Allah informs us of how He mentioned Adam to His angels before He created
him, and how He honored him by commanding the angels to prostrate to him. He
mentions how His enemy Iblis, amidst all the angels, refused to prostrate to him
out of envy, disbelief, stubbornness, arrogance, and false pride. This is why
Iblis said:
[لَمْ أَكُن
لاًّسْجُدَ لِبَشَرٍ خَلَقْتَهُ مِن صَلْصَـلٍ مِّنْ حَمَإٍ مَّسْنُونٍ]
(I am not one to prostrate myself to a human, whom You created from dried
(sounding) clay of altered mud.) this is like when he said,
[أَنَاْ خَيْرٌ
مِّنْهُ خَلَقْتَنِي مِن نَّارٍ وَخَلَقْتَهُ مِن طِينٍ]
(I am better than him (Adam), You created me from Fire and him You created
from clay.)(7:12) and
[أَرَءَيْتَكَ هَـذَا
الَّذِى كَرَّمْتَ عَلَىَّ]
("Do you see this one whom You have honored above me...'') [17:62]
[قَالَ فَاخْرُجْ
مِنْهَا فَإِنَّكَ رَجِيمٌ - وَإِنَّ عَلَيْكَ اللَّعْنَةَ إِلَى يَوْمِ الدِّينِ -
قَالَ رَبِّ فَأَنظِرْنِى إِلَى يَوْمِ يُبْعَثُونَ - قَالَ فَإِنَّكَ مِنَ
الْمُنظَرِينَ - إِلَى يَوْمِ الْوَقْتِ الْمَعْلُومِ ]
(34. (Allah) said: "Then leave, for verily, you are an outcast. '') (35. "And
verily, the curse shall be upon you until the Day of Recompense.'') (36. [Iblis]
said: "O my Lord! Then give me respite until the Day they (the dead) will be
resurrected.'') (37. Allah said: "Then verily, you are of those reprieved,'')
(38. "Until the Day of the time appointed.'')