Is Satan a disbeliever? All of us know that a disbeliever is the one who neither acknowledges Allaah The Almighty nor fears him. However, Satan saw Allaah The Almighty, knows that He exists and fears Him. Therefore, how can he be considered a disbeliever?

All perfect praise be to Allaah, The Lord of the Worlds. I testify that there is none worthy of worship except Allaah, and that Muhammad is His slave and Messenger.

Please note the following points:

First, Satan has committed the gravest sort of Kufr (disbelief) – the disbelief of obstinacy. Despite knowing that Allaah The Almighty exclusively deserves acts of worship to be dedicated to Him, he disbelieved out of stubbornness. Allaah The Almighty Says (what means): {and ever has Satan been to his Lord ungrateful.} [Quran 16:27]

He is ungrateful to an extreme extent, as indicated in the above verse.

Also, Allaah The Almighty described him as a caller to disbelief and acts of disobedience in the verses that read (what means):

•        {[The hypocrites are] like the example of Satan when he says to man, "Disbelieve." But when he disbelieves, he says, "Indeed, I am disassociated from you. Indeed, I fear Allaah, Lord of the worlds."} [Quran 59:16]

•        {Indeed, Satan is an enemy to you; so take him as an enemy. He only invites his party to be among the companions of the Blaze.} [Quran 35:6]

Second, you are incorrect to say that the disbeliever does not acknowledge Allaah The Almighty, for most of the disbelievers acknowledge Him in terms of Tawheed Ar-Ruboobiyyah (Oneness of the Lordship of Allaah which means believing in the oneness of Allaah The Almighty with regard to His actions), as indicated in the verses that read (what means):

•        {And if you asked them, "Who created the heavens and the earth?" they would surely say, "Allaah".} [Quran 39:38]

•        {And if you asked them who created them, they would surely say, "Allaah".} [Quran 43:87]

According to Ibn Katheer the polytheists believed in the monotheism of the Lordship of Allaah The Almighty.

Third, Satan never saw Allaah The Almighty, for seeing Him is impossible in the worldly life as stated by Sharee‘ah (Islamic law).

Fourth, Satan does not fear Allaah The Almighty as He should be feared. If he really feared Him, he would obey Him and readily respond to His orders.

Allaah Knows best.