Tafseer of The letter Saad · Saad · 38:74
Except Iblees; he was arrogant and became among the disbelievers.
Important: The Arabic source text is always authoritative. This translation is a study aid and has not been verified by scholars — do not use it as a basis for religious proof or for deriving rulings (ahkam). When in doubt, always consult the Arabic text and a qualified scholar.
( إِلا إِبْلِيسَ اسْتَكْبَرَ ) (except Iblīs, he was arrogant): He says: except Iblīs, for he did not prostrate himself to the ground; he was too arrogant to cast himself down before him (Adam), out of self-exaltation and arrogance.
( وَكَانَ مِنَ الْكَافِرِينَ ) (and he was among the disbelievers): He says: and through that self-exaltation of his, his arrogance toward his Lord, and his disobedience to His command, he was among those who, in Allah's prior knowledge, were disbelieving (kāfir); thus he denied Allah's Lordship and rejected that which he was obligated to acknowledge: submission in obedience.
As Abū Kurayb related to us, saying: Abū Bakr said concerning ( إِلا إِبْلِيسَ اسْتَكْبَرَ وَكَانَ مِنَ الْكَافِرِينَ ): Ibn ʿAbbās said: he was, in the knowledge of Allah, among the disbelievers.
