Was Satan a fallen angel, and how could he rebel against God?

No. According to the Holy Qur’an, Iblis was not an angel, for angels follow God’s will without objection. The possibility of rebellion arose only with the freedom to choose, and evil, like darkness, is not a creation of its own but the absence of light.

The idea of a fallen angel is widespread, but the Holy Qur’an does not teach it. The first verse above says clearly that Iblis was one of the jinn and not of the angels. Angels are created to fulfil God’s will without hesitation. In this they resemble the laws of nature. An electron does not complain that it must circle the nucleus. The only difference is that angels are conscious. Rebellion is not in their nature.

The freedom to choose came into the world with humankind. Where one can choose, one can also choose against the good. Ingratitude is nothing mysterious in itself. Children are often ungrateful to their parents, even though they owe them everything. So the real question is a different one. Did God create evil?

An image from nature gives the answer. Night is not a thing in itself; it is only the absence of sunlight. Whoever made the light is not to blame for the shadows. Whoever turns his back on the light or closes his eyes stands in darkness. And whoever walks in the dark without taking a lamp is himself responsible if he stumbles. In the same way evil is not God’s work, but the result of turning away from the good.

Satan is above all the inclination to evil at work in every human being. Yet it is not an unchangeable fate. Whoever holds fast to God can master this inclination and even turn it towards good.