The Holy Quran with Five Volume Commentary (Vol 3) — Page 394
CH. 15 AL-HIJR 33. "God said, ‘O Iblīs, what is the matter with thee that thou wouldst not be among those who submit?' 34. "He answered, 'I am not going to submit to man whom Thou hast created from dry ringing clay, from black mud wrought into shape. '1738 PT. 14 مَعَ السُّجِدِينَ قَالَ لَمْ أَكُنْ لِأَسْجُدَ لِبَشَرٍ خَلَقْتَهُ مِنْ صَلْصَالٍ مِّنْ حَمَإٍ مَّسْنُونٍ 7:13; 38:76. 7:13; 17:62; 18:51. were commanded to serve his cause and, along with angels, other things comprising the universe were also made subservient to man but, owing to error or negligence on his part, these things sometimes get out of his control and thus, becoming as it were the manifestations of Satan, begin to harm him. These evil things (e. g. fire, etc. ) are intended to serve man and are subject to his control and man can derive great benefit from them; but when they get out of his control, they do him great harm. It should also be remembered that, as already explained under 2:31-35 and 7:12-20, the dialogue between God and Adam or between God and Satan need not be taken literally. It is most probably intended to represent a state of affairs extending over a long period of time. The word Iblis or Satan also includes all harmful persons and things representing the unseen Evil Spirit. 1738. Commentary: The verse may be understood to mean that the arch-enemy of truth who opposed Adam spoke of the latter as if saying: "Here is a poor and humble fellow who justifies, and indeed glories in, the submission of all others to him. He and his comrades are a party of mental slaves who take pride in imitating others. But my nature rests high on the firm rock of freedom and independence. How then can I, his superior, bring myself so low as to obey his orders and carry out his wishes?" This dialogue, however, is no real talk between God and Iblis but only an allegory, the sense being that the new order which was to be inaugurated by Adam was regarded by his chief opponent and those of his way of thinking as contrary to their sense of pride and their conception of freedom and, consequently, a source of humiliation for them. Satan, therefore, refused to give it his allegiance considering the old order to be better than that introduced by Adam. It is this sense of the comparative values of the two orders that is meant to be expressed 1602 (fire) نار clay) and) طين in the terms expressed in 38:77. For an explanation of dry ringing clay, from black mud wrought into shape, see under v. 27.