The Afterlife – Angels and Demons
Angels
Belief in Angels
The Messenger believes in what has been revealed to him from his Lord, as do the believers. They all affirm: ‘We believe in Allah, His angels, His books, and His messengers. We make no distinction between any of His messengers.’ They declare, ‘We hear and obey. Grant us Your forgiveness, our Lord, to You is the final return.’ 2:285, 4:136
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Creation
All praise belongs to Allah, the Shaper of the heavens and the earth, who appoints angels as messengers, with wings in twos, threes, and fours. He adds to creation as He wills. 35:1
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The angels and the Spirit descend in it, by the permission of their Lord, carrying every decree. 97:4
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And the angels say, “We descend only by the command of your Lord. To Him belongs what is before us, what is behind us, and what is between. 19:64
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To Him belongs all in the heavens and the earth. Those near Him do not disdain to worship Him, nor do they grow weary. 21:19
They glorify Him night and day, never faltering. 21:20
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But Allah Himself bears witness to what He has revealed to you; He sent it down with full knowledge, and the angels also testify. 4:166
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Exalting Allah
On the Day He gathers them all, He will say to the angels, “Did these people worship you?” 34:40
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They will say, “Glory be to You! You are our Protector, not them. They worshipped the jinn; most of them believed in them.” 34:41
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The heavens nearly burst apart above them, yet the angels glorify their Lord and seek forgiveness for those on earth. 42:5
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The thunder glorifies Him, as do the angels in awe of Him. He sends thunderbolts, striking whom He wills, yet they dispute about Allah 13:13
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“There is not one among us,” say the angels, “But has a known place, 37:164
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And we are the ones who line up in ranks, 37:165
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And we are the ones who glorify Him.” 37:166
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Those who carry the Throne and those around it glorify their Lord with praise, believe in Him, and seek forgiveness for the believers, saying, "Our Lord, You encompass all things in mercy and knowledge. Forgive those who repent and follow Your path, and protect them from the torment of the Blaze." 40:7
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You will see the angels surrounding the Throne, glorifying their Lord with praise. Judgment will be passed in truth, and it will be said, "Praise be to Allah." 39:75
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Angels Prostrate
To God prostrates all in the heavens and the earth, every creature and the angels, and they do not act arrogantly. 16:49
They fear their Lord above them and do as they are commanded. 16:50
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We created you, then shaped you, then said to the angels, “Bow before Adam.” They all bowed, except for Iblis, he was not among those who submitted. 2:34, 7:11, 15:29, 15:30, 15:31, 17:61, 18:50, 20:116, 38:72, 38:73, 38:74
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Gabriel
He saw him (Gabriel) on the clear horizon, 81:23
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But if you conspire against him (Muhammad), then know that Allah is his ally, as are Gabriel, the righteous believers, and the angels, all his supporters. 66:4
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Whoever opposes Allah, His angels, His messengers, Gabriel, and Michael, then Allah is an enemy
to the disbelievers. 2:98
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Say, 'Whoever opposes Gabriel should know that he brings revelation by Allah’s command, 2:97
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The Trustworthy Spirit has brought it down, 26:193
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Carried by scribes. 80:15
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noble and devoted 80:16
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Recording Angels
Yet over you are appointed guardians, 82:10
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Noble scribes, 82:11
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Who know all that you do. 82:12
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When the two receivers sit on the right and the left, recording, 50:17
He utters no word but that a watcher is ready beside him. 50:18
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And his companion will say, “Here is what I have recorded.” 50:23
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Intercessors
How many angels are in the heavens whose intercession is of no use, except after Allah gives permission to whom He wills and approves. 53:26
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On the Day the Spirit and the angels stand in rows, none will speak except one granted permission by the Most Merciful, and who speaks what is right. 78:38
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Angels of Death
On the Day, the sky is split apart with clouds, and the angels are sent down in ranks, 25:25
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“Gather the wrongdoers, their partners, and all they used to worship. 37:22
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If only you could see the wrongdoers in the throes of death, as the angels stretch out their hands, saying, “Surrender your souls! Today you will be repaid with the torment of disgrace for saying falsehoods about Allah and arrogantly rejecting His signs.” 6:93
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If only you could see when the angels take the souls of the disbelievers, striking their faces and backs, saying, “Taste the punishment of the Fire.” 8:50, 47:27
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When angels take the souls of those who wronged themselves, they ask, “What was your condition?” They reply, “We were oppressed in the land.” The angels say, “Was Allah’s earth not vast enough for you to migrate?” 4:97, 16:28
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This is the fate of those who rejected Allah’s signs with arrogance, without any justification. 40:75
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Enter the gates of Hell, to remain forever. What a dreadful fate for the arrogant! 40:76
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We have appointed only angels as guardians of the Fire, and made their number a trial for the disbelievers 74:31
Over it are nineteen keepers. 74:30
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We will summon the guardians. 96:18
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And your Lord arrives with the angels, rank upon rank, 89:22
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The Day they are shoved into the Fire of Hell with force: 52:13
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“This is the Fire you used to deny. 52:14
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Is this magic? Or do you still not see? 52:15
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Say, “The angel of death, assigned to you, will reclaim you. Then to your Lord you will be returned.” 32:11
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Do they await anything but the arrival of the angels or the command of your Lord? Those before them did the same, and Allah did not wrong them, but they wronged themselves. 16:33
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Their punishment is that upon them is Allah’s curse, as well as the curse of the angels and all of humanity. 3:87
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O you who believe, protect yourselves and your families from a Fire whose fuel is people and stones. Over it are stern and mighty angels who never disobey Allah’s command and do exactly what they are told. 66:6
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Angels of Life
Those whom the angels take in a state of goodness will be greeted with peace: “Enter Paradise for what you used to do.” 16:32, 56:91
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The Great Terror will not grieve them, and the angels will greet them: “This is your Day, the one you were promised.” 21:103
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Indeed, those who say, “Our Lord is Allah,” and remain steadfast, angels descend upon them, saying, “Do not fear or grieve, but rejoice in the Paradise you were promised.” 41:30
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He is the One who blesses you, along with His angels, to bring you out of darkness into light. 33:43
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And the angels will be on its edges, and eight will bear the Throne of your Lord above them. 69:17
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Muhammad is not an Angel
Say, “I do not claim to possess Allah’s treasures, nor do I know the unseen, nor do I say I am an angel. I only follow what is revealed to me.” Say, “Can the blind and the seeing be equal? Will you not reflect?” 6:50
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Not Sent as a Sign
Nothing prevented people from believing when guidance came to them except their objection: “Has Allah sent a human as a messenger?” 17:94
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And they say, “What kind of messenger is this, who eats food and walks in the marketplaces? If only an angel had been sent down with him to warn alongside him, 25:7
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Those who do not expect to meet Us say, “If only angels were sent down to us, or we could see our Lord.” They have grown arrogant within themselves and have become excessively defiant. 25:21
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They ask, “Why wasn’t an angel sent down to him?” But had We sent an angel, their fate would have been sealed, leaving them no chance to repent. 6:8, 11:12, 15:7
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Say, “Had angels walked the earth, We would have sent an angel as a messenger.” 17:95
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And if We had sent an angel, We would have made him appear as a man, further confusing them in their doubts. 6:9
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Even if We sent down angels, made the dead speak, and gathered all things before them, they would still not believe unless Allah willed. But most of them are ignorant. 6:111
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We do not send down angels except with truth, and when they descend, no respite is given. 15:8
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Are they waiting for the angels to come, or for your Lord Himself, or for some of His signs? On the Day some of His signs appear, faith will not benefit those who did not believe before or who did not earn good through their faith. Say, “Wait, we too are waiting.” 6:158
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On the Day they see the angels, there will be no glad tidings for the guilty, and they will cry, “A barrier between us!” 25:22
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On the Day the sky is split apart with clouds and the angels are sent down in ranks, 25:25
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Guardian Angels
He reigns supreme over His servants, sending guardians to watch over you. When death comes, His messengers take the soul without fail. 6:61
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Then they are returned to Allah, their true Master. Is He not the ultimate Judge? 6:62
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Each person has guardians before and behind him, protecting him by Allah’s command. 13:11
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Angels of War
Your Lord inspired the angels: “I am with you, so strengthen the believers. I will cast terror into the hearts of the disbelievers, strike them above the necks and sever their fingertips.” 8:12
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In Paradise
Gardens of eternity, where they will enter along with the righteous among their parents, spouses, and children. The angels will greet them at every gate: 13:23
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“Peace be upon you for your perseverance. How excellent is this final home!” 13:24
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Authority
And when your Lord said to the angels, 'I am placing a steward on the earth,' they asked, 'Will You appoint one who will spread corruption and shed blood, while we glorify and sanctify You?' He replied, 'I know what you do not know.' 2:30
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In Clouds
Are they waiting for Allah to come to them in the shade of clouds, along with the angels? But when that happens, the matter will be settled 2:210
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An Enemy
Whoever opposes Allah, His angels, His messengers, Gabriel, and Michael, then Allah is an enemy to the disbelievers. 2:98
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Warners
God chooses messengers from among the angels and from among people. Truly, Allah is All-Hearing, All-Seeing. 22:75
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He knows what lies before them and behind them. And to Allah all matters return. 22:76
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He sends down the angels with the Spirit by His command upon whomever He wills of His servants: “Warn that there is no god but Me, so be mindful of Me.” 16:2
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Jinn - Demons
Created
I did not create jinn and humans except to worship Me. 51:56
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I seek no provision from them, nor do I ask them to feed Me. 51:57
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And We created the jinn before that, from scorching fire. 15:27
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And He created the jinn from a smokeless flame. 55:15
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They set up jinn as partners with Allah, though He created them. 6:100
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Allies of Unbelievers
Whoever turns away from the remembrance of the Most Merciful, We assign a devil to him as his companion. 43:36
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They divert him from the path, yet he thinks he is rightly guided. 43:37
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His companion will say, “Our Lord, I did not make him transgress, but he was far astray.” 50:27
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We have made the devils allies to those who do not believe. 7:27
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The devils inspire their allies to argue with you 6:121
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On the Day He gathers them all, He will say, “O assembly of jinn! You have misled many among humanity.” Their human allies will say, “Our Lord, we benefited from one another, but now we have reached the term You set for us.” 6:128
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The word of your Lord has been fulfilled: “I will surely fill Hell with jinn and humans together.” 11:119
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By your Lord, We will surely gather them and the devils, then We will bring them around Hell, kneeling. 19:68
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Had We willed, We could have given every soul its guidance, but My decree has come to pass: “I will fill Hell with jinn and humans, all together.” 32:13
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Stars as Missiles
So, ask them: Are they harder to create, or what We created? 37:11
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We have placed constellations in the sky and adorned them for those who look. 15:16, 37:6, 67:5
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They too thought, as you did, that Allah would never raise anyone again. 72:7
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We tried to reach the heavens, but found it filled with fierce guards and blazing flames. 72:8
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And We have protected them from every accursed devil. 15:17, 37:7
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Except one who steals a hearing, pursued by a piercing flame. 15:18, 37:10
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We used to sit in hidden stations to eavesdrop, but whoever tries now finds a flame lying in wait. 72:9
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They cannot eavesdrop on the higher assembly, they are pelted from every side, 37:8
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Driven away, and for them is an unending torment. 37:9
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We do not know whether harm is intended for those on earth, or whether their Lord intends to guide them. 72:10
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Nor is this the word of a cursed devil. 81:25
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Descending
Shall I tell you upon whom the devils descend? 26:221
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They descend upon every sinful liar, 26:222
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Who eagerly listens, yet most of them are liars. 26:223
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As for the poets, the misguided follow them. 26:224
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Do you not see how they wander in every valley, 26:225
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And say what they do not do? 26:226
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Not Messengers
The devils did not bring down this revelation. 26:210
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It does not suit them, nor could they have done so. 26:211
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They are barred from even listening. 26:212
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Incitement
Do you not see that We send devils against the disbelievers, inciting them continuously? 19:83
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And if a whisper from Satan provokes you, seek refuge in God 41:36
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Which of you is truly afflicted? 68:6
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Until, when death comes to one of them, he says, “My Lord, send me back, 23:99
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Messengers
And when We directed a group of jinn to you, listening to the Quran, and when they attended it, they said, “Listen quietly!” Then, when it was concluded, they returned to their people as warners. 46:29
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Say: It has been revealed to me that a group of jinn listened closely and said, “We have heard a wondrous recitation. 72:1
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It guides to what is right, so we have believed in it, and we will never associate anyone with our Lord. 72:2
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Some among us spoke outrageously about Allah, uttering lies. 72:4
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We had thought that neither humans nor jinn would ever speak falsely about Allah. 72:5
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Hypocrites
They are like Satan when he says to the human, “Disbelieve,” but when he disbelieves, he says, “I am free of you; I fear Allah. 59:16
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Soldiers of Satan
And the soldiers of Iblis, all together. 26:95
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As they dispute within it, they will say, 26:96
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“By Allah, we were clearly astray, 26:97
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When we equated you with the Lord of the Worlds. 26:98
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No one led us astray but the wicked. 26:99
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Now we have no intercessors.” 26:100
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Nor a single close friend. 26:101
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Not Prophets
The devils did not bring down this revelation. 26:110
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Misleading Men
It is decreed for him: whoever aligns with him, he will mislead and drive toward the torment of the Blaze. 22:4
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Private Conversation
Secret meetings are only from Satan, meant to grieve the believers. Yet he cannot harm them unless Allah permits. Let the believers trust in Allah. 58:10
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Lineage to Allah
And they claim a kinship between Him and the jinn, yet the jinn know they will be brought to account. 37:158
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Satan
Evil made Attractive
Iblees said, “Because You have led me astray, I will make disobedience alluring to them on earth, and I will mislead them all,” 7:16, 15:39
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But why did they not humble themselves when Our punishment came? Instead, their hearts hardened, and Satan made their deeds seem fair to them. 6:43, 16:63
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Satan makes grand promises, filling hearts with illusions, but his pledges are nothing but deception. 4:120, 17:64
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Men and Satan
Satan only commands you to commit evil and indecency and to say about Allah what you do not know. 2:169
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If a whisper from Satan provokes you, seek refuge in Allah 7:200, 41:36
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Satan has overtaken them, making them forget Allah. They are allies of Satan, and indeed, Satan’s allies are the true losers. 58:19
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Those who are mindful of Allah, when touched by a temptation from Satan, remember Him, and suddenly they see clearly. 7:201
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But their allies, the devils, drag them deeper into error, and they do not stop. 7:202
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Satan threatens you with poverty and commands you to commit indecency, while Allah promises you forgiveness and abundance. 2:268
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If not for Allah’s grace and mercy, you would have followed Satan, except for a few. 4:83
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Authority
When you recite the Quran, seek refuge in Allah from Satan, the accursed. 16:98
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He has no authority over those who believe and trust in their Lord. 16:99
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And Satan will say when the matter is settled, “Allah gave you a true promise, but I deceived you. I had no authority over you except to invite, and you responded. So do not blame me, blame yourselves. I cannot help you, nor can you help me. 14:22
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Yet he had no authority over them, only that We might distinguish those who believe in the Hereafter from those in doubt. 15:42, 34:21
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His influence is only over those who take him as an ally and those who associate others with Allah. 16:100
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Following Satan
O humanity, eat from what is lawful and good on the earth, and do not follow the footsteps of Satan. He is your sworn enemy. 2:168, 2:208, 6:142, 17:53, 24:21, 36:60
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Iblis proved his assumption about them true; they followed him, except for a group of true believers. 34:20
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Whoever takes Satan as an ally instead of Allah has suffered a tremendous loss. 4:38, 4:119
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Yet he led many of you astray. Didn’t you use your reason? 36:62
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Satan wishes to lead them far astray. 4:60
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He led me away from the Reminder after it had come to me.” Satan always betrays humanity. 25:29
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Fighting
Indeed, those who turned away on the day the two armies met were made to slip by Satan due to their past deeds. But Allah has forgiven them. 3:155
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It is Satan who instills fear in his allies, do not fear them, but fear Me if you are true believers. 3:175
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So, battle against the allies of Satan; his schemes are weak. 4:76
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The Deceiver
O people, Allah’s promise is true, so don’t let the life of this world deceive you, and don’t let the Deceiver pull you away from Allah. 35:5
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Satan is your enemy; treat him as such. He only invites his followers to be among the companions of the Blaze. 35:6
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and the deceiver led you astray.” 57:14
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Surely, Satan stirs discord among them. Satan is a clear enemy to humanity. 17:53
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Today, he is their ally, and they will face a painful punishment. 16:63
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Those who turn back after guidance has been made clear to them, Satan has enticed them and prolonged false hopes for them. 47:25
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That is because they said to those who detest what Allah revealed, “We will obey you in some matters.” 47:26
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The wasteful are the brothers of Satan, and Satan is ever ungrateful to his Lord. 17:27
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Calling on Satan
They call upon nothing but female deities and invoke none but Satan, the rebellious. 4:117
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Allah has cursed him, and he said, “I will surely take a portion of Your servants.” 4:118
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“I will mislead them, fill them with false hopes, and command them to slit the ears of cattle and alter Allah’s creation.” Whoever takes Satan as an ally instead of Allah has suffered a tremendous loss. 4:119
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Satan makes grand promises, filling hearts with illusions, but his pledges are nothing but deception. 4:120
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Intoxicants
O believers! Intoxicants, gambling, idolatrous offerings, and divining arrows are vile works of Satan, so avoid them that you may succeed. 5:90
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Satan seeks to sow enmity and hatred among you through wine and gambling, and to turn you away from remembrance of Allah and prayer. Will you not then refrain? 5:91
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Interest
But those who consume interest will rise on Judgment Day like one possessed by Satan. 2:275
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Refusing to bow to Adam
And when your Lord said to the angels, “I will create a human being from refined clay, shaped from darkened mud,” 15:28
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“And when I have fashioned him and breathed into him of My spirit, then bow down before him.” 15:29, 17:61
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And when We said to the angels, “Bow to Adam,” 17:61, 18:50
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So, the angels all prostrated together, 15:30, 17:61, 18:50
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Except Iblees, he refused to be among those who bowed. 15:31, 17:61, 18:50
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Allah said, “O Iblees, what has kept you from joining those who prostrate?” 7:12, 15:32, 15:32, 17:61
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Allah said, “Descend from here! It is not for you to be arrogant within it. Leave, for you are among the disgraced.” 7:13, 15:34
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“And upon you is the curse until the Day of Judgment.” 15:35
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He said, “Grant me respite until the Day they are resurrected.” 7:14, 15:36
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Allah said, “You are among those given respite.” 7:15, 15:37
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“Until the appointed time.” 15:38
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He said, “Because You have led me astray, I will lie in wait for them on Your straight path. 7:16, 15:39
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He said, “Do You see this one whom You have honoured above me? If You delay me until the Day of Resurrection, I will surely lead his descendants astray, except a few.” 17:62
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Then I will approach them from the front, from behind, from their right, and from their left, and You will find most of them ungrateful.” 7:17
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“Except Your devoted servants among them.” 15:40
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Allah said, “This is the straight path leading to Me.” 15:41
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“You will have no authority over My servants, except those who willingly follow you in error.” 15:42
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Allah said, “Leave, despised and banished! Whoever follows you, I will fill Hell with you all.” 7:18, 17:63
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He was of the jinn and defied his Lord’s command. Will you then take him and his descendants as allies instead of Me, though they are your enemies? What a miserable exchange for the wrongdoers! 18:50
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I did not make them witnesses to the creation of the heavens and the earth, nor to their own creation, and I would never take the misguided as assistants. 18:51
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“Entice them with your voice, rally your forces against them, share in their wealth and children, and make promises to them.” But Satan only deceives. 17:64
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“You will have no authority over My servants. 17:65
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Misc.
Tell them the story of the man to whom We gave Our signs, but he abandoned them. Satan pursued him, and he became one of the misguided. 7:175