Quran e Pak is really a treasure. Whenever you read it, you always learn some thing new. It always reveals new ways of thinking and understanding.
Recently, while reciting Surah Baqrah, I get a new point about the story of Hazrat Adam & Bibi Hawwa (A.S) covered in ayaat 30 to 39 (2:30 to 2:39).
There is general misconception that Hazrat Adam was sent to ‘Earth’ from ‘Jannat’ as a punishment for not following Allah’s order to eat fruit from the forbidden tree. Some ppl say that it was Hazrat Hawa, who is the responsible for this punishment and then generalise it by saying ‘Man lost heaven due to Woman’.
The event of sending Hazrat Adam to earth from Jannat is also considered as degrading, as Ghalib said:
Nikalna Khuld se Aadam ka sunte aae the lekin
Bade be aabroo hokay tere koochay se hum niklay
The Quranic version of this incident is totally different from the above thoughts.
At the very begining (Ayat 30), Allah has announced to send Adam as His ‘Khalifa’ to ‘Earth’ even before creating him. When the purpose of creating Adam was already decided even before the event when angels were asked to prostrate (Sajda) to Adam. This proves that Hazrat Adam was not sent to earth as a punishment. He was kept in Jannat for training and then sent to Earth.
Regarding degrading Adam (AS) by sending him from Jannat to earth, refer Ayaat 37 to 39 (2:37 to 2:39), which say that Aadam did ‘Toba’ which was accepted by Allah and he was sent as a Prophet with the message that people following Allah’s order don’t need to be sad and who don’t follow Allah’s order will be sent to hell ‘Dozakh’.
This proves that Adam was sent to earth as Messenger / Prophet / Khalifa (which was pre decided even before his creation) and there was no punishment / degradation of Adam for sending him to Earth.
Re: Aadam, Hawwa Aur Shaitaan (Myths, General misconceptions & Quran)
Peace muqawwee123
I agree with this analysis ... In fact Kitab-ut-Tanwir Fi Isqat ut-Tadbir by Shaykh Ibn 'Ata Illa Al-Askandariya student of Shaykh Abu'l Hasan Ash-Shadhili writes about this very incident and goes further than saying that there was no punishment but that it was to raise the rank of Adam (AS) that he was sent to Earth.
Here is a quote (translation)
"Adam (AS) thought that the angelic state was superior. So when he made this tadbir with himself, he went to the tree and ate from it. That was only out of his own planning, whereas the desire of the Real was to cause him to descend to the earth by that action, and make him His Representative (khalifa) on it. It was a fall in form, but an ascent in meaning. For this reason Shaykh Abu-l-Hasan said, 'By Allah, Allah did not place Adam on earth to demean his status or make him deficient, but rather to perfect him'. And Adam (AS) still continues to ascend to Allah (SWT), one moment in the ascension of humility and lowliness, and in reality the latter is more complete.
..... Ibn Atiyya commented: 'In other words, the final state is better than the first'
..... So Allah (SWT) willed that his eating from the tree would cause his descent to earth, which would cause the manifestation of the degree of vicegerency, which He granted to him. Shaykh Abu-l-Hasan said, 'The noblest of misdeeds was the one that bequeathed the Divine vicegerency and established the way of repentance for those after him until the Day of Rising' ...."
Re: Aadam, Hawwa Aur Shaitaan (Myths, General misconceptions & Quran)
The doctrine of 'original sin' and Adam (as) making a "mistake" of eating from the forbidden tree is a Christian belief. They are usually seen explaining all the sins and lapses of the mankind in the light of the same concept.
Quran as well as the traditions from Mohammad wa Aalay Mohammad assert that Adam (as) was destined to be the representative of Allah (swt) on earth before his creation in the human form as rightly observed by you already. It was Adam (as) eating from the tree that instigated his trial. Once Adam (as) ate from the tree, Allah (swt) sent him down to Earth for a trial (struggle). There are many interesting aspects in this story that never fail to amaze me every time I ponder on it.
for sharing :k:
