Some people, especially those who don’t believe in God (atheists), ask this question: If Shaytan (often called Satan) leads people to do bad things by whispering evil ideas, why did God create him? Why would God make a being that would trick the humans He also made? Does this seem fair for a Creator? This question comes up a lot when talking about Shaytan in Islam.

Answer: Understanding Shaytan in Islam

The Arabic word ‘Shaytan’ (شيطان) actually means ‘rebellious’ or ‘someone who disobeys.’ It’s not just a name for one being. Instead, it’s a description for anyone (human or jinn) who disobeys God’s (Allah’s) commands. So, a Shaytan can be a human or a jinn (a being created by God, unseen by humans).

Allah says in the Qur’an:

وَكَذَٰلِكَ جَعَلْنَا لِكُلِّ نَبِيٍّ عَدُوًّا شَيَاطِينَ الْإِنسِ وَالْجِنِّ يُوحِي بَعْضُهُمْ إِلَىٰ بَعْضٍ زُخْرُفَ الْقَوْلِ غُرُورًا ۚ وَلَوْ شَاءَ رَبُّكَ مَا فَعَلُوهُ ۖ فَذَرْهِمْ وَمَا يَفْتَرُونَ

“This is how We made for every prophet enemies—devils from among humans and jinn—who inspire one another with embellished and deceptive speech. Had your Lord willed, they would not have done it. So leave them and their fabrications.”

(Qur’an, Surah Al-An’am 6:112)

Explaining this verse, Tafsir Ibn Kathir (رحمه الله) mentions that Qatadah (رحمه الله) said:

“There are Shaytans among the jinn, and there are Shaytans among humans.”

Shaykh al-Islam Ibn Taymiyyah (رحمه الله) said:

“Shaytan refers to those among humans and jinn who are rebellious and disobedient to Allah. The jinn Shaytans are the descendants of Iblis (the first Shaytan).”

So, when we talk about Shaytan in Islam, we learn that ‘Shaytan’ isn’t a specific type of creature. It’s a word that describes those who rebel against Allah. The people asking the question are usually thinking about Iblis and his followers (from the jinn and other shaytan) who put evil thoughts in people’s minds and try to mislead them. Their question is: If God is real, why would He create beings that trick His own creations and lead them to Hell?

Let’s look at some points:

First: ‘Shaytan’ is a Description, Not Something You’re Born As

As we’ve learned, ‘Shaytan’ describes a quality or behavior. No one is born a Shaytan. A person becomes a Shaytan because of their own bad actions and disobedience. Allah didn’t force Iblis and his followers to become Shaytan. They chose to become Shaytan themselves. Both jinn and humans have free will – they can choose to do good or evil. Iblis and his followers chose to become jinn and shaytan who mislead people and whisper evil ideas.

Second: Good and Evil Happen with Allah’s Permission, But Not Because He Wants Evil

Everything that happens in the universe happens with Allah’s knowledge and permission. Allah has given humans and jinn free will. Whatever they do, good or bad, Allah knows about it. However, Allah is happy with good deeds and unhappy with evil deeds.

Allah is not happy with the evil or sins that happen in the world. He hates them, dislikes them, and tells people to avoid them. Sins happen with Allah’s permission only because He allows them as part of a test. This doesn’t mean He likes or orders them.

Third: Why Did Allah Create Shaytan in Islam?

Regarding the question of why Allah created Shaytan and allowed him to lead people away from the right path, Imam Ibn al-Qayyim al-Jawziyyah (رحمه الله) wrote in his book Shifa’ al-‘Alil that there are very important reasons for the creation of Iblis and his followers. These reasons are so deep that only Allah truly understands them all.

Here are some important reasons (wisdoms) for Shaytan’s existence:

Fighting Shaytan Makes Worship Better

When people struggle against Shaytan and his followers, it helps them become better and more sincere in their worship. The Prophets and Allah’s truly devoted servants often asked Allah for protection from Shaytan’s whispers. This made their faith stronger. Without Shaytan, it might have been harder to develop such strong and deep faith.

Knowing Shaytan’s Punishment Makes Us Fear Sin More

Allah’s servants are afraid to commit sins because they know what happened to Iblis. Iblis was thrown out from a high position among the angels because of his sin. This is a strong lesson for believers and makes them more aware of God (this is called taqwa).

Shaytan and Adam — Two Examples to Learn From

Allah made Iblis, the first of the jinn who rebelled, an example for those who disobey Allah because of pride and rebellion. On the other hand, He made Adam (AS), the first human, an example for those who sincerely say sorry (repent) after sinning and return to Allah.

Shaytan in islam is a Test from Allah

The existence of Shaytan is part of Allah’s test for His servants. Through this test, people’s faith, patience, and obedience to Allah are checked.

Iblis Shows Allah’s Power to Create Many Different Things

Iblis shows Allah’s amazing power to create. Just like Allah created opposites (like light and darkness, paradise and hell), He created Iblis and the Shaytan as opposites to Angel Jibril (AS) (Gabriel) and the other angels. This shows His endless creativity.

We Understand Good Better Because of Evil

We understand how valuable or important something is when we see its opposite. If there was no evil or ugliness, we could never truly appreciate goodness or beauty. If there was no poverty, we wouldn’t value wealth.

Allah’s Mercy and Patience are Shown

Allah wants to show His servants His great patience, mercy, and forgiveness. That’s why He allows some creatures to worship others besides Him or to displease Him, but He still gives them food, health, and blessings. Even when they don’t believe, Allah is still kind to them.

A reliable hadith (a saying or action of Prophet Muhammad) says:

“By the One in Whose hand is my soul, if you did not commit sin, Allah would remove you and bring a people who would sin, ask Allah for forgiveness, and He would forgive them.”

(Sahih Muslim, Book 37, Hadith 6621)

Getting Allah’s Approval Through Challenges

Shaytan encourages bad desires in people. This gives people a chance to fight against those desires. Through difficulties, humans can earn Allah’s love and happiness. Even though sins happen because of Iblis’s whispers and make Allah unhappy, when a person sincerely repents, Allah is extremely pleased—even more pleased than a person who loses their camel in a huge desert and then finds it with their food and water still on it.

How Much Can Shaytan Influence Us, and Why It’s Important to Ask Allah for Help:

Shaytan can only whisper or tempt people, trying to push them towards doing wrong. However, Shaytan has no real power over Allah’s sincere servants. He cannot force anyone to do bad things. Only those who choose to follow Shaytan’s temptations go down the wrong path. This is the limit of Shaytan’s influence.

Allah say in Qur’an:

“إِنَّ عِبَادِي لَيْسَ لَكَ عَلَيْهِمْ سُلْطَانٌ إِلَّا مَنِ اتَّبَعَكَ مِنَ الْغَاوِينَ وَإِنَّ جَهَنَّمَ لَمَوْعِدُهُمْ أَجْمَعِينَ”

“Indeed, My servants—you have no authority over them except those who follow you among the deviators. And indeed, Hell is the promised place for them all.”

(Surah Al-Hijr, 15:42-43)

It also explains:

“كَمَثَلِ الشَّيْطَانِ إِذْ قَالَ لِلْإِنسَانِ اكْفُرْ فَلَمَّا كَفَرَ قَالَ إِنِّي بَرِيءٌ مِّنكَ إِنِّي أَخَافُ اللَّهَ رَبَّ الْعَالَمِينَ”

“Their state is like that of Shaytan when he says to a human, ‘Disbelieve.’ Then when he disbelieves, Shaytan says, ‘Indeed, I am disassociated from you. Indeed, I fear Allah, Lord of the worlds.’”

(Surah Al-Hashr, 59:16)

Those who do not follow Shaytan’s path and ask Allah for protection are kept safe from his influence.

As the Qur’an advises:

“وَإِمَّا يَنزَغَنَّكَ مِنَ الشَّيْطَانِ نَزْغٌ فَاسْتَعِذْ بِاللَّهِ ۚ إِنَّهُ سَمِيعٌ عَلِيمٌ”

“And if an evil suggestion comes to you from Shaytan, then seek refuge in Allah. Indeed, He is the Hearing, the Knowing.”

(Surah Al-A’raf, 7:200)

Understanding Shaytan’s influence helps believers see how important it is to turn to Allah for protection and guidance.

Conclusion:

Shaytan chose the wrong path because of his own free will; Allah did not order him to do so. Allah has warned people about Shaytan’s influence. The creation of Shaytan itself shows Allah’s endless power and wisdom. Allah created humans to worship Him and made this life a test for them. Shaytan’s existence is a necessary part of this test.

There is a perfect balance in everything Allah has created. So, questioning why the Creator exists or His fairness because Shaytan exists is not logical.

Allah says:

“يَـٰٓأَيُّہَا ٱلنَّاسُ إِنَّ وَعۡدَ ٱللَّهِ حَقٌّ۬ۖ فَلَا تَغُرَّنَّكُمُ ٱلۡحَيَوٰةُ ٱلدُّنۡيَاۖ وَلَا يَغُرَّنَّكُم بِٱللَّهِ ٱلۡغَرُورُ إِنَّ ٱلشَّيۡطَـٰنَ لَكُمۡ عَدُوٌّ۬ فَٱتَّخِذُوهُ عَدُوًّاۚ إِنَّمَا يَدۡعُواْ حِزۡبَهُ ۥ لِيَكُونُواْ مِنۡ أَصۡحَـٰبِ ٱلسَّعِيرِ”

“O mankind, indeed the promise of Allah is truth. So let not the worldly life deceive you and be not deceived about Allah by the deceiver [Shaytan]. Indeed, Shaytan is an enemy to you; so take him as an enemy. He only invites his party to be among the companions of the Blaze.”

(Surah Fatir, 35:5-6)

And Allah also says:

“أَلَمۡ أَعۡهَدۡ إِلَيۡكُمۡ يَـٰبَنِىٓ ءَادَمَ أَن لَّا تَعۡبُدُواْ ٱلشَّيْطَـٰنَ‌ۖ إِنَّهُ ۥ لَكُمۡ عَدُوٌّ۬ مُبِينٌ۬ وَأَنِ ٱعۡبُدُونِى‌ۚ هَـٰذَا صِرَٲطٌ۬ مُّسۡتَقِيمٌ۬ وَلَقَدۡ أَضَلَّ مِنكُمۡ جِبِلاًّ۬ كَثِيرًا‌ۖ أَفَلَمۡ تَكُونُواْ تَعۡقِلُونَ”

“O children of Adam, did I not command you that you should not worship Shaytan? Indeed, he is to you a clear enemy. And worship Me, this is the straight path. Indeed, he has led astray from among you a great number. Then did you not use reason?”

(Surah Yaseen, 36:60-62)

Understanding Shaytan in Islam, and the role of jinn and shaytan as part of Allah’s divine plan, helps believers stay alert, avoid temptation, and stick to the right path by worshiping only Allah.