Will Iblees enter Hell, and why?

Praise be to Allah.

The matter of punishments is for Allaah to decide, and we know nothing about it except that which He has told us. The Kuffaar and Mushrikeen are major sinners who will abide in Hell forever, they and Iblees, may Allaah curse him. We will now look at some verses of the Qur'aan which are evidence of that, and we will discuss why Iblees disbelieved and what will be his fate and the fate of those who follow him.

Allaah says (interpretation of the meaning):
"(Remember) when your Lord said to the angels: 'Truly, I am going to create man from clay. So when I have fashioned him and breathed into him (his) soul created by Me, then you fall down prostrate to him.' So the angels prostrated themselves, all of them, Except Iblees (Satan), he was proud and was one of the disbelievers. (Allaah) said: 'O Iblees (Satan)! What prevents you from prostrating yourself to one whom I have created with Both My Hands. Are you too proud (to fall prostrate to Adam) or are you one of the high exalted?' [Iblees (Satan)] said: 'I am better than he. You created me from fire, and You created him from clay.' (Allaah) said: "Then get out from here; for verily, you are outcast. And verily, My Curse is on you till the Day of Recompense.' [Iblees (Satan)] said: "'My Lord! Give me then respite till the Day the (dead) are resurrected.' (Allaah) said: 'Verily, you are of those allowed respite Till the Day of the time appointed.' [Iblees (Satan)] said: 'By Your Might, then I will surely, mislead them all, Except Your chosen slaves amongst them (i.e. faithful, obedient, true believers of Islamic Monotheism).' (Allaah) said: 'The truth is – and the truth I say * That I will fill Hell with you [Iblees (Satan)] and those of them (mankind) that follow you, together.'" [Saad 38:71-85]

Iblees disobeyed his Lord and refused, stubbornly and arrogantly, to prostrate to Adam. This indicates the serious nature of self-admiration and pride. We ask Allaah to keep us safe and sound from that.

The fact that Iblees believed in the existence of Allaah, acknowledged His Might and swore an oath by that did not benefit him at all, because his belief was cancelled out by his stubbornness, pride and arrogant behaviour before Allaah when he refused to obey His command.

Allaah created Iblees for reasons which are known to Him, may He be glorified and exalted, and to be a test and a trial for mankind. Whoever obeys Allaah and disobeys Iblees will enter Paradise, and whoever disobeys Allaah and obeys Iblees will enter Hell. The fact that Allaah created Iblees does not imply that He approves of what Iblees does – we seek refuge with Allaah – but this was the decree of the Lord of the Worlds. Allaah does not approve of kufr or sin. He says (interpretation of the meaning):
"If you disbelieve, then verily, Allaah is not in need of you, He likes not disbelief for His slaves. And if you are grateful (by being believers), He is pleased therewith for you. No bearer of burdens shall bear the burden of another" [al-Zumar 39:7]
The point of this aayah is: "He likes not disbelief for His slaves". Allaah's will is of two types: His shar'i (legislative) will, which refers to what He wills and loves, including that which He has prescribed for His slaves; and His kawni (universal) will, which refers to what He wills to happen – for reasons that are known to Him – but this does not necessarily mean that He likes what happens.

Who has guided us, and may He send peace and blessings upon our master Muhammad and his family and companions.