Tafsir

Shaytan's Deceit with Adam and Hawwa' and Their eating from the Forbidden Tree

Allah states that He allowed Adam and his wife to dwell in Paradise and to eat from all of its fruits, except one tree. We have already discussed this in Surat Al-Baqarah. Thus, Shaytan envied them and plotted deceitfully, whispering and suggesting treachery. He wished to rid them of the various favors and nice clothes that they were enjoying. وَقَالَ(He (Shaytan) said) uttering lies and falsehood, مَا نَهَـكُمَا رَبُّكُمَا عَنْ هَـذِهِ الشَّجَرَةِ إِلاَ أَن تَكُونَا مَلَكَيْنِ("Your Lord did not forbid you this tree save you should become angels...") meaning, so that you do not become angels or dwell here for eternity. Surely, if you eat from this tree, you will attain both, he said. In another Ayah, قَالَ يـَادَمُ هَلْ أَدُلُّكَ عَلَى شَجَرَةِ الْخُلْدِ وَمُلْكٍ لاَّ يَبْلَى(Shaytan whispered to him, saying: "O Adam! Shall I lead you to the Tree of Eternity and to a kingdom that will never waste away") 20:120.

Here, the wording is similar, so it means, `so that you do not become angels' as in; يُبَيِّنُ اللَّهُ لَكُمْ أَن تَضِلُّواْ((Thus) does Allah make clear to you (His Law) lest you go astray. ) 4:176 meaning, so that you do not go astray, and, وَأَلْقَى فِى الاٌّرْضِ رَوَاسِىَ أَن تَمِيدَ بِكُمْ(And He has affixed into the earth mountains standing firm, lest it should shake with you;) 16:15 that is, so that the earth does not shake with you. وَقَاسَمَهُمَآ(And he Qasamahuma), swore to them both by Allah, saying, إِنِّي لَكُمَا لَمِنَ النَّـصِحِينَ("Verily, I am one of the sincere well-wishers for you both.") for I was here before you and thus have better knowledge of this place. It is a fact that the believer in Allah might sometimes become the victim of deceit. Qatadah commented on this Ayah, "Shaytan swore by Allah, saying, `I was created before you, and I have better knowledge than you. Therefore, follow me and I will direct you."'

Commentary

The story of Sayyidna 'Adam (علیہ السلام) and Iblis mentioned in the present verses has appeared in the fourth section of Surah Al-Baqarah.

Detailed comments have been given in the Tafsir of that Surah. If needed, please see Ma‘ariful-Quran, English Translation, Volume I, Pages 170-187.

فألقى الشيطان لآدم وحواء وسوسة لإيقاعهما في معصية الله تعالى بالأكل من تلك الشجرة التي نهاهما الله عنها; لتكون عاقبتهما انكشاف ما سُتر من عوراتهما، وقال لهما في محاولة المكر بهما: إنما نهاكما ربكما عن الأكل مِن ثمر هذه الشجرة مِن أجل أن لا تكونا ملَكين، ومِن أجل أن لا تكونا من الخالدين في الحياة.

فعند ذلك حسدهما الشيطان ، وسعى في المكر والخديعة والوسوسة ليسلبا ما هما فيه من النعمة واللباس الحسن ، وقال كذبا وافتراء : ما نهاكما ربكما عن أكل الشجرة إلا لتكونا ملكين أي : لئلا تكونا ملكين ، أو خالدين هاهنا ولو أنكما أكلتما منها لحصل لكما ذلكما كقوله : ( قال يا آدم هل أدلك على شجرة الخلد وملك لا يبلى ) [ طه : 120 ] أي : لئلا تكونا ملكين ، كقوله : ( يبين الله لكم أن تضلوا ) [ النساء : 176 ] أي : لئلا تضلوا ، ( وألقى في الأرض رواسي أن تميد بكم ) [ النحل : 15 ] أي : لئلا تميد بكم .وكان ابن عباس ويحيى بن أبي كثير يقرءان : " إلا أن تكونا ملكين " بكسر اللام . وقرأه الجمهور بفتحها .