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:

Asalam o alaikum wa rahmatullah wa barkatuhu

My question in respect of Verses of Holy Quran where several times said " Allah said to group of Angels to bow down before Adam Peace be upon him, Everyone bowed down except Iblees. My question If Allah ordered to Angels for bow down, why Iblees should be punished though Iblees was among Angels?

My question is only for knowledge enhancement other I have deep belief Allah will never punish any one without having sin by any one?

If do not wish to answer you have full liberty.

(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:

The command to bow was to angels

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.

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 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!

First and foremost, allow us to clarify in light of the above quoted absolutely clear guidance of the Glorious Quran, that the ‘Iblees’ was not an Angel but one amongst the Jinn race.

My question If Allah ordered to Angels for bow down, why Iblees should be punished though Iblees was among Angels?

Allah says in the Holy Quran Chapter 7 Surah Aafaaf verse 11:

11 It is We who created you and gave you shape; then We bade the Angels bow down to Adam and they bowed down; not so Iblis; he refused to be of those who bow down.

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 and was haughty he was of those who reject Faith.

Allah says in the Holy Quran Chapter 17 Surah Israa verse 61:

61 Behold! We said to the Angels: "Bow down unto Adam": they bowed down except Iblis: he said "Shall I bow down to one whom Thou didst create from clay?"

Indeed, the Lord Commanded and Bade the Angels to bow down to Adam (a.s.); thus the question arises why was ‘Iblees’ who was not an Angel but one amongst the Jinn race, be punished for not bowing down.

Allow us to relate an example to make the point clear. When the ruling authority or central government appoints a Governor to a certain district, it is normal protocol that all the Generals of the army located in that district would have to come and salute the civilian Governor appointed by the central government. And when the General of the army salutes the civilian governor, it is only obvious those who hold ranks which are junior to the ‘General’, all the Captains, Majors, and soldiers of the army would also have to salute whom their General is commanded to salute!

Similarly, when Allah Subhanah Commanded the Angels to bow down to Adam (a.s.), all of those present who were junior in rank to the Angels were automatically included in that Command of their Lord Creator.

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