How did Iblīs approach them?

Imām Ibn al-Jawzī (d. 597/1201) summarized the scholars' opinions in his book "Zād al-Masīr" as follows:

1. He schemed to enter Paradise, and it was a snake let him in. [Ibn ʿAbbās, al-Suddī]
2. He stood at the gate of Paradise and called out to them. [al-Ḥasan]
3. He whispered to them and implanted thoughts in their minds without direct speech or being seen. This was the view of Ibn Isḥāq, but it is weak.