Al-Jawāb as-Sahīh li-man baddala dīn al-Masīh - Ibn Taimiya - (2/330)

Allah – exalted is He – says:

“When Satan made their deeds appear fair to them and declared, ‘Today no human being can overcome you, for I am your protector,’ yet when the two armies came face to face he turned on his heels and said, ‘I wash my hands of you; I see what you do not see. I fear Allah, and Allah is severe in punishment.’” ⦗8:48⦘

It is related from Ibn ʿAbbās and others that Iblīs appeared with a host of devils, carrying a banner, in the guise of men from the tribe of Mudlij. Taking on the form of Suraqah b. Mālik b. Juʾshum, Satan proclaimed, “Today no human being can overcome you, and I am your protector.” ⦗8:48⦘

Gabriel, peace be upon him, then advanced toward Iblīs. The moment Iblīs saw him – while his hand was still clasped in the hand of one of the idolaters – he wrenched his hand free and fled, he and his cohorts. The man cried out, “Suraqah! You claimed you would stand by us!” Iblīs replied, “I see what you do not see; I fear Allah, and Allah is severe in punishment.” ⦗8:48⦘

قَالَ - تَعَالَى -: {وَإِذْ زَيَّنَ لَهُمُ الشَّيْطَانُ أَعْمَالَهُمْ وَقَالَ لَا غَالِبَ لَكُمُ الْيَوْمَ مِنَ النَّاسِ وَإِنِّي جَارٌ لَكُمْ فَلَمَّا تَرَاءَتِ الْفِئَتَانِ نَكَصَ عَلَى عَقِبَيْهِ وَقَالَ إِنِّي بَرِيءٌ مِنْكُمْ إِنِّي أَرَى مَا لَا تَرَوْنَ إِنِّي أَخَافُ اللَّهَ وَاللَّهُ شَدِيدُ الْعِقَابِ} [الأنفال: ٤٨] وَرُوِيَ عَنِ ابْنِ عَبَّاسٍ وَغَيْرِهِ قَالَ: تَبَدَّى إِبْلِيسُ فِي جُنْدٍ مِنَ الشَّيَاطِينِ وَمَعَهُ رَايَةٌ فِي صُورَةِ رِجَالٍ مِنْ مُدْلِجٍ، وَالشَّيْطَانُ فِي صُورَةِ سُرَاقَةَ بْنِ مَالِكِ بْنِ جُعْشُمٍ فَقَالَ: {لَا غَالِبَ لَكُمُ الْيَوْمَ مِنَ النَّاسِ وَإِنِّي جَارٌ لَكُمْ} [الأنفال: ٤٨] وَأَقْبَلَ جِبْرِيلُ - عَلَيْهِ السَّلَامُ - عَلَى إِبْلِيسَ فَلَمَّا رَآهُ وَكَانَتْ يَدُهُ فِي يَدِ رَجُلٍ مِنَ الْمُشْرِكِينَ انْتَزَعَ إِبْلِيسُ يَدَهُ وَوَلَّى مُدْبِرًا هُوَ وَشِيعَتُهُ فَقَالَ: الرَّجُلُ يَا سُرَاقَةُ أَتَزْعُمُ أَنَّكَ لَنَا جَارٌ فَقَالَ: {إِنِّي أَرَى مَا لَا تَرَوْنَ إِنِّي أَخَافُ اللَّهَ وَاللَّهُ شَدِيدُ الْعِقَابِ} [الأنفال: ٤٨] .