Retort to Question 1: If Shaitan was part of the group of Angels, and as we know that Angels do not have the ability to make decisions on their own and are all under the command of Allah (SwT), then how did he disobey the orders and turn away from the commandments of Allah (SwT)? Answer: Shaitan was not an Angel such that he did not have the power to make his own decisions - rather, he was from among the Jinn.
Question 2: As it is commonly known, we were all created for happiness and prosperity: مَا خَلَقْتُ الْجِنَّ وَ الإِنْسَ إِلاَّ لِيَعْبُدُونَ “I (Allah) did not create the Jinn and Mankind except that they should worship Me.”[^4] With this said, why was it necessary to have a creation such as Shaitan who would irritate people. As well, him being a creation who can not be seen and thus, it is not possible to defend ourselves from him?
This (in our opinion) goes against the actual purpose of the creation of mankind. Answer 2: The Qur`an states that Shaitan cannot influence anyone through his own accord as the doors to the heart of each person are closed to Shaitan. Thus, it is the person himself who opens the door of his heart to Shaitan.
In reality, there is not a single despicable creation that can in any way influence either the country which a person lives in, nor the soul of a person: إِنَّمَا سُلْطَانُهُ عَلى الَّذِينَ يَتَوَلَّونَهُ وَالَّذِينَ هُمْ بِهِ مُشْرِكُونَ “His authority (that of Shaitan) is only over those who take him as a supporter and who join partners with Allah.”[^5] That person who sets up Shaitan as a partner to Allah (SwT) and follows him (Shaitan) will also be called a Shaitan on the Day of Judgement!
وَ مَا كَانَ لِيَّ عَلَيْكُمْ مِنْ سُلْطَانِ إِلاَّ أَنْ دَعَوْتُكُمْ فَأْسَتَجَبْـتُمْ فَلاَ تَلُومُونِي وَلُومُوا أَنْفُسَكُمْ “I (Shaitan) had no authority over you except that I invited you and you listened to me.
Therefore, do not reproach or blame me, rather, blame your own souls.”[^6] It is worthy to note that Shaitan himself is one of the means or instruments towards perfection for the human being who is striving to become a complete person, because since struggling and fighting against him will would lead to strengthening ones' own inner faith.