The Great Controversy and the Quran (Pt.2)
by Gabriela Phillips
What follows is the the conclusion of a two part series on the ways in which the Quran aligns with the doctrine of the Great Controversy between Christ and Satan. It may be more beneficial to read PART 1 first for greater context and clarity.
The Entrance of Sin
What about man? Until now, the conversation is between God and Satan, now the spotlight shifts towards Satan, note an important difference between the biblical and quranic narrative. This is key to understand how both stories portray sin.
‘O Adam! dwell thou and thy wife in the Garden, and enjoy (its good things) as ye wish: but approach not this tree, or ye run into harm and transgression.’
What did you see? 1) approach not the tree, this is Eve’s version. To Adam God said, don’t eat. 2) Sin brings death, not just harm and transgression. It is key for us to frame this right from the go.
Then began Satan to whisper suggestions to them, bringing openly before their minds all their shame that was hidden from them (before): he said: ‘Your Lord only forbade you this tree, lest ye should become angels or such beings as live forever.’ And he swore to them both, that he was their sincere adviser.
Shame. Satan exposes their shame. Shame is not something that resonates with us. we are more guilt-oriented. The lie here is also different; become like angels, and live forever.
So by deceit he brought about their fall: when they tasted of the tree, their shame became manifest to them, and they began to sew together the leaves of the garden over their bodies. And their Lord called unto them: ‘Did I not forbid you that tree, and tell you that Satan was an avowed enemy unto you?’
Who is Satan?[1]
Depends who you ask? He claims to be a sincere advisor. God calls him avowed enemy that leads to hell.[2] “Satan” comes from the Hebrew ha-satan, which means “accuser.”[3]
“Satan is to man an avowed enemy!” (Yusuf 12:5; see also al-An’am 6:142; al-A’raf 7:22; al-Isra’ 17:53; al-Kahf 18:50; Ya Sin 36:60; az-Zukhruf 43:62). “Verily Satan is an enemy to you: so treat him as an enemy. He only invites his adherents, that they may become Companions of the Blazing Fire” (Fatir 35:6).
“Satan's plan is (but) to excite enmity and hatred between you, with intoxicants and gambling, and hinder you from the remembrance of Allah, and from prayer. Will ye not then abstain?” (al-Ma’idah 5:91).
“‘I will mislead them, and I will create in them false desires… and to deface the (fair) nature created by Allah….’ Satan makes them promises and creates in them false desires; but Satan's promises are nothing but deception” (an-Nisa’ 4:119-120).
The Fall & Redemption
“They said: ‘Our Lord! We have wronged our own souls: If thou forgive us not and bestow not upon us Thy Mercy, we shall certainly be lost.’” Araf 7 “…Were it not for the Grace and Mercy of Allah unto you, all but a few of you would have fallen into the clutches of Satan” (an-Nisa’ 4:83).
See, Adam and his wife are lost, eternally lost and in need of mercy. They go into hiding, the garden is no longer a place of rest and enjoyment. They are deeply ashamed; they try to cover their nakedness with leaves. Is it working? No, how can they ever face their loving Creator, are they live in hiding forever? God has a plan, He knew something they did not,
O ye Children of Adam! We have bestowed raiment upon you to cover your shame, as well as to be an adornment to you. But the raiment of righteousness—that is the best. Such are among the Signs of Allah, that they may receive admonition!’” (Al Araf 7:10-26).[4]
Clothing, these are animal clothing, this is the first sacrifice. God does not come empty handed to the meeting with their beloved, he has clothes both for adornment and for covering their shame (nakedness), but the best robes are robes of taqwah, righteousness, this is a sign. A sign is that whih point somewhere, right? If you see a sign saying Maryland 50 miles, you look where its arrow is pointing and follow it till you get to Maryland? Where is this sign leading the Children of Adam, the verse is addressed to us? To the sacrifice of an animal provided by God as ransom for the son of Abraham,
“And We ransomed him (the son of Abraham) with a tremendous, enormous sacrifice” (As-Saffat 37:107).
The Final Verdict
“And Satan will say when the matter is decided: ‘It was Allah Who gave you a promise of Truth: I too promised, but I failed in my promise to you. I had no authority over you except to call you, but ye listened to me: then reproach not me, but reproach your own souls...’” (Ibrahim 14:22).[5]
Two groups, the goats and the lambs, clay or metal, two groups. Those who have the sign of the beast of Sin and those who have the mark of God,
“…Truly, it is the Party of the Evil One that will perish!” (al-Mujadilah 58:19).
“…Lo! the party of Allah, they are the victorious” (al-Ma’idah 5:56, M. Pickthal).
On that day, those with rational capacity and angels alike will declare the wisdom, justice, and power of God,
“There is no god but He: That is the witness of Allah, His angels, and those endued with knowledge, standing firm on justice. There is no god but He, the Exalted in Power, the Wise” (al ‘Imran 3:18).
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1. Satan’s role as ‘prince of this world’ is much more fully developed in the New Testament. See John 12:31; 2 Corinthians 4:4; Ephesians 2:2; 1 John 5:19.
2. It is decreed that anyone who allies himself with him [Satan], he will mislead him and guide him to the agony of Hell” (al-Hajj 22:4, Khalifa).On the Day of Judgment, erring humans will cry,” ‘He [Satan] did lead me astray from the Message after it had come to me! Ah! the evil one is but a traitor to man!’” (al-Furqan 25:29). “It is but Satan who instills [into you] fear of his allies: so fear them not, but fear Me, if you are [truly] believers!” (al ‘Imran 3:175, M. Asad)
“…Satan made their (sinful) acts seem alluring to them” (al-An’am 6:43; see also al-Baqarah 2:268; al-Anfal 8:48, An-Nahl 16:63; An-Naml 27:24).
3. In the Qur’an, Iblis likewise becomes Satan (Shaitan in Arabic).
4. In the Qur’an, the issues related to the creation of the world and Satan’s conflict with God are given in five passages: al-Baqarah 2:30-39; al-A’raf 7:10-26; al-Isra’ 17:61-65; Ta Ha 20:115-123; and Sad 38:71-85. Surah al-A’raf gives the most complete account.
Notice the key points in the qur’anic account above, along with their biblical counterparts: the creation of humans and the bestowal of authority upon them (c.f., Genesis 1:26-28); Iblis’ refusal to acknowledge Adam’s God-given authority; Iblis’ subsequent rebellion against God (see below); his plans to attack God’s faithful as a means of indirectly getting back at God (see below); his expulsion from God’s presence (c.f., Ezekiel 28:16, 18; see also Revelation 12:9); the temptation and fall of Adam and Eve (c.f., Genesis 3:1-6); the immediate consequences of humanity’s sin (c.f., Genesis 3:7-24); and God’s promises of restoration (c.f., Genesis 3:15).
5. “And on them did Satan prove true his idea, and they followed him, all but a party that believed. But he had no authority over them, except that We might test the man who believes in the Hereafter from him who is in doubt concerning it: and thy Lord doth watch over all things” (Saba’ 34:20-21).
Gabriela Phillips is Director of Adventist-Muslim Relations at the North American Division.
