Qur'an Contradiction:

Can Angels Disobey?

About the angels: For NONE are arrogant (before their Lord). They ALL fear their Lord, high above them, and they do ALL they are commanded. -- Sura 16:49-50

And behold, we said to the ANGELS: "Bow down to Adam". And THEY bowed down, EXCEPT Iblis. He refused and was haughty. -- Sura 2:34

The command of Allah is given to the angels. Since Iblis is accused of not being obedient, he has to be one of the angels.

Contradicting 16:50, he refused = is disobedient, and is haughty = arrogant (before his Lord).

See also 7:11, 15:28-31, 17:61, 18:50, 20:116, 38:71-74.

A Muslim's Response by Shaahin Amiri-Sharifi
Date: Sun Nov 24 00:39 EST 1996 


hi
this is to answer:
--Can angels disobey? 

--"iblis" is not from "mala'eka" (angles), but a "jin"
  according to the exact quote of quran (18:50), and "jin"s
  do have free will, unlike "mala'eka" (angles).
  all the angles did bow down to adam, again according to
  the exact quote of quran (15:30 and 38:73). 
  here is an explanation about why usually, and mistakenly
  in my opinion, "iblis" is considered as if he is an angle
  or as if he was ordered to bow down to adam too.
  the story says: god orders "angles" to bow down to adam (not 
  "iblis"! he isn't included. but he was a member of god's
  court and therefore present during this scenario), they "all"
  do, and "iblis" refuses. this "refusal" is not, by itself,
  the reason that god rejected him from himself, after all he
  was not included in the given order. but his explanation,
  when he reveals his racist nature (he is from "smokeless fire"
  and adam from "mud", so considers himself higher), then god
  rejects him from his court.

shaahin

The below responses to Saifullah will make Shaahin Amiri-Sharifi's explanation irrelevant as well. We need not give any further answer to it.

Further discussion on the above issue in our responses to Saifullah: 1, 2, 3, and to Oben: 4.

Contradictions in the Qur'an
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