Better to rule in hell than serve in heaven?

Many people may have heard the statement, “better to rule in hell than to serve in heaven”. It is originally a statement from the poem “Paradise Lost”, by John Milton, (the words are spoken by Shaitan as an argument for disobeying God.)
As Wikipedia states: “Satan, formerly called Lucifer, is the first major character introduced in the poem. He is a tragic figure who famously declares: “Better to reign in Hell than serve in Heaven””.

Let’s consider that. Some of you may recall that I previously wrote an article about Shaitan, in wich I stated, “We have this image of him as a horned monster. People go to lengths to protect themselves from his “grasp”. What is his power again? The power of suggestion. As long as he is feared, he has power over the people who fear him.”

سورة آل عمران ١٧٥
إِنَّمَا ذَ‌ٰلِكُمُ الشَّيْطَانُ يُخَوِّفُ أَوْلِيَاءَهُ فَلَا تَخَافُوهُمْ وَخَافُونِ إِن كُنتُم مُّؤْمِنِينَ

Surah Aal-i-Imraan 3:175
It is only the Evil One that suggests to you the fear of his votaries: Be ye not afraid of them, but fear Me, if ye have Faith.

Looking aside from that for the moment and considering the statement itself… “better to rule in hell than to serve in heaven”… it is not a far stretch to say that humans somehow mirror this thinking with themselves here, in this reality, when striving for power.

سورة العاديات ٦-٨
إِنَّ الْإِنسَانَ لِرَبِّهِ لَكَنُودٌ
وَإِنَّهُ عَلَىٰ ذَ‌ٰلِكَ لَشَهِيدٌ
وَإِنَّهُ لِحُبِّ الْخَيْرِ لَشَدِيدٌ

Surah Al-Aadiyaat 100:6-8
Truly man is, to his Lord, ungrateful;
And to that (fact) he bears witness (by his deeds);
And violent is he in his love of wealth.

The mentality is that the more you have, the more power you possess, and this gives control. That is what blinds humans. Going back to the statement, “it is better to rule in hell than to serve in heaven”… what power does Shaitan really have over hell?

سورة التحريم ٦
يَا أَيُّهَا الَّذِينَ آمَنُوا قُوا أَنفُسَكُمْ وَأَهْلِيكُمْ نَارًا وَقُودُهَا النَّاسُ وَالْحِجَارَةُ عَلَيْهَا مَلَائِكَةٌ غِلَاظٌ شِدَادٌ لَّا يَعْصُونَ اللَّهَ مَا أَمَرَهُمْ وَيَفْعَلُونَ مَا يُؤْمَرُونَ

سورة ابراهيم ٢٢
وَقَالَ الشَّيْطَانُ لَمَّا قُضِيَ الْأَمْرُ إِنَّ اللَّهَ وَعَدَكُمْ وَعْدَ الْحَقِّ وَوَعَدتُّكُمْ فَأَخْلَفْتُكُمْ ۖ وَمَا كَانَ لِيَ عَلَيْكُم مِّن سُلْطَانٍ إِلَّا أَن دَعَوْتُكُمْ فَاسْتَجَبْتُمْ لِي ۖ فَلَا تَلُومُونِي وَلُومُوا أَنفُسَكُم ۖ مَّا أَنَا بِمُصْرِخِكُمْ وَمَا أَنتُم بِمُصْرِخِيَّ ۖ إِنِّي كَفَرْتُ بِمَا أَشْرَكْتُمُونِ مِن قَبْلُ ۗ إِنَّ الظَّالِمِينَ لَهُمْ عَذَابٌ أَلِيمٌ

Surah At-Tahrim 66:6
O ye who believe! save yourselves and your families from a Fire whose fuel is Men and Stones, over which are (appointed) angels stern (and) severe, who flinch not (from executing) the Commands they receive from Allah, but do (precisely) what they are commanded.

Surah Ibrahim 14:22
And Satan will say when the matter is decided: “It was Allah Who gave you a promise of Truth: I too promised, but I failed in my promise to you. I had no authority over you except to call you but ye listened to me: then reproach not me, but reproach your own souls. I cannot listen to your cries, nor can ye listen to mine. I reject your former act in associating me with Allah. For wrong-doers there must be a grievous penalty.”

So, again… who rules over hell? Shaitan?
What does the Quran say on the matter of Heaven?

سورة فصلت ٣٠-٣١
إِنَّ الَّذِينَ قَالُوا رَبُّنَا اللَّهُ ثُمَّ اسْتَقَامُوا تَتَنَزَّلُ عَلَيْهِمُ الْمَلَائِكَةُ أَلَّا تَخَافُوا وَلَا تَحْزَنُوا وَأَبْشِرُوا بِالْجَنَّةِ الَّتِي كُنتُمْ تُوعَدُونَ
نَحْنُ أَوْلِيَاؤُكُمْ فِي الْحَيَاةِ الدُّنْيَا وَفِي الْآخِرَةِ ۖ وَلَكُمْ فِيهَا مَا تَشْتَهِي أَنفُسُكُمْ وَلَكُمْ فِيهَا مَا تَدَّعُونَ

Surah Fussilat 41:30-31
In the case of those who say, “Our Lord is Allah”, and, further, stand straight and steadfast, the angels descend on them (from time to time): “Fear ye not!” (they suggest), “Nor grieve! but receive the Glad Tidings of the Garden (of Bliss), the which ye were promised!
“We are your protectors in this life and in the Hereafter: therein shall ye have all that your souls shall desire; therein shall ye have all that ye ask for!-

John Milton published his work nearly 350 years ago, but his words mirror an idea that most humans carry even today, and very likely a long time before Milton even wrote them. It is a very common misconception for which I say… blessed are those who have received a rope and a light to walk by. Be very grateful for your faith.

سورة يونس ١٠٠
وَمَا كَانَ لِنَفْسٍ أَن تُؤْمِنَ إِلَّا بِإِذْنِ اللَّهِ ۚ وَيَجْعَلُ الرِّجْسَ عَلَى الَّذِينَ لَا يَعْقِلُونَ

Surah Yunus 10:100
No soul can believe, except by the will of Allah, and He will place doubt (or obscurity) on those who will not understand.

I hope you found this an inspiring input that brought something to consider.

The best of times to you all inshallah.
Peace, happiness, and stay faithful.

Source:
(accessed on March 12th 2023)
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Paradise_Lost