Explanation from <Quran> Surah 2: 31-38
Continue from ‘Why Allah SWT created man? (1) <Quran> Surah 2: 31- 38’
At that time, when all the angels obeyed Allah SWT by bowing down to Adam, only Iblis refused to obey (Note 1). Quran described Iblis as the leader of the evil ones (Note 2), belongs to a type of creature of the spiritual world called Jinn. Allah SWT used fire to create Jinn (Note 3), but He did not breathe His spirit into the Jinn. Thus, Iblis could not experience the uniqueness of having Allah’s spirit like what Adam had experienced. Iblis thought his body which was made of fire was better than Adam’s body which was made of clay, therefore he looked down on Adam (Note 4), and not willing to bow down to Adam.
<Quran> Surah 7: 12 (Allah) said: “What prevented thee from prostrating when I commanded thee?” He said: “I am better than he: Thou didst create me from fire, and him from clay.”
<Quran> Surah 38:76 (Iblis) said: “I am better than he: thou createdst me from fire, and him thou createdst from clay.”
Allah SWT did not immediately punish Iblis, the implementation of the punishment is suspended until the day of judgement (Note 5). However, Iblis does not repent. In addition, he tempts mankind during this period of time (Note 6) so that mankind will finally be punished by Allah SWT (Note 7).
How did Iblis tempt man? Let us look at his first target.
Allah SWT did instruct Adam in the Garden that he could eat all the fruits produced by all the trees in the Garden except one. Allah SWT also told Adam not to get near to that tree (Note 8), but Adam was wandering around beneath the tree and gave Iblis an opportunity to tempt him.
<Quran> Surah 7:20 Then began Satan to whisper suggestions to them, bringing openly before their minds all 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.” (Note 9)
<Quran> Surah 20:120 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?”
Iblis told Adam that Allah SWT forbade both Adam and Eve from eating the fruit from the tree because Allah SWT did not want both of them to live forever, like angels that could live happily forever, in the Garden.
Perhaps, you will ask, is that a mistake to have immortality? Of course, besides Allah SWT, who can live forever? Adam was being too arrogant to want to be like Allah SWT! Nevertheless, the purpose of Allah SWT created the Garden was to allow Adam and his wife to live in there forever; Allah SWT even breathed into Adam His own spirit so that Adam would understand the knowledge of all things. With Allah’s wisdom, wasn’t Adam becoming more and more like Allah SWT?
Actually there is nothing wrong for wanting to be like Allah SWT, but the question is, why do we want to be like Allah SWT? There are many people in this world who have the privilege like Allah SWT, for example, the Judge in the court has the power to decide on a person’s life and death; a murderer also have control over a victim’s life. The difference between both of them is either doing it justly or evilly.
Adam and his wife could live forever in the Garden if they obeyed Allah’s command, but he chose the wrong way, thinking that he could take a short cut by eating the fruit from the forbidden tree. Iblis did not ask Adam and his wife to eat the fruit from the tree directly; first, he gave them a magnificent goal, so in order to achieve it, they would use evil means. This is the danger of temptation.
<Quran> 20:115 We had already, beforehand, taken the covenant of Adam, but he forgot: and We found on his part no firm resolve.
<Quran> Surah 20: 115 pointed the reason why Adam sinned, that is, he was not determined in obeying Allah’s command. If Adam was firm in obeying Allah’s command completely before the temptation, Iblis would never be able to tempt him. In fact, Allah SWT had instructed Adam and his wife not to get close to the tree (<Quran> Surah 2: 35), Adam did not obey and thus eventually came to such an end.
<Quran> Surah 2:35 We said: “O Adam! dwell thou and thy wife in the Garden; and eat of the bountiful things therein as (where and when) ye will; but approach not this tree, or ye run into harm and transgression.”
This is the reason for the failure of many believers too. They do not want to be firm in Allah SWT, thinking that they have the ability to face it when temptation comes. This is the same as the example of not locking the door and caught unprepared when the thieves break in suddenly.
It is recorded in the Quran that when Adam and his wife went against Allah’s command, they noticed that they were naked and covered their body with leaves (Note 10). Why didn’t they feel embarrassed since the very first day?
You will notice a two to three year-old kid will not feel embarrassed when they are naked in front of strangers. They will think this is natural. But when the kid has grown up to seven or eight-year old, he or she will start to behave in front of people, they dare not go around nakedly. When people start to understand and experience good and evil, they pay more attention to themselves.
It is the same for Adam and his wife. They paid more attention to themselves after they sinned; they noticed that they are naked. From here we can see that one of the consequences of sin is to cause man to be more self-centered.
<Quran> Surah 7: 22 mentioned, after they have sinned they did not seek forgiveness from Allah SWT (Note 11). After committing sin, mankind will hide themselves, not willing to face Allah SWT. In fact, this is the time they need Allah SWT the most.
<Quran> Surah 7:22 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. And their Lord called unto them: “Did I not forbid you that tree, and tell you that Satan was an avowed enemy unto you?”
When Allah SWT found them, He did not immediately declare His punishment; in fact, He started the conversation with them by asking question. Why did Allah SWT not pronounce punishment immediately? Men always like to determine right and wrong immediately to show that they understand certain things. Allah SWT, however, uses rhetorical question even though He already knows the answer. This is to allow man to think and understand the reason of making mistake and thus admit it.
<Quran> Surah 7:23. 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.”
The reason devil tempts mankind is to make man forget Allah SWT (Note 12), and alienate from Allah SWT. Therefore, Allah SWT emphasized His commands in the question; reminded them so that they would not forget.
At last, Adam and his wife were expelled from the Garden and were working hard on this earth for years and bore and raised the next generation (Note 13).
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Note 1:
Iblis refused to bow down, see <Quran> 2:34，7:11，15:31，17:61，18:50，20:116，38:74
Note 2:
Iblis is the leader of those without faith. See <Quran> 7: 27. The Arabic word for devil is شيطان.
Note 3:
<Quran> 18: 50 mentioned Iblis is Jinn whom Allah SWT created from fire, see <Quran> 7:12，7:179，15:27，38:76，55:15
Note 4:
<Quran> described Iblis as someone who is very haughty, thought himself is better than Adam which is created from clay, see <Quran> 2:34，38:74，38:75. The Arabian root word for arrogant is كبر, is translated as ‘disdain’ in 7: 206, ‘arrogant’ in 46: 10, and ‘arrogance’ in 7:36 and 7:40.
<Quran> 7:206 Those who are near to thy Lord, disdain not to do Him worship: They celebrate His praises, and prostrate before Him.
<Quran> 46:10. Say: “See ye? If (this teaching) be from Allah, and ye reject it, and a witness from among the Children of Israel testifies to its similarity (with earlier scripture), and has believed while ye are arrogant, (how unjust ye are!) truly, Allah guides not a people unjust.”
<Quran> 7:36. But those who reject Our signs and treat them with arrogance,- they are companions of the Fire, to dwell therein (for ever).
<Quran> 7:40. To those who reject Our signs and treat them with arrogance, no opening will there be of the gates of heaven, nor will they enter the garden, until the camel can pass through the eye of the needle: Such is Our reward for those in sin.
Note 5:
The implementation of the punishment of Iblis is suspended until the Day of Judgement, see <Quran> 7:14，15:35-38，17:62，38:78-81. After Adam had sinned, Allah cast Iblis out of the Garden, see <Quran> 7:13，7:18，15:34，38:77.
Note 6:
Iblis will tempt mankind before the Day of judgement, see <Quran> 7:16，15:39，17:62，17:64，20:121，38:82
Note 7:
During the probationary period, Iblis will use all kinds of methods to tempt mankind, so mankind will at last be punished by Allah SWT, see <Quran> 7:17，17:63-64，58:19.
Note 8:
Allah SWT told Adam not to go near to the tree and not to eat the fruits produced by the tree. See <Quran> 2:35，7:19，7:22.
Note 9:
<Quran> 7:20 mentioned ‘you’ which is referring to Adam and his wife. Allah SWT did make Adam a partner, see <Quran> 4:1，7:189，30:21，35:11，36:36，39:6，51:49，53:45，75:39，78:8，92:3，49:13.
Note 10:
After Adam and his wife sinned, they covered their bodies with leaves, see <Quran> 7:20，7:22，20:121.
<Quran> 7:20 Then began Satan to whisper suggestions to them, bringing openly before their minds all 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 for ever
<Quran> 7:22 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. And their Lord called unto them: “Did I not forbid you that tree, and tell you that Satan was an avowed enemy unto you
<Quran> 20:121 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: thus did Adam disobey his Lord, and allow himself to be seduced.
Note 11:
Adam and his wife did not take initiative to seek Allah’s forgiveness after they sinned, but Allah SWT took initiative to find them, see <Quran> 2:37，7:22，20:122.
Note 12:
<Quran> 58: 19 mentioned, the devil tempted mankind with the purpose that man will forget Allah SWT.
<Quran> 58:19. The Evil One has got the better of them: so he has made them lose the remembrance of Allah. They are the Party of the Evil One. Truly, it is the Party of the Evil One that will perish!
Note 13:
After they sinned, Adam and his wife were cast out of the Garden, see <Quran> 2:36-38，7:23-25，20:122-123
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(Note: All Al-Quran verses are sourced from English Translation of Al-Quran by Abdullah Yusuf Ali, with thanks.)