QUESTION 2

QUESTION 2

The Holy Quran states that Allah punished Satan after a lot of worship, just because of the refusal of a prostration. Why Allah did not forgive him? Isn’t Allah the most merciful?

ANSWER

To answer the question, a few important points should be noted:

First, some people calculate their sins singly or according to the duration. For example, they say: “I committed this sin only once or ten times” or “The duration of my sin was one hour, why does it have such a heavy punishment?”

Allah does not calculate so. He sees the sin and its effects up to Doomsday and records all in doer’s deed book. Sūrah Yāsīn: verse 12: “…and We make a record of what they have sent ahead of them regarding their deeds and of what they have left behind, of the trace of their deeds…..”[1] 

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Second: No sin is little or small; as Imam Ali (AS) said: "The biggest sin is the one which is counted by its doer as a small one".[2]

Third: it is always stated that “Satan was expelled from Heaven for not prostrating to Adam”. Yes, this act was a sin of Satan, but he committed a bigger sin causing the refusal of prostrating. It is a sin in belief which is heavier than in practice. It was his arrogance. “Allah stated:" O, Iblis! What prevented you from prostrating before a being whom I have created with My Hand of Power? Are you arrogant or you are one of those who consider themselves superior over others?”[3] Iblis said: “I am far better than him. You created me from fire and created him from clay.”[4]

Forth: Allah is the most Merciful but the man should seek His mercy and forgiveness. Repentance is accepted when the sinner acknowledges his sin and asks forgiveness. Expecting mercy and forgiveness while committing sins and being arrogant is not logical. Satan never regretted. Not only he did not ask for forgiveness and repentance, but also he refused and acted arrogantly. Therefore, he was expelled and punished.

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‏ ...وَ نَکْتُبُ ما قَدَّمُوا وَ آثارَهُمْ ....(یس،12) [1]

  أشَدُّ الذُّنوبِ ما استَخَفَّ بهِ صاحِبُهُ [2]

[3] Sūrah Ṣād: verse75

[4] Sūrah ʼAʻrāf: verse 12