glossaryiblis.jpg

Iblis (despair) is a Djinn usually associated with the Devil. In Islamic mythology, Iblis was once the angel Azazel, the leader of the rebellion in heaven, begun when he refused to bow to the newly created Adam, whom he considered beneath him, being a creature of earth. Azazel earned the name Iblis when he was cast to earth after the failure of his rebellion.

In Hebrew mythology, Azazel was the nephilim who taught mankind to work metals and create weapons.

Iblis is s ometimes identified with al-Shaitan (Satan), but often a separate entity. (Sometimes, Shaitan is considered a collective entity made up of all the Djinn) Iblis lost favor with God for refusing to bow down before Adam, believing himself, as a creature of fire, to be superior to man, a creature of earth.

Iblis is associated with Malek Tawus, the Peacock Angel of the Yezidis.

source