Mu' meneen Brothers and Sisters,

As Salaam Aleikum wa Rahmatullahi wa Barakatuh.  (May Allah's Peace, Mercy and Blessings be upon all of you)

One of our brothers/sisters has asked this question:

Asalamualikum Warahamtullahi Wabarakatu

How are you? I pray for you and your team that May Allah Grant You All The Happiness for all of this effort. My question is simple. Is shaytan a kafir or Fasiq? As far as I know, Shaytan does believe in Allah and his oneness, he also believes in everything that a Muslim believes in. He just rebeled against Allah. So Is he a kafir or fasiq? JazakAllah

(There may be some grammatical and spelling errors in the above statement. The forum does not change anything from questions, comments and statements received from our readers for circulation in confidentiality.)

Answer:

Is shaytaan a kafir or fasiq

In the name of Allah, We praise Him, seek His help and ask for His forgiveness. Whoever Allah guides none can misguide, and whoever He allows to fall astray, none can guide them aright. We bear witness that there is none worthy of worship but Allah Alone, and we bear witness that Muhammad (saws) is His slave-servant and the seal of His Messengers.

May Allah Subhanah reward you with the best of this world and the Hereafter for your kind comments of encouragement for our humble efforts in the propagation of the Truth. If our humble and modest efforts have helped even one brother or sister get closer to Allah and His Deen of Truth, then we would consider ourselves indeed fortunate to have been given this opportunity by the Lord Most Merciful to serve in His Cause. We hope, beg, and pray the Merciful Lord accepts our humble and weak efforts, forgives us our shortcomings, and saves you, us, and all the believers from the torment of the Hell Fire. Ameen.

Your Question: My question is simple. Is shaytan a kafir or Fasiq?

The literal meaning of the Arabic and Quranic term ‘Faasiq’ is one who intentionally and constantly transgresses the clearly prescribed boundaries of Allah Subhanah.

And the literal meaning of the Arabic and Quranic term ‘Kaafir’ is one who denies or rejects Allah Subhanah or any of His Clear Commands and Directives.

Allah Says in the Holy Quran Chapter 18 Surah Kahf verse 50:

50 Behold! We said to the Angels "Bow down to Adam": they bowed down except Iblis. He was one of the Jinns and he ‘fasaka’ (transgressed or broke) the Command of his Lord. Will ye then take him and his progeny as protectors rather than Me? And they are enemies to you! Evil would be the exchange for the wrongdoers!

Allah Says in the Holy Quran Chapter 2 Surah Baqarah verse 34:

34 And behold We said to the Angels: "Bow down to Adam"; and they bowed down not so Iblis; he refused, was haughty, and was thus amongst the ‘Kaafiroon’ (Denier and Rejecter)

In light of the above quoted verses of the Glorious Quran, the accursed and avowed enemy of the children of Adam, the Shaytaan Iblees is both, a ‘Faasiq’ as well as a ‘Kaafir’.

Whatever written of Truth and benefit is only due to Allah’s Assistance and Guidance, and whatever of error is of me alone. Allah Alone Knows Best and He is the Only Source of Strength.

Your brother and well wisher in Islam,

Burhan