Question No. 3505 10 September 2026 Official answer by Master Ali Saei (Abdullah Meshkat) verified Content level: Intermediate

How Did Satan Know That Only a Few People Would Remain Unguided?

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Dear questioner, Master Ali Saei

Tracking code: #Q-3505

Dear and respected teacher,
With reference to Satan in verse 62 of Surah al-Isra:
قَالَ أَرَأَيْتَكَ هَٰذَا الَّذِي كَرَّمْتَ عَلَيَّ لَئِنْ أَخَّرْتَنِ إِلَىٰ يَوْمِ الْقِيَامَةِ لَأَحْتَنِكَنَّ ذُرِّيَّتَهُ إِلَّا قَلِيلًا

Satan says, “I will lead all the children of Adam astray until the Day of Resurrection, except for a few!”

My question is: How did Satan know, and on the basis of what prior knowledge, that he would be unable to tempt and lead only a small number of people astray? He is speaking about numbers! Was Satan absolutely certain about this, or was it merely a conjecture?

I would be grateful if you could explain this. Thank you.
َّهِ الرَّحْمنِ الرَّحيمِ

Subject category: Theology and Creed

The essence and first answer at a glance (60-word summary)

Drawing on his knowledge of human faculties, the interplay of desire and reason, and reports from the heavens, Satan surmised that he would be unable to lead only a small number of people astray. His words were more like a threat and a show of power, uttered out of partisanship, zeal, vanity, arrogance, and envy. The similarities between the inclinations of jinn and humans, together with human free will, strengthened his conjecture.

Answer by Master Ali Saei (Abdullah Meshkat)

Teacher and researcher in the intellectual tradition of wisdom and the Ahl al-Bayt | Soroush Bamdadān Cultural Center

The devil’s words sound more like a threat and a show of force. He speaks in the language of fanaticism, tribal zeal, vanity, arrogance and envy. Yet, given his knowledge of the human faculties, it would not have been difficult for him to guess what was at issue. He knew that the human being is a blend of desire and reason, and he was also aware of the faculties of reason and ignorance. In many respects, moreover, he was like human beings, including in being free to choose. Since many of the inclinations shared by jinn and human beings are alike, this would have strengthened his ability to guess the subject.

It is also worth noting that before the time of Jesus, peace be upon him, Iblis used to ascend to the heavens. With the birth of Jesus—and later, with the birth of the Prophet of Islam, peace and blessings be upon him and his family—he was barred from the heavens. His access to heavenly reports may therefore have made it easier for him to anticipate humanity’s nature and its susceptibility to being led astray.

الله یعلم و اعلم

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How Did Satan Know That Only a Few People Would Remain Unguided?

The essence and first answer at a glance (60-word summary)

Answer by Master Ali Saei (Abdullah Meshkat)

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