[Surah al-Baqarah (2): Verse 30]

“And when your Lord said to the angels, ‘I am placing a successor on earth,’ they said, ‘Will You place there someone who will spread corruption and shed blood, while we glorify You with praise and sanctify You?’ He said, ‘Indeed, I know what you do not know.’” (30)

The Lord, Most High, knew of the disbelief, arrogance, and envy in Iblīs’s heart that were unknown to the angels. When He commanded them to prostrate, the obedience, love, fear, and submission within the angels’ hearts became manifest, and they hastened to comply. The arrogance, deceit, and envy within His enemy’s heart also became manifest: he refused, acted arrogantly, and was among the disbelievers.

Section

As for azwāj (spouses), it is the plural of zawj (spouse). The form zawjah is also used, but the former is more eloquent and is the form used in the Quran. Allah, Most High, said to Adam: “Dwell in Paradise, you and your wife.” Concerning Zechariah, He said: “And We restored his wife for him” (21:90).

An example of the latter form is Ibn ‘Abbās’s statement about ‘Ā’ishah (may Allah be pleased with her): “She is your Prophet’s wife in this world and the Hereafter.” Al-Farazdaq said:

Whoever seeks to corrupt my wife
Is like one approaching the lions of al-Sharā to see them clearly.

The plural zawjāt is also used, but this is the plural of zawjah; the plural of zawj is azwāj. Allah, Most High, said: “They and their spouses will be in shade, reclining on couches” (36:56). He also said: “You and your spouses will be made joyful” (43:7).

The Quran speaks of the people of faith using the word zawj, in both the singular and the plural, as noted above. Allah, Most High, said: “The Prophet has a greater claim upon the believers than they have upon themselves, and his wives are their mothers” (33:6). He also said: “O Prophet, say to your wives” (33:28).

When speaking of the people of polytheism, however, it uses the word imra’ah (woman). Allah, Most High, said: “May the hands of Abū Lahab perish, and may he perish”—up to His words—“and his wife, the carrier of firewood; around her neck.” Concerning Pharaoh, He said: “Allah presents the wife of Pharaoh as an example for those who believe” (66:10). Since he was a polytheist and she was a believer, He did not call her his spouse. Allah, Most High, also said: “Allah presents the wife of Noah and the wife of Lot as an example for those who disbelieve” (66:11). Thus, since