He tells us that Iblis was originally known by the name of Azazil:
In some traditions, Iblis was first known as Azazil, an earth-dwelling being that was elevated to the lower heavens for his zealous worship of God. Other traditions indicate he and his tribe of Djinn were guardians of paradise.As Father of the Plowmen, Iblis waged war on unbelievers in his caste:
Others say that Iblis was originally called al-Harith [The Father of the Plowmen]. When the Djinn filled the earth with corruption, al-Harith led the believing Djinn and the angels in battle against them, driving them into the mountains, the caves, to Mount Qaf, and onto islands.Iblis is associated with crossroads and is known to lurk in seedy places:
He’s generally found at the crossroads, in bazaars, and places of ill repute. He imbibes alcohol and consumes impure food. He’s also associated with snakes and peacocks as two creatures he fooled and tempted in the Garden.Less a figure of evil and more like a fraudulent or wicked sheikh:
Unlike the Christian devil, Iblis is not a deity of evil opposing God, but more akin to a tribal chief or king - the leader of the accursed: the wicked djinn.Iblis is viewed as having been a Djinn rather than an angel:
There is some debate among early Muslim scholars whether Iblis was originally an angel or a Djinn, but the Quran does distinctly refer to him as Djinn and orthodox belief is he’s a Djinn It is related that God created angels on Wednesday, [D]jinn on Thursday, and humans on Friday.
Iblis is depicted in several ways, but some traits are common:
Iblis is said to have one bad eye, has a stringy beard and is often depicted as an old decrepit man. He wanders the world with his offspring and tribe of [Djinnic devils] and tempts humans into wickedness. But he is not all-powerful.The pride of Iblis is so offensive that he was shackled in chains:
Another telling says he actually always has chains. When he disobeyed God, he was told to lift his head in pride, when he did, the chains of damnation were wrapped around his neck. So he walks the earth hobbled and can be heard coming from the rattling of chains.
In some traditions, Iblis appears at the end of time along with the Daijal:
In the end of days, Iblis will bring his army of [Djinnic devils] to fight along side Dajjal, an anti-Christ like figure in Islamic eschatology. The army will be defeated by the second coming of Isa or Jesus.
