15: 30

Yusuf Ali So the angels prostrated themselves all of them together:

Pickthall So the angels fell prostrate, all of them together

Transliteration Fasajadal mala_'ikatu kulluhum ajma'u_n(a),

15: 31

Yusuf Ali Not so Iblis: he refused to be among those who prostrated themselves.

Pickthall Save Iblis. He refused to be among the prostrate.

Transliteration Illa_ iblis(a), aba_ ay yaku_na ma'as sa_jidin(a).

15: 32

Yusuf Ali (Allah) said: "O Iblis! what is your reason for not being among those who prostrated themselves?"

Pickthall He said: O Iblis! What aileth thee that thou art not among the prostrate?

Transliteration Qa_la ya_ iblisu ma_ laka alla_ taku_na ma'as sa_jidin(a).

15: 33

Yusuf Ali (Iblis) said: "I am not one to prostrate myself to man whom thou didst create from sounding clay from mud molded into shape."

Pickthall He said: Why should I prostrate myself unto a mortal whom Thou hast created out of potter's clay of black mud altered?

Transliteration Qa_la lam akul li'asjuda li basyarin khalaqtahu_ min salsa_lim min hama'im masnu_n(in).

[ Ruby’s note: With this the arrogance of Iblis came out. He may be superior in some aspects of his existence such as a being of energy and being possessing immortality, etc., and with his limited knowledge he focused on those aspects and became arrogant. But in many other aspects and in the whole a human God just created is far superior. And only God knows the full extend of this superiority of human over other beings or creation, and that is why God commanded others to prostrate before human. Prostration is reserved only for God, and through this symbol of prostration God is giving human a God-like status. This idea is critical for human understanding for a correct way of living in this life.

God gives responsibility according to one’s ability and endowment.

God is giving enormous responsibility to human beings, that is why they are God’s vicegerent on earth. It also indicates that life on earth is not going to be easy. See my article of knowledge and human life and responsibility.]

[Ali’s note: 1968 Among other passages where the creation of Adam is referred to, cf. the following; ii. 30-39; vii. 11-25. Note that here the emphasis is on three points: (1) the breathing from Allah's spirit into man i.e., the faculty of God-like knowledge and will, which, if rightly used, would give man superiority over other creatures: (2) the origin of evil in arrogance and jealousy on the part of Satan, who saw only the lower side of man (his clay) and failed to see the higher side, the faculty brought in from the spirit of Allah; (3) that this evil only touches those who yield to it, and has no power over Allah's sincere servants, purified by His grace (xv. 40, 42). Adam is not here mentioned by name, but only Man. (15.29)

15: 34

Yusuf Ali (Allah) said: "Then get thee out from here; for thou art rejected accursed.

Pickthall He said: Then go thou forth from hence, for verily thou art outcast.

Transliteration Qa_la fa-khruj minha_ fa innaka rajim(uw),

15: 35

Yusuf Ali "And the Curse shall be on thee till the Day of Judgment."

Pickthall And lo! the curse shall be upon thee till the Day of Judgment.

Transliteration Wa inna 'alaikal la'nata ila_ yaumid din(i).

15: 36

Yusuf Ali (Iblis) said: "O my Lord! give me then respite till the Day the (dead) are raised."

Pickthall He said: My Lord! Reprieve me till the day when they are raised.

Transliteration Qa_la rabbi fa anzirni ila_ yaumi yub'asu_n(a).

15: 37

Yusuf Ali (Allah) said: "Respite is granted thee

Pickthall He said: Then lo! thou art of those reprieved

Transliteration Qa_la fa innaka minal munzarin(a),

[ Ali’s note 1973: What was this respite? The curse on Iblis remained, i.e. he was deprived of Allah's grace and became in the spiritual world what an outlaw is in a political kingdom. An earthly kingdom may not be able to catch and destroy an outlaw. But Allah is Omnipotent, and such power as Iblis may have can only come through the respite granted by Allah. The respite then is what is expressed in xv. 39 below. In Allah's grant of limited free-will to man is implied the faculty of choosing between good and evil, and the faculty is exercised through the temptations and allurements put forward by Satan, "the open enemy" of man. This is for the period of man's probation on this earth. Even so, no temptations have power over the sincere worshippers of Allah, who are purified by His grace. (15.36)]