Adam's Fault, Our Punishment, Why? | Shocking Differences in Stories of Bible & Quran
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We are going back a long time from today, to a period when the pages of history had not even started to be written. With animals, plants, and insects, the world continues to exist in all its magnificence. Each of them is in perfect harmony with one another. But the world is too quiet. Where are the humans? Yes! That’s what’s missing. Here it is, the time has come. Now our eyes turn to the creation of that first human. The first human, the first prophet, the first one to experience life in both paradise and on earth, the ancestor of all humanity; Prophet Adam (pbuh)...
Because, this story determines our understanding of our purpose in life, the way we see this world, and the way we think about everything that happens to us. But this story is told differently in Islam and Christianity. Today we’re going to look at it from the perspectives of the Qur'an and the Bible and compare the commonalities and differences between them. How was the first human created? What did he go through in paradise? How was he tested? How did the devil deceive him? How was he sent to Earth? And more. If you're ready, let’s start our journey back to when it all began!
“Remember when your Lord said to the angels, ‘I am going to place a successive human authority on earth.’ They asked Allah, ‘Will You place in it someone who will spread corruption there and shed blood while we glorify Your praises and proclaim Your holiness?’ Allah responded, ‘I know what you do not know.’” (Al-Baqarah, 30) In the Qur’an, Allah tells the angels that He is going to create human beings and send them to earth as khalifa, meaning they will be given the responsibility of being in charge, the authority of the earth. They will have intellect and will be able to make their own choices. According to the Qur’an, God decided to create this khalifah from dirt.
In the same way, the Bible also says that Adam was created from dirt. "The Lord God formed man from the dust of the ground..." (Genesis 2:7). While the Qur’an says that he was created in paradise, the Bible says he was never in paradise, never lived there. According to chapter 2 of the book of Genesis, he was placed in a garden on earth called Eden that he was to take care of and cultivate. The angels were waiting for this creation to be completed with wonder and curiosity. What type of being was it going to be? How will it be different from them? What was going to happen? But among all this curiosity, there was someone who didn’t like this new creation at all.
He was wondering if he would be superior to him. He was thinking Why was this necessary? Already, he was getting uncomfortable, his insides were eating him up. This was a jinn named Iblis. He was from a different species but due to his rank at that time, he was living among the angels. Later, because of his arrogance, he would be known as Satan, also known as Shaitan in the Quran. His envy is found in Islamic sources. But in the Bible, instead of Satan, we see a different character in the later parts of the story. As feelings of concern and jealousy surrounded Satan, the expected moment was about to come! The creation of the first human being was now complete. His final shape was given.
He was now going to open his eyes to life. Allah the Almighty breathed soul into Adam, and he came to life. Now, it was time to introduce and test him in front of the angels. But, what kind of test would it be? “He (Allah) taught Adam the names of all things. (...)” (Al-Baqarah, 31) Adam (pbuh) was telling the names of everything he was asked, [and] the angels were amazed by each answer he was giving. The knowledge that was not given to the angels was given to humans, and in this way, his superiority was demonstrated. Those who had wanted to genuinely understand, meaning the angels found an answer to their questions, but there was still someone who was hiding things inside him.
By saying, "I know what you conceal," our Master was hinting at him but he still insisted on hiding them. Adam’s test of giving names was over but now it was time for the others to be tested. “And when We said to the angels, ‘Prostrate before Adam,’ so they all did—but not Iblis, who refused arrogantly.” (Taha, 116) So how was he going to explain this to Allah? By the Islamic version of the "Original Sin"... “Allah asked, ‘What prevented you from prostrating when I commanded you?’ He replied, ‘I am better than him: You created me from fire and created him from clay.’” (Al-A’raf, 12). “Allah said, ‘Then descend from this place! It is not for you to be arrogant here. So get out!
You are truly one of the disgraced.’” (Al-A’raf, 13). “Satan said, ‘My Lord! Then delay my end until the Day of their resurrection.’ Allah said, ‘You will be delayed until the appointed Day.’” (Al-Hijr, 36-38). “He said, Because You have put me in error, I will surely sit waiting for them (i.e.mankind) on your straight path! I will approach them from their front, their back, their right, their left, and then You will find most of them ungrateful.’ Allah said, ‘Get out of here! You are disgraced and rejected! I will certainly fill up Hell with you and your followers all together.’” (Al-A’raf, 16-18).
Another difference between these two stories is the answer to the question What is Original Sin? Both the Bible and the Qur'an had their answers. Later in the story, Adam would violate a prohibition. Christianity says that, because of this, every newborn baby from his lineage should be considered sinful. This is their definition of "Original Sin." Then what about Islam? First of all, Islam does not accept that babies are born sinful. In the 7th ayah of Surah Az-Zumar, Allah says: "(...) No bearer of burdens will bear the burden of another." So in Islam, every baby is born sinless and regardless of their religion, they are not held responsible for the test of this life until puberty.
On the other hand, Islam’s definition of the Original Sin is actually the sin of Satan which is Arrogance based on racism. He thought of himself as superior because he was created from fire and looked down on Adam because he was made of dirt. This was the sin that brought the end of Satan. As Adam was being created, Iblis saw a different type of being, he thought of him as a stranger and became cold towards him. Then he began to think that he was superior than him. All of this was actually the order in which racism is formed in someone’s heart and mind. So the Qur'an is actually describing the psychology of a crime that would be humanity's shame and disgrace for centuries.
And it is showing this as a quality of Satan that is the enemy of Allah so that the believers should see the ugliness of this sin and distance themselves from it. This prostration of angels was certainly not an act of worship to Adam. (It was a ceremonial sajda, a kind of salute that was done to accept his higher rank and authority over them.) Also, since it was Allah who gave that command, obeying His command is in fact worshipping Allah. In the worldly life of human beings that is to come, the world in its entirety, with all its parts, would be at the service of humanity for their use. Natural resources, animals, plants, seas, valleys, mountains...
Like everything would be made subservient to humanity, at that moment, the angels were also commanded to bow down to humanity’s father. The angels immediately obeyed this command and prostrated. So until this point of the story, what were the other differences between the Qur'an and the Bible? In the Bible, the one who named the objects and animals was Adam himself. Islam, on the other hand, The commandment of prostration to Adam, the rebellion of Satan and his expulsion. None of these events are mentioned in the Bible; there is also no mention of how Satan started to be evil or the reason why he is the enemy of mankind.
But right after this point, the narratives in the Qur’an and the Bible start to talk about the same events but in a very different way. From here onwards, we’re going to see the struggle between man and the devil, between truth and falsehood which will continue until the Day of Judgment. As the story continues, Allah creates our mother Hawwa from a rib bone as Adam’s wife. The Qur’an tells what happened afterwards as: “We said, ‘O Adam!
Live with your wife in Paradise and eat as freely as you please, but do not approach this tree, or else you will be from the wrongdoers.’” (Al-Baqarah, 35) In the Qur’an Allah also gave a warning: “So We said, "O Adam, indeed this is an enemy to you and to your wife. Then let him not remove you from Paradise so you would suffer” (Taha, 117) In the Qur’an, Allah said that if they violate the commandment, they would become wrongdoers, but in the Bible, He said they would die at that moment. A pretty big difference!
16: “And the Lord God commanded the man, ‘You are free to eat from any tree in the garden; 17: but you must not eat from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, for when you eat from it you will certainly die.’” (Genesis 2:16-17) For Satan, this was a great opportunity. He saw Adam as the reason for his expulsion from Allah's presence. And he was ready to do whatever he could to take revenge. With all kinds of deceptive words, he tried to enter their minds. “But Satan whispered to him, saying, ‘O Adam! Shall I show you the Tree of Immortality and a kingdom that does not fade away?’” (Taha, 120). He was pointing to the forbidden tree.
But in the Biblical version, it was the serpent that approached not Adam but Eve. According to Christian scholars, it was actually Satan who was speaking through this serpent. 3: “But God did say, ‘You must not eat fruit from the tree that is in the middle of the garden, and you must not touch it, or you will die.’” 4: “‘You will not certainly die,’ the serpent said to the woman.” 5: “For God knows that when you eat from it your eyes will be opened, and you will be like God, knowing good and evil.” (Genesis 3:3-5) After taking his first steps to lead Adam and his descendants away from the right path, Satan finally deceived both of them with his tricks and whispers.
Adam and Eve momentarily forgot Allah’s warning about the tree. Both of them listened to Satan and tasted its fruit. Immediately, their private parts started to become visible to each other. So they felt very ashamed and tried to cover themselves with the leaves of Heaven. They realized that they had been deceived by him but now, it was too late. So, what were they going to do now? According to the Bible, they wanted to escape and hide from God.
8: “Then the man and his wife heard the sound of the Lord God as he was walking in the garden in the cool of the day, and they hid from the Lord God among the trees of the garden.” 9: “But the Lord God called to the man, ‘Where are you?’” 10: “He answered, ‘I heard you in the garden, and I was afraid because I was naked; so I hid.’” 11: “And he said, ‘Who told you that you were naked? Have you eaten from the tree that I commanded you not to eat from?’” In the Qur’an, there is no mention of such an event. Because in Islam, there is no such belief that people can manage to hide from God, that God sometimes is unable to see them, or that He can become aware of events later.
He sees and knows everything at every moment. After all, by definition, God is a perfect being that is all-powerful and has no deficiencies whatsoever. For example, in the 4th ayah of Surah At-Taghabun, it is said: “He knows whatever is in the heavens and the earth. And He knows whatever you conceal and whatever you reveal. For Allah knows best what is hidden in the heart.” (At-Taghabun, 4) That’s why, after they made that mistake, in the Qur’an, Allah directly addresses them saying: “(...) ‘Didn’t I forbid you from that tree and didn’t I tell you that Satan is your sworn enemy?’” (Al-A’raf, 22) So then what would be the consequence of their actions?
It was now time for them to be sent to the world. But according to the Bible, Adam, Eve, and the Serpent would each be given separate punishments. In the book of Genesis chapter 3, the serpent was cursed to crawl on its belly. Because of Adam's mistake, the ground was cursed and as a result, no harvest would come without labor and painful toil. And the punishment for Eve was described in that chapter like this: 16: “To the woman, God said, ‘I will make your pains in childbearing very severe; with painful labor you will give birth to children. Your desire will be for your husband, and he will rule over you.’” But does Islam agree with this view?
According to Islam, except Satan, no one was cursed. The labor required to get harvest is part of the test in this world. And for women, giving birth is not a punishment but a sacred duty. Sacred because Islam has elevated the value of mothers in many ways. Just one hadith of Prophet Muhammad (pbuh) is enough to understand this. When a companion who wanted to fight in the path of Allah asked him for advice, the Prophet asked him if he had a mother.
When he said yes, he said: Then stay with her, for Paradise is beneath her (your mother’s) feet," (In the Qur’an Allah reminds the believers about the difficulty that their mothers go through as they were pregnant and because of that, He wants them to honor and be grateful to their mothers (Luqman 31:14, Ahqaf 46:15)) But beyond all this, there was a striking detail that probably most of us have missed. About what would happen if the commandment about the tree was violated (if the fruit of the tree was eaten), in both the Qur’an and the Bible, there was something Allah said and there was something Satan said. So, what happened in the end and who turned out to be right? Let's compare them.
According to the Bible, Allah said, "(...) When you eat from it you will certainly die." (Genesis 2:17) And what did Satan say that would happen? Let’s look at the conversation in the Bible between Eve and Satan when he came in the form of a serpent. Eve says: "but God did say, ‘You must not eat fruit from the tree that is in the middle of the garden, and you must not touch it, or you will die.' 'You will not certainly die.' the serpent said to the woman." (Genesis 3:3-4). Strangely, according to the Bible, Satan turned out to be right because the day they ate the fruit, they didn’t die.
On the other hand, in the Qur’an, In the 20th ayah of Suratu’ l-A'raf, Satan says, "(...) Your Lord has forbidden this tree to you only to prevent you from becoming angels or immortals." But what did Allah say to them in the beginning? do not approach this tree, or else you will be wrongdoers." (Al-Baqarah, 35) Allah also warned them in another place: "So We said, "O Adam, indeed this is an enemy to you and to your wife. Then let him not remove you from Paradise so you would suffer..’" (Taha, 117) So according to the Qur’an, naturally Allah told the truth and Satan lied. But even beyond this, there was a secret detail that made the story in the Qur'an very different.
Unlike in the Bible, their reason for being sent to the world was not because they violated the prohibition. But then, what was it? Everything was mentioned in the very first ayah in this video, let’s look at it again: "Remember when your Lord said to the angels, ‘I am going to place a successive human authority on earth.’ (...)" (Al-Baqarah, 30). Human beings, from the very beginning, were created to be sent to the world. Even before the forbidden fruit was eaten, Satan asked Allah for permission by saying, "Then delay my end until the Day of their resurrection.’".
So, it was known that humans would come to the world, reproduce, die, and one day be collectively resurrected and held accountable [for all their actions]. So, what were all these events for? Why did it seem like Adam was expelled from Paradise? All these things happened to give fundamental messages for the entire humanity at all times including you. Unlike the angels, human beings were created with the ability to choose good or evil. And this is exactly what would make him superior: Choosing to do good despite the possibility of choosing evil. That’s how they could reach the status of being khalifah that Allah said in the beginning.
And Satan did what he would do throughout his life in this world and deceived the first humans. In Islam, prophets do not commit sins; so, this was a "zelle," a slip, a mistake that is not considered to be a sin. And it conveyed the message that every servant of Allah could make mistakes. But then what was the solution when that happens? Is it to feel hopeless, to feel cursed when you disobey Allah even once? No, the answer to this was also in the story of Adam (pbuh). Right after Adam and Hawwa both ate from the tree, they immediately said: "(...) Our Lord, we have wronged ourselves.
If You do not forgive us and have mercy on us, we will certainly be losers." (Al-A'raf, 23) So they took responsibility, made no excuses and sincerely asked Allah for forgiveness. That was the solution when you make a mistake. Now it was time to leave paradise. Allah sent Adam and Hawwa to their new home, the earth. Both were very sad and confused. They were in a completely different foreign land and on top of that they were separated from each other. Allah sent them to different parts of the world. This place was nothing like the Paradise. They were no longer able to get whatever they want instantly. They now had lives that required patience, effort and struggle.
Not much later, Adam was given revelation and got the happy news of forgiveness from Allah. The Qur’an says: "Then Adam was inspired with words of prayer by his Lord, so He accepted his repentance. Surely He is the Accepter of Repentance, Most Merciful." (Al-Baqarah, 37) But the Bible does not mention that Adam asked Allah for forgiveness and that his repentance was accepted. The comparison that I’m about to give is crucial to understand: When you look at the story, at the very beginning, both Satan and Adam make a mistake. Satan does not prostrate and Adam eats the forbidden fruit.
As we said , Adam admits his mistake, feels regret and asks for forgiveness from Allah and his repentance is accepted. But Satan on the other hand, far from admitting his mistake, becomes arrogant to the point of even blaming Allah. He does not feel regret, gives up hope in Allah and closes the door of repentance for him forever. This is where the difference in the way of looking at life and this world comes out. When you learn the story the right way, you naturally come to the right conclusions. So, we do not have an unjust creator who is angry at all of humanity for a mistake that the first humans made and considers all of them guilty.
We have a creator who is just and merciful, who wants to guide all humanity to the right path and take them to heaven. Let’s go back to the final part of the story. Adam (as) still couldn’t find Hawwa (as). They lived separately for many years and traveled long distances to find each other. Then finally, they met each other on Mount Arafa and they finally got together. Now humanity's adventure on earth had begun and the silence of the world was broken. As years go by, the descendants of Adam and Eve were gradually spreading and the human population was increasing more and more.
In the world of tests that would last for thousands of years, people would settle and live all around the world, establishing tribes and states. For centuries, thousands of prophets would come and just like their ancestor Adam, tell people why they were here [on Earth]. They would inform them where they had come from and where they were going, and invite them to faith. And the human beings would live in this world for a short time, take their test and return to the place where they belonged. And in the end, those who have believed, with their prophets leading them, would go to their real home, Paradise.
Satan, on the other hand, would take the disbelievers behind him and offer them nothing but the promised Fire. In this journey of life, humanity inherited a legacy from their ancestor Adam. According to Christianity, it is a sin that is passed on to every newborn baby... And according to Islam, it is the act of repentance which erases all sins and opens a brilliant white page.
Because, this story determines our understanding of our purpose in life, the way we see this world, and the way we think about everything that happens to us. But this story is told differently in Islam and Christianity. Today we’re going to look at it from the perspectives of the Qur'an and the Bible and compare the commonalities and differences between them. How was the first human created? What did he go through in paradise? How was he tested? How did the devil deceive him? How was he sent to Earth? And more. If you're ready, let’s start our journey back to when it all began!
“Remember when your Lord said to the angels, ‘I am going to place a successive human authority on earth.’ They asked Allah, ‘Will You place in it someone who will spread corruption there and shed blood while we glorify Your praises and proclaim Your holiness?’ Allah responded, ‘I know what you do not know.’” (Al-Baqarah, 30) In the Qur’an, Allah tells the angels that He is going to create human beings and send them to earth as khalifa, meaning they will be given the responsibility of being in charge, the authority of the earth. They will have intellect and will be able to make their own choices. According to the Qur’an, God decided to create this khalifah from dirt.
In the same way, the Bible also says that Adam was created from dirt. "The Lord God formed man from the dust of the ground..." (Genesis 2:7). While the Qur’an says that he was created in paradise, the Bible says he was never in paradise, never lived there. According to chapter 2 of the book of Genesis, he was placed in a garden on earth called Eden that he was to take care of and cultivate. The angels were waiting for this creation to be completed with wonder and curiosity. What type of being was it going to be? How will it be different from them? What was going to happen? But among all this curiosity, there was someone who didn’t like this new creation at all.
He was wondering if he would be superior to him. He was thinking Why was this necessary? Already, he was getting uncomfortable, his insides were eating him up. This was a jinn named Iblis. He was from a different species but due to his rank at that time, he was living among the angels. Later, because of his arrogance, he would be known as Satan, also known as Shaitan in the Quran. His envy is found in Islamic sources. But in the Bible, instead of Satan, we see a different character in the later parts of the story. As feelings of concern and jealousy surrounded Satan, the expected moment was about to come! The creation of the first human being was now complete. His final shape was given.
He was now going to open his eyes to life. Allah the Almighty breathed soul into Adam, and he came to life. Now, it was time to introduce and test him in front of the angels. But, what kind of test would it be? “He (Allah) taught Adam the names of all things. (...)” (Al-Baqarah, 31) Adam (pbuh) was telling the names of everything he was asked, [and] the angels were amazed by each answer he was giving. The knowledge that was not given to the angels was given to humans, and in this way, his superiority was demonstrated. Those who had wanted to genuinely understand, meaning the angels found an answer to their questions, but there was still someone who was hiding things inside him.
By saying, "I know what you conceal," our Master was hinting at him but he still insisted on hiding them. Adam’s test of giving names was over but now it was time for the others to be tested. “And when We said to the angels, ‘Prostrate before Adam,’ so they all did—but not Iblis, who refused arrogantly.” (Taha, 116) So how was he going to explain this to Allah? By the Islamic version of the "Original Sin"... “Allah asked, ‘What prevented you from prostrating when I commanded you?’ He replied, ‘I am better than him: You created me from fire and created him from clay.’” (Al-A’raf, 12). “Allah said, ‘Then descend from this place! It is not for you to be arrogant here. So get out!
You are truly one of the disgraced.’” (Al-A’raf, 13). “Satan said, ‘My Lord! Then delay my end until the Day of their resurrection.’ Allah said, ‘You will be delayed until the appointed Day.’” (Al-Hijr, 36-38). “He said, Because You have put me in error, I will surely sit waiting for them (i.e.mankind) on your straight path! I will approach them from their front, their back, their right, their left, and then You will find most of them ungrateful.’ Allah said, ‘Get out of here! You are disgraced and rejected! I will certainly fill up Hell with you and your followers all together.’” (Al-A’raf, 16-18).
Another difference between these two stories is the answer to the question What is Original Sin? Both the Bible and the Qur'an had their answers. Later in the story, Adam would violate a prohibition. Christianity says that, because of this, every newborn baby from his lineage should be considered sinful. This is their definition of "Original Sin." Then what about Islam? First of all, Islam does not accept that babies are born sinful. In the 7th ayah of Surah Az-Zumar, Allah says: "(...) No bearer of burdens will bear the burden of another." So in Islam, every baby is born sinless and regardless of their religion, they are not held responsible for the test of this life until puberty.
On the other hand, Islam’s definition of the Original Sin is actually the sin of Satan which is Arrogance based on racism. He thought of himself as superior because he was created from fire and looked down on Adam because he was made of dirt. This was the sin that brought the end of Satan. As Adam was being created, Iblis saw a different type of being, he thought of him as a stranger and became cold towards him. Then he began to think that he was superior than him. All of this was actually the order in which racism is formed in someone’s heart and mind. So the Qur'an is actually describing the psychology of a crime that would be humanity's shame and disgrace for centuries.
And it is showing this as a quality of Satan that is the enemy of Allah so that the believers should see the ugliness of this sin and distance themselves from it. This prostration of angels was certainly not an act of worship to Adam. (It was a ceremonial sajda, a kind of salute that was done to accept his higher rank and authority over them.) Also, since it was Allah who gave that command, obeying His command is in fact worshipping Allah. In the worldly life of human beings that is to come, the world in its entirety, with all its parts, would be at the service of humanity for their use. Natural resources, animals, plants, seas, valleys, mountains...
Like everything would be made subservient to humanity, at that moment, the angels were also commanded to bow down to humanity’s father. The angels immediately obeyed this command and prostrated. So until this point of the story, what were the other differences between the Qur'an and the Bible? In the Bible, the one who named the objects and animals was Adam himself. Islam, on the other hand, The commandment of prostration to Adam, the rebellion of Satan and his expulsion. None of these events are mentioned in the Bible; there is also no mention of how Satan started to be evil or the reason why he is the enemy of mankind.
But right after this point, the narratives in the Qur’an and the Bible start to talk about the same events but in a very different way. From here onwards, we’re going to see the struggle between man and the devil, between truth and falsehood which will continue until the Day of Judgment. As the story continues, Allah creates our mother Hawwa from a rib bone as Adam’s wife. The Qur’an tells what happened afterwards as: “We said, ‘O Adam!
Live with your wife in Paradise and eat as freely as you please, but do not approach this tree, or else you will be from the wrongdoers.’” (Al-Baqarah, 35) In the Qur’an Allah also gave a warning: “So We said, "O Adam, indeed this is an enemy to you and to your wife. Then let him not remove you from Paradise so you would suffer” (Taha, 117) In the Qur’an, Allah said that if they violate the commandment, they would become wrongdoers, but in the Bible, He said they would die at that moment. A pretty big difference!
16: “And the Lord God commanded the man, ‘You are free to eat from any tree in the garden; 17: but you must not eat from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, for when you eat from it you will certainly die.’” (Genesis 2:16-17) For Satan, this was a great opportunity. He saw Adam as the reason for his expulsion from Allah's presence. And he was ready to do whatever he could to take revenge. With all kinds of deceptive words, he tried to enter their minds. “But Satan whispered to him, saying, ‘O Adam! Shall I show you the Tree of Immortality and a kingdom that does not fade away?’” (Taha, 120). He was pointing to the forbidden tree.
But in the Biblical version, it was the serpent that approached not Adam but Eve. According to Christian scholars, it was actually Satan who was speaking through this serpent. 3: “But God did say, ‘You must not eat fruit from the tree that is in the middle of the garden, and you must not touch it, or you will die.’” 4: “‘You will not certainly die,’ the serpent said to the woman.” 5: “For God knows that when you eat from it your eyes will be opened, and you will be like God, knowing good and evil.” (Genesis 3:3-5) After taking his first steps to lead Adam and his descendants away from the right path, Satan finally deceived both of them with his tricks and whispers.
Adam and Eve momentarily forgot Allah’s warning about the tree. Both of them listened to Satan and tasted its fruit. Immediately, their private parts started to become visible to each other. So they felt very ashamed and tried to cover themselves with the leaves of Heaven. They realized that they had been deceived by him but now, it was too late. So, what were they going to do now? According to the Bible, they wanted to escape and hide from God.
8: “Then the man and his wife heard the sound of the Lord God as he was walking in the garden in the cool of the day, and they hid from the Lord God among the trees of the garden.” 9: “But the Lord God called to the man, ‘Where are you?’” 10: “He answered, ‘I heard you in the garden, and I was afraid because I was naked; so I hid.’” 11: “And he said, ‘Who told you that you were naked? Have you eaten from the tree that I commanded you not to eat from?’” In the Qur’an, there is no mention of such an event. Because in Islam, there is no such belief that people can manage to hide from God, that God sometimes is unable to see them, or that He can become aware of events later.
He sees and knows everything at every moment. After all, by definition, God is a perfect being that is all-powerful and has no deficiencies whatsoever. For example, in the 4th ayah of Surah At-Taghabun, it is said: “He knows whatever is in the heavens and the earth. And He knows whatever you conceal and whatever you reveal. For Allah knows best what is hidden in the heart.” (At-Taghabun, 4) That’s why, after they made that mistake, in the Qur’an, Allah directly addresses them saying: “(...) ‘Didn’t I forbid you from that tree and didn’t I tell you that Satan is your sworn enemy?’” (Al-A’raf, 22) So then what would be the consequence of their actions?
It was now time for them to be sent to the world. But according to the Bible, Adam, Eve, and the Serpent would each be given separate punishments. In the book of Genesis chapter 3, the serpent was cursed to crawl on its belly. Because of Adam's mistake, the ground was cursed and as a result, no harvest would come without labor and painful toil. And the punishment for Eve was described in that chapter like this: 16: “To the woman, God said, ‘I will make your pains in childbearing very severe; with painful labor you will give birth to children. Your desire will be for your husband, and he will rule over you.’” But does Islam agree with this view?
According to Islam, except Satan, no one was cursed. The labor required to get harvest is part of the test in this world. And for women, giving birth is not a punishment but a sacred duty. Sacred because Islam has elevated the value of mothers in many ways. Just one hadith of Prophet Muhammad (pbuh) is enough to understand this. When a companion who wanted to fight in the path of Allah asked him for advice, the Prophet asked him if he had a mother.
When he said yes, he said: Then stay with her, for Paradise is beneath her (your mother’s) feet," (In the Qur’an Allah reminds the believers about the difficulty that their mothers go through as they were pregnant and because of that, He wants them to honor and be grateful to their mothers (Luqman 31:14, Ahqaf 46:15)) But beyond all this, there was a striking detail that probably most of us have missed. About what would happen if the commandment about the tree was violated (if the fruit of the tree was eaten), in both the Qur’an and the Bible, there was something Allah said and there was something Satan said. So, what happened in the end and who turned out to be right? Let's compare them.
According to the Bible, Allah said, "(...) When you eat from it you will certainly die." (Genesis 2:17) And what did Satan say that would happen? Let’s look at the conversation in the Bible between Eve and Satan when he came in the form of a serpent. Eve says: "but God did say, ‘You must not eat fruit from the tree that is in the middle of the garden, and you must not touch it, or you will die.' 'You will not certainly die.' the serpent said to the woman." (Genesis 3:3-4). Strangely, according to the Bible, Satan turned out to be right because the day they ate the fruit, they didn’t die.
On the other hand, in the Qur’an, In the 20th ayah of Suratu’ l-A'raf, Satan says, "(...) Your Lord has forbidden this tree to you only to prevent you from becoming angels or immortals." But what did Allah say to them in the beginning? do not approach this tree, or else you will be wrongdoers." (Al-Baqarah, 35) Allah also warned them in another place: "So We said, "O Adam, indeed this is an enemy to you and to your wife. Then let him not remove you from Paradise so you would suffer..’" (Taha, 117) So according to the Qur’an, naturally Allah told the truth and Satan lied. But even beyond this, there was a secret detail that made the story in the Qur'an very different.
Unlike in the Bible, their reason for being sent to the world was not because they violated the prohibition. But then, what was it? Everything was mentioned in the very first ayah in this video, let’s look at it again: "Remember when your Lord said to the angels, ‘I am going to place a successive human authority on earth.’ (...)" (Al-Baqarah, 30). Human beings, from the very beginning, were created to be sent to the world. Even before the forbidden fruit was eaten, Satan asked Allah for permission by saying, "Then delay my end until the Day of their resurrection.’".
So, it was known that humans would come to the world, reproduce, die, and one day be collectively resurrected and held accountable [for all their actions]. So, what were all these events for? Why did it seem like Adam was expelled from Paradise? All these things happened to give fundamental messages for the entire humanity at all times including you. Unlike the angels, human beings were created with the ability to choose good or evil. And this is exactly what would make him superior: Choosing to do good despite the possibility of choosing evil. That’s how they could reach the status of being khalifah that Allah said in the beginning.
And Satan did what he would do throughout his life in this world and deceived the first humans. In Islam, prophets do not commit sins; so, this was a "zelle," a slip, a mistake that is not considered to be a sin. And it conveyed the message that every servant of Allah could make mistakes. But then what was the solution when that happens? Is it to feel hopeless, to feel cursed when you disobey Allah even once? No, the answer to this was also in the story of Adam (pbuh). Right after Adam and Hawwa both ate from the tree, they immediately said: "(...) Our Lord, we have wronged ourselves.
If You do not forgive us and have mercy on us, we will certainly be losers." (Al-A'raf, 23) So they took responsibility, made no excuses and sincerely asked Allah for forgiveness. That was the solution when you make a mistake. Now it was time to leave paradise. Allah sent Adam and Hawwa to their new home, the earth. Both were very sad and confused. They were in a completely different foreign land and on top of that they were separated from each other. Allah sent them to different parts of the world. This place was nothing like the Paradise. They were no longer able to get whatever they want instantly. They now had lives that required patience, effort and struggle.
Not much later, Adam was given revelation and got the happy news of forgiveness from Allah. The Qur’an says: "Then Adam was inspired with words of prayer by his Lord, so He accepted his repentance. Surely He is the Accepter of Repentance, Most Merciful." (Al-Baqarah, 37) But the Bible does not mention that Adam asked Allah for forgiveness and that his repentance was accepted. The comparison that I’m about to give is crucial to understand: When you look at the story, at the very beginning, both Satan and Adam make a mistake. Satan does not prostrate and Adam eats the forbidden fruit.
As we said , Adam admits his mistake, feels regret and asks for forgiveness from Allah and his repentance is accepted. But Satan on the other hand, far from admitting his mistake, becomes arrogant to the point of even blaming Allah. He does not feel regret, gives up hope in Allah and closes the door of repentance for him forever. This is where the difference in the way of looking at life and this world comes out. When you learn the story the right way, you naturally come to the right conclusions. So, we do not have an unjust creator who is angry at all of humanity for a mistake that the first humans made and considers all of them guilty.
We have a creator who is just and merciful, who wants to guide all humanity to the right path and take them to heaven. Let’s go back to the final part of the story. Adam (as) still couldn’t find Hawwa (as). They lived separately for many years and traveled long distances to find each other. Then finally, they met each other on Mount Arafa and they finally got together. Now humanity's adventure on earth had begun and the silence of the world was broken. As years go by, the descendants of Adam and Eve were gradually spreading and the human population was increasing more and more.
In the world of tests that would last for thousands of years, people would settle and live all around the world, establishing tribes and states. For centuries, thousands of prophets would come and just like their ancestor Adam, tell people why they were here [on Earth]. They would inform them where they had come from and where they were going, and invite them to faith. And the human beings would live in this world for a short time, take their test and return to the place where they belonged. And in the end, those who have believed, with their prophets leading them, would go to their real home, Paradise.
Satan, on the other hand, would take the disbelievers behind him and offer them nothing but the promised Fire. In this journey of life, humanity inherited a legacy from their ancestor Adam. According to Christianity, it is a sin that is passed on to every newborn baby... And according to Islam, it is the act of repentance which erases all sins and opens a brilliant white page.