Satan refused to bow to Adam – because Satan loved Allah?!

Question: I would like to ask about something that I recently heard. Someone explained that Satan refused to bow down to Adam because, although it meant disobedience to God, such was his love for God that he refused to bow before anyone other than God. This sounds like a really strange interpretation to me, so I am wondering where this notion came from.
Answer:
The notion that Satan refused to bow down to Adam because of how much he loved Allah is indeed a strange notion.
Moreover, that notion is most certainly wrong. We express our love for Allah by obeying Him. Satan disobeyed Allah’s direct command. There was no ambiguity regarding the fact that Allah wanted form Satan to bow down to Adam.
Allah clearly tells us that Satan refused to bow down to Adam out of pride. Allah says: “And when We said unto the angels: Prostrate yourselves before Adam, they fell prostrate, all save Iblis. He refused and was prideful, and so became a disbeliever.” [Sûrah al-Baqarah (2): 34]
Indeed, this is by Satan’s own admission.
Sûrah al-A`râf (7), verse 12 reads:
(Allah) said: “What hindered you so that you did not prostrate when I commanded you?” He said: “I am better than him: You had created me of fire, while him You created from clay.”
Therefore, the claim that Satan refused to bow to Adam out of his love for Allah contradicts the explicit words of the Qur’ân. Satan’s refusal was on account of his pride.

And Allah knows best.

Source: Islam Today