﴿ قَالَ يَٰٓإِبْلِيسُ مَا مَنَعَكَ أَن تَسْجُدَ لِمَا خَلَقْتُ بِيَدَىَّ ۖ أَسْتَكْبَرْتَ أَمْ كُنتَ مِنَ ٱلْعَالِينَ ﴾

“Said He: “O Iblis! What has kept thee from prostrating thyself before that [being] which I have created with My hands? Art thou too proud [to bow down before another created being], or art thou of those who think [only] of themselves as high?””

He said ‘O Iblīs! What prevents you from prostrating before that which I have created with My own hands? in other words whose creation I Myself have undertaken. This in itself is an honour for Adam as God has Himself undertaken the unmediated creation of all creatures. Are you being arrogant now in refraining from prostrating an interrogative meant as a rebuke; or are you of the exalted?’ of the proud and have therefore disdained to prostrate yourself because you are one of them?