سورة الاٴعرَاف
Surah Al-A‘râf 7:12
The Elevated Places · Verse 12 of 206
قَالَ مَا مَنَعَكَ أَلَّا تَسْجُدَ إِذْ أَمَرْتُكَ ۖ قَالَ أَنَا خَيْرٌ مِنْهُ خَلَقْتَنِي مِنْ نَارٍ وَخَلَقْتَهُ مِنْ طِينٍ
Abdul Mannan Omar
(God) said, `What prevented you from submitting when I commanded you (to submit)?´ (Iblîs) said, `I am better than he (- the human being). You created me from fire whereas You created him from clay.´
Abdullah Yusuf Ali
(Allah) said: "What prevented thee from prostrating when I commanded thee?" He said: "I am better than he: Thou didst create me from fire, and him from clay.
Ahmed Ali
"What prevented you" (said God), "from bowing (before Adam) at My bidding?" "I am better than him," said he. "You created me from fire, and him from clay."
12 more translations
Ali Unal
He (God) said: "What prevented you from prostrating, when I commanded you to do so?" Iblis said: "I am better than he, for You have created me from fire, and him You have created from clay."
Daryabadi
Allah said: what prevented thee, that thou shouldst not prostrate thyself, when I bade thee? He said. I am better than he; me Thou createdest me from fire, and him Thou createdest from clay.
Faridul Haque
Said Allah, "What prevented you, that you did not prostrate when I commanded you?" Answered Iblis, "I am better than him; You created me from fire whereas You created him from clay."
Maulana Muhammad Ali
He said: What hindered thee that thou didst not submit when I commanded thee? He said: I am better than he; thou hast created me of fire while him Thou didst create of dust.
Maulvi Sher Ali
God said, `What prevented thee from submitting when I commanded thee?' He said, `I am better than he. Thou hast created me of fire while him hast thou created of clay.'
Muhammad Asad
[And God] said: "What has kept thee from prostrating thyself when I commanded thee?" Answered [Iblis]: "I am better than he: Thou hast created me out of fire, whereas him Thou hast created out of clay."
Muhammad Musin Khan
(Allah) said: "What prevented you (O Iblis) that you did not prostrate, when I commanded you?" Iblis said: "I am better than him (Adam), You created me from fire, and him You created from clay."
Muhammad Pickthall
He said: What hindered thee that thou didst not fall prostrate when I bade thee? (Iblis) said: I am better than him. Thou createdst me of fire while him Thou didst create of mud.
Muhammad Sarwar
God asked, "What made you disobey Me?" Satan replied, "I am better than Adam, for You have created me out of fire and Adam out of clay."
Muhammed ali Shakir
He said: What hindered you so that you did not prostrate when I commanded you? He said: I am better than he: Thou hast created me of fire, while him Thou didst create of dust.
Rashad Khalifa
He said, "What prevented you from prostrating when I ordered you?" He said, "I am better than he; You created me from fire, and created him from mud."
Shabbir Ahmed
God said, “What stopped you from being subservient when I ordered you?” Iblees responded, "I am better than he. You created me from fire, and created him from clay.”
Commentary 7:12 The verb Qâla قَالَ does not always signify the actual uttering of words; it is also sometimes used to simply represent a state of affairs (cf. 2:30).…
قَالَ مَا مَنَعَكَ أَلَّا تَسْجُدَ إِذْ أَمَرْتُكَ
7:12 The verb Qâla قَالَ does not always signify the actual uttering of words; it is also sometimes used to simply represent a state of affairs (cf. 2:30). What is represented in this verse as a dialogue between Allâh and Iblîs does not mean that an exchange of words actually took place between the two. The words only depict a state of affair, a metaphoric picture to convey and explain a particular message. The intent is to inform us of the spiritual capacities of a human being and those qualities and of pride and arrogance that hinder him in his spiritual ascent, as symbolised by Iblîs. Iblîs is the pride (kibarكِبر ) that incites disobedience to the Divine command. The subject matter becomes clearer in the verse 7:40 (see also 7:48) in which we are informed about the consequences of kibar.