Tensions of Adam and Iblis in the Quran: The Imagology Approach

Abstract

This study investigates the tensions between Adam and Iblis in the Quran by using imagology as the main approach. The main focus of the imagology approach reveals the interrelationship between text, intertext, and context altogether, by focusing on contextualizing them in the story. This approach does not intend to judge the truth of representations but to analyze their values important to build community weltanschauung (view of life) that leads them to a social change, a changing of meaning, and a new understanding. The findings demonstrate that a triangular conversation between Allah (henceforth, God), the angels and the satan on the creation of Adam showed the big scenario about Adam’s image as a noble creature. Adam’s noble image was because God teaches him names (asma’ or the epistemology of science) on earth where Adam was then symbolized as God’s representative on earth due to his creativity in revealing names which resembled God’s manner as a creator in making innovation and change. God then governed angels and satan to kneel down before Adam as a form of honor. All did it except the Iblis who refused to obey due to his feeling of superiority over Adam. A psycological tension between Iblis’s superiority which is not supported by the capacity of knowledge is defeated by Adam’s inferiority which is strengthened by knowledge. The word ‘kneel’ was actually a theological word applied to the relation between human and God, but the word was used in this context as a symbol of appreciation for science.