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From: ut-emx!blais@emx.utexas.edu (Donald Blais)
Newsgroups: soc.religion.islam
Subject: Re: some questions...
Message-ID: <1991Jun3.142734.25915@wpi.WPI.EDU>
Date: 3 Jun 91 14:27:34 GMT
References: <1991May28.152142.16892@nntp-server.caltech.edu>
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In article <1991May28.152142.16892@nntp-server.caltech.edu> jnawaz@skat.usc.edu (Jemshed Nawaz) writes:
>	Man is made of clay
>	Angel is made of light
>	Jinn is made of fire (smokeless)
>	
>	Satan/Iblis was/is a Jinn .... it says in the Qur'an that he
>	was of the Jinn. People make this mistake (that Satan is a
>	fallen angel) because in the Qur'an it says something like all
>	the Angels prostated except Iblis .....

In many early biblical references the word satan is a common noun and
means adversary.  In the biblical book of Job, Satan is prosecutor in
the heavenly court of YHWH.  In later Jewish and in Christian usage,
Satan is portrayed as a fallen angel and as chief among devils.  All
of the devils are regarded as fallen angels.  Jinn are not mentioned
in Christianity.  The Islamic tradition regarding the refusal to bow
to Adam is also absent in Christian tradition.  The Christian story
involves the pride of Satan and his attempt to usurp his creator.  A
short overview of the varying Jewish, Christian, and Muslim traditions
on Satan can be found at the Encyclopaedia Britannica entry "devil".
-- 
Donald E. Blais             Internet: blais@emx.utexas.edu
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