Introduction
The concept of fallen angel is very old, which came down to us from the ancient cultures such as Babylon, Assyria, and Egypt as well as from the scriptural support. 111 names of fallen angels including Satan are found in the list of the Angelicpedia gathering from different religions, mythologies and lore. These angels are considered to be of a bad nature, and are traditionally and superstitiously believed to be powerful.
There are numerous teachings that have created a great misunderstanding concerning fallen angels and even angels in general. The fallen angels, once pure messengers of God, followed the Satan (Devil or Lucifer) out of Heaven and unto the earth in rebellion against the Creator. The fallen angels now rule the earth realm as evil, angelic principalities and powers while the holy angels of God combating the fallen angels who are under the charge of Satan. Angels are messengers of enlightened message – words and actions that emanate from the core of one’s being ministering spirits, deliver messages of encouragement and guidance, always given with love as the initiator while fallen angels are messengers whose message is unenlightened. There are also teachings of the fallen angels based on metaphysical views. Demons are fallen angels who roam the earth looking to inflict harm upon mankind. Lost spirits fallen angels are messengers whose message does not come from a heart of love but is truly an expression of fear. Ghosts are the forgotten fallen angels of tortured people, anguished thinking and punishing thoughts a bit further.
However, let us learn about the fallen angel making inquiries into the Quran being the final reminder for humanity as well as valid source of God’s religion so that we can avoid traditions as well as superstitions about the matter that passed down to us or around us.
Iblis was an angel
The Quran teaches us that God has not only created all things but He tested all of His creations to expose their innermost thoughts of their Lord. There were a series of tests in the High Society: (1) test of trustworthiness for His all creations, (2) test for angels and (3) test for humans. It is mention-worthy that human being played the key role in the test for angels while the Satan (Iblis) played the key role in the test for humans. However, the test for angels is reflected in the following verses of the Quran to understand that Iblis was an angel who disobeyed His Lord being arrogant and disbeliever while the rest of the angels were found faithful to their Lord, who serve the Throne 24 hours:
[2:31] And He taught Adam all the names, then He presented them to the angels, and He said: “Inform Me of the names of these if you are truthful.”
[2:32] They said: “Glory be to You, we have no knowledge except what You have taught us. Surely, You are the Omniscient, the Most Wise.”
[2:33] He said: “O Adam, inform them of their names,” then when he had informed them of their names, He said: “Did I not say to you that I know the unseen of the heavens and the earth, and I know what you reveal and what you were hiding?”
[2:34] When we said to the angels: “Fall prostrate before Adam,” then they fell prostrate, except Satan (ib’leesa); he refused, and was arrogant and became the disbeliever.
[7:11] And certainly, we created you, then we shaped you, then we said to the angels: “Fall prostrate before Adam.” Then they fell prostrate except Satan (Ib’leesa); he was not with those who prostrated.
[15:28] And when your Lord said to the angels: “I am creating a human from clay of altered black mud.
[15:29] So when I have designed him, and have breathed into him from My spirit, then you shall fall prostrate before him.”
[15:30] So the angels all of them together fell prostrate.
[15:31] Except Satan (Ib’leesa). He refused to be with those who prostrated.
[17:61] When we said to the angels: “Fall prostrate before Adam,” so they fell prostrate, except Satan (ib’leesa). He (Satan) said, “Shall I prostrate to one You created from clay?”
[18:50] And when we said to the angels: “Fall prostrate before Adam.” Then they fell prostrate except Satan (ib’leesa). He became a jinn. Thus, he disobeyed the order of His Lord. Will you then take him and his descendants as protectors other than Me, while they are enemies to you? What is a miserable substitute for the wicked!
Note: Iblis was an angel who became a jinn for disobeying the order of His Lord while God has warned us not to take him and his descendants as protectors other than Him to become the wicked.
[20:116] And when we said to the angels: “Fall prostrate before Adam.” Then they fell prostrate, except Satan (ib’leesa); he refused.
[38:71 When your Lord said to the angels: “I am creating a human from clay.
[38:72] So when I have designed him, and have breathed into him from My spirit, then you shall fall prostrate before him.”
[38:73] So the angels all of them together fell prostrate.
[38:74] Except Satan (ib’leesa); he refused and became the disbeliever.
Mathematical confirmation
There are 16 verses around Iblis mentioned by name 7 times across 7 suras that make a clear picture of Iblis being an angel who became a jinn for disobeying the order of His Lord. If the pertinent verse and sura numbers are added, the sum is a multiple of 19 => 893 = 19x47 (see details in the table below):
Note: This mathematical confirmation is an explicit proof of Iblis being an angel who became a jinn for disobeying the order of His Lord while God has warned us all not to take him and his descendants as protectors other than Him to be included among the wicked.
Satan as a fallen angel
Iblis disobeyed God’s commandment claiming that he was created from fire while Adam was created from clay. That’s why when God asked him the reason not to be with the prostrators, he said that You created me from fire while You created him from clay but You honored him over me that made him proud and arrogant to fall out from the angels. God told him to get out not to be arrogant there when he asked Him to give him a respite while he was given a respite until the day of the appointed time:
[7:12] He (God) said, “What prevented you that you did not prostrate when I commanded you?” He (Satan) said, “I am better than him (Adam); You created me from fire and You created him from clay.”
[7:13] He said, “So, go down from here as you are not to be arrogant herein. So get out, indeed, you are disgraced.”
[7:14] He (Satan) said, “Give me a respite until the Day they are resurrected.”
[7:15] He (God) said, “You are given a respite.”
[15:32] He (God) said, “O Satan (yaaIb’leesu), what is the matter with you that you are not with those who prostrated?”
[15:33] He (Satan) said, “I am not to prostrate to a human, whom You created from clay of altered black mud.”
[15:34] He (God) said, “Therefore, you must get out of here as indeed, you are expelled.
[15:35] “And indeed, the curse will be upon you until the Day of Judgment.”
[15:36] He (Satan) said, “Then my Lord, give me respite until the day they are resurrected.”
[15:37] He (God) said, “Then indeed, you are given respite.
[15:38] Until the day of the appointed time.”
[17:61] When we said to the angels, “Fall prostrate before Adam,” so they fell prostrate, except Satan (ib’leesa). He (Satan) said, “Shall I prostrate to one You created from clay?”
[17:62] He said, “Do You (God) see this whom You have honored him (Adam) over me? If You respite me till the Day of Resurrection, I will surely ruin (all) his descendants, except a few.”
Note: Verse 17:61 is included in both sets to address the message being an angel in the 1st part while to convey the message in the 2nd part that he was not with the prostrators.
[38:75] He (God) said, “O Satan (yaaib’leesu), what prevented you from prostrating to whom I created with My hands? Are you arrogant or are you the exalted one?”
[38:76] He (Satan) said, “I am better than him. You created me from fire and You created him from clay.”
[38:77] He (God) said, “Then get out of here, so indeed, you are accursed.
[38:78] “And indeed, My curse is upon you until the Day of Judgment.”
[38:79] He (Satan) said, “My Lord, then give me respite until the Day they are resurrected.”
[38:80] He (God) said, “Then you are given respite.
[38:81] Until the day of the appointed time.”
Mathematical confirmation
There are 20 verses across 4 suras to make a clear picture of Iblis who became a jinn for disobeying the order of His Lord but was given a respite until the appointed time. If the pertinent verse and sura numbers are added, the sum is a multiple of 19 => 1045 = 19x55 (see details in the table below):
Note: This mathematical confirmation is an explicit proof of Iblis being a fallen angel to be the Satan who became a jinn for disobeying the order of His Lord while he was given a respite until the day of the appointed time.
Conclusion
There are teachings around us that have created a great misunderstanding concerning fallen angels and even angels in general. Angels are messengers of enlightened message while fallen angels are messengers whose message is unenlightened. The fallen angels, once pure messengers of God, followed the Satan out of Heaven and unto the earth in rebellion against the Creator. The fallen angels now rule the earth realm as evil, angelic principalities and powers while the holy angels of God combating the fallen angels who are under the charge of Satan. There are also metaphysical views of the fallen angles such as demons, lost spirits and ghosts.
In prior test of trustworthiness, the angels were found most faithful to God but He knew that there was betrayer among them. He selected the human being to play the key role in the test for angels. He created the first human body from the clay and breathed into him to assign soul to represent the human race to present him to the angels. Then the angels were commanded to prostrate him. They all obeyed God’s command except Iblis who disobeyed His command being arrogant and proud of himself. Thus, the Iblis failed to keep his covenant with God as an angel and became the Satan and was included with jinns who were exposed in rebellion against their Creator in prior test. Eventually, the Satan, jinns and humans were exile to earth giving another chance to both human and jinn beings to appreciate their Lord when the human being disobeyed His Lord being duped by Satan.
The review of 35 verses in 2 sets supported by explicit proofs may help us to understand that Iblis was an angel but a fallen angel who was given a respite until the day of appointed time while the rest of the angels found to be the most faithful servants of God to become eligible for serving the Throne 24 hours. Hence, the teachings concerning fallen angels and even angels in general including the concept of the fallen angels from the pure messengers of God who followed the Satan out of Heaven and unto the earth in rebellion against their Creator, the holy angels are combating the fallen angels in the earth who are under charge of the Satan and metaphysical views of fallen angels are misconceptions. Instead, what we see in the earth is many devils from human and jinn beings for ruling of the Satan over human and jinn beings (2:30) made them unappreciated to God while they should take the chance of correcting their rebellion against their Lord being appreciative to Him.
Peaceful Friday, salaam and God bless.
Tafazzal (9/21/2018).