angels are created from light and do not disobey God.

The Qur'an describes that God asked all beings to bow to Adam; all prostrated except Iblis, who claimed that fire made him superior to clay. As punishment, God banished him and set him a temporary allowance until the Day of Judgment, giving him the charge to tempt humans and mislead them, though his influence is not absolute; he can only tempt within God’s permission and human free will.

Iblis is considered the leader of the shayatin (devils) and the chief antagonist in human moral trials in Islamic thought. He vows to mislead humanity, but Muslims are encouraged to seek refuge in God from his whispers and to follow guidance to resist his schemes. In scriptural references, Iblis is named in Qur'an 18:50 and is described as the jinn, not an angel, emphasizing the distinction between the created orders.

The figure’s significance extends into Islamic exegesis and folklore, where he serves as a cautionary example of arrogance, disobedience, and the ongoing spiritual struggle between faith and temptation.