Surah 15. Al-Hijr, Ayah 31

See note [10] on 7:11 . For the deeper meaning of this "rebellion", see note [31] below.

 See footnote for 2:34.

Cf. n. 49 to ii. 34.

Iblis: the name has in it the root-idea of desperateness or rebellion. Cf. n. 52 to ii. 36.

Apparently Iblis's arrogance had two grounds: (1) that man was made of clay while he was made of fire; (2) that he did not wish to do what others did. Both grounds were false; (1) because man had the spirit of Allah breathed into him; (2) because contempt of the angels who obeyed Allah's words showed not Iblis's superiority but his inferiority.