Did Adam, peace be upon him, Eat From The Tree Forgetfully?
Selections from the Book The Story of The Beginning of Creation and The Creation of Adam, peace be upon him …
Written by Dr. Ali Muhammad al-Sallabi...
Episode (85)
Some scholars hold this view, citing as evidence Allah’s statement: {And We had already taken a promise from Adam before, but he forgot; and We found not in him determination.} [Taha: 115]. However, I consider this opinion weak for several reasons:
- Allah Almighty said: {And Adam disobeyed his Lord and erred.} [Taha: 121], and one who forgets cannot be considered disobedient.
- Forgetfulness can sometimes mean abandonment, as in Allah's statement regarding the disbelievers: {They have forgotten Allah, so He has forgotten them [accordingly].} [At-Tawbah: 67].
- Allah Almighty also said: {[Allah] will say, "Thus did Our signs come to you, and you forgot [i.e., disregarded] them; and thus will you this Day be forgotten."} [Taha: 126].
- Adam and Eve, peace be upon them, said: {Our Lord, we have wronged ourselves, and if You do not forgive us and have mercy upon us, we will surely be among the losers."} [Al-A'raf: 23], and someone who forgets cannot be considered as having wronged themselves.
- A person who forgets is neither held accountable nor punished, as forgetfulness is something beyond one’s control. It appears that Prophet Adam, peace be upon him, desired eternal paradise, which is why he ate from the tree, as indicated by several verses, such as:
- The Almighty's saying: {Then Satan whispered to him; he said, "O Adam, shall I direct you to the tree of eternity and possession that will not deteriorate?"} [Taha: 120].
- The Almighty's saying: {And he swore [by Allah] to them, "Indeed, I am to you from among the sincere advisors."} [Al-A'raf: 21].
- The Almighty's saying: {So he made them fall, through deception.} [Al-A'raf: 20], and Allah knows best.
Dr. Abdul Karim Zaidan states that the most likely explanation for Adam and his wife eating from the forbidden tree involves a combination of several factors, both within Adam himself and in what Iblees (Satan) said to them. The details are as follows:
Allah Almighty said: {And We had already taken a promise from Adam before, but he forgot; and We found not in him determination.} [Taha: 115].
Thus, the meaning is: We had made a covenant with Adam not to approach the tree, but he forgot the covenant—meaning, he forgot the command not to approach the tree. {and We found not in him determination.} refers to a lack of determination to uphold the covenant, which was Allah's command not to approach the tree. If Adam had been resolute in keeping the covenant, Satan would not have been able to lead him astray or deceive him.
Imam Al-Razi, in his explanation of the phrase {but he forgot;}, mentions two interpretations regarding Adam’s forgetfulness:
The first interpretation is that Adam’s forgetfulness was the opposite of remembrance, meaning he was punished for not being diligent and meticulous in guarding the command, which ultimately led to his forgetfulness.
The second interpretation is that "forgetfulness" here means abandonment. Adam abandoned the caution that had been commanded to him, which was to avoid the tree and its fruit. {and We found not in him determination.} means that Adam lacked the determination to guard against carelessness and avoid heedlessness.
- Ali Muhammad al-Sallabi, The Story of The Beginning of Creation and The Creation of Adam, peace be upon him, pp. 606-608.
- Al-Qasimi’s interpretation, 11/197. See also: The Benefit from the Stories of the Qur’an for the Call and Callers, Abdul Karim Zaydan, Al-Risala Foundation, first edition 1419 AH 1998 AD, 1/20.
- Stories of the Prophets, Mustafa Al-Adawi, 1/67.
For further information and review of the sources for the article, see:
The Book of The Story of The Beginning of Creation and The Creation of Adam, peace be upon him on the official website of Sheikh Dr. Ali Muhammad al-Sallabi:
