Iblis refuses and vows to mislead

The refusal

After Allah commanded the angels to prostrate before Adam, they obeyed except Iblis. Allah asked what kept him from prostrating. Iblis answered that he was better: Allah had created him from fire and Adam from clay (Qur'an 7:11-12; 15:32-33; 38:76). His answer was not gratitude for his own creation; it was pride and disobedience. The Qur'an identifies Iblis as one of the jinn (18:50).

Allah rejected Iblis's claim and commanded him to leave. Iblis asked for respite until the Day people are raised, and Allah granted him respite until the appointed time (15:34-38; 38:77-81).

The vow and its limit

Iblis vowed to mislead people, approaching them from different directions and making evil seem attractive (7:16-17; 15:39; 17:62). But Allah also declared the limit: Iblis would have no authority over Allah's sincere servants; his power would be over those who chose to follow him (15:40-42; 17:65; 38:82-85).

The Qur'an warns Adam's children that Satan is an enemy (7:27). It does not teach that people are helpless or that Satan can force them to sin. The account calls people to seek Allah's guidance and resist deception.

Sources: Qur'an 7:11-18, 27; 15:32-44; 17:61-65; 18:50; 38:77-85.