Iblis Incites Adam

Allah says: "O Adam! Dwell thou and thy wife in the Garden, and enjoy (its good things) as ye wish: but approach not this tree, or ye run into harm and transgression." (Surah Al-A’raaf: 19) Ibn Katheer states: When Allah admitted both Adam and Eve to Paradise, He allowed them to eat from all its fruits except the fruit of a certain tree, whose kind was a subject of difference among the exegetes of the Qur'an. Some believe it was a vine tree, others maintain that it was a palm- tree, and others suggest yet different kinds. Allah did not specify its kind in the Glorious Qur'an because it will be of no avail us to know. Iblis, the cursed, envied Adam and Eve and managed to use stratagem and tricks to strip them of the grace and good attire. Allah says: "Then began Satan to whisper suggestions to them, in order to reveal to them their shame that was hidden from them (before): he said: 'Your Lord only forbade you this tree, lest ye should become angels or such beings as live forever.' And he swore to them both, that he was their sincere adviser." (Surah Al- A’raaf: 20-1) Satan tried to deceive them by telling them that he only wished to offer them advice. In another verse, Allah says: "But Satan whispered evil to him: he said, 'O Adam! shall I lead thee to the Tree of Eternity and to a kingdom that never decays?' " (Surah Ta- Ha: 120) The Tree of Eternity mentioned above may be the one that is mentioned by Ahamd Ibn Hanbal who reported on the authority of Abu Hurairah that the Prophet said, "In Paradise there is a tree that one can ride alongside its shade for a hundred years without reaching its end. It is the Tree of Eternity. "

Adam and Eve Sin and Repent:

Allah said, "So by deceit he brought about their fall: when they tasted of the tree, their shame became manifest to them, and they began to sew together the leaves of the Garden over their bodies." (Surah Al-A’raaf: 22) Allah also says: "In the result, they both ate of the tree, and so their nakedness appeared to them: they began to sew together, for their covering, leaves from the Garden" (Surah Ta- Ha: 121)

Ibn Katheer states: When Adam and Eve dwelt in Paradise, they ate bountifully from whatever food they wished.

When they ate from the forbidden tree, they were deprived from the attire they were first endowed with and were sent to earth. Muslim scholars differ over the definite location on which they first landed and the duration of time they spent in Paradise. They also differ as to whether Adam and Eve bore children in Paradise or not? Yet, Allah knows best.

It is said that Eve was the first to eat from the forbidden tree and that she convinced Adam to eat from it. Allah knows best. It was reported in Saheeh Al-Bukhari on the authority of Abu Hurairah that the Prophet said: "If it was not for the children of Israel (who were ordered not to store meat but they did), meat would never decay, and if it was not for Eve, a wife would never betray her husband." As for Allah's saying, "they began to sew together, for their covering, leaves from the Garden," Ath-Thauri reports that Ibn "Abbaas points: The leaves mentioned above are the leave of the fig tree. Ibn Katheer observes that this saying seems to be reported after the People of the Book. Yet, he believes that the meaning of the verse runs deeper than that. However, Allah knows best.

Allah's says: "Then did Satan make them slip from the (Garden), and get them out of the state (of felicity) in which they had been." (Surah Al-Baqarah: 36) This means that they were deprived of the abode of rest and felicity and had to descend to earth which is the abode of toiling and sorrow. This was the result of what Satan whispered to them and incited them to do. Al-Hafizh Ibn ‘Asaakir reports on the authority of Ubayy Ibn Ka’b that the Messenger of Allah said: "Your father Adam was as tall as the lofty palm-tree of 60 cubit height, his body was hairy, and his private parts were fully covered with hair. When he sinned in Paradise, his private parts became visible and he left Paradise. He then found a tree on his way which held him by the forehead and he was called upon by Allah, 'Have you left Paradise to flee from Me, Adam?' 'No,' replied Adam, 'but because of my shame from You, my Lord, due to what I have committed. ' "

Allah says: "And their Lord called unto them: "Did I not forbid you that tree, and tell you that Satan was an avowed enemy unto you?" They said: "Our Lord! we have wronged our own souls: if Thou forgive us not and bestow not upon us Thy Mercy, we shall certainly be lost." (Surah Al-A’raaf: 22-3) This was a confession of sin and an explicit repentance to Allah in humility and submissiveness. This has become a tradition which leads the children of Adam to their good in this world and in the Hereafter. Allah says: "(Allah) said: 'Get ye down, with enmity between yourselves. On earth will be your dwelling-place and your means of livelihood for a time.'" (Surah Al-A’raaf: 24) The discourse here is directed to Adam, Eve and Iblis, who were commanded to descend from Paradise as opponents who should forever be in combat against each other.

Allah says: "Then learnt Adam from his Lord words of inspiration, and his Lord turned towards him; for He is Oft-Returning, Most Merciful." (Surah Al Baqarah: 37) Sa’eed Ibn Jubair and others claim that these words are Adam's when he repented to Allah. "They said: 'Our Lord! We have wronged our own souls: if Thou forgive us not and bestow not upon us Thy Mercy, we shall certainly be lost.' " (Surah Al-A’raaf: 23)

Ibn Katheer comments; This verse is similar to another in which Allah says: "thus did Adam disobey his Lord, and allow himself to be seduced. But his Lord chose him (for His Grace): He turned to him and gave him guidance." (Surah Ta-Ha: 121-2)

Al Hakim reports in his Mustadrak that Ibn ‘Abbaas mentions, Adam said, 'O Lord! Have not You created me with Thy Hands? He was answered, 'Yes.' He continued, 'Have not You breathed life unto me from Your Spirit?', He was answered, 'Yes." (Adam said,) 'And when I sneezed, You said, 'Yarhamukum Allah (may Allah have mercy on you) and that Your mercy precedes Your wrath?' He was answered, 'Yes." (Adam continued,) 'And You have destined me to do this?' He was answered, 'Yes." (Adam continued,) 'Shall I be returned to Paradise if I repent?' He was answered, 'Yes.'

Al-Bukhari reports on the authority of Abu Hurairah that the Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, said, "Moses [Musa] argued with Adam. The former said to the latter 'It was on account of your sin that people were deprived of dwelling in Paradise and were destined to misery.' Adam replied, 'Even you Moses, whom Allah has selected to carry His message and discourse! You blame me for a matter decreed by Allah before my creation?' The Prophet said, 'Thus Adam refuted Moses' argument. ' "

Some scholars maintain: The reply of Adam was an argument that one may take divine decree as a cause of misfortune, but not for disobedience. Ibn Katheer points: If Adam's answer concerning the blame of Moses was interpreted to be a justification of committing sin due to what Allah has decreed on man, this would have extended to all sinners.

Accordingly, there would have been no retaliation nor prescribed penalties to be executed. This will inevitably lead to horrible consequences.

Which Paradise?

Exegetes of the Qur'an differ concerning the Paradise to which Adam was admitted, was it in heaven or on earth?

According to the view of the majority of scholars, it is the Garden of Abode. This is based on the superficial meaning of the related Qur'anic verses and Hadiths, such as Allah's saying, "We said: 'O Adam! Dwell thou and thy wife in the Garden.'" (Surah Al Baqarah: 35) and the saying of Moses to Adam, "It was on the account of your sin that people were deprived from dwelling in Paradise."

In Saheeh Moslem, it is reported on the authority of Abu Hurairah that the Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, said, "Allah will assemble people and the believers will stand when Paradise will be brought near to them. They will come to Adam and say, ‘O father let Paradise be open to us.' He will say, 'Did anything deprive you of Paradise except the sin of your father?" This is a strong proof in favor of the opinion that maintains that what is intended is the Garden of Abode.

Others claim: The paradise wherein Adam dwelt is not the Paradise of Eternity, because Adam was forbidden to eat from a certain tree, and because he slept in it and departed from it and because Iblis entered it, which contradicts the conjecture that it is the Garden of Abode. Yet, Allah knows best.