Iblis
ib-LEES
He knew the truth, refused it — and has spent eternity trying to make others do the same.
A synthesized overview will appear here as content grows.
Root Analysis
The name Iblis is derived from the root b-l-s, connected to the sense of despair and hopelessness — the state of one cut off from divine mercy. From the same root: mublas (one in despair), and the implied state of Iblis after the divine curse: a being without access to the mercy that sustains all existence. The name itself is a theological statement: despair of mercy is what Iblis has chosen and what characterizes his state.
Quranic Occurrence
Iblis is named as Iblis 11 times in the Quran, primarily in the passages describing the original scene with Adam (2:34, 7:11, 15:31, 17:61, 18:50, 20:116, 38:74-75). He is also referred to throughout the Quran by the title Shaytan (the adversary), which applies both to him individually and to the broader class of beings that follow his path of rebellion and corruption.