“And We warn them” by means of the signs, “but the warning only increases them in great transgression.” This is the furthest one can go in becoming steeped in evil, loving it, hating goodness, and refusing to submit to it.
⦗462⦘
(61–65) “And when We said to the angels, ‘Prostrate before Adam,’ they prostrated, except Iblīs. He said, ‘Shall I prostrate before one You created from clay?’ He said, ‘Do You see this one whom You have honored above me? If You grant me respite until the Day of Resurrection, I will surely gain mastery over his descendants, except for a few.’ He said, ‘Go! Whoever among them follows you—Hell will be the recompense of you all, an ample recompense. Entice whoever among them you can with your voice, muster against them your cavalry and infantry, share with them in wealth and children, and make promises to them.’ Yet Satan promises them nothing but delusion. ‘As for My servants, you will have no authority over them. Your Lord is sufficient as a Guardian.’”
Allah Most High draws His servants’ attention to Satan’s intense enmity and his eagerness to lead them astray. When Allah created Adam, Satan arrogantly refused to prostrate before him and said, “Shall I prostrate before one You created from clay?” That is, from clay. He claimed that he was better than Adam because he had been created from fire. The invalidity of this false analogy has already been explained from several perspectives.
When it became clear to Iblīs that Allah had favored Adam, he addressed Allah, saying, “Do You see this one whom You have honored above me? If You grant me respite until the Day of Resurrection, I will surely gain mastery over his descendants.” That is, I will root them out through misguidance and lead them astray, “except for a few.” The wicked one knew that there would inevitably be some among them who would oppose and disobey him.
Allah said to him, “Go! Whoever among them follows you” and chooses you over his Lord and true Protector, “Hell will be the recompense of you all, an ample recompense”—that is, a recompense kept in store for you in full for your deeds.
Allah then commanded him to do everything within his power to mislead them, saying, “Entice whoever among them you can with your voice.” This includes every voice that calls to sin.
“And muster against them your cavalry and infantry.” This includes every rider and every person on foot engaged in disobedience to Allah, for they belong to Satan’s cavalry and infantry.
The point is that Allah has tested His servants with this manifest enemy, who calls them to disobey Allah through his words and deeds.
“And share with them in wealth and children.” This encompasses every sin connected with their wealth and children, including withholding zakāt, expiations, and obligatory rights; failing to discipline their children and raise them to do good and abandon evil; acquiring wealth unlawfully or directing it to wrongful ends; and pursuing reprehensible means of earning.
Indeed, many commentators have stated that Satan’s sharing in wealth and children includes failing to mention Allah’s name before eating, drinking, and sexual intercourse. If Allah’s name is not mentioned in these acts, Satan shares in them, as stated in the hadith.
“And make promises to them”—embellished promises (1) that have no truth to them. Hence He said, “Yet Satan promises them nothing but delusion,” meaning falsehood destined to vanish. For example, he makes sins and corrupt beliefs attractive to them and promises them reward for such things, because they believe themselves to be upon the truth. Allah Most High also said, “Satan threatens you with poverty and commands you to commit indecency, while Allah promises you forgiveness from Him and bounty.”
After informing us what Satan seeks to do to His servants, Allah mentioned what protects them from his temptation—servitude to Allah, upholding faith, and reliance upon Him—and said, “As for My servants, you will have no authority over them.” That is, you will have no power over them or ability to mislead them. Rather, because they fulfill their servitude to Him, Allah wards off every evil from them, protects them from the accursed Satan, and suffices them in all their needs. “Your Lord is sufficient as a Guardian” for anyone who relies upon Him and fulfills what He has commanded.