Iblis
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Iblīs (Arabic إبليس), is the name of the primary devil (Shaitan or Satan) in Islam.
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[edit] Etymology
The word may be derived from the Arabic verbal root balasa بَلَسَ, meaning "he despaired"; therefore, the linguistic meaning of Iblis would be "he/it that causes despair".[1] However, some maintain an etymological derivation from the Greek "Diabolos".[2] In the Christian Equivalent, he is known as Satan.
[edit] Origin
In contrast with the Christian tradition, the Qur'an names Iblis as a jinn [3] rather than an angel. The Jinns are one of three intelligent races created by God, and are created from smokeless fire [4], and in the Islamic tradition are considered to have free will. In Islam, Angels are another intelligent race created by Allah and are seen as messengers who do not possess free will[5]. The Humans are the third intelligent race who also possess free will.
Iblis was given high regard, close to that of the angels by God, because he was at one point a pious and humble jinn. When God commanded all of the angels and Jinn to bow down before Adam (the first Human), Iblis, full of hubris and jealously, refused to obey God's command (seeing Adam as being inferior in creation due to him being created from mud).[6]
And We created you (humans), then fashioned you, then told the angels: Fall ye prostrate before Adam! And they fell prostrate, all save Iblis, who was not of those who made prostration. He (Allah) said: "What hindered thee that thou didst not fall prostrate when I bade thee?" (Iblis) said: "I am better than he. Thou createdst me of fire while him Thou didst create of mud". Qur'an 7:11-12
It was after this that he was given the title of "Shaitan" which can be roughly translated as "Evil" or "Devil". He then claims that if the punishment for his act of disobedience is to be delayed until the day of Judgment, he will divert many of Adam's own descendants from the strait path during his period of respite.[7] God accepts the claims of Iblis and guarantees recompense to Iblis and his followers in the form of Hellfire. God, to test mankind and jinn alike, allowed Iblis to roam the earth to attempt to convert others away from God's Path.[8]
He was sent to earth along with Adam and Eve, after eventually luring them into eating the fruit from the forbidden tree.[9]
[edit] Depiction
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This section needs additional citations for verification. Please help improve this article by adding reliable references. Unsourced material may be challenged and removed. (December 2007) |
Iblis attempts to corrupt humans through temptation and through false suggestion. At the day of Judgment, Iblis will be sent to Jahannam (the Islamic depiction of Hell) along with the "Companions of the Fire". Muslims believe that through Islam, those who successfully follow a righteous path will be rewarded with the pleasures of Jannah (Paradise).
The Qur'an does not depict Iblis as the enemy of God, for God is seen as supreme over all of his creations and Iblis is just one of his creations.[citation needed] While in Christianity, Satan is ultimately considered the source of all evildoing, Islam also names the nafs, or self, as also a source of disobedience.
He is more often referred to in the Qur'an as the Shaitan, a general term which is also sometimes used to refer to all of the evil spirits in alliance with Iblis. Iblis is mentioned by name 11 times, whereas Shaitan ("al-Shaitan") is mentioned 87 times.
[edit] In popular culture
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Trivia sections are discouraged under Wikipedia guidelines. The article could be improved by integrating relevant items and removing inappropriate ones. |
- In the Star Wars Expanded Universe, there exists a character named Garm Bel Iblis (Garm being the hellhound, like Cerberus, in Norse mythology, and Bel (Baäl) a pagan god). He first appeared in Timothy Zahn's Thrawn trilogy. In contrast to the original Iblis, he was a highly moral senator who opposed Palpatine, and later played vital roles in the Rebellion and New Republic.
- In the Dune prequels science fiction series there is a corrupted high priest named Iblis Ginjo.
- In the original Battlestar Galactica, there was an alien known as Count Iblis. He was seen to be a science fiction equivalent of the Devil and was portrayed by Patrick Macnee, also the voice of the Cylon Imperious Leader.
- In Sonic the Hedgehog (2006 game), Silver believes that Sonic is the mysterious 'Iblis Trigger'. Iblis is a fiery demon who destroyed the world. In Sonic and the Secret Rings, Iblis, as in the Devil, is mentioned in the spell used by the Erazor Djinn to summon the Ifrit Golem.
- The second installment in the Quest for Glory series of adventure games, Trial by Fire, the antagonist Ad Avis plots to release a djinn by the name of Iblis. Releasing him will result in the destruction of the world as well as a gameover. Iblis can only be freed according to a strict prophecy involving the Hero from the East, being you the player.
- In the Playstation 2 exclusive game Primal, in which there are four demon worlds for the user to explore the fourth and most dangerous world Volca is home to the Djinn who are ruled by their King, King Iblis.
- In the Wheel of Time series, the Nae'blis is Shai'tan's regent on Earth.
- In World of Warcraft there is a sword called Iblis, Blade of the Fallen Seraph.
- In the Tom Clancy novel "The Teeth of the Tiger", a federal hero/agent invokes the name of Iblis while forcing a dying terrorist to hold pigskin in order to induce fear and insult.
- MF Grimm has an album entitled The Downfall of Ibliys: A Ghetto Opera.
- In Zone of the Enders the Fist of Mars, the Black Frame's true identity is Iblis.
- Eblis is referenced in the Advanced Dungeons & Dragons Monster Manual II (1983). He is said to rule a level of the Abyss, but no details are provided.
