THE TRIAL OF MAN — Angels and Satan

THE TRIAL OF MAN Angels and Satan The story of Adam has been narrated in the Quran as follows: When We said to the angels, ‘Bow down before Adam,’ they all bowed except for Iblis (Satan). He refused and acted proudly and became an unbeliever. We said, ‘O Adam! Live with your wife in Paradise and eat freely from anywhere you may wish. Yet do not approach this tree lest you become wrongdoers.’ But Satan caused them both to slip through this and thus brought about the loss of their former state. We said, ‘Go down from here as enemies to each other; and on earth you shall have your abode and your livelihood for a while!’ THE QURAN 2: 34-36 W HAT was the reason for Satan disobeying God’s command and refusing to bow down before Adam? This was because of his feelings of superiority over Adam. He said 'I am better than Adam' (THE QURAN 38: 76). The angels on the other hand were free from such self-pride. They acknowledged that all greatness belongs to God alone and therefore they immediately submitted to God's command and bowed before a lesser creature. In this manner in the beginning of creation, God clearly demonstrated two different characters as examples for mankind. One, a satanic character and the other, an angelic character. All of Satan's efforts are towards this goal of making man follow him, but man must resist all temptations and strive to acquire the character of the angels. When another person attains a greater share of wealth, fame, or power, man becomes jealous because he does not want to see others becoming greater than him. He refuses to accept the truth proclaimed by others; because doing so amounts to acknowledging another's superior ideology. He is enraged by criticism, because he feels that the critique challenges his superiority. Consider why very few people are willing to support quiet, constructive work. But a movement to depose a ruler from office will gather large crowds in its support. The reason for this also is the same. In such politics, these people find gratification in refusing to acknowledge the ruler's authority. The principal weakness of man is his refusal to accept another's superiority. On the other hand the real virtue in God's eyes