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
وَقَطَّعْنَـٰهُمُ ٱثْنَتَىْ عَشْرَةَ أَسْبَاطًا أُمَمًا ۚ وَأَوْحَيْنَآ إِلَىٰ مُوسَىٰٓ إِذِ ٱسْتَسْقَىٰهُ قَوْمُهُۥٓ أَنِ ٱضْرِب بِّعَصَاكَ ٱلْحَجَرَ ۖ فَٱنۢبَجَسَتْ مِنْهُ ٱثْنَتَا عَشْرَةَ عَيْنًا ۖ قَدْ عَلِمَ كُلُّ أُنَاسٍ مَّشْرَبَهُمْ ۚ وَظَلَّلْنَا عَلَيْهِمُ ٱلْغَمَـٰمَ وَأَنزَلْنَا عَلَيْهِمُ ٱلْمَنَّ وَٱلسَّلْوَىٰ ۖ كُلُوا۟ مِن طَيِّبَـٰتِ مَا رَزَقْنَـٰكُمْ ۚ وَمَا ظَلَمُونَا وَلَـٰكِن كَانُوٓا۟ أَنفُسَهُمْ يَظْلِمُونَ
And We divided them into twelve descendant tribes [as distinct] nations. And We inspired to Moses when his people implored him for water, "Strike with your staff the stone," and there gushed forth from it twelve springs. Every people [i.e., tribe] knew its watering place. And We shaded them with clouds and sent down upon them manna and quails, [saying], "Eat from the good things with which We have provided you." And they wronged Us not, but they were [only] wronging themselves.
۞ يَـٰبَنِىٓ ءَادَمَ خُذُوا۟ زِينَتَكُمْ عِندَ كُلِّ مَسْجِدٍ وَكُلُوا۟ وَٱشْرَبُوا۟ وَلَا تُسْرِفُوٓا۟ ۚ إِنَّهُۥ لَا يُحِبُّ ٱلْمُسْرِفِينَ
O children of Adam, take your adornment [i.e., wear your clothing] at every masjid, and eat and drink, but be not excessive. Indeed, He likes not those who commit excess.
وَلَا تَقْعُدُوا۟ بِكُلِّ صِرَٰطٍ تُوعِدُونَ وَتَصُدُّونَ عَن سَبِيلِ ٱللَّهِ مَنْ ءَامَنَ بِهِۦ وَتَبْغُونَهَا عِوَجًا ۚ وَٱذْكُرُوٓا۟ إِذْ كُنتُمْ قَلِيلًا فَكَثَّرَكُمْ ۖ وَٱنظُرُوا۟ كَيْفَ كَانَ عَـٰقِبَةُ ٱلْمُفْسِدِينَ
And do not sit on every path, threatening and averting from the way of Allāh those who believe in Him, seeking to make it [seem] deviant. And remember when you were few and He increased you. And see how was the end of the corrupters.
إِنَّ ٱلَّذِينَ عِندَ رَبِّكَ لَا يَسْتَكْبِرُونَ عَنْ عِبَادَتِهِۦ وَيُسَبِّحُونَهُۥ وَلَهُۥ يَسْجُدُونَ ۩
Indeed, those who are near your Lord [i.e., the angels] are not prevented by arrogance from His worship, and they exalt Him, and to Him they prostrate.