Adam and the Angels Watched by Iblis

Adam stands on a raised, ornate wooden platform on the right, wearing a crown and a long blue robe with red trim, gesturing with his right hand. Below him and to the left, three angels are shown in prostration, their heads touching the ground, wearing elaborate, patterned robes and possessing large, visible wings. Standing prominently in the foreground on the left, next to a large tree with dense green foliage, is Iblis; he is rendered with dark skin, claw-like feet, and dark wings, pointing toward the scene of prostration with a defiant gesture. The background is a gold-leaf wash, and the foreground features stylized floral elements and dark earth.

This illustration originates from the 'Tarikh-i Tabari' (History of Prophets and Kings), a foundational work of Islamic historiography. It depicts the Quranic and traditional narrative of the creation of Adam, where God commands the angels to bow before Adam; Iblis's refusal to do so serves as the primary theological origin of his rebellion and subsequent fall from grace.