Finally, the angels accepted their weaknesses and knew the limitation of their capabilities when they admitted to God in surah al-Baqarah verse 33.
· 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. (Al-Baqarah (2): 34)
As a result of that, Allah commanded the angels and the jinns to prostrate themselves before Adam. The actions of prostration itself was the highest honour for among all the other creation of God and the Iblis had refused to obey this particular command of God.
There are two aspects of human characteristics which place man at a higher pedestal:
1) knowledge
2) self willingness
Iblis had reflected himself as a bad (later on as evil) as he refused to obey the God's command. He did not want to accept the fact that Man is of a better creation. (Iblis is from jinn and not angels)
Hence, this was the starting point for an eternal battle between Iblis and Man. Iblis had promised to God that he will influence Man to commit sins. He vowed to make the children of Adam as his eternal companions in Hell. God permitted Iblis to do so but only to those who succumb themselves to their 'nafs' (passion) and neglect the guidance given by Allah swt to the mankind. Those humans who do good and obey the command of Allah would not be mislead by Iblis and therefore win the battle.
· And We said: "O Adam! Dwell thou And thy wife in the Garden; And eat of the bountiful things therein As (where and when) ye will; but approach not this tree, Or ye run into harm and transgression." (Al-Baqarah (2): 35)
Heaven was the training ground for Adam and his wife. While in heaven, everything was permitted to Adam except for approaching a particular tree. This became a symbol of the prohibited matters. Therefore, the "needs" or " willingness" could not be fostered or stimulated except by a creating a situation which required Adam to choose either to do a permissible or prohibited matters. From this, we know that mankind is capable of obeying or disobeying the law of Allah swt.
· Then did Satan make them slip From the (Garden), and get them out Of the state (of felicity) in which They had been. And we said: "Get ye down, all (ye people), With enmity between yourselves. On earth will be your dwelling place And your means of livelihood- For a time." (Al-Baqarah (2): 36)
At the end, Iblis with his evil intention had managed to influence Adam to disobey God's command which he was not suppose to do so. He failed to obey God's command because Iblis had whispered temptations into his heart which also brought forth the desire to do
or not to do what was forbidden. Adam however, transgressed God's command because he follow his "nafs". Upon the transgression, he had actually forgotten the agreement made between him and God. The situation is to revealed humans' weaknesses. Then Allah swt sent Adam and his wife to earth. From then on, Adam knew that Iblis is the eternal enemy whom he and his descendants had to fight against until Qiamah.
· Then learnt Adam From his Lord Certain words and his Lord Turned towards him; for He Is Oft Returning, Most Merciful. (Al-Baqarah (2): 37)
Adam had repented his deeds and Allah swt had accepted it. Then, Allah had given him and his descendants the guidance on how to live in this world.
· We said: "Get ye down all from here; And if, as is sure, there comes to you Guidance from Me, whosoever Follows My guidance, on them Shall be no fear, nor shall they grieve. (Al-Baqarah (2): 38)
· "But those who reject Faith And believe Our Signs, They shall be Companions of Fire; They shall abide therein." (Al-Baqarah (2): 39)
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