Satan in the Quran vs. the Bible: Iblis the Jinn vs. Contradictory Gospels
The Quran presents a coherent, unambiguous account of Satan’s origin, nature, and fate, while the Biblical Gospels and apocalyptic literature offer contradictory descriptions that cannot be reconciled. We want to know the enemy of humanity (Satan) from the point of view of Islam and Christianity, and compare what the Quran says — the word of God revealed to his messenger, the Seal of the Prophets and Messengers, Muhammad, peace be upon him — with what the Bible says from the point of view of Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John, who did not agree on one correct account from the beginning of the lineage of Christ until the crucifixion, resurrection, and ascension.
The Gospels Disagree on the Wilderness Temptation
Both Matthew and Luke spoke about Christ’s experience with Satan in the wilderness, but it is noticeable that Matthew and Luke used the term (Satan) while Mark used the term (Satan). Is Satan the devil, and what is their evidence? John did not mention the story in his Gospel for two reasons. First, because in his Gospel he changed the nature of Christ from the Son of God to the incarnate God — “And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we beheld his glory, glory” (John 1:14) — so he knew that people would not believe the idea that the incarnate God became a plaything in the hands of Satan and that Satan asked him to bow down to him. This would confirm that he is not God and that he is a human being asking for food. Secondly, John did not know anything about the story at all.
The contradictions extend to the nature of Satan himself. Matthew says:
“Then he will also say to those on the left, ‘Depart from me, you cursed, into the eternal fire prepared for the devil and his angels.’”
Is Satan one of the angels? Do angels enter the fire? Yet Jesus himself says about Satan:
“Then Jesus said to him, ‘Go, Satan, for it is written, You shall worship the Lord your God and Him only shall you serve.’”
How does Matthew say that Satan is an angel and Jesus says that he is Satan in the same gospel? The prophet Zechariah further complicates the picture:
“And he showed me Joshua the high priest standing before the angel of the Lord, and Satan standing at his right to resist him.”
The nature of the angel is different from that of the devil; they are contradictory and in conflict. The writer of James adds another layer:
“You believe that there is one God. You do well, and the demons believe and tremble.”
If your demons believe in one God, what can we say about you, who worship a holy trinity? You are more cursed than the demons because you taught them how to make people associate with God another god without proof or evidence.
Revelation: Dragon, Serpent, Devil, and Satan
The writer of the Book of Revelation describes a dream that became the holy dream. He states:
“And the great dragon was cast out, that ancient serpent, called the Devil and Satan, who deceives the whole world. He was cast out to the earth, and his angels were cast out with him.”
“And I saw an angel coming down from heaven, having the key of the bottomless pit and a great chain in his hand. And he laid hold of the dragon, that ancient serpent, who is the Devil and Satan, and bound him a thousand years.”
“And when the thousand years are ended, Satan will be loosed from his prison.”
The Devil is originally a serpent, and Satan is another creature who deceives the whole world and has angels. The dragon seizes both the Devil and Satan — he is talking about two persons. What is the wisdom behind his binding, imprisonment, and release from prison? There is no convincing answer in their book. Is the dragon one of the birds of the earth or one of the myths and legends?
Beelzebub: Prince or Master?
The funny thing is Beelzebub, the prince of the demons, whom we have not heard of in the Old Testament, suddenly appeared in Mark:
“And the scribes who came down from Jerusalem were saying, ‘He is possessed by Beelzebul,’ and ‘by the prince of demons he casts out the demons.’”
And in Luke:
“But some of them said, ‘He casts out demons by Beelzebul, the prince of demons.’”
But when did he contradict them? Matthew says:
“It is enough for the student to be like his teacher and the servant like his master. If they called the master of the house Beelzebub, how much more so for the people of his house?”
Is this a contradiction or backwardness and contempt for people’s minds? I ask every Christian who has enough intelligence to understand the nature of Satan from his book — the stacked Old and New Testaments — the following: Why did Satan disobey God? And what is the punishment that God inflicted on him? Where was Satan when God created Adam and Eve? What is Satan’s gender? Is he an angel, a jinn, or a demon? How did Satan recognize Adam and Eve? Why did God not guess that Adam and Eve were with Satan so that they would not fall prey to him? How did Satan enter Paradise and tempt Adam and Eve, and your book says that he entered in the form of a snake so that God, Jehovah, would not recognize him? Does God, according to you, not recognize his creatures when they disguise themselves? Are these words befitting of the essence of God?
This contradictory and backward talk makes it difficult for any seeker of truth to reach a conclusion about the eternal truth since God created the universe and the struggle has not stopped between good and evil, angels and devils.
The Quranic Account: Iblis the Jinn
Now we will learn about the truth of Satan in Islam as the Holy Quran told us, the word of God to which falsehood does not come. The Quran spoke about Satan in seven Surahs: Al-Baqarah, Al-A’raf, Al-Hijr, Al-Kahf, Taha, Sad, and Al-Isra. God Almighty speaks about Satan before he turned into Satan in these verses: Satan was with the angels, glorifying and worshipping God with them, but he is not one of the angels. Those who were created from light and in obedience to God are neither male nor female, unlike the jinn who were created from fire and are like humans in everything, but humans cannot see the jinn.
“O children of Adam, let not Satan tempt you as he removed your parents from Paradise, stripping them of their clothing to show them their private parts. Indeed, he sees you, he and his tribe, from where you do not see them. Indeed, We have made the devils allies to those who do not believe.”
“And when We said to the angels, ‘Prostrate to Adam,’ so they prostrated, except for Iblis. He was of the jinn, but he disobeyed the command of his Lord. Then would you take him and his descendants as allies instead of Me while they are an enemy to you? An evil exchange for the wrongdoers.”
Iblis is from the jinn, a completely different species from the angels because he was created from fire.
“And the jinn — We created before from scorching fire.”
“He created man from clay like pottery” (14) and “And He created the jinn from a flame of fire” (15).
The distinction of creation is foundational: angels from light, jinn from fire, and man from clay.
The Refusal and the Fall
What made Satan disobey God? It was Satan’s refusal to comply with God’s command to prostrate to Adam.
“And when We said to the angels, ‘Prostrate to Adam,’ and they prostrated, except for Iblis. He refused and was arrogant and was among the disbelievers.”
“He said, ‘What prevented you from prostrating when I commanded you?’ He said, ‘I am better than him. You created me from fire and created him from clay.’ He said, ‘Then get down from it, for it is not for you to be arrogant therein. So get out. Indeed, you are among the debased.’”
God Almighty speaks to Satan by his name when he was with the angels, and this is an honor for him. But Satan was arrogant and disobeyed, and God revealed his nature to the angels. The angels had questioned the creation of Adam:
“And when your Lord said to the angels, ‘Indeed, I will place upon the earth a successive authority.’ They said, ‘Will You place upon it one who causes corruption therein and sheds blood, while we exalt You with praise and sanctify You?’ He said, ‘Indeed, I know that which you do not know.’”
Among you is Satan, to whom your saying “We glorify You with praise and sanctify You” does not apply, because he was arrogant and disobeyed God’s command, so he became one of the disbelievers. God’s punishment for Satan was that God changed his description and position. He was with the angels at the Throne of the Most Gracious, so God Almighty said to him:
“He said, ‘Then get out of it, for indeed, you are expelled.’ (34) And indeed, upon you is the curse until the Day of Judgment.” (35)
“He said, ‘Then get out of it, for indeed, you are expelled.’ (77) And indeed, upon you is My curse until the Day of Judgment.” (78)
“He said, ‘Then get down from it, for it is not for you to be arrogant therein. So get out. Indeed, you are among the debased.’”
Iblis was banished from Allah’s mercy, cursed, outcast, humiliated, and made one of the unbelievers. These are his new attributes. He became the accursed devil and married a jinn from his own kind, so all his offspring were devils. All the devils became the sons and offspring of Iblis.
Permission to Whisper and the Promise of Hell
A very important question remains: How could Satan enter Paradise for Adam and Eve while he was expelled and banished from it? The answer is that Satan did not enter in his first capacity, but rather entered in his second capacity, that of (Satan), and with the permission of God, glory be to Him, the Most High.
“He said, ‘Give me respite until the Day they are resurrected.’ (14) He said, ‘Indeed, you are of those granted respite.’ (15) He said, ‘Then because you have put me in error, I will surely sit in wait for them on Your straight path.’ (16) Then I will come to them from before them and from behind them and on their right and on their left, and you will not find most of them grateful. (17) He said, ‘Get out of it, censured and banished.’ (Whoever follows you among them, I will surely fill Hell with you all.) (18)”
“He said, ‘My Lord, then reprieve me until the Day they are resurrected.’ (36) He said, ‘Then indeed, you are of those reprieved.’ (37) Until the Day of the appointed time. (38) He said, ‘My Lord, because You have put me in error, I will surely make [disobedience] attractive to them on the earth, and I will surely mislead them all.’ (39) ‘Except, among them, Your chosen servants.’ (40) He said, ‘This is a path that is straight for Me.’ (41) ‘Indeed, My servants — you have no authority over them, except for those who follow you of the deviators.’ (42) ‘And indeed, Hell is the promised place for them all.’ (43)”
Allah has permitted him to be among the givers of admonition and to adorn and mislead them all and to whisper to them.
“So Satan whispered to them to make apparent to them that which was hidden from them of their private parts.”
Allah did not say “so Satan whispered to them” in a generic sense; rather, He said “so Satan whispered to them.” This is evidence of the change in the description of Satan.The shift from the proper name Iblis to the descriptive title al-Shaytan marks his transformation from a honored being to an outcast whisperer. (Whispering) in the speech of the Arabs is every voice that is beloved to the human soul. Only those who follow him — the devils of mankind — find Hell their promised destination. As for the servants of Allah who are sincere in worshipping Him, he has no authority over them. Because God Almighty has informed us since He created Adam and Eve that Satan is the enemy.
“And their Lord called to them, ‘Did I not forbid you from that tree and tell you that Satan is to you a clear enemy?’”
“Then We said, ‘O Adam, indeed this is an enemy to you and to your wife, so let him not expel you from Paradise and you become miserable.’”
Satan’s Ultimate Disavowal
Then look at the punishment of those who follow Satan:
“Satan said, when the matter had been decided, ‘Indeed, Allah had promised you the promise of truth, and I promised you, but I broke my promise to you. And I had no authority over you except that I invited you and you responded to me. So do not blame me, but blame yourselves. I will not be able to help you, nor will you be able to help me. Indeed, I have disbelieved in what you associated with Me before. Indeed, for the wrongdoers is a painful punishment.’”
“Satan has overcome them. So He made them forget the remembrance of Allah. Those are the party of Satan. Unquestionably, the party of Satan — they are the losers.”
“Like the example of Satan when he said to man, ‘Disbelieve.’ And when he disbelieved, he said, ‘Indeed, I am disassociated from you. Indeed, I fear Allah, Lord of the worlds.’ (16) So the consequence of them was that they were both in the Fire, abiding eternally therein. And that is the recompense of the wrongdoers. (17)”
God Almighty is Truth. Indeed, Satan himself disassociates himself from the disbelievers who invoke a god along with Allah. Another fear of Allah’s punishment, even though he knows that he will remain in Hell forever.
The Trial of the Messengers
“And We did not send before you any messenger or prophet except that when he made a wish, Satan threw into his wish. Then Allah nullifies what Satan threw in, and then Allah establishes His verses. And Allah is Knowing and Wise.” (52) “That He may make what Satan threw in a trial for those in whose hearts is disease and those whose hearts are hardened. And indeed, the wrongdoers are in extreme schism.” (53) “And that He may know those who are disbelievers. Those who have been given knowledge that it is the truth from your Lord, then they believe in it and their hearts submit to it. And indeed, Allah guides those who believe to a straight path.” (54)
God Almighty has spoken the truth.
I call upon every Muslim to thank Allah for the blessing of Islam, and I call upon every Christian to be free of fanaticism and to study his book well, then ask himself: Is the book that I follow truly the book of Allah? How do I differentiate between the word of Allah and the word of people who claim that it is sacred? Is the religion that I belong to the truth? What will be my fate if I continue to worship other than Allah? The solution is to search for the truth that leads to Paradise and salvation from Hell.