Interview with Satan

If interview was possible with Satan the answer to my questions would’ve been in the following way:

Interviewer: What’s your name?

Satan: Iblis. I belong to the family of Jinn (Al‑Kahf 50), created from fire (Al‑Hijr 27). Human beings cannot see us (A‘raf 27), and Jinn cannot reveal themselves or change their appearance. I also cannot make humans hear my voice directly, nor can I give them benefit or harm. But I have been granted the ability to whisper suggestions into their hearts (Ibrahim 22, An‑Naas). Human beings call me and my offspring “Satan.

Interviewer: Many of our brothers and sisters complain that even after reciting A‘ūdhu billāhi min ash‑shayṭān ir‑rajīm, you don’t leave them.

Satan: Interesting. You say I never go, I say I never come.

Interviewer: That sounds like a joke. Why do you say it that way?

Satan: Joking and mocking are the habits of the ignorant. Perhaps you didn’t understand me. Think about how social‑media works.
When the system notices someone isn’t convinced or isn’t interested, it keeps pushing new posts, new ideas, new temptations - trying to pull them in.

But when it recognizes a user who already follows certain content, who already likes it, shares it, and spends time on it…...the system doesn’t waste effort.

It simply says, “No need to push anything new. This one is already ours.”

In the same way… “I focus only on people who resist me. The rest require no attention”.

Interviewer: What! Never mind. Tell me why were you rejected and disgraced? Considering your history, I may not trust you, but try to tell me the true story.

Satan: Very well. Today I promise to speak the truth. This is unusual for me, although in many courtrooms my followers hold the Quran and say the same words. Still, your question amuses me, so I will tell you the real story.
From your appearance, you seem educated. Perhaps you belong to one of the branches of knowledge influenced by me. Now tell me whose words are truer than Allah’s?

Interviewer: No one else’s.

Satan: If you truly believed that Allah’s words are the most truthful, you would never dare to ask such a question.
Fifteen hundred years ago, through the pure and perfect words revealed in the language of Muhammad ﷺ, Allah explained everything clearly. And even today, the same unchanged scripture is present in your homes.
Yet how unfortunate, you still haven’t found the time to open it and reflect on it. Under my influence, you wrapped it in a decorated cover, placed it on a high shelf, and only bring it down when someone passes away, even though it was revealed for the living. And when you do open it, you struggle to understand what it says.

Remarkable, your belief should have led you to it long ago. And now here I am, explaining the teachings of the Quran to you.

Don’t worry, I’ll translate it for you.
When Allah, the Most High, informed the angels that He was creating a being (Adam, mankind) who would have authority over the earth, He demonstrated Adam’s superiority over all creation. Then Allah commanded everything to acknowledge Adam’s status and submit to the order given (Baqara 30–34, Ahzab 72). Everything obeyed except me.

Allah asked what prevented me from obeying His command. I replied, “I am better than Adam. You created me from fire and him from clay.” Because of this arrogance, Allah expelled me. I then prayed to Allah to delay my punishment until the Day when all people are raised again and He granted me that request. 

After receiving this respite, I declared, “Because You have put me in error, I will surely sit in wait for them on Your straight path. Then I will come to them from before them and from behind them and on their right and on their left, and You will not find most of them grateful” (A‘raf 12–17).  Allah responded that whoever follows me will be among those destined for Hell (A‘raf 18).

That is the story. Now you know why I stand rejected.

People call me cursed, yet they fail to notice their own faults while searching for the smallest flaw in others. Have you ever reflected on your own actions?

I disobeyed Allah once by refusing to bow to Adam and I was cast out.
Allah calls you to prostrate five times a day, yet many ignore all five. What does that say about your own obedience?

I vowed to lead humanity astray and take as many as I can with me. And you, through your choices, often assist me more than you resist me.

You speak beautifully, but your intentions and actions reveal contradictions. They prove that my assumptions about you were not wrong.

Allah has mentioned in the Quran that many people fail to give Him the honour and obedience He deserves. Look at your own deeds. Is this how the servants of Allah should be?

Interviewer: People say you make others angry, but today you seem irritated yourself. Have some water. There are still a few questions left. According to the teachings of Prophet Muhammad ﷺ, you are restrained during Ramadan. Do you still influence people during that time?

Satan: An interesting question. Yes, I am restrained during Ramadan but you are not. As long as people continue acting carelessly, my work continues without me doing anything. And even if things slow down during the month, the moment the new moon is sighted and Ramadan ends, many people undo in a single night what they built over thirty days.

Look anywhere in the world: someone spends the entire month trying to improve themselves, controlling their desires, and staying mindful. But as soon as the celebration begins, they rush into crowds, forget their limits, and behave in ways that contradict everything they practiced. Markets overflow, tempers rise, modesty fades, and respect is pushed aside. Families stand by without concern, as if nothing is wrong.

Then people ask, “If Satan is imprisoned, why do we still fall into the same mistakes?”

The truth is simple, you never treated me like an enemy. When I am released, you celebrate in ways that welcome everything I stand for. Your actions reveal where your loyalty lies.

If you continue following my path, then our meeting place will be one you would never wish for.

Interviewer: Allah knows best how people believe you. I sense hostility toward humans in every word you speak. My heart hesitates to ask you anything further.
Still, tell me is there any incident where your attempts failed?

Satan: A painful question indeed. There is an incident from the time when Ibrahim (alaihi salaam) saw in a dream that he was to sacrifice his son Ismail (alaihi salaam). This matter troubles me deeply. The Quran mentions that Allah tested Ibrahim (alaihi salaam) with certain commands, and he fulfilled them.

One day, Ibrahim (alaihi salaam) told his son Ismail (alaihi salaam) about the dream and asked for his view. The son replied that his father should obey what Allah had commanded, and added that, if Allah willed, he would remain patient.
Both father and son moved forward with full determination to fulfil the command.

The son walked willingly, ready to give up his youth, his beauty, his hopes, and his dreams. The father walked with the weight of a century of prayers, love, and longing prepared to surrender his beloved son for Allah’s sake.

I had been defeated by Ibrahim (alaihi salaam) many times before, but on that day I was determined to disrupt their obedience. I ran to their home and asked Hajera (Hagar) where her husband and young son were. She said they had gone for a walk. I tried to deceive her: “Ibrahim has taken your son to sacrifice him. Go and stop him, or soon you will be mourning.”

Hajera replied, “How could a father harm his own son? Ibrahim loves him dearly. Leave.”
I insisted, “He will do it — Allah has commanded him.”

She answered, “If this is Allah’s command, then I have no objection, even if it meant sacrificing many sons.”
I was certain a mother’s heart would break easily, but I failed.

Still, I did not give up. I ran to Ismail (alaihi salaam), but he rejected my whispers as well.
Finally, I approached Ibrahim (alaihi salaam) himself. I said, “Are you truly going to sacrifice your own son? There are many ways to please Allah. At your age, you were blessed with a son so beautiful that even the moon would seem dim beside him. If you sacrifice him, your lineage will end. Your family will vanish. And this dream, how do you know it is not a whisper from me? If Allah wanted this, He would have sent Jibreel.”

Ibrahim (alaihi salaam) picked up stones and threw them at me three times. Only then did I realise how firm and devoted he truly was.

Allah made this event a lasting tradition for you. Every year you sacrifice animals in remembrance of Ibrahim (alaihi salaam). But I know the intentions behind many of these acts. If your sincerity were true, you would abandon dishonesty, foul speech, lying, harmful habits, and all forms of wrongdoing — and declare openly that you have left them for Allah’s sake.
But many do not. Instead, they perform the sacrifice for pride, display, or custom.

Brother, if you have more questions, ask them now.

Interviewer: Hold on! Don’t call me your brother.

Satan: Why are you so disturbed? I haven’t said anything beyond what your own scripture mentions. On nights like Shab‑e‑Mi‘raj or Shab‑e‑Barā’ah, you and your families celebrate with fireworks and festivities. During seasonal festivals, you celebrate with kite‑flying and other customs.

At weddings, you bring in loud music, performers on stage, fireworks, elaborate customs, and endless recording all without hesitation. Read Surah Bani‑Isra’il, Ayah 27. Allah Himself describes those who waste and indulge carelessly as “brothers of the devils.” So why does it trouble you when I repeat what is already written?

Interviewer: Fine. Where do you usually live?

Satan: My address is simple - outside mosques, schools, and gatherings of learning. Look at the attendance in your mosques and Quran classes; it decreases day by day.
Despite constant reminders, only a few elderly people attend. That alone shows how effective my influence is.

Interviewer: Strange. I thought you would be active around social‑media platforms or streaming apps.

Satan: Not at all. I only plant a single thought - “Watch this.”
After that, people lose themselves in endless scrolling.
With such eagerness, why would I need to interfere any more?

Interviewer: Alright! what do you eat?

Satan: Thanks to people like you, whatever you place on your table - your meals, your snacks, everything you enjoy.

Interviewer: Interesting. And where do you buy all this from?

Satan: Why would I need to buy anything when you provide it?
Whenever you begin eating without remembering Allah — without saying Bismillah‑ir‑Rahman‑ir‑Rahim — your food becomes mine.

Interviewer: Any proof?

Satan: How surprising. Even after the clear guidance of your Prophet Muhammad ﷺ, you still ask for proof. But if you insist, I can explain.
You eat well, yet you lack the strength to act with courage — that alone should make you reflect.

Interviewer: Is there any particular sin you wish more people would fall into?

Satan: Every sin, major or minor, is an opportunity for me, and I never let one pass.
But shirk (associating partners with Allah) is the one that brings me the greatest satisfaction. It is the only sin for which forgiveness is not promised, and so my efforts there never go to waste.
This is my true success.

Interestingly, shirk becomes a concern from the moment your children begin school. One of the first lessons they learn is the names of the days and months and that alone brings me great pleasure.

Interviewer: What is there to be happy about? These are just names of days and months.

Satan: Let me explain why it pleases me. Listen carefully.

Names of the Days:

Sunday – Sun’s day

Monday – Moon’s day

Tuesday – Tiu’s day (a Germanic god of war and the sky)

Wednesday – Woden’s day (chief Anglo‑Saxon/Teutonic deity)

Thursday – Thor’s day (god of thunder)

Friday – Freya’s day (goddess of love and beauty)

Saturday – Saturn’s day (Roman god of agriculture)