When God created the angels, he commanded them to pay worship to no one but Himself; but then, creating man, he commanded them to bow in reverence to this most noble of his works, and Lucifer refused – because of his pride.
An old Iranian version of this story begs to differ.
I was created aeons before YOU created the universe. I was created of fire. Like many things misunderstood, I have many names; Lucifer, Light bearer, Satan, Morning star, Shaitan, Enemy, Rebel, Evil, Devil, Wanderer…
I loved YOU even before YOU created me, because YOU created me out of love. I felt like a prince because I love YOU more than all the other angels. YOU commanded us to worship no one but YOU. How is it possible to love anything but YOU? I do not understand.
And then YOU created man and asked us to bow in reverence to him! I understand even less! How can I get myself to bow in front of any one but YOU? To my astonishment all other angels bowed in front of man; and there between us, stood the man.
No, I could not get myself to disrespect YOU, even if it meant disobeying YOU. I turned around, kept my love for YOU and left. Soaring down from heaven, I was wondering could the love of man for YOU be greater than mine? Is man capable of more love? How I wish that were the case. How I wish someone could love YOU more than I do.
And then I made it my mission to find a love greater than mine.
Long before Cupid draws an arrow from his quiver to point at the would be lovers, I become alert, I sense, I sniff; like a Leviathan emerging from the depth of silence and darkness to look for its prey, I surround the lovers, I wait for their first glance, first touch, first word, first thought, first missing beat of the heart, and then I unleash my unlimited arsenal of temptations; I offer them comfort and wealth, I intimidate them with sorrow and loss, I scare them with rejection and humility. And I swear to you dear God that I always pray that I fail; I observe with agony that, save for a handful few every century or so, all lovers fall into my temptations.
Don't they know? Can't they realize? That in holding to their love, in resisting my temptations, they can achieve immortality? Don't they know that human heart is shaped like a fist wrapped in blood? Is it only me who can see this, O Adonai? Am I the only one who has sacrificed everything for my love? Is it only me who has been willing to pay the highest price for love? Annihilation for the sake of love is easy compared to what I have chosen to do; in order to to keep my love for YOU intact, I have willingly separated myself from YOU.
I have been accused of many things. Yes, I am beautiful; but it's in loving YOU that I am beautiful. Yes, I claimed that my place is on the highest clouds; what other place is worthy of the one who truly loves YOU? Yes, I am proud; because I do not fear YOU, I am proudly in awe of YOU.
No, there are no flames where I am. It's only me and me alone.
In my silent moments, I cover myself with my wings that have grown so heavy in their countless attempts to find love among humans. My wings of sorrow are the only things that can shield me from your omnipresence.
In my silent moments, covered by my wings,
I am at a place where my love is not; the very definition of Hell.
But wait, I can feel two lovers. I become alert, I sense, I sniff. Maybe this time, maybe these two.
Maybe.