A112
Surah: 006 - Ayah: 112
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6:112
Now by this concept ample light is shed on the reality and nature of the Satan, angels, etc. in the story of Adam where the devils and angels were related to the people living in his time. However, neither did the wicked know that in accordance with the Quranic verse (6:112), because of their enmity to Adam, they had turned into the devils of Adam, they had turned into the devils of mankind with respect to their body and with respect to their unfortunate soul into the devils of jinn, nor did the ordinary mumins know that with respect to their persons they had become physical angels and respect to their soul spiritual angels. The same was the case during the time of the Holy Prophet. The disobedient did not know that they had became devils, nor was this secret disclosed to the ordinary mumins that they had became angels with respect to their souls and their souls were passing through the event which occurred to the angels during the time of Adam.
The wisdom-filled verse shows that the devils of every period and every time are different, and they are the enemies of every prophet and imam in their respective time. They are the devils of mankind with respect to their body and those of jinn with respect to their unfortunate soul. Secondly, according to this unchangeable Divine Law there were some disobedient and wicked people during the time of Adam who were to him the devils of mankind in physical sense and those of jinn spiritually. As for their whispering, the whispering of one physical devil into another is apparent, but the subtle point lies in knowing how the spiritual devils whisper in the physical devils. The fact is that as devil’ personality is under the influence of his unfortunate soul (=nafs) similarly, his nafs receives insinuation (yuha, 6:112) from the world and act of his personality.
Malaikah: The next word in this verse is malaikah (pl. of malak) meaning angels which also included Azazil. God proclaimed to them that He was going to appoint His vicegerent on the earth. Regarding angels, here arise some very deep questions, whether there they were jalali or jamali. Did they include the jalali angels like Universal Intellect, Universal Soul, The Bearers of the Throne, or by them are meant only the jamali ones, i.e. the soul of the people related to the time of Adam,. The context of the verse sows that they cannot be jalali angels, for such ignorance cannot be attributed to them because of their lofty position. Thus they were the jamali angels, i.e. the soul of the people related to the period of Adam. Once it is established that they were the souls of the people related to the time of Adam, let us explain it further. God says: ‘’Thus We have appointed unto every prophet adversary – devils of mankind and jinn who whisper in one another plausible discourse through guile’’ (6:112).
This explanation further shows that there is a salient difference between the waswasah of the Satan and that of the nafs, even though the latter is compared with the former in some cases. However, it is only a question of improvement and progress. Otherwise, in reality, the nafs cannot be the enemy of the Imam while the Satan is his enemy. According to the Devine law, all the discourses of the devils, both of mankind and of jinn, although they are beautifull in appearnsce, and therefore, the Quran calls them “zukhruf (plausible discourse)” (6:112) are waswasah. Thus the mumin who abstains from the discourse of the enemies of the Imam is protected from the waswasahs of the Satan. Further, if he advances in bandage in the light of true knowledge and adopts the way of remembering God abundantly, then he will also get rid of waswasah of the nafs.
In verse (6:122) spiritual death of the Perfect Man and his pure life are mentioned in this way: "Is he who was dead, then We raised him to life and made for him a light by which he walks in (the personal world of) people, like him whose similitude is (that he is) in utter darkness whence he cannot emerge?" These are matters discussed in the language of wisdom and therefore their level is very high. Thus by saying "dead" here is meant that the Perfect Man has gone beyond the stage of cIzra’il to the stage of inbicath where he was made alive in the pure life and a perfect light was made for him by which he could walk within people. Such a person can only be the Imam of the time and there is nothing surprising about that fact. Because if Satan, the misleading, can enter the hearts of people and do his work there (114:5), then why should not the true Guide, the Imam, also have access to the hearts and minds of people and do his work of illuminating them.
Q387 It is mentioned in verse (6:112): “Thus, We have made for every Prophet an enemy, satans of humankind and jinn who inspire in one another plausible discourse to deceive.” Are there satans from among human beings? What is the means of the mutual communication between satans from among human beings and jinns?
A387
- Yes, there are human satans and they are very dangerous.
- As you know, a jinn as well as an angel are appointed within every individual. There is a great trial for humankind in these two companions. It is through this jinn that communication is established between the human satan and the jinni satan, and it is also through this angel that communication is possible between an earthly angel and a celestial one.
This verse has been referred 9 times.