Surah al-Baqarah (The Cow) 2 : 34
Translations
Pickthall
Yusuf Ali
Qur'an Dictionary
| Click word/image to view Qur'an Dictionary | ||
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| Word | Arabic word | |
| (2:34:1) wa-idh And when |
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| (2:34:2) qul'nā We said |
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| (2:34:3) lil'malāikati to the angels |
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| (2:34:4) us'judū Prostrate |
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| (2:34:5) liādama to Adam |
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| (2:34:6) fasajadū [so] they prostrated |
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| (2:34:7) illā except |
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| (2:34:8) ib'līsa Iblis |
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| (2:34:9) abā He refused |
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| (2:34:10) wa-is'takbara and was arrogant |
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| (2:34:11) wakāna and became |
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| (2:34:12) |
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| (2:34:13) l-kāfirīna the disbelievers |
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Explanatory Note
The story continues: “When We said to the angels, ‘Prostrate yourselves before Adam’, they did so.” This is undoubtedly the highest accolade bestowed upon man. For, despite the fact that he would commit corruption on earth and shed blood, he was elevated above the angels, endowed with the secrets of knowledge, and given a free and independent will to choose his destiny. Man’s dual nature, his ability to determine his own course of action, and the trust he carries to pursue God’s guidance by his own means are all aspects of the high esteem in which he is held. The angels prostrated themselves before Adam in obedience to God’s command, “except for Iblīs who refused, swelled in insolence, and was thus an unbeliever”.
Here we see evil manifested in Satan’s behaviour as he disobeys God Almighty, vainly refuses to recognise honour where it is due, persists in his error and closes his mind to the truth.
The general drift of the narration suggests that Iblīs was not one of the angels; rather, he was with them. For, had he been an angel, he would not have disobeyed God, since the angels’ foremost characteristic is that they “do not disobey God in whatever He commands them and always do what they are bidden.” (66:6) The fact that the Arabic construction here makes an exception in relation to Iblīs does not mean that he is, or was, one of the angels. The exception is justified on the basis that he was with the angels. This is perfectly acceptable in Arabic, which allows the construction “the whole clan arrived but not Aĥmad” without implying that Aĥmad is a member of the clan.
Furthermore, the Qur’ān specifically identifies Iblīs as belonging to another type of extra-terrestrial creatures, the jinn, who are created out of fire, eliminating the idea that he was, at any time, an angel. (See 15: 27, 18: 50, and 55: 15).
The battle lines are drawn, and the long struggle commences between Iblīs, the epitome of evil, and man, God’s vicegerent on earth.
This battle is fought within man’s own conscience. Its outcome will be in man’s favour as long as he exercises his will and remains faithful to his covenant with God. Evil will triumph only if man succumbs to his own desires and alienates himself from his Lord.
Abaa – he refused. Means: to refuse the command of someone who has authority over you. Show a lack of regard for the authority and disobey.
[similar word: Rafada - he refused between someone of an equal ranking.]
wa ast-akbara [istaf'ala] – and he seeked/sought greatness.
3. Surah Overview
The scholars are unanimous that Surah al-Baqarah is Madani and that it was the first Surah revealed in Madinah. [Ibn Hajar al-Asqalani in Fath al-Bari no. 160/8].
Despite it being the first Surah to be revealed in Madinah, it contains Ayaat from a later period also. In fact, according to Ibn Abbas [as mentioned in Ibn Kathir] the last Ayat revealed to the Prophet was Ayat no. 281 from Surah al-Baqarah and this occurred 8 days or so before his death [which corresponds to the year 11 Hijri].
In order to understand the meaning of this Surah, we should know its historical background:
1. At Makkah, the Quran generally addressed the polytheist Quraysh who were ignorant of Islam, but at Madinah it was also concerned with the Jews who were acquainted with the creed of Monotheism, Prophethood, Revelation, the Hereafter and Angels. They also professed to believe in the law which was revealed by God to their Prophet Moses, and in principle, their way was the same (Islam) that was being taught by Prophet Muhammad. But they had strayed away from it during the centuries of degeneration and had adopted many un-Islamic creeds, rites and customs of which there was no mention and for which there was no sanction in the Torah. Not only this: they had tampered with the Torah by inserting their own explanations and interpretations into its text. They had distorted even that part of the Word of God which had remained intact in their Scriptures and taken out of it the real spirit of true religion and were now clinging to a lifeless frame of rituals. Consequently their beliefs, their morals and their conduct had gone to the lowest depths of degeneration. The pity is that they were not only satisfied with their condition but loved to cling to it. Besides this, they had no intention or inclination to accept any kind of reform. So they became bitter enemies of those who came to teach them the Right Way and did their utmost to defeat every such effort. Though they were originally Muslims, they had swerved from the real Islam and made innovations and alterations in it and had fallen victims to hair splitting and sectarianism. They had forgotten and forsaken God and begun to serve material wealth. So much so that they had even given up their original name “Muslim” and adopted the name “Jew” instead, and made religion the sole monopoly of the children of Israel. This was their religious condition when the Prophet went to Madinah and invited the Jews to the true religion. That is why more than one third of this Surah has been addressed to the children of Israel. A critical review of their history, their moral degeneration and their religious perversions has been made. Side by side with this, the high standard of morality and the fundamental principles of the pure religion have been put forward in order to bring out clearly the nature of the degeneration of the community of a prophet when it goes astray and to draw clear lines of demarcation between real piety and formalism, and the essentials and non-essentials of the true religion.
2. At Makkah, Islam was mainly concerned with the propagation of its fundamental principles and the moral training of its followers. But after the migration of the Prophet to Madinah, where Muslims had come to settle from all over Arabia and where a tiny Islamic State had been set up with the help of the ‘local supporters’ (Ansar), naturally the Quran had to turn its attention to the social, cultural, economic, political and legal problems as well. This accounts for the difference between the themes of the Surahs revealed at Makkah and those at Madinah. Accordingly about half of this Surah deals with those principles and regulations which are essential for the integration and solidarity of a community and for the solution of its problems.
After the migration to Madinah, the struggle between Islam and disbelief (Kufr) had also entered a new phase. Before this the Believers, who propagated Islam among their own clans and tribes, had to face its opponents at their own risk. But the conditions had changed at Madinah, where Muslims from all parts of Arabia had come and settled as one community, and had established an independent city state. Here it became a struggle for the survival of the Community itself, for the whole of non-Muslim Arabia was bent upon and united in crushing it totally. Hence the following instructions, upon which depended not only its success but its very survival, were revealed in this Surah:
a. The Community should work with the utmost zeal to propagate its ideology and win over to its side the greatest possible number of people.
b. It should so expose its opponents as to leave no room for doubt in the mind of any sensible person that they were adhering to an absolutely wrong position.
c. It should infuse in its members (the majority of whom were homeless and indigent and surrounded on all sides by enemies) that courage and fortitude which is so indispensable to their very existence in the adverse circumstances in which they were struggling and to prepare them to face these boldly.
d. It should also keep them ready and prepared to meet any armed menace, which might come from any side to suppress and crush their ideology, and to oppose it tooth and nail without minding the overwhelming numerical strength and the material resources of its enemies.
e. It should also create in them that courage which is needed for the eradication of evil ways and for the establishment of the Islamic Way instead. That is why God has revealed in this Surah such instructions as may help achieve all the above mentioned objects.
At the time of the revelation of Al-Baqarah, all sorts of hypocrites had begun to appear. God has, therefore, briefly pointed out their characteristics here. Afterwards when their evil characteristics and mischievous deeds became manifest, God sent detailed instructions about them. [REF: Mawdudi]
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11. Tafsir Zone
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Overview (Verses 34 – 39) Man’s First Test The story continues: “When We said to the angels, ‘Prostrate yourselves before Adam’, they did so.” (Verse 34) This is undoubtedly the highest accolade bestowed upon man. For, despite the fact that he would commit corruption on earth and shed blood, he was elevated above the angels, endowed with the secrets of knowledge, and given a free and independent will to choose his destiny. Man’s dual nature, his ability to determine his own course of action, and the trust he carries to pursue God’s guidance by his own means are all aspects of the high esteem in which he is held. The angels prostrated themselves before Adam in obedience to God’s command, “except for Iblīs who refused, swelled in insolence, and was thus an unbeliever” (Verse 34) Here we see evil manifested in Satan’s behaviour as he disobeys God Almighty, vainly refuses to recognize honour where it is due, persists in his error and closes his mind to the truth. The general drift of the narration suggests that Iblīs was not one of the angels; rather, he was with them. For, had he been an angel, he would not have disobeyed God, since the angels’ foremost characteristic is that they “do not disobey God in whatever He commands them and always do what they are bidden.” (66: 6) The fact that the Arabic construction here makes an exception in relation to Iblīs does not mean that he is, or was, one of the angles. The exception is justified on the basis that he was with the angles. This is perfectly acceptable in Arabic, which allows the construction “the whole clan arrived but not Aĥmad” without implying that Aĥmad is a member of the clan. Furthermore, the Qur’ān specifically identifies Iblīs as belonging to another type of extra-terrestrial creatures, the jinn, who are created out of fire, eliminating the idea that he was, at any time, an angel. (See 15: 27, 18: 50, and 55: 15) The battle lines are drawn, and the long struggle commences between Iblīs, the epitome of evil, and man, God’s vicegerent on earth. This battle is fought within man’s own conscience. Its outcome will be in man’s favour as long as he exercises his will and remains faithful to his covenant with God. Evil will triumph only if man succumbs to his own desires and alienates himself from his Lord. And We said to Adam, “Dwell you with your spouse in Paradise and eat freely whatever you wish of its fruit, but do not come near this one tree, lest you would be wrongdoers.” (Verse 35) They had been allowed access to all the fruits of Paradise with the exception of one tree. That tree may be seen as a symbol of the things forbidden to man on earth, without which there would be no freewill for him to exercise. Man would have been indistinguishable from animals, acting on mere instinct. Without forbidden things, there would be no way of testing man’s willpower and resolve in fulfilling his covenant with God. The human will is the deciding factor, and those who do not exercise their will, despite their human form, belong with animals and irrational creatures. “But Satan lured them away from it [Paradise] and thus caused them to be ousted from where they had been.” (Verse 36) So graphic and expressive is the Arabic word, azallahumā, used here to express the act of luring away. We almost visualise the scene of Adam and Eve being tempted and manoeuvred so that they slip and fall out of Paradise. Thus the test is over. Adam forgot his covenant and yielded to temptation, invoking God’s inevitable judgement that they should be sent down to earth. “We said, ‘Get you down. You shall be enemies to one another. On earth you shall have an abode and sustenance, for a while.” (Verse 36) This was the signal for the battle between man and Satan to commence and continue until the end of time. But Adam, by virtue of his basically good and sound human nature, was awakened to his oversight and was saved by God’s boundless mercy, which is always close at hand for the repentant to seek. “Thereupon Adam received from his Lord certain words, and He accepted his repentance; for He alone is the One who accepts repentance, the Merciful.” (Verse 37) God’s final word has been spoken, and His full covenant with Adam and his offspring as His vicegerents on earth has been sealed and brought into effect. This covenant outlines the conditions that bring mankind prosperity and those that lead people to ruin. “We said, ‘You shall all descend from it [Paradise]. Guidance shall reach you from Me. Those who follow My guidance shall have nothing to fear nor shall they grieve, but those who deny and gainsay Our revelations shall have the fire, wherein they shall abide.’” (Verses 38-39) Thus the battlefield was transferred to its proper location, the planet earth, and the battle was to rage on unabated. From that early moment man was taught how to triumph over evil, and what would bring about his defeat and condemnation. It is now for him to choose how to act. Points to Consider It is quite clear that when God told the angels that He was appointing a vicegerent on earth, He intended Adam and his descendants to settle there. Hence, the question arises about the purpose behind the forbidden tree and the ordeal that Adam and his wife had to endure. Why was it all necessary to justify Adam’s coming to earth, since he was meant to live on it in the first instance? It seems that all this was part of Adam’s training and preparation for the task ahead. The test was necessary in order to awaken his inner powers and latent ability to face up to temptation, so that he could see for himself the consequences of his actions and bear responsibility for them. It was also necessary to let man identify his enemy, and to give him a taste of repentance so that he would feel the need to return to God and seek His help and forgiveness. The forbidden fruit, Satan’s deception, Adam’s disregard of his covenant with God, his grave error, subsequent realization and profound sorrow for what he had done, and his pleading for God’s forgiveness, encapsulate the ever-recurring cycle of human experience. God Almighty, in His infinite wisdom and mercy, has seen fit that man should undergo this experience before he came to settle on earth, where he was to be the master. Man was going to face this experience time and again in order to be properly equipped to cope with the rigours of his fight with Satan and the evil he represented. We may also ask: Where did all that happen? What was this ‘paradise’ where Adam and his spouse had lived for some time? Who were the angels? Who was Iblīs? How did God communicate with them all, and how did they speak to Him? Knowledge of these and other similar matters found in the Qur’ān is exclusive to God Almighty. God, in His infinite wisdom, knows that such details, and similar information, are of little consequence in the fulfilment of man’s mission as God’s vicegerent on earth. Just as God has favoured man with the secrets of many physical laws and control over many physical events, He has withheld certain others as they are of no immediate benefit to man. Thus, despite the vast and amazing knowledge of life and the universe that he has been able to accumulate, man remains completely ignorant of what lies beyond the present moment. None of the tools of knowledge, intuition or technology enable him to gain knowledge of the immediate future in any degree of certainty. No human being can even know if his next breath will be his last. This is a typical example of the kind of knowledge that is withheld from man because it is not needed for the discharge of his duties as God’s vicegerent. Indeed, were man to have access to such knowledge, it could well impede the fulfilment of those duties. For this reason it would be futile for man to persist in pursuing such knowledge, since he does not have the means to obtain it. All efforts expended in this direction will be fruitless and would simply lead nowhere. On the other hand, the lack of licence to penetrate the unknown does not give man the right to deny it. Denial is in itself a judgement which must be based on knowledge, but this is out of bounds for the human mind because it is not a prerequisite for man’s life and role on earth. To succumb to myth and superstition is extremely serious and harmful, but it is even more serious to deny the unknown or refuse to take it into account simply because it is beyond the limits of human perception and understanding. Such an attitude reduces man to the level of animals which can only live within the realm of the material world of the senses and are not capable of going to the wider universe beyond. We ought, therefore, to leave the knowledge of the unknown to God and be satisfied with whatever glimpses He allows us into it that would improve our understanding and the quality of our life and behaviour. With accounts such as that of Adam and Eve, we must reflect on the universal and human truths, concepts, morals and impressions the story conveys and on man’s nature and values, and their place within the context of the wider existence. That should prove a far more useful pursuit. Man, the Master on Earth With that in mind, we shall now have a close, but brief, look at the concepts, facts and ideas that can be derived from this story. Foremost among these is the great value Islam assigns to man, his role on earth and his position in the universal system as well as the values by which he will be judged. Equally important is man’s commitment to God’s covenant which forms the basis upon which man’s mission on earth is founded. The high regard in which man is held in God’s universe is manifested in the divine will to declare man a vicegerent on earth and in the symbolic gesture of ordering the angels to prostrate themselves before him, and the subsequent condemnation of Iblīs who refused to join them. It is also evident in the care and the kindness with which God has blessed man from the start. From this emerge a number of fundamental concepts and considerations which are relevant to both intellectual and practical aspects of human life. The first of these is that man is the master over this earth; everything in it has been created for his benefit and pleasure. This elevates man above all other beings and forbids his subjugation or humiliation for the sake of material achievement. Man’s humanity must be respected and safeguarded; none of his fundamental rights or values should for any reason be violated or abused. Material things are meant to serve man and are made to promote his humanity and enhance his existence. It, therefore, stands to reason that achievements must not come at a price that would undermine fundamental human values, or at the expense of man’s dignity or integrity. Secondly, man’s role on earth is of the highest importance. Man, rather than the means of production or distribution, is the force of change on this earth; he influences and alters the course of all life on it. Contrary to the materialistic view, man is the master, not the slave, of the machine. The Qur’ānic view of man as a vicegerent on earth accords him a distinguished status and a central position in the divine world order. Through a number of vital and complex relationships, man’s commission on earth is closely linked to other parts and forces of the physical world such as the stars and planets, the wind and the rain, the sun and the skies. All these phenomena are evidently designed, and are made to interact and converge, to serve the purpose of sustaining life on earth and to assist man in fulfilling the purpose of his existence on it. This view of man is easily distinguished from, and vastly superior to, the feeble and negative role assigned to him by materialistic philosophies. All such views advocate their own means to promote, develop and preserve human life and values. The erosion of human freedom, dignity and values we see in materialistic societies as a result of the relentless drive towards material prosperity and progress, is but one facet of their godless view of man and his role on earth. The Islamic view, on the other hand, leads to a deeper appreciation of moral values and ethical behaviour. It teaches man to appreciate highly such virtues as religious belief, righteousness and honesty, which are indeed the terms on which his covenant with God was originally based. These virtues and values supersede and override all material ones. This is not to say that material objectives and considerations are unimportant; indeed, they are vital for the fulfilment of man’s commission as God’s vicegerent on earth. But they must not be allowed to overshadow or usurp the fundamental higher ones. Unlike materialistic creeds and principles that dismiss spiritual values, Islam aims to always guide man towards a decent and moral life. Production, consumerism and the satisfaction of man’s carnal instincts and desires are not all that life is about. The Islamic view clearly accords to human will a lofty position, as the cornerstone in man’s covenant with God. Free-will is also seen as the essence of man’s responsibility and accountability. Man can attain a status higher than that of the angels by remaining, through his own choice and free-will, true to his covenant with God, and by not yielding to his desires or succumbing to temptation. However, he can also debase himself by allowing his desires to get the better of his will, and temptation to overcome faith and common sense, and by neglecting his commitments towards God Almighty. This way of looking at man and his place in the world accords the human species further honour and esteem, and reminds us constantly of what leads to happiness and fulfilment and what ends in misery and degradation. We are also constantly reminded through Adam’s story of the nature of the battle between belief and denial, truth and falsehood, guidance and error. Man’s own soul is part of the battleground, while man himself is the protagonist who may either win or lose. The Concept of Sin Finally, we have the Islamic view of sin and repentance. This view is very clear and simple, with no mysteries or complications. Sin and repentance are two very personal acts. Contrary to the Christian doctrine of ‘original sin’, no sin is ever imposed on a person prior to his or her birth. Nor, as the Church claims, is there ‘divine’ atonement in which Jesus, whom they allege to be the son of God, was crucified to free humanity of Adam’s sin. Adam took full responsibility for his sin, which he personally committed. Having repented, he was simply and easily absolved of it. Any sins committed by Adam’s offspring would likewise be totally personal. The gateway to repentance and forgiveness is open to all, without restriction or discrimination. It is a simple and straightforward concept that puts everyone’s mind and heart at rest, and inspires man to do his utmost to succeed and save his soul, and never to despair or give up. Everyone shall be held responsible for what he or she does; none shall carry the burden of another. These are some of the impressions that the story of Adam, as related in the Qur’ān, evokes. They are rich with meaning and ideas, inspiration and generous advice that can underpin a social system built on virtue and morality. They highlight the significance of such accounts as we find in the Qur’ān, and reinforce the concepts and precepts of the Islamic view and the values on which it is based. These values originate with God Almighty and are bound to lead to Him in the end. God’s covenant with man is based on man receiving God’s guidance and abiding by its imperatives and principles. The decisive factor is man’s choice either to adhere to and obey God’s commands, or to hanker after Satan’s deceptive allurements. There can be no third way. This foremost and fundamental truth is emphasized throughout the Qur’ān, and it is the foundation on which all human concepts and systems are established. |
Ibn Kathir (English)
Sayyid Qutb
Sha'rawi
Al Jalalain
Mawdudi
الطبري - جامع البيان
ابن كثير - تفسير القرآن العظيم
القرطبي - الجامع لأحكام
البغوي - معالم التنزيل
ابن أبي حاتم الرازي - تفسير القرآن
ابن عاشور - التحرير والتنوير
ابن القيم - تفسير ابن قيّم
السيوطي - الدر المنثور
الشنقيطي - أضواء البيان
ابن الجوزي - زاد المسير
الآلوسي - روح المعاني
ابن عطية - المحرر الوجيز
الرازي - مفاتيح الغيب
أبو السعود - إرشاد العقل السليم
الزمخشري - الكشاف
البقاعي - نظم الدرر
الهداية إلى بلوغ النهاية — مكي ابن أبي طالب
القاسمي - محاسن التأويل
الماوردي - النكت والعيون
السعدي - تيسير الكريم الرحمن
عبد الرحمن الثعالبي - الجواهر الحسان
السمرقندي - بحر العلوم
أبو إسحاق الثعلبي - الكشف والبيان
الشوكاني - فتح القدير
النيسابوري - التفسير البسيط
أبو حيان - البحر المحيط
البيضاوي - أنوار التنزيل
النسفي - مدارك التنزيل
ابن جُزَيّ - التسهيل لعلوم التنزيل
علي الواحدي النيسابوري - الوجيز
السيوطي - تفسير الجلالين
المختصر في التفسير — مركز تفسير
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Overview (Verses 34 – 39) Man’s First Test The story continues: “When We said to the angels, ‘Prostrate yourselves before Adam’, they did so.” (Verse 34) This is undoubtedly the highest accolade bestowed upon man. For, despite the fact that he would commit corruption on earth and shed blood, he was elevated above the angels, endowed with the secrets of knowledge, and given a free and independent will to choose his destiny. Man’s dual nature, his ability to determine his own course of action, and the trust he carries to pursue God’s guidance by his own means are all aspects of the high esteem in which he is held. The angels prostrated themselves before Adam in obedience to God’s command, “except for Iblīs who refused, swelled in insolence, and was thus an unbeliever” (Verse 34) Here we see evil manifested in Satan’s behaviour as he disobeys God Almighty, vainly refuses to recognize honour where it is due, persists in his error and closes his mind to the truth. The general drift of the narration suggests that Iblīs was not one of the angels; rather, he was with them. For, had he been an angel, he would not have disobeyed God, since the angels’ foremost characteristic is that they “do not disobey God in whatever He commands them and always do what they are bidden.” (66: 6) The fact that the Arabic construction here makes an exception in relation to Iblīs does not mean that he is, or was, one of the angles. The exception is justified on the basis that he was with the angles. This is perfectly acceptable in Arabic, which allows the construction “the whole clan arrived but not Aĥmad” without implying that Aĥmad is a member of the clan. Furthermore, the Qur’ān specifically identifies Iblīs as belonging to another type of extra-terrestrial creatures, the jinn, who are created out of fire, eliminating the idea that he was, at any time, an angel. (See 15: 27, 18: 50, and 55: 15) The battle lines are drawn, and the long struggle commences between Iblīs, the epitome of evil, and man, God’s vicegerent on earth. This battle is fought within man’s own conscience. Its outcome will be in man’s favour as long as he exercises his will and remains faithful to his covenant with God. Evil will triumph only if man succumbs to his own desires and alienates himself from his Lord. And We said to Adam, “Dwell you with your spouse in Paradise and eat freely whatever you wish of its fruit, but do not come near this one tree, lest you would be wrongdoers.” (Verse 35) They had been allowed access to all the fruits of Paradise with the exception of one tree. That tree may be seen as a symbol of the things forbidden to man on earth, without which there would be no freewill for him to exercise. Man would have been indistinguishable from animals, acting on mere instinct. Without forbidden things, there would be no way of testing man’s willpower and resolve in fulfilling his covenant with God. The human will is the deciding factor, and those who do not exercise their will, despite their human form, belong with animals and irrational creatures. “But Satan lured them away from it [Paradise] and thus caused them to be ousted from where they had been.” (Verse 36) So graphic and expressive is the Arabic word, azallahumā, used here to express the act of luring away. We almost visualise the scene of Adam and Eve being tempted and manoeuvred so that they slip and fall out of Paradise. Thus the test is over. Adam forgot his covenant and yielded to temptation, invoking God’s inevitable judgement that they should be sent down to earth. “We said, ‘Get you down. You shall be enemies to one another. On earth you shall have an abode and sustenance, for a while.” (Verse 36) This was the signal for the battle between man and Satan to commence and continue until the end of time. But Adam, by virtue of his basically good and sound human nature, was awakened to his oversight and was saved by God’s boundless mercy, which is always close at hand for the repentant to seek. “Thereupon Adam received from his Lord certain words, and He accepted his repentance; for He alone is the One who accepts repentance, the Merciful.” (Verse 37) God’s final word has been spoken, and His full covenant with Adam and his offspring as His vicegerents on earth has been sealed and brought into effect. This covenant outlines the conditions that bring mankind prosperity and those that lead people to ruin. “We said, ‘You shall all descend from it [Paradise]. Guidance shall reach you from Me. Those who follow My guidance shall have nothing to fear nor shall they grieve, but those who deny and gainsay Our revelations shall have the fire, wherein they shall abide.’” (Verses 38-39) Thus the battlefield was transferred to its proper location, the planet earth, and the battle was to rage on unabated. From that early moment man was taught how to triumph over evil, and what would bring about his defeat and condemnation. It is now for him to choose how to act. Points to Consider It is quite clear that when God told the angels that He was appointing a vicegerent on earth, He intended Adam and his descendants to settle there. Hence, the question arises about the purpose behind the forbidden tree and the ordeal that Adam and his wife had to endure. Why was it all necessary to justify Adam’s coming to earth, since he was meant to live on it in the first instance? It seems that all this was part of Adam’s training and preparation for the task ahead. The test was necessary in order to awaken his inner powers and latent ability to face up to temptation, so that he could see for himself the consequences of his actions and bear responsibility for them. It was also necessary to let man identify his enemy, and to give him a taste of repentance so that he would feel the need to return to God and seek His help and forgiveness. The forbidden fruit, Satan’s deception, Adam’s disregard of his covenant with God, his grave error, subsequent realization and profound sorrow for what he had done, and his pleading for God’s forgiveness, encapsulate the ever-recurring cycle of human experience. God Almighty, in His infinite wisdom and mercy, has seen fit that man should undergo this experience before he came to settle on earth, where he was to be the master. Man was going to face this experience time and again in order to be properly equipped to cope with the rigours of his fight with Satan and the evil he represented. We may also ask: Where did all that happen? What was this ‘paradise’ where Adam and his spouse had lived for some time? Who were the angels? Who was Iblīs? How did God communicate with them all, and how did they speak to Him? Knowledge of these and other similar matters found in the Qur’ān is exclusive to God Almighty. God, in His infinite wisdom, knows that such details, and similar information, are of little consequence in the fulfilment of man’s mission as God’s vicegerent on earth. Just as God has favoured man with the secrets of many physical laws and control over many physical events, He has withheld certain others as they are of no immediate benefit to man. Thus, despite the vast and amazing knowledge of life and the universe that he has been able to accumulate, man remains completely ignorant of what lies beyond the present moment. None of the tools of knowledge, intuition or technology enable him to gain knowledge of the immediate future in any degree of certainty. No human being can even know if his next breath will be his last. This is a typical example of the kind of knowledge that is withheld from man because it is not needed for the discharge of his duties as God’s vicegerent. Indeed, were man to have access to such knowledge, it could well impede the fulfilment of those duties. For this reason it would be futile for man to persist in pursuing such knowledge, since he does not have the means to obtain it. All efforts expended in this direction will be fruitless and would simply lead nowhere. On the other hand, the lack of licence to penetrate the unknown does not give man the right to deny it. Denial is in itself a judgement which must be based on knowledge, but this is out of bounds for the human mind because it is not a prerequisite for man’s life and role on earth. To succumb to myth and superstition is extremely serious and harmful, but it is even more serious to deny the unknown or refuse to take it into account simply because it is beyond the limits of human perception and understanding. Such an attitude reduces man to the level of animals which can only live within the realm of the material world of the senses and are not capable of going to the wider universe beyond. We ought, therefore, to leave the knowledge of the unknown to God and be satisfied with whatever glimpses He allows us into it that would improve our understanding and the quality of our life and behaviour. With accounts such as that of Adam and Eve, we must reflect on the universal and human truths, concepts, morals and impressions the story conveys and on man’s nature and values, and their place within the context of the wider existence. That should prove a far more useful pursuit. Man, the Master on Earth With that in mind, we shall now have a close, but brief, look at the concepts, facts and ideas that can be derived from this story. Foremost among these is the great value Islam assigns to man, his role on earth and his position in the universal system as well as the values by which he will be judged. Equally important is man’s commitment to God’s covenant which forms the basis upon which man’s mission on earth is founded. The high regard in which man is held in God’s universe is manifested in the divine will to declare man a vicegerent on earth and in the symbolic gesture of ordering the angels to prostrate themselves before him, and the subsequent condemnation of Iblīs who refused to join them. It is also evident in the care and the kindness with which God has blessed man from the start. From this emerge a number of fundamental concepts and considerations which are relevant to both intellectual and practical aspects of human life. The first of these is that man is the master over this earth; everything in it has been created for his benefit and pleasure. This elevates man above all other beings and forbids his subjugation or humiliation for the sake of material achievement. Man’s humanity must be respected and safeguarded; none of his fundamental rights or values should for any reason be violated or abused. Material things are meant to serve man and are made to promote his humanity and enhance his existence. It, therefore, stands to reason that achievements must not come at a price that would undermine fundamental human values, or at the expense of man’s dignity or integrity. Secondly, man’s role on earth is of the highest importance. Man, rather than the means of production or distribution, is the force of change on this earth; he influences and alters the course of all life on it. Contrary to the materialistic view, man is the master, not the slave, of the machine. The Qur’ānic view of man as a vicegerent on earth accords him a distinguished status and a central position in the divine world order. Through a number of vital and complex relationships, man’s commission on earth is closely linked to other parts and forces of the physical world such as the stars and planets, the wind and the rain, the sun and the skies. All these phenomena are evidently designed, and are made to interact and converge, to serve the purpose of sustaining life on earth and to assist man in fulfilling the purpose of his existence on it. This view of man is easily distinguished from, and vastly superior to, the feeble and negative role assigned to him by materialistic philosophies. All such views advocate their own means to promote, develop and preserve human life and values. The erosion of human freedom, dignity and values we see in materialistic societies as a result of the relentless drive towards material prosperity and progress, is but one facet of their godless view of man and his role on earth. The Islamic view, on the other hand, leads to a deeper appreciation of moral values and ethical behaviour. It teaches man to appreciate highly such virtues as religious belief, righteousness and honesty, which are indeed the terms on which his covenant with God was originally based. These virtues and values supersede and override all material ones. This is not to say that material objectives and considerations are unimportant; indeed, they are vital for the fulfilment of man’s commission as God’s vicegerent on earth. But they must not be allowed to overshadow or usurp the fundamental higher ones. Unlike materialistic creeds and principles that dismiss spiritual values, Islam aims to always guide man towards a decent and moral life. Production, consumerism and the satisfaction of man’s carnal instincts and desires are not all that life is about. The Islamic view clearly accords to human will a lofty position, as the cornerstone in man’s covenant with God. Free-will is also seen as the essence of man’s responsibility and accountability. Man can attain a status higher than that of the angels by remaining, through his own choice and free-will, true to his covenant with God, and by not yielding to his desires or succumbing to temptation. However, he can also debase himself by allowing his desires to get the better of his will, and temptation to overcome faith and common sense, and by neglecting his commitments towards God Almighty. This way of looking at man and his place in the world accords the human species further honour and esteem, and reminds us constantly of what leads to happiness and fulfilment and what ends in misery and degradation. We are also constantly reminded through Adam’s story of the nature of the battle between belief and denial, truth and falsehood, guidance and error. Man’s own soul is part of the battleground, while man himself is the protagonist who may either win or lose. The Concept of Sin Finally, we have the Islamic view of sin and repentance. This view is very clear and simple, with no mysteries or complications. Sin and repentance are two very personal acts. Contrary to the Christian doctrine of ‘original sin’, no sin is ever imposed on a person prior to his or her birth. Nor, as the Church claims, is there ‘divine’ atonement in which Jesus, whom they allege to be the son of God, was crucified to free humanity of Adam’s sin. Adam took full responsibility for his sin, which he personally committed. Having repented, he was simply and easily absolved of it. Any sins committed by Adam’s offspring would likewise be totally personal. The gateway to repentance and forgiveness is open to all, without restriction or discrimination. It is a simple and straightforward concept that puts everyone’s mind and heart at rest, and inspires man to do his utmost to succeed and save his soul, and never to despair or give up. Everyone shall be held responsible for what he or she does; none shall carry the burden of another. These are some of the impressions that the story of Adam, as related in the Qur’ān, evokes. They are rich with meaning and ideas, inspiration and generous advice that can underpin a social system built on virtue and morality. They highlight the significance of such accounts as we find in the Qur’ān, and reinforce the concepts and precepts of the Islamic view and the values on which it is based. These values originate with God Almighty and are bound to lead to Him in the end. God’s covenant with man is based on man receiving God’s guidance and abiding by its imperatives and principles. The decisive factor is man’s choice either to adhere to and obey God’s commands, or to hanker after Satan’s deceptive allurements. There can be no third way. This foremost and fundamental truth is emphasized throughout the Qur’ān, and it is the foundation on which all human concepts and systems are established. |
