We created you; _that is, your father Adam_: then we formed you; _we formed him, and you in him_: then We said unto the angels, Prostrate yourselves unto Adam, _by way of salutation_; whereupon they prostrated themselves, except Iblees, _the father of the jinn, who was amid the angels_: he was not of those who prostrated themselves. _God_ said, What hath hindered thee from prostrating thyself, when I commanded thee? He answered, I am better than he: Thou hast created me of fire, and Thou hast created him of earth. [God] said, Then descend thou from it; _that is, from Paradise; or, as some say, from the heavens_; for it is not fit for thee that thou behave thyself proudly therein: so go thou forth: verily thou [shalt be] of the contemptible. He replied, Grant me respite until the day when they (_that is, mankind_) shall be raised from the dead. He said, Thou shalt be of those [who are] respited: _and, in another verse_ [in xv. 38, it is said], _until the day of the known period; that is, until the period of the first blast_ [of the trumpet]. [And the devil] said, Now, as Thou hast led me into error, I will surely lay wait for them (_that is, for the sons of Adam_) in Thy right way, _the way that leadeth to Thee_: then I will surely come upon them, from before them, and from behind them, and from their right hands, and from their left, _and hinder them from pursuing the way_ (_but, saith Ibn-´Abbás, he cannot come upon them above, lest he should intervene between the servant and God’s mercy_), and Thou shalt not find the greater number of them grateful, _or believing_. [God] said, Go forth from it, despised and driven away _from mercy_. Whosoever of them (_that is, of mankind_) shall follow thee, I will surely fill hell with you all; _with thee, and thy offspring, and with men_. (vii. 10-17.)