Why Was Satan Created? Reflections on the Light of Divine Wisdom

Introduction

On the vast pages of the universe, and in the exquisite secrets of creation, the wisdom of the Great Creator is manifested in every atom and every breath. There is no creature that treads upon this earth or soars in the sky that is not, in its creation, a sign attesting to the greatness of the Creator and His profound wisdom.

Perhaps one of the most striking and thought-stopping aspects in this vast universe is the story of that wondrous fiery creature, who was once among the angels, worshiping God during the night and the edges of the day, but then fell from that lofty station into the realm of disobedience, arrogance, and stubbornness. He is Iblis, that clear enemy who refused to prostrate to Adam when God commanded him.

Some people wonder in confusion: Why did God create Iblis? And what is the wisdom behind the existence of this bitter enemy of man? Here, the profound wisdom of God, which may be hidden from narrow minds, is revealed to those who reflect and ponder upon the Book of God and the Sunnah of His Messenger (ﷺ).

God, in His mercy, has disclosed to us some of these wisdoms that demonstrate the perfection of His power and the greatness of His planning, becoming like stars by which hearts are guided through the darkness of doubt and perplexity.

Divine Wisdoms in the Creation of the Clear Enemy

Imam Ibn al-Qayyim al-Jawziyyah is considered one of the most prominent scholars of Islam who delved into the depths of divine wisdom and revealed its pearls. In his precious book Shifā al-'Alīl, he addressed—with deep analysis and precise understanding—the wisdom behind the creation of Iblis, affirming that the wisdom in his creation is known only to God. We will review here nine of the most prominent wisdoms he mentioned, along with some reflections and benefits:

1. Learning True Worship: The struggle against Satan is a practical school in achieving true servitude to God. In his continuous battle with Iblis’ whispers, the believer practices multiple forms of worship: he seeks refuge in God, implores Him for help, overcomes his desires by resisting Satan, and seeks forgiveness for his sins. It is as if the existence of Iblis forms a comprehensive training program that elevates the believer’s rank in servitude; the more he resists and endures, the higher his degree is raised by his Lord. God made resistance to these traps a means of raising the degrees of the believers.
2. The Lesson in the Story of Arrogance: The story of Iblis serves as a mirror revealing every soul inclined toward arrogance. This magnificent creature, who once worshiped God with the angels—a period known only to God—fell from that lofty station due to a moment of arrogance! This is a profound lesson that is renewed over time: how arrogance can frustrate work no matter how grand it is, and how a moment of haughtiness can demolish years of worship. The repeated mention of Iblis’ story in the Qur'an is an indication of the importance of this lesson, as if it were an ever-alerting bell for every heart where arrogance arises.
3. Unveiling the True Nature of Souls: God created Iblis to be like a touchstone that reveals the true nature of souls. Just as metals are exposed to fire to distinguish the pure from the impure, so too do souls face Iblis’ whispers, revealing their true nature. The sincere believer’s faith and certainty increase, while the hypocrite collapses at the first trial. In this, the law of God in testing is achieved, as if Iblis is a laboratory for examining the essence of every soul.
4. The Creativity of Opposites: In the creation of Iblis, the greatness of divine power is manifested through the creation of opposites. Glory be to the One who created Gabriel and Iblis, the angels and the devils, the light and the darkness, Paradise and Hell! This opposition demonstrates the all-encompassing and perfect nature of divine power. Had all creation been either entirely good or entirely evil, such majesty would not have appeared in all its splendor. This fulfills the meaning of God’s statement: “And of everything We have created pairs, that you may remember (the grace of Allah).” (Al-Dhāriyāt: 49)
5. Savoring the Sweetness of Blessings: The existence of Iblis makes the believer savor God’s blessings more deeply and thank Him in a true manner. When he tastes the bitterness of temptation and then the sweetness of overcoming it, he realizes the value of the blessing of guidance and success. And when he sees how Iblis lost his way from the path of truth, his gratitude to God for the blessing of faith and steadfastness increases. This is why Adam’s gratitude after his repentance was deeper and more complete than his gratitude before the sin, for he tasted the flavor of misguidance and then the sweetness of returning to God. This reminds us of the Prophet’s saying (ﷺ): “He who tastes the flavor of faith is one who is pleased with Allah as his Lord.” (Muslim: 34)It is as if Iblis—despite his evil—causes the meaning of gratitude in the hearts of believers to deepen.
6. A Lucrative Trade with God: Iblis’ existence establishes a profitable market for trading with God in the most precious commodities: love, repentance, reliance, and patience. In his continuous struggle with Satan’s whispers, the believer practices these heartfelt acts in their fullest form: sincere love for God that drives him to oppose Satan, constant repentance in which he turns to his Lord, deep reliance on his Creator, and beautiful patience in the face of his enemy’s traps. These values are among the most beloved forms of servitude to God, as He said: “And those who strive for Us - We will surely guide them to Our ways.” (Al-'Ankabūt: 69) It is as if Iblis, without even realizing it, leads believers to the highest degrees of closeness to God.
7. The Manifestation of God’s Forbearance and Mercy: God’s forbearance is most beautifully manifested in His treatment of Iblis. Despite his rebellion, disobedience, and his declaration of enmity toward God and His servants, God grants him life and power, bestows upon him His bounty, and allows him a specified term. This is a great lesson in the vastness of God’s mercy and the greatness of His forbearance, even with His worst enemy! How much more so with His believing servants? This increases the believer’s love for his Lord and his trust in His mercy, and it opens the door of hope for sinners to repent and return to God. If God allows Iblis—despite his insistence on disbelief—how much more will He grant respite to a believing servant who sins, then repents and returns?
8. Manifestations of the Beautiful Names of God: Among the Beautiful Names of God are: the Humiliator and the Exalter, the Bestower of Honor and the One who humbles, the Avenger, and the Just. These names necessitate the existence of correlates in which their effects are manifested. Just as the Most Merciful and the Most Compassionate display the effects of their mercy in creation, so too do justice and vengeance show the effects of divine justice and retribution in dealing with those who deserve it, such as Iblis and his followers. The creation of Iblis revealed the meanings of these divine names and their effects in the universe, which is part of the perfection of God’s wisdom in His creation.
9. A Sign of Creation: Ibn al-Qayyim draws attention to a wondrous wisdom in the creation of Iblis from fire. Fiery matter embodies contradictions: it causes burning and corruption, yet it also radiates brightness and illumination. From it, God brings forth what illuminates like the angels, and what burns and corrupts like the devils. This is similar to the creation of man from earth, which combines the good and the bad. In this, God’s ability to bring forth opposites from a single substance is manifested, as He said: “He brings the living out of the dead and brings the dead out of the living.” (Al-Rūm: 19) This is one of the signs that indicate the perfection of God’s power and wisdom.

Conclusion

After this journey through the gardens of divine wisdom, the greatness of God’s providential planning in all that He created and spread becomes clear to us. The believer should not stand baffled by the question: Why did God create Satan? We have reviewed some of the wisdoms behind his creation, and what we have mentioned is but a drop in an ocean of wisdom that only God fully encompasses.

Each of these wisdoms opens doors to knowledge, unveils horizons of understanding, and increases the believer’s certainty that God does not create anything in vain. And if our limited minds have grasped this much of the wisdom, how many hidden wisdoms remain beyond our reach? How many secrets have yet to be revealed to us?Glory be to Him whose knowledge encompasses everything, whose mercy has preceded His wrath, and whose wisdom encompasses all His creation. All we have to do is praise our Lord, believe in His wisdom, and be assured that behind everything He created there is profound wisdom—even if it is hidden from some minds, it is manifested to those who reflect and ponder, and whose hearts are open to understanding the wisdom of the Sharia.