قَالَ أَرَءَيْتَكَ هَـٰذَا ٱلَّذِى كَرَّمْتَ عَلَىَّ لَئِنْ أَخَّرْتَنِ إِلَىٰ يَوْمِ ٱلْقِيَـٰمَةِ لَأَحْتَنِكَنَّ ذُرِّيَّتَهُۥٓ إِلَّا قَلِيلًا 62
Translations
[Iblees] said, "Do You see this one whom You have honored above me? If You delay me [i.e., my death] until the Day of Resurrection, I will surely destroy his descendants, except for a few."
Transliteration
Qala arayaitaka hadha alladhi karramta alayya la-in akhkhartani ila yawmi al-qiyamati la-ahtanikkanna dhurriyyatahu illa qalilan
Tafsir (Explanation)
This ayah records Iblis's arrogant challenge to Allah after his expulsion from paradise, in which he vows to lead astray the descendants of Adam (mankind) until the Day of Judgment, except for a few sincere believers. Ibn Kathir explains that Iblis's request for respite until the Day of Judgment was granted by Allah as a test for humanity, and his boast reflects his desperation and malice toward mankind out of envy for the honor Allah bestowed upon Adam. Al-Tabari and Al-Qurtubi note that Iblis's exception of 'except a few' acknowledges the existence of the truly faithful whom he cannot seduce, demonstrating that Allah's protection of His sincere servants is absolute.
Revelation Context
This ayah appears in the context of Surah Al-Isra, which discusses the Night Journey (Isra) and contains warnings about moral guidance and evil. The passage from 17:61-65 presents a dialogue between Allah and Iblis following Adam's creation, explaining the origin of Iblis's enmity toward humanity and his determination to mislead them—a foundational explanation for human trials and the spiritual struggle between guidance and misguidance.
Related Hadiths
The concept is related to the hadith in Sahih Muslim where the Prophet (peace be upon him) said that Iblis swears by Allah's might that he will lead astray the Children of Adam as long as their souls remain in their bodies. Additionally, the hadith in Sahih Bukhari emphasizes that the remembrance of Allah and sincerity in faith are protections against Iblis's whispers.
Themes
Key Lesson
This ayah teaches believers that spiritual struggles and temptations are inevitable parts of earthly existence, but that sincere faith and obedience to Allah provide genuine protection against evil. It reminds us that awareness of Iblis's true nature and intentions should motivate us toward greater consciousness of Allah (taqwa) and reliance upon Him rather than fear or despair.
Related Ayahs
وَإِذَا مَسَّكُمُ ٱلضُّرُّ فِى ٱلْبَحْرِ ضَلَّ مَن تَدْعُونَ إِلَّآ إِيَّاهُ ۖ فَلَمَّا نَجَّىٰكُمْ إِلَى ٱلْبَرِّ أَعْرَضْتُمْ ۚ وَكَانَ ٱلْإِنسَـٰنُ كَفُورًا
And when adversity touches you at sea, lost are [all] those you invoke except for Him. But when He delivers you to the land, you turn away [from Him]. And ever is man ungrateful.
وَيَدْعُ ٱلْإِنسَـٰنُ بِٱلشَّرِّ دُعَآءَهُۥ بِٱلْخَيْرِ ۖ وَكَانَ ٱلْإِنسَـٰنُ عَجُولًا
And man supplicates for evil [when angry] as he supplicates for good, and man is ever hasty.
إِذًا لَّأَذَقْنَـٰكَ ضِعْفَ ٱلْحَيَوٰةِ وَضِعْفَ ٱلْمَمَاتِ ثُمَّ لَا تَجِدُ لَكَ عَلَيْنَا نَصِيرًا
Then [if you had], We would have made you taste double [punishment in] life and double [after] death. Then you would not find for yourself against Us a helper.
قَالَ لَقَدْ عَلِمْتَ مَآ أَنزَلَ هَـٰٓؤُلَآءِ إِلَّا رَبُّ ٱلسَّمَـٰوَٰتِ وَٱلْأَرْضِ بَصَآئِرَ وَإِنِّى لَأَظُنُّكَ يَـٰفِرْعَوْنُ مَثْبُورًا
[Moses] said, "You have already known that none has sent down these [signs] except the Lord of the heavens and the earth as evidence, and indeed I think, O Pharaoh, that you are destroyed."