Translation of the meanings Ayah 12 Surah Al-A‘rāf - English Translation - Dr. Waleed Bleyhesh Omary - The Noble Qur'an Encyclopedia

Ayah: 12

قَالَ مَا مَنَعَكَ أَلَّا تَسۡجُدَ إِذۡ أَمَرۡتُكَۖ قَالَ أَنَا۠ خَيۡرٞ مِّنۡهُ خَلَقۡتَنِي مِن نَّارٖ وَخَلَقۡتَهُۥ مِن طِينٖ

(12) He ˹Allah˺ said: “What prevented you from prostrating as I commanded you!” He said: “I am ˹surely˺ better than him! You created me from fire and created him from clay!”^[1582]

[1582] Satan rebelled against the Command of his Lord out of sheer arrogance. Moreover, by doing this he questioned the Wisdom of God (cf. al-Shinqīṭī, al-ʿAdhb al-Namīr). He quoted the substance from which he was created, fire, in argument as to why he felt superior to Adam, who was created from clay, and thus refused to prostrate to him as per God’s order, further proving himself in the wrong. Prior to this command, to prostrate to Adam, God practically explained to the angels, among whom Iblīs was present, the Wisdom of this occurrence. Unlike Iblīs, they dutifully followed the word of their Lord: “˹Mention Muhammad˺ When your Lord said to the angels: “I shall instate a successor on Earth!” They said: “Will you instate in it one who sows corruption and sheds blood, whereas we ˹incessantly˺ glorify You in gratitude to You and exalt You?” He said: “I know that which you do not”. *He taught Adam all the names ˹of things˺, then showed them to the angels and said: “Tell Me the names of these, if only you were truthful!” *They said: “Glorified may You be! We have no knowledge but what You have taught us. You are All-Knowing, All-Wise”. *He said: “Adam! Tell them their names”. When he told them their names, He said: “Did I not instruct you that I know what is hidden in the Heavens and the Earth? – and I know what you hide and what you make public” (2: 30-33). How far apart is the response of the angels to that of Satan! His arrogance made him adamant in his stance and thus blinded him from seeking forgiveness from God (cf. al-Rāzī).
God Almighty, is the One Who created and provides for His creation, so His Wisdom should not be questioned and His Commands, which are binding in nature, should never be disobeyed (cf. al-Rāzī, Abū Ḥayyān, Khan, Fatḥ al-Bayān fī Maqāṣid al-Qur’ān).