Dr. Ali Gomaa, former Grand Mufti of Egypt and a member of Al-Azhar’s Council of Senior Scholars, explained that committing a sin does not always have the same consequences. He noted that a person may commit a sin, regret it, repent, and return to God, while sin can take a much more dangerous path when it is accompanied by persistence, pride, and justification.

He explained that the difference becomes particularly clear when comparing the disobedience of Prophet Adam, peace be upon him, with that of Iblis.

Ali Gomaa: Sin Is Not Always the Same

Dr. Ali Gomaa explained that a person may fall into sin because of human weakness, then recognize the mistake, regret it, seek forgiveness, and return to God.

However, the situation becomes considerably more dangerous when a person insists on the sin, becomes arrogant about it, or attempts to justify wrongdoing instead of acknowledging the mistake.

According to Gomaa, this distinction can be clearly understood through the stories of Adam and Iblis.

Iblis’s Disobedience: Pride, Persistence and Justification

Dr. Ali Gomaa referred to God’s statement:

“He said, ‘O Iblis, what prevented you from prostrating to that which I created with My hands? Were you arrogant, or were you among the haughty?’”

He explained that Iblis did not deny his disobedience. Instead, he attempted to justify it by saying:

“I am better than him. You created me from fire and created him from clay.”

Gomaa pointed out that Iblis combined disobedience with rejection and arrogance, as stated in the Quran:

“Except for Iblis. He refused, was arrogant, and became one of the disbelievers.”

Pride and Faulty Reasoning

Dr. Ali Gomaa explained that Iblis’s position went beyond simply committing a sin. It was accompanied by arrogance, pride, faulty reasoning, and a misguided attitude toward God.

He emphasized that a believer understands that God possesses complete knowledge and therefore submits to His command rather than allowing personal pride or desires to control his decisions.

Why Did Iblis Ask for Respite?

Dr. Ali Gomaa explained that when Iblis said:

“My Lord, then reprieve me until the Day they are resurrected,”

he believed that postponing his fate might give him an opportunity to evade or delay the consequences.

Gomaa described this as an example of an “Iblis-like” approach, explaining that Iblis mistakenly viewed the granted respite as a form of victory and then attempted to place the blame for his actions on Adam.

The actual reason for his downfall, however, was his disobedience, defiance, arrogance, and refusal to submit to God’s command.

Adam’s Disobedience: Mistake, Repentance and Return

In contrast, Dr. Ali Gomaa emphasized that Adam’s disobedience was characterized by human error, forgetfulness, and weakness, followed by repentance and a return to God.

He cited the saying attributed to Prophet Muhammad:

“Every son of Adam is a sinner, and the best of sinners are those who repent.”

The lesson, therefore, is not that a person becomes hopeless after making a mistake. Rather, the important response is to recognize the wrongdoing, seek forgiveness, repent sincerely, and return to God.

The Difference Between Adam’s and Iblis’s Disobedience

The distinction highlighted by Dr. Ali Gomaa can be summarized simply.

Adam’s disobedience involved human weakness, error, and forgetfulness, followed by repentance and returning to God. Iblis’s disobedience, on the other hand, was associated with pride, persistence, justification, defiance, and arrogance.

Therefore, the danger is not simply in making a mistake. The greater danger comes when a person insists on wrongdoing, becomes arrogant, and refuses to acknowledge the error.

Ali Gomaa Calls for Repentance and Seeking Forgiveness

Dr. Ali Gomaa concluded by encouraging people to remain committed to repentance, seeking forgiveness, and returning to God at all times.

He warned against allowing a sin to develop into an “Iblis-like” form through persistence and arrogance. He also emphasized that people should not lose hope in God’s mercy after making mistakes, but should instead hasten to sincere repentance and return to God.

What is the difference between Adam’s and Iblis’s disobedience?

According to Dr. Ali Gomaa, Adam’s disobedience was associated with human error and weakness, followed by repentance and returning to God, while Iblis’s disobedience was accompanied by pride, persistence, and justification.

Why is Iblis’s disobedience considered particularly dangerous?

Because it was not merely a mistake. It was accompanied by arrogance, rejection, justification, and persistence in disobedience rather than repentance.

Does committing a sin mean a person should lose hope in God’s mercy?

No. The appropriate response after committing a sin is to repent, seek forgiveness, and return to God rather than surrendering to despair or continuing in wrongdoing.

What is the main lesson from the stories of Adam and Iblis?

One of the key lessons is that a person’s response after making a mistake matters greatly. Repentance and returning to God lead toward goodness, while persistence, arrogance, and justification make the sin more dangerous.

What did Ali Gomaa advise Muslims to do after making mistakes?

He encouraged Muslims to remain committed to repentance, seek forgiveness, return to God, and never lose confidence in His mercy.