قالَ فَإِنَّكَ مِنَ المُنظَرينَ

Said He: ‘You are indeed among the reprieved.

EXEGESIS

The expression among the reprieved (min al-munẓarīn) suggests that there are others who are also reprieved from death.

EXPOSITION

Despite his arrogance, God saw it fit to accept his request. Such respite is often given to the wicked, to establish their wickedness beyond doubt, so they may earn their punishment in the hereafter through it; So when they forgot what they had been admonished of, We opened for them the gates of all [good] things. When they rejoiced in what they were given, We seized them suddenly, whereat, behold, they were despondent (6:44).

Furthermore, God granted Iblīs what he asked because, unbeknownst to Iblīs, this was part of God’s plan. God wished for man to be tested in this world so that he may qualify for paradise.