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قُلۡنَا اهۡبِطُوۡا مِنۡهَا جَمِيۡعًا ​​ۚ فَاِمَّا يَاۡتِيَنَّكُمۡ مِّنِّىۡ هُدًى فَمَنۡ تَبِعَ هُدَاىَ فَلَا خَوۡفٌ عَلَيۡهِمۡ وَلَا هُمۡ يَحۡزَنُوۡنَ‏ ﴿2:38﴾ وَالَّذِيۡنَ كَفَرُوۡا وَكَذَّبُوۡا بِـاٰيٰتِنَآ اُولٰٓٮِٕكَ اَصۡحٰبُ النَّارِ‌‌ۚ هُمۡ فِيۡهَا خٰلِدُوۡنَ ﴿2:39﴾

(2:38) We said: “Get you down from here,⁵³ all of you, and guidance shall come to you from Me: then, whoever will follow My guidance need have no fear, nor shall they grieve. (2:39) But those who refuse to accept this (guidance) and reject Our Signs as false⁵⁴ are destined for the Fire where they shall abide for ever.”⁵⁵

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Notes

53. The reiteration of this statement is significant. We have been told above that Adam repented and that his repentance was accepted by God. This means that the stain of sin was washed away and therefore no stain remained 

On the contrary, God not only accepted Adam’s repentance but also honoured him by endowing him with prophethood so that he might he able to direct his children correctly. The repetition of the order to leave Paradise and go down to earth is aimed at driving home the point that earth was not created as a place of punishment for man. On the contrary, man was put on earth to serve as God’s vicegerent there. It was only to test man and thereafter to equip him for the performance of God’s vicegerency that man was placed temporarily in Paradise. See also( n. 48 above.) 

54. Ayat is the plural of ayah which means a ‘sign’ or ‘token’ which directs one to something important. In the Qur’an this word is used in four different senses. Sometimes it denotes a sign or indication. In certain other places the phenomena of the universe are called the ayat (signs) of God, for the reality to which the phenomena point is hidden behind the veil of appearances. At times the miracles performed by the Prophets are also termed ayat since they show that the Prophets were envoys of the Sovereign of the universe. Lastly, individual units of the Book of God are also called ayat because they point to the ultimate reality, and because the substantive contents of the Book of God, its phraseology, its style, its inimitable literary excellence are clear tokens of the attributes of the Author of the Book. The sense in which the word ayah has been used in a particular verse becomes evident from the context of its occurrence. 

55. This is a permanent directive from God to mankind which is valid from the beginning of life until the Day of Judgement. It is this which has been mentioned earlier as God’s covenant see (n. 31 above). 

It is not for man to prescribe the way of life which his fellow human beings should follow. In his double capacity as the subject and vicegerent of God, man is required to follow the way of life prescribed by his Lord. There are only two means of access to this way: either by direct revelation from God or by following one to whom God has revealed guidance. Nothing else can direct man to the way that enjoys God’s approval and good pleasure. Resorting to any other means in quest of salvation is not only fundamentally mistaken but tantamount to rebellion. 

The story of the creation of Adam and the origin of the human species occurs seven times in the Qur’an, once in the verses just mentioned. For other references see (7: 11 ff), (15: 26 ff)., (17: 61 ff)., (18: 50), (20: 116 ff)., (38: 71 ff). The story also occurs in the Bible in Genesis 1, 2 and 3. A comparative reading of the Qur’anic and Biblical versions will enable the perceptive reader to detect the differences between the two. 

The dialogue between God and the angels at the time of the creation of Adam is also mentioned in the Talmud. This account lacks the spiritual significance underlying the Qur’anic version. Indeed, the Talmudic version additionally contains the following oddity: when the angels ask why men are being created, God replies that they are being created so that good people may be born among them. God refrains from mentioning the bad people lest the angels disapprove the creation of man! (See Paul Isaac Hershon, Talmudic Miscellany, London, 1880, pp. 294

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وَاِذۡ قُلۡنَا لِلۡمَلٰٓـئِكَةِ اسۡجُدُوۡا لِاٰدَمَ فَسَجَدُوۡٓا اِلَّاۤ اِبۡلِيۡسَؕ اَبٰى وَاسۡتَكۡبَرَ  وَكَانَ مِنَ الۡكٰفِرِيۡنَ‏ ﴿2:34﴾ وَقُلۡنَا يٰٓـاٰدَمُ اسۡكُنۡ اَنۡتَ وَزَوۡجُكَ الۡجَـنَّةَ وَكُلَا مِنۡهَا رَغَدًا حَيۡثُ شِئۡتُمَا وَلَا تَقۡرَبَا هٰذِهِ الشَّجَرَةَ فَتَكُوۡنَا مِنَ الظّٰلِمِيۡنَ‏  ﴿2:35﴾

(2:34) And when We ordered the angels: “Prostrate yourselves before Adam,” all of them fell prostrate,⁴⁵ except Iblis.⁴⁶ He refused, and gloried in his arrogance and became one of the defiers.⁴⁷ (2:35) And We said: “O Adam, live in the Garden, you and your wife, and eat abundantly of whatever you wish but do not approach this tree⁴⁸ or else you will be counted among the wrong-doers.”⁴⁹

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Notes

45. This signifies that all the angels whose jurisdiction embraces the earth and that part of the universe in which the earth is situated were ordered to devote themselves to man’s service. Since man had been invested with authority on earth the angels were told that whenever man wanted to make use of the powers with which he had been invested by God, and which God of His own will had allowed him to use, they should co-operate with him and enable him to do whatever to do, irrespective of right and wrong. 

This can be understood with reference to the manner in which government employees are required to work. When a sovereign appoints a governor or a magistrate, all government employees under his jurisdiction are duty not. But as soon as the sovereign indicates to those employees that the governor or magistrate should be barred from doing something, the effective authority of the governor or the magistrate comes to an abrupt end. In fact, were the sovereign to issue the order that the governor be dismissed or imprisoned, the same employees who until then had been moving to and fro at his bidding would not feel hesitant in putting hand on him and taking him to prison. 

God’s order to the angels to prostrate themselves before Adam was of a similar nature. It is possible that prostration signifies the fact of their becoming yoked to man’s service. At the same time it is also possible that they, were ordered to perform the act of prostration itself as a sign of the envisaged relationship between angels and man. In my view the latter seems more plausible.

46. Iblis literally means ‘thoroughly disappointed; utterly in despair’. In Islamic terminology the word denotes the jinn who, in defiance of God’s command, refused to obey and to yoke himself to the service of Adam and his progeny and asked God to allow him a term when he might mislead and tempt mankind to evil and error. He is also called al-Shaytan (Satan) 

In fact Satan (or Iblis) is not an abstract, impersonal force. Like human beings he is possessed of a specific personality. Moreover, one should not make the mistake of considering Satan an angel. Elsewhere the Qur’an itself clearly states that he was a jinn and jinn, as we know, are an independent species, distinct from the angels. See( Qur’an 18: 50.) 

47. These words seem to indicate that in committing disobedience Iblis was probably not alone. What seems to have been the case is that a section of the jinn was bent upon rebellion and the name of Iblis is mentioned only because he was their leader and the most noted among them for his rebellion. Another translation of this sentence could be: ‘? and he was of the defiers (kafirin)’. If this sense is correct, these words would signify that there was already a party of rebellious and recalcitrant jinn and that Iblis belonged to that party. In the Qur’an the word shayatin (satans) denotes these jinn and their offspring. Hence, whenever the context itself does not indicate that the term has been used for human beings who possess satanic attributes, the word ‘ Satans’ should be understood to signify these satanic jinn. 

48. This indicates that before man was sent to earth Moreover, for this kind of test Paradise was the best possible place. What God wanted to impress on man was that the only place that befits man’s station is Paradise, and that if man turns from the course of obedience to God as a result of Satanic allurements, he will remain deprived of it in the Next Life even as he was deprived of it once before. The only way he can recover his true status and reclaim the lost Paradise is by resisting effectively the enemy who is always trying to drive him off the course of obedience to God. 

49. The use of the word ‘wrong-doer’ is highly significant. ‘Wrong-doing’ consists in withholding someone’s rights and the wrong-doer is one who withholds those rights from their legitimate claimants. Anyone who disobeys God withholds three major rights. The first is what is due to God, for He has the right to be obeyed. Second, there are the rights of all those things which a man employs in disobeying God. The parts of his body, his mental energy, his fellow-beings, those angels who, under Divine dispensation, have been appointed to enable him to achieve his aims. both righteous and unrighteous, the material objects which he employs in his acts of disobedience – all these have a rightful claim upon him to be used in ways that please God. But when he uses them in ways which displease God he commits wrong against them all. Third, he wrongs his own self which has the right to be saved from perdition. By inviting punishment from God because of his disobedience he wrongs his own self as well. It is for these reasons that the word ‘wrong’ is often used in the Qur’an for sin, and the word ‘wrong-doer’ for sinner

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Surah 2 Al-Baqarah, Ayat 28-29

كَيۡفَ تَكۡفُرُوۡنَ بِاللّٰهِ وَڪُنۡتُمۡ اَمۡوَاتًا فَاَحۡيَاکُمۡ​ۚ ثُمَّ يُمِيۡتُكُمۡ ثُمَّ يُحۡيِيۡكُمۡ ثُمَّ اِلَيۡهِ تُرۡجَعُوۡنَ‏ ﴿2:28﴾ هُوَ الَّذِىۡ خَلَقَ لَـكُمۡ مَّا فِى الۡاَرۡضِ جَمِيۡعًا ثُمَّ اسۡتَوٰۤى اِلَى السَّمَآءِ فَسَوّٰٮهُنَّ سَبۡعَ سَمٰوٰتٍ​ؕ وَهُوَ بِكُلِّ شَىۡءٍ عَلِيۡمٌ‏  ﴿2:29﴾

(2:28) How can you be ungrateful to Allah Who bestowed life upon you when you were lifeless, then He will cause you to die and will again bring you back to life so that you will be returned to Him. (2:29) It is He Who created for you all that is on earth and then turned above and fashioned it into seven heavens.³⁴ He knows all things.³⁵

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Notes

34. It is difficult to explain precisely what is meant by the ‘seven heavens’. In all ages man has tried, with the help of observation and speculation, to conceptualize the ‘heavens’, i.e. that which lies beyond and above the earth. As we well know, the concepts that have thus developed have constantly changed. Hence it would be improper to tie the meaning of these words of the Qur’an to any one of these numerous concepts. What might be broadly inferred from this statement is that either God has divided the universe beyond the earth into seven distinct spheres, or that this earth is located in that part of the universe which consists of seven different spheres.

35. In this sentence attention is drawn to two important facts. First, man is warned against disbelief and rebellion against God, for God knows all that man does and none of his actions are hidden from Him. Second, it is suggested to man that if he turns away from the All-Knowing God, from the One Who is the source of all knowledge, this can only leave him grouping in the darkness of ignorance and error. When there is no source of truth knowledge except God, and when that very light which alone can illuminate man’s life can be obtained from none else but Him, what good can come out of deviation from the Truth?

كَيۡفَ تَكۡفُرُوۡنَ بِاللّٰهِ وَڪُنۡتُمۡ اَمۡوَاتًا فَاَحۡيَاکُمۡ​ۚ ثُمَّ يُمِيۡتُكُمۡ ثُمَّ يُحۡيِيۡكُمۡ ثُمَّ اِلَيۡهِ تُرۡجَعُوۡنَ‏ ﴿2:28﴾ هُوَ الَّذِىۡ خَلَقَ لَـكُمۡ مَّا فِى الۡاَرۡضِ جَمِيۡعًا ثُمَّ اسۡتَوٰۤى اِلَى السَّمَآءِ فَسَوّٰٮهُنَّ سَبۡعَ سَمٰوٰتٍ​ؕ وَهُوَ بِكُلِّ شَىۡءٍ عَلِيۡمٌ‏  ﴿2:29﴾

(2:28) How can you be ungrateful to Allah Who bestowed life upon you when you were lifeless, then He will cause you to die and will again bring you back to life so that you will be returned to Him. (2:29) It is He Who created for you all that is on earth and then turned above and fashioned it into seven heavens.³⁴ He knows all things.³⁵

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Notes

34. It is difficult to explain precisely what is meant by the ‘seven heavens’. In all ages man has tried, with the help of observation and speculation, to conceptualize the ‘heavens’, i.e. that which lies beyond and above the earth. As we well know, the concepts that have thus developed have constantly changed. Hence it would be improper to tie the meaning of these words of the Qur’an to any one of these numerous concepts. What might be broadly inferred from this statement is that either God has divided the universe beyond the earth into seven distinct spheres, or that this earth is located in that part of the universe which consists of seven different spheres.

35. In this sentence attention is drawn to two important facts. First, man is warned against disbelief and rebellion against God, for God knows all that man does and none of his actions are hidden from Him. Second, it is suggested to man that if he turns away from the All-Knowing God, from the One Who is the source of all knowledge, this can only leave him grouping in the darkness of ignorance and error. When there is no source of truth knowledge except God, and when that very light which alone can illuminate man’s life can be obtained from none else but Him, what good can come out of deviation from the Truth?

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اِنَّ اللّٰهَ لَا يَسۡتَحۡـىٖۤ اَنۡ يَّضۡرِبَ مَثَلًا مَّا ​بَعُوۡضَةً فَمَا فَوۡقَهَا ​ؕ فَاَمَّا ​الَّذِيۡنَ اٰمَنُوۡا فَيَعۡلَمُوۡنَ اَنَّهُ الۡحَـقُّ مِنۡ رَّبِّهِمۡ​ۚ وَاَمَّا الَّذِيۡنَ ڪَفَرُوۡا فَيَقُوۡلُوۡنَ مَاذَآ اَرَادَ اللّٰهُ بِهٰذَا مَثَلًا ۘ يُضِلُّ بِهٖ ڪَثِيۡرًا وَّيَهۡدِىۡ بِهٖ كَثِيۡرًا ​ؕ وَمَا يُضِلُّ بِهٖۤ اِلَّا الۡفٰسِقِيۡنَۙ ‏ ﴿2:26﴾الَّذِيۡنَ يَنۡقُضُوۡنَ عَهۡدَ اللّٰهِ مِنۡۢ بَعۡدِ مِيۡثَاقِهٖ وَيَقۡطَعُوۡنَ مَآ اَمَرَ اللّٰهُ بِهٖۤ اَنۡ يُّوۡصَلَ وَيُفۡسِدُوۡنَ فِى الۡاَرۡضِ​ؕ اُولٰٓـئِكَ هُمُ الۡخٰسِرُوۡنَ‏ ﴿2:27﴾

(2:26) Behold! Allah is not ashamed to propound the parable of a gnat, or even of something more lowly.²⁸ On hearing these parables the believers know that it is the truth from their Lord, while those bent on denying the Truth say: “What does Allah mean by these parables?” Thus He causes many to go astray just as He directs many to the Right Way.²⁹ And He thereby causes to go astray only the transgressors,³⁰ (2:27) who break the covenant of Allah after its firm binding,³¹ and cut asunder what Allah has commanded to be joined,³² and spread mischief on earth.³³ They are the utter losers. 

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Notes

28. Here an objection is indirectly refuted. At several places in the Qur’an, spiders, flies, gnats and so on are mentioned in order to elucidate certain points. Opponents objected to this on the grounds that such objects were too lowly to find a place in the Book of God. They indicated that had the Qur’an indeed been a revelation from God it would not have mentioned such trivial objects.

29. Those who do not wish to understand things and are not motivated by the urge to seek the truth become enmeshed in superficial questions relating to the Book of God, draw altogether erroneous conclusions when they encounter references to apparently insignificant things such as gnats, and are thereby thrown further and further away from the Truth. Those who seek the Truth and possess true perception, on the other hand, penetrate through these superficialities and perceive the gems of wisdom that they embody. This appreciation makes their hearts attest that such wisdom could have no other source than God Himself. 

30. Fasiq means transgressor, disobedient. See also (n 33 below ) 

31. The injunctions or ordinances issued by a sovereign to his servants and subjects are termed ‘ahd in Arabic since compliance with them becomes obligatory for the latter. ‘Ahd has been used here in this sense. The ‘ahd referred to signifies God’s eternal command that all human beings are obliged to render their service, obedience and worship to Him alone. ‘After its binding’ refers to the promise made by mankind to remain faithful to the injunctions of God at the time of Adam’s creation. (For details see( verse 7: 172)

32. That is, the transgressors strike their blows at those very relationships upon which the individual and collective well-being of mankind depends, and which God wants maintained on a sound basis. This small sentence is of great import as it embraces the whole of human morality and social life, and extends from relationships between individuals to those between nations. ‘To cut asunder what Allah has commanded should he joined’ does not merely signify the disruption of relationships between man and man; it forbids the establishment of all forms of human relationship except the right and permissible ones. For wrong and prohibited bonds between people have the same consequences as the disruption of the bonds of human relationship as such 

33. In these three sentences the nature of transgression and the attitude of transgressors is fully defined. To debase the relationship between man and God, and between man and man necessarily leads to ‘mischief’. Those who spread this ‘mischief’ on earth are transgressors.