The Story of Adam and Eve
When God creates Adam (peace be upon him) the first homo-sapien man, he commands the angels and Iblis (who resides among the angels), to bow down to Adam (peace be upon him). The reason for this was to show the angels that man was superior to them by virtue of the knowledge that he was given by Allah. The angels obey the command, whilst Iblis is proud and disobeys.
30. Behold, thy Lord said to the angels: “I will create a vicegerent on earth.” They said: “Wilt Thou place therein one who will make mischief therein and shed blood? - whilst we do celebrate Thy praises and glorify Thy holy (name)?” He said: “I know what ye know not.”
31. And He taught Adam the names of all things; then He placed them before the angels, and said: “Tell me the names of these if ye are right.”
32. They said: “Glory to Thee, of knowledge We have none, save what Thou Hast taught us: In truth it is Thou Who art perfect in knowledge and wisdom.”
33. He said: “O Adam! Tell them their names.” When he had told them, Allah said: “Did I not tell you that I know the secrets of heaven and earth, and I know what ye reveal and what ye conceal?”
34. And when We said unto the angels: Prostrate yourselves before Adam, they fell prostrate, all save Iblis. He demurred through pride, and so became a disbeliever.
Qur’an - Surah al-Baqara (The Heifer) 2:30-4
Behold! We said to the angels, “Bow down to Adam”: They bowed down except Iblis. He was one of the Jinns, and he broke the Command of his Lord...
Qur’an - Surah al-Kahf (The Cave) 18:50
God asks Iblis why he did not bow down to Adam. Iblis replies that he is better than man as he is made from fire. God banishes Iblis. Before Iblis leaves, he asks God’s permission to tempt Adam (peace be upon him) and his descendants to the wrong path. God gives him this ability, but also mentions that those people who obey Him and worship Him will not be tempted by him, whilst those people who do not obey and worship Him, will. Henceforth, Iblis becomes Satan (in Arabic Shaytaan). See also verses 2:115-9.
12. (Allah) said: “What prevented thee from prostrating when I commanded thee?” He (Satan) said: “I am better than he (Adam): Thou didst create me from fire, and him from clay.”
13. (Allah) said: “Get thee down from this: it is not for thee to be arrogant here: get out, for thou art of the meanest (of creatures).”
14. He said: Reprieve me till the day when they are raised (from the dead).
15. He said: Lo! Thou art of those reprieved.
16. He said: “Because thou hast thrown me out of the way, lo! I will lie in wait for them on thy straight way:
17. “Then will I assault them from before them and behind them, from their right and their left: Nor wilt thou find, in most of them, gratitude (for thy mercies).”
18. (Allah) said: “Get out from this, disgraced and expelled. If any of them follow thee, - Hell will I fill with you all.
Qur’an - Surah al-A`raaf (The Heights) 7:12-18 See also 16:98-100, 20:116-123 and 38:74-85.
God tests Adam and Eve (peace be upon them) by commanding them not to eat the fruit from a particular tree in the Garden of Aden (Eden) in heaven. God also warns them not to listen to the whispers of Satan, as he is an avowed enemy of man.
1. Say (O Muhammad, to mankind): I seek refuge in the Lord of mankind,
2. The King of mankind,
3. The God of mankind,
4. From the mischief of the Whisperer (of Evil), who withdraws (after his whisper), -
5. Who whispereth in the hearts of mankind,
6. Among Jinns and among men.
Qur’an - Surah an-Naas (Mankind) 114:1-6
Thus have We appointed unto every prophet an adversary - devils of humankind and jinn who inspire in one another plausible discourse through guile. If thy Lord willed, they would not do so; so leave them alone with their devising;
Qur’an - Surah al-An`aam (The Cattle) 6:112
It was We Who created man, and We know what dark suggestions his soul makes to him: for We are nearer to him than (his) jugular vein.
Qur’an – Surah Qaf (the Letter Qaf) 50:16
Satan whispers to Adam and Eve (peace be upon them) and tells them that if they eat from the tree they will become like angels (i.e. they will always be able to obey and worship God) and will live forever. These were false promises, which he had no power to fulfil. Only God has the power to do these and other things. Adam and Eve (peace be upon them) disobey God and are tempted by Satan and eat the forbidden fruit. God reprimands Adam and Eve (peace be upon them) for their disobedience.
19. “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.” 19
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.”
21. And he swore to them both, that he was their sincere adviser.
22. So by deceit he brought about their fall: when they tasted of the tree, their shame became manifest to them (their private parts which prior to this incident were hidden from 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?”
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.”
24. (Allah) said: “Get ye down. With enmity between yourselves. On earth will be your dwelling-place and your means of livelihood, - for a time.”
25. He said: “Therein shall ye live, and therein shall ye die; but from it shall ye be taken out (at last).”
26. O ye Children of Adam! We have bestowed raiment upon you to cover your shame, as well as to be an adornment to you. But the raiment of righteousness, - that is the best. Such are among the Signs of Allah, that they may receive admonition!
27. O ye Children of Adam! Let not Satan seduce you, in the same manner as He got your parents out of the Garden, stripping them of their raiment, to expose their shame: for he and his tribe watch you from a position where ye cannot see them: We made the evil ones friends (only) to those without faith.
Qur’an - Surah al-A`raaf (The Heights) 7:19-27 See also 2:30-6, 2:120-23 and 20:121-1. Compare Genesis 3:1-15, 23.
Adam and Eve (peace be upon them) ask God for forgiveness, as they were equally guilty, which is granted.
37. Then learnt Adam from his Lord words of inspiration, and his Lord turned towards him; for He is Oft-Returning, Most Merciful.
38. We said: “Get ye down all from here; and if, as is sure, there come to you guidance from Me, whosoever follows My guidance, on them shall be no fear, nor shall they grieve.
Qur’an - Surah al-Baqara (The Heifer) 2:37-38
God decides to place Adam and Huwwa (peace be upon them), on earth separately. They both eventually arrive at the Mountain of Arafat (Jabal Arafah) in the Plains of Arafat, approximately 12 miles from Makkah, in Arabia on the 9th day of the Islamic month of Dhu Al-Hijjah (the last month of the Islamic calendar).
Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) made his farewell sermon on this mountain, many centuries later and received the last verse of the Qur’an, given below. This is the main place where Muslim pilgrims go to when they perform Hajj and ask for forgiveness.
This day are those who disbelieve in despair of (ever harming) your religion; so fear them not, fear Me! This day have I perfected your religion for you and completed my favour unto you, and have chosen for you as religion al-Islam.
Qur’an - Surah al-Ma’aida (The Table Spread) 5:3
Adam and Eve (peace be upon them) are asked to obey and worship the One God. The universal religion of Islam is born. The definition of Islam is the acceptance, submission, sincerity and belief of the One God - Allah, (the Creator of the Universe) and to worship Him alone without any partners or any part of His creation. The word Islam comes from two root words, "submission" or “surrender” (to God) and “peace” (Arabic - salima: with God and within oneself). In general, of course Islam allows Muslims to live in peace with its neighbours unhindered. When Muslims greet each other they exchange peace with each other i.e. peace be upon you (Arabic - assalaamu aleykum).
“Therefore turn your face steadfastly towards the true faith (Islam), away from all that which is false, in accordance with the Pure nature with which Allah has Created people. Let there be no altering in the laws of Allah's Creation. This is surely the true religion, but most people do not know it.”
Qur’an - Surah ar-Rum (The Romans) 30:30
A person who obeys and worships the One True God is a Muslim. This defines theword Muslim. Adam and Eve (peace be upon them) were the first Muslims and Adam was the first prophet of Islam.
“The Religion in the sight of Allah is Islam.”
Qur’an - Surah al-`Imraan (The Family of `Imraan) 3:19
And this was the legacy that Abraham left to his sons, and so did Jacob; “Oh my sons! Allah hath chosen the Faith for you; then die not except in the Faith of Islam.”
Qur’an - Surah al-Baqara (The Heifer) 2:132
Each new person born into this life is a Muslim. This is because, when our souls were created, we testified to the belief of the One God as the following Qur’anic verses shows.
172. And (remember) when thy Lord brought forth from the Children of Adam, from their reins, their seed, and made them testify of themselves, (saying): Am I not your Lord? They said: Yea, verily. We testify. (That was) lest ye should say at the Day of Resurrection: Lo! Of this we were unaware;
173. Or lest ye should say: “Our fathers before us may have taken false gods, but we are (their) descendants after them: wilt Thou then destroy us because of the deeds of men who were futile?”
174. Thus do We explain the signs in detail; and perchance they may turn (unto Us).
Qur’an - Surah al-A`raaf (The Heights) 7:172-4
Hence our innermost nature (fitra), from the moment of our birth, is to accept the existence and belief of the One God, our Creator. Consequently we are all born pure into this world as Muslims.
35. O ye Children of Adam! whenever there come to you messengers from amongst you, rehearsing My signs unto you,- those who are righteous and mend (their lives),- on them shall be no fear nor shall they grieve.
36. But those who reject Our signs and treat them with arrogance,- they are companions of the Fire, to dwell therein (for ever).
Qur’an - Surah al-A`raaf (The Heights) 7:35-6
Who has created death and life, that He may test you, which of you is best in conduct; and He is the All-Mighty, the Oft-Forgiving;
Qur’an - Surah at-Talaaq (Divorce) 67:2 See also 6:18.
"Allah ordered (the appointed Angels over you) that the good and the bad deeds be written, and He then showed them (the way) how (to write). If somebody intends to do a good deed and he does not do it, then Allah will write for him a full good deed (in his account with Him); and if he intends to do a good deed and actually did it, then Allah will write for him (in his account) with Him (its reward equal) from ten to seven hundred times to many more times! And if somebody intended to do a bad deed and he does not do it, then Allah will write a full good deed (in his account) with Him, and if he intended to do a bad deed and actually did it, then Allah will write one bad deed (in his account)."
A saying of Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) - Sahih al-Bukhari Hadith 8.498 Narrated by Ibn Abbas
“He who amongst you sees something abominable should modify it with the help of his hand; and if he has not strength enough to do that, then he should do it with his tongue; and if he has not strength enough to do even that, then he should (at least abhor it) from his heart; and that is the least of faith.”
A saying of Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) - Sahih Muslim Hadith 79 Narrated by Abu Sa'id al-Khudri
