It was from the jinn. This saying is an explanation for his disobedience. Ahmad said: The truth is with him in this action, except that the phrase 'Allah intended it' is a word that does not please or fit, for the term 'intention' is typically used to describe someone who sometimes acts mistakenly and at other times intentionally. Therefore, avoiding it in relation to Allah is necessary. And Allah is the Grantor of success. This is akin to a reduction after excluding Iblis from those who prostrated. It is as if someone asked: Why did he not prostrate? It was said: He was from the jinn, so he disobeyed the command of his Lord. The 'fa' (and) is also for causation, making his being from the jinn a reason for his disobedience. For if he had been an angel like the others who prostrated to Adam, he would not have disobeyed the command of Allah, because the angels are entirely protected from what is permissible for the jinn and humans, as He said: 'They do not precede Him in speech, and they act by His command.' This objection is an intention from Allah to protect the angels from any suspicion regarding their infallibility. How far apart is what Allah intended and the saying of one who opposed Him and claimed that he was an angel and a leader over the angels, then disobeyed, was cursed, and was transformed into a devil, then accused him. The meaning of 'so he disobeyed the command of his Lord' is that he went against what his Lord commanded him regarding prostration. He said: 'So they disobeyed intentionally.' Or he became disobedient and a disbeliever because of the command of his Lord, which is His saying: 'Prostrate to Adam.' Do you take him? The 'hamzah' (أ) is for denial and astonishment, as if it were said: After what was found from him, do you take him and his offspring as allies besides Me? And you replace them with Me. What a wretched substitute from Allah is Iblis for whoever replaces him! So he obeyed him instead of obeying Me. I did not make them witness the creation of the heavens and the earth, meaning: that you took them as partners for Me in worship. They would only be partners in it if they were partners in divinity. So He negated their partnership in divinity with His saying: 'I did not make them witness the creation of the heavens and the earth.' Nor the creation of themselves, meaning: nor did I make some of them witness the creation of others, as He said: 'And do not kill yourselves.' And I was not one to take the misleaders as supporters, meaning: I did not take them as helpers. Thus, the term 'misleaders' is placed in place of the pronoun as a reproach for them for misleading. If they were not supporters for Me in creation, why do you take them as partners for Me in worship? And it was read: 'And I was not,' with an open vowel: addressing the Messenger of Allah, blessings and peace be upon him, meaning: It was not right for you to rely on them, nor should you seek assistance from them. And it was read by Ali, may Allah be pleased with him: 'And I was not taking the misleaders,' with a tanween as per the original. And Hasan read: 'supporters,' with a silent 'dhad,' and transferred the 'dhammah' to the 'ain.' And it was read: 'supporters,' with an open vowel and a silent 'dhad.' And 'supporters' with two 'dhammah' and 'supporters' with two open vowels: the plural of 'a'id,' like 'khadim' and 'khuddam,' and 'rasid' and 'rasud,' from 'a'ada' if he strengthened and assisted him.