Surah 20:119
Show Full Scripture Context (20:115-122) — 8 Verses
وَلَقَدۡ عَهِدۡنَآ إِلَىٰٓ ءَادَمَ مِن قَبۡلُ فَنَسِيَ وَلَمۡ نَجِدۡ لَهُۥ عَزۡمٗا
Certainly We made a covenant with Adam before, but he forgot, and We found in him no determination.
وَإِذۡ قُلۡنَا لِلۡمَلَـٰٓئِكَةِ ٱسۡجُدُواْ لِأٓدَمَ فَسَجَدُوٓاْ إِلَّآ إِبۡلِيسَ أَبَىٰ
(Remember) when We said to the angels, ‘Prostrate yourselves before Adam,’ and they prostrated themselves, except Iblīs. He refused.
فَقُلۡنَا يَـٰٓـَٔادَمُ إِنَّ هَٰذَا عَدُوّٞ لَّكَ وَلِزَوۡجِكَ فَلَا يُخۡرِجَنَّكُمَا مِنَ ٱلۡجَنَّةِ فَتَشۡقَىٰٓ
And We said, ‘Adam! Surely this is an enemy to you and to your wife. Do not let him expel you both from the Garden, and you become miserable.
إِنَّ لَكَ أَلَّا تَجُوعَ فِيهَا وَلَا تَعۡرَىٰ
Surely it is yours not to hunger there or go naked,
وَأَنَّكَ لَا تَظۡمَؤُاْ فِيهَا وَلَا تَضۡحَىٰ
nor to thirst there or be exposed to the sun.’
فَوَسۡوَسَ إِلَيۡهِ ٱلشَّيۡطَٰنُ قَالَ يَـٰٓـَٔادَمُ هَلۡ أَدُلُّكَ عَلَىٰ شَجَرَةِ ٱلۡخُلۡدِ وَمُلۡكٖ لَّا يَبۡلَىٰ
But Satan whispered to him. He said, ‘Adam! Shall I direct you to the Tree of Immortality, and (to) a kingdom that does not decay?’
فَأَكَلَا مِنۡهَا فَبَدَتۡ لَهُمَا سَوۡءَٰتُهُمَا وَطَفِقَا يَخۡصِفَانِ عَلَيۡهِمَا مِن وَرَقِ ٱلۡجَنَّةِۚ وَعَصَىٰٓ ءَادَمُ رَبَّهُۥ فَغَوَىٰ
So they both ate from it, and their shameful parts became apparent to them, and they both began fastening on themselves some leaves of the Garden, and Adam disobeyed his Lord and erred.
ثُمَّ ٱجۡتَبَٰهُ رَبُّهُۥ فَتَابَ عَلَيۡهِ وَهَدَىٰ
Then his Lord chose him, and turned to him (in forgiveness), and guided (him).
Ibn Abi Hatim recorded that Ibn ‘Abbas said, “Verily, man was named Insan only because he was given a covenant, but he forgot it (Nasiya).” ‘Ali bin Abi Talhah reported the same from Ibn ‘Abbas. Mujahid and Al-Hasan said that he forgot means, “He abandoned it.”
Concerning Allah’s statement,
He, Allah mentions how Adam was honored and what respect was given to him. He mentions how He favored him over many of those whom He created. A discussion of this story has already preceded in Surat Al-Baqarah, Surat Al-A‘raf, Surat Al-Hijr and Surat Al-Kahf. It will also be mentioned again at the end of Surah Sad. In this story, Allah mentions the creation of Adam and that He commanded the angels to prostrate to Adam as a sign of honor and respect. He also explains the enmity of Iblis for the Children of Adam and for their father, Adam, before them. Due to this Allah says,
This means that he refrained from prostrating and became arrogant.
here wife refers to Hawwa’.
meaning, ‘Do not be hasty in doing something that will get you expelled from Paradise, or else you will be fatigued, discomforted and worried, seeking your sustenance. But here, in Paradise, you live a life of ease with no burdens and no difficulties.’
The reason that Allah combined hunger and nakedness is because hunger is internal humiliation, while nakedness is external humiliation.
These two characteristics are also opposites. Thirst is the internal heat and being parched from lack of water, while the suns heat is the external heat.
It has already been mentioned that he caused them to fall through deception.
It has already preceded in our discussion that Allah took a promise from Adam and his wife that although they could eat from every fruit, they could not come near a specific tree in Paradise. However, Iblis did not cease prodding them until they both had eaten from it. It was the Tree of Eternity (Shajarat Al-Khuld). This meant that anyone who ate from it would live forever and always remain. A Hadith has been narrated which mentions this Tree of Eternity. Abu Dawud At-Tayalisi reported from Abu Hurayrah that the Prophet said,
“Verily, in Paradise there is a tree ivhich a rider can travel under its shade for one hundred years and still not have passed it. It is the Tree of Eternity.”
Imam Ahmad also recorded this narration.
Concerning Allah’s statement,
Ibn Abi Hatim recorded that Ubayy bin Ka‘b said that the Messenger of Allah said,
“Verily, Allah created Adam as a tall man with an abundance of hair on his head. He looked like a clothed palm tree. Then, when he tasted (the fruit of) the tree, his clothes fell off of him. The first thing that became exposed was his private parts. So when he noticed his nakedness, he tried to run back into Paradise. However, in the process a tree caught hold of his hair (i.e. his hair urns tangled in a tree), so he ripped his hair out. Then, the Most Beneficent called out to him saying, "O Adam, are you fleeing from me?" When he heard the Words of the Most Beneficent, he said, "No my Lord, but I am ashamed. If I repent and recant would You let me return to Paradise?" Allah replied, "Yes."”
This is the meaning of Allah’s statement,
{Then Adam received from his Lord Words. And his Lord pardoned him.} [2:37]
However, this narration has a break in the chain of transmission between Al-Hasan and Ubayy bin Ka'b. Al-Hasan did not hear this Hadith from Ubayy. It is questionable as to whether this narration can be correctly attributed to the Prophet.
Allah said,