AL-BAQARAH (The Cow) - 13

 “And when We said to the angels: "Prostrate before Adam!" So, they prostrated, all but Iblis (Satan). He refused, and joined the infidels.” (2:34) 

 

The Holy Qur’an describes Iblis or Satan as an infidel (Kafir). Generally, according to Shariah, someone who does not follow a religious obligation is considered a sinner, not a Kafir. The reason Satan was declared a Kafir was not because he didn’t follow the commandment, but because he directly challenged and defied a divine commandment and said that ‘in his opinion’ Adam (peace be upon him) was not worthy of prostration even though Allah Ta’ala had commanded him to do so.

 

(The point here is to make a differentiation between not following a commandment but continuing to feel guilty about it and doing Istighfar (asking for forgiveness) for it, versus not following a commandment but insisting that, for example, it is not relevant anymore (may Allah forgive us), that it was obligatory during earlier times but not anymore, or that it is not practical today. It is far safer that even if a person is not following a commandment of Allah Ta’ala, he believes in his mind that he is doing wrong and keeps doing Istighfar for it, rather than defying, challenging, or denying it. May Allah Ta’ala protect us all from His disobedience. Aameen. Scribe)