The eminent Muslim scholar and Da`iyah, Sheikh `Abdul-Khaleq Hasan Ash-Shareef, states the following: “Muslim should busy himself with that which is useful for him both in this world and in the Hereafter. Allah Almighty will question us according to what He Almighty orders us to do. Thus, it is better for the Muslim to ask about what is beneficial for him.
However, it can be said that the devil knew that Allah will send Adam to the earth, and this is apparent from the other Qur’anic verses in which Allah Almighty says, “And when thy Lord said unto the angels: Lo! I am about to place a viceroy in the earth, they said: wilt Thou place therein one who will do harm therein and will shed blood, while we, we hymn Thy praise and sanctify Thee? He said: Surely I know that which ye know not.” (Al-Baqarah 2: 30)
At the time when Allah said to the angels, “I am about to place a viceroy in the earth”, the devil or the Shaytan was there in the Heavens, and that is why the knowledge came to him. When, where, before or after and the ‘how’ mechanism is part of the unseen known only to Allah Almighty.
May Allah guide us all to the best of guidance, aameen.”