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
فَأَلْقَىٰ عَصَاهُ فَإِذَا هِىَ ثُعْبَانٌ مُّبِينٌ
So he [i.e., Moses] threw his staff, and suddenly it was a serpent, manifest.
خُذِ ٱلْعَفْوَ وَأْمُرْ بِٱلْعُرْفِ وَأَعْرِضْ عَنِ ٱلْجَـٰهِلِينَ
Take what is given freely, enjoin what is good, and turn away from the ignorant.
فَخَلَفَ مِنۢ بَعْدِهِمْ خَلْفٌ وَرِثُوا۟ ٱلْكِتَـٰبَ يَأْخُذُونَ عَرَضَ هَـٰذَا ٱلْأَدْنَىٰ وَيَقُولُونَ سَيُغْفَرُ لَنَا وَإِن يَأْتِهِمْ عَرَضٌ مِّثْلُهُۥ يَأْخُذُوهُ ۚ أَلَمْ يُؤْخَذْ عَلَيْهِم مِّيثَـٰقُ ٱلْكِتَـٰبِ أَن لَّا يَقُولُوا۟ عَلَى ٱللَّهِ إِلَّا ٱلْحَقَّ وَدَرَسُوا۟ مَا فِيهِ ۗ وَٱلدَّارُ ٱلْـَٔاخِرَةُ خَيْرٌ لِّلَّذِينَ يَتَّقُونَ ۗ أَفَلَا تَعْقِلُونَ
And there followed them successors who inherited the Scripture [while] taking the commodities of this lower life and saying, "It will be forgiven for us." And if an offer like it comes to them, they will [again] take it. Was not the covenant of the Scripture [i.e., the Torah] taken from them that they would not say about Allāh except the truth, and they studied what was in it? And the home of the Hereafter is better for those who fear Allāh, so will you not use reason?
قَالَ يَـٰقَوْمِ لَيْسَ بِى ضَلَـٰلَةٌ وَلَـٰكِنِّى رَسُولٌ مِّن رَّبِّ ٱلْعَـٰلَمِينَ
[Noah] said, "O my people, there is not error in me, but I am a messenger from the Lord of the worlds.