قَالَ فَبِمَآ أَغْوَيْتَنِى لَأَقْعُدَنَّ لَهُمْ صِرَٰطَكَ ٱلْمُسْتَقِيمَ 16
Translations
[Satan] said, "Because You have put me in error, I will surely sit in wait for them [i.e., mankind] on Your straight path.
Transliteration
Qāla fa-bimā aghwaytanī la-aqʿudanna lahum ṣirāṭaka al-mustaqīm
Tafsir (Explanation)
Iblis responds to Allah's reprieve by swearing that he will sit in wait on the straight path of Allah to lead humanity astray, as a consequence of Allah allowing him respite until the Day of Judgment. Classical scholars like Ibn Kathir and Al-Tabari interpret this as Iblis's declaration of enmity toward mankind and his determination to prove that humans are unworthy of the honor Allah bestowed upon them. This ayah illustrates Iblis's malevolent resolve and reveals the nature of his deception—he will not use force but rather will subtly waylay those on the path to righteousness.
Revelation Context
This ayah is part of the dialogue between Allah and Iblis following the latter's expulsion from divine mercy due to his refusal to bow to Adam. The context encompasses Surah 7:11-18, where Allah grants Iblis's request for respite until the Day of Judgment, and Iblis responds with this oath. This exchange establishes the cosmic struggle between guidance and misguidance that pervades human existence.
Related Hadiths
The hadith in Sahih Bukhari (3288) relates that the Prophet ﷺ said Iblis places his throne upon water and sends forth his troops, with the closest to him being those most successful in causing discord. Additionally, Surah 15:39-44 provides Iblis's own elaboration of this same theme, where he vows to mislead humanity except Allah's sincere servants.
Themes
Key Lesson
This ayah reminds believers that spiritual struggle is an inescapable reality and that remaining steadfast on the straight path requires constant vigilance and reliance on Allah's guidance. It teaches that while Iblis and his forces work to lead us astray, Allah has provided us with revelation, intellect, and the capacity to choose righteousness, making our accountability real and our moral choices consequential.
Related Ayahs
فَمَنْ أَظْلَمُ مِمَّنِ ٱفْتَرَىٰ عَلَى ٱللَّهِ كَذِبًا أَوْ كَذَّبَ بِـَٔايَـٰتِهِۦٓ ۚ أُو۟لَـٰٓئِكَ يَنَالُهُمْ نَصِيبُهُم مِّنَ ٱلْكِتَـٰبِ ۖ حَتَّىٰٓ إِذَا جَآءَتْهُمْ رُسُلُنَا يَتَوَفَّوْنَهُمْ قَالُوٓا۟ أَيْنَ مَا كُنتُمْ تَدْعُونَ مِن دُونِ ٱللَّهِ ۖ قَالُوا۟ ضَلُّوا۟ عَنَّا وَشَهِدُوا۟ عَلَىٰٓ أَنفُسِهِمْ أَنَّهُمْ كَانُوا۟ كَـٰفِرِينَ
And who is more unjust than one who invents about Allāh a lie or denies His verses? Those will attain their portion of the decree until, when Our messengers [i.e., angels] come to them to take them in death, they will say, "Where are those you used to invoke besides Allāh?" They will say, "They have departed from us," and will bear witness against themselves that they were disbelievers.
وَقَاسَمَهُمَآ إِنِّى لَكُمَا لَمِنَ ٱلنَّـٰصِحِينَ
And he swore [by Allāh] to them, "Indeed, I am to you from among the sincere advisors."
سَآءَ مَثَلًا ٱلْقَوْمُ ٱلَّذِينَ كَذَّبُوا۟ بِـَٔايَـٰتِنَا وَأَنفُسَهُمْ كَانُوا۟ يَظْلِمُونَ
How evil an example [is that of] the people who denied Our signs and used to wrong themselves.
وَٱتَّخَذَ قَوْمُ مُوسَىٰ مِنۢ بَعْدِهِۦ مِنْ حُلِيِّهِمْ عِجْلًا جَسَدًا لَّهُۥ خُوَارٌ ۚ أَلَمْ يَرَوْا۟ أَنَّهُۥ لَا يُكَلِّمُهُمْ وَلَا يَهْدِيهِمْ سَبِيلًا ۘ ٱتَّخَذُوهُ وَكَانُوا۟ ظَـٰلِمِينَ
And the people of Moses made, after [his departure], from their ornaments a calf - an image having a lowing sound. Did they not see that it could neither speak to them nor guide them to a way? They took it [for worship], and they were wrongdoers.