| Other Tafsir by Ibn Kathir | Read Surah Al-Baqarah | Journals |
| Online Lecture by Nouman Ali Khan |
Al-Baqarah - 2:36
| Previous: Ayah 31-35 | Next: Ayah 41-45 | Tafsir by Ibn Kathir |
Allah's statement,
فَأَزَلَّهُمَا الشَّيْطَانُ عَنْهَا
Then the Shaytan made them slip therefrom, either refers to Paradise, and in this case, it means that Shaytan led Adam and Hawwa away from it, as Asim bin Abi An-Najud recited it.
It is also possible that this Ayah refers to the forbidden tree. In this case, the Ayah would mean, as Al-Hasan and Qatadah stated, "He tripped them."
In this case,
فَأَزَلَّهُمَا الشَّيْطَانُ عَنْهَا
(Then the Shaytan made them slip therefrom) means, "Because of the tree", just as Allah said,
يُوْفَكُ عَنْهُ مَنْ أُفِكَ
Turned aside therefrom (i.e. from Muhammad and the Qur'an) is he who is turned aside (by the decree and preordainment of Allah), (51:9), meaning, the deviant person becomes turned aside - or slips - from the truth because of so and so reason.
This is why then Allah said,
فَأَخْرَجَهُمَا مِمَّا كَانَا فِيهِ
And got them out from that in which they were. Meaning, the clothes, spacious dwelling and comfortable sustenance.
وَقُلْنَا اهْبِطُواْ بَعْضُكُمْ لِبَعْضٍ عَدُوٌّ وَلَكُمْ فِي الَارْضِ مُسْتَقَرٌّ وَمَتَاعٌ إِلَى حِينٍ
We said: "Get you down, all, with enmity between yourselves. On earth will be a dwelling place for you and an enjoyment for a time." Meaning, dwelling, sustenance and limited life, until the commencement of the Day of Resurrection.
Adam was very Tall
Ibn Abi Hatim narrated that Ubayy bin Ka'b said that the Messenger of Allah said,
إِنَّ اللهَ خَلَقَ ادَمَ رَجُلً طُوَالاً كَثِيرَ شَعْرِ الرَّأْسِ كَأَنَّهُ نَخْلَةٌ سَحُوقٌ فَلَمَّا ذَاقَ الشَّجَرَةَ سَقَطَ عَنْهُ لِبَاسُهُ فَأَوَّلُ مَا بَدَا مِنْهُ عَوْرَتُهُ فَلَمَّا نَظَرَ إلى عَوْرتِه جَعَلَ يَشْتَدُّ فِي الْجَنَّةِ فَأَخَذَتْ شَعْرَهُ شَجَرَةٌ فَنَازَعَهَا فَنَادَاهُ الرَّحْمنُ يَا ادَمُ مِنِّي تَفِرُّ
Allah created Adam tall, with thick hair, just as a date tree with full branches. When Adam ate from the forbidden tree, his cover fell off, and the first thing that appeared was his private area. When he saw his private area, he ran away in Paradise and his hair got caught in a tree. He tried to free himself and Ar-Rahman called him, 'O Adam! Are you running away from Me?'
فَلَمَّا سَمِعَ كَلمَ الرَّحْمنِ قَالَ يَا رَبِّ لَا ولَكِنِ اسْتِحْيَاء
When Adam heard the words of Ar-Rahman (Allah), he said, 'No, O my Lord! But I am shy.'
Adam remained in Paradise for an Hour
Al-Hakim recorded that Ibn Abbas said, "Adam was allowed to reside in Paradise during the time period between the 'Asr (Afternoon) prayer, until sunset."
Al-Hakim then commented this is "Sahih according to the Two Sheikhs (Al-Bukhari and Muslim), but they did not include it in their collections."
Also, Ibn Abi Hatim recorded Ibn Abbas saying, "Allah sent Adam to earth to an area called, Dahna, between Makkah and At-Ta'if."
Al-Hasan Al-Basri said that; Adam was sent down to India, while Hawwa was sent to Jeddah. Iblis was sent down to Dustumaysan, several miles from Basra. Further, the snake was sent down to Asbahan.
This was reported by Ibn Abi Hatim.
Also, Muslim and An-Nasa'i recorded that Abu Hurayrah said that the Messenger of Allah said,
خَيْرُ يَوْمٍ طَلَعَتْ فِيهِ الشَّمْسُ يَوْمُ الْجُمُعَةِ فِيهِ خُلِقَ ادَمُ وَفِيهِ أُدْخِلَ الْجَنَّةَ وَفِيهِ أُخْرِجَ مِنْهَا
Friday is the best day on which the sun has risen. On Friday, Allah created Adam, admitted him into Paradise, and expelled him from it.
A Doubt and a Rebuttal
If one asks, "If the Paradise that Adam was thrown out of was in heaven, as the majority of the scholars assert, then is it possible for Iblis to enter Paradise, although he was expelled from it by Allah's decision (when he refused to prostrate before Adam)?"
Basically, the response to this would be that the Paradise which Adam was in, was in the heavens, not on the earth, as we explained in the beginning of our book Al-Bidayah wan-Nihayah.
The majority of scholars said that Shaytan was originally prohibited from entering Paradise, but there were times when he sneaked into it in secret. For instance, the Tawrah stated that Iblis hid inside the snake's mouth and entered Paradise.
Some scholars said that it is possible that Shaytan led Adam and Hawwa astray on his way out of Paradise.
Some scholars said that he led Adam and Hawwa astray when he was on earth, while they were still in heaven, as stated by Az-Zamakhshari.
Al-Qurtubi mentioned several beneficial Hadiths here about snakes and the ruling on killing them.
Al-Baqarah - 2:37
Adam repents and supplicates to Allah
Allah tells;
فَتَلَقَّى ادَمُ مِن رَّبِّهِ كَلِمَاتٍ فَتَابَ عَلَيْهِ إِنَّهُ هُوَ التَّوَّابُ الرَّحِيمُ
Then Adam received from his Lord Words. And his Lord pardoned him (accepted his repentance). Verily, He is the One Who forgives (accepts repentance), the Most Merciful.
Mujahid, Sa'id bin Jubayr, Abu Al-Aliyah, Ar-Rabi bin Anas, Al-Hasan, Qatadah, Muhammad bin Ka'b Al-Qurazi, Khalid bin Ma'dan, Ata Al-Khurasani and Abdur-Rahman bin Zayd bin Aslam have stated that the above Ayah is explained by Allah's statement,
قَالَا رَبَّنَا ظَلَمْنَأ أَنفُسَنَا وَإِن لَّمْ تَغْفِرْ لَنَا وَتَرْحَمْنَا لَنَكُونَنَّ مِنَ الْخَـسِرِينَ
They said:"Our Lord! We have wronged ourselves. If You forgive us not, and bestow not upon us Your mercy, we shall certainly be of the losers." (7:23)
As-Suddi said that Ibn Abbas commented on,
فَتَلَقَّى ادَمُ مِن رَّبِّهِ كَلِمَاتٍ
(Then Adam received from his Lord Words),
"Adam said, 'O Lord! Did You not created me with Your Own Hands?'
He said, 'Yes.'
He said, 'And blow life into me?'
He said, 'Yes.'
He said, 'And when I sneezed, You said, 'May Allah grant you His mercy.' Does not Your mercy precede Your anger?'
He was told, 'Yes.'
Adam said, 'And You destined me to commit this evil act?'
He was told, 'Yes.'
He said, 'If I repent, will You send me back to Paradise?'
Allah said, 'Yes."'
Similar is reported from Al-Awfi, Sa'id bin Jubayr, Sa'id bin Ma'bad, and Ibn Abbas.
Al-Hakim recorded this Hadith in his Mustadrak from Ibn Jubayr, who narrated it from Ibn Abbas.
Al-Hakim said, "Its chain is Sahih and they (Al-Bukhari and Muslim) did not record it."
Allah's statement,
إِنَّهُ هُوَ التَّوَّابُ الرَّحِيمُ
Verily, He is the One Who forgives (accepts repentance), the Most Merciful.
Means that Allah forgives whoever regrets his error and returns to Him in repentance.
This meaning is similar to Allah's statements,
أَلَمْ يَعْلَمُواْ أَنَّ اللَّهَ هُوَ يَقْبَلُ التَّوْبَةَ عَنْ عِبَادِهِ
Know they not that Allah accepts repentance from His servants. (9:104)
وَمَن يَعْمَلْ سُوءاً أَوْ يَظْلِمْ نَفْسَهُ
And whoever does evil or wrongs himself. (4:110)
and,
وَمَن تَابَ وَعَمِلَ صَـلِحاً
And whosoever repents and does righteous good deeds. (25:71)
The Ayat mentioned above, testify to the fact that Allah forgives the sins of whoever repents, demonstrating His kindness and mercy towards His creation and servants.
There is no deity worthy of worship except Allah, the Most Forgiving, the Most Merciful.
Al-Baqarah - 2:38
Allah tells;
قُلْنَا اهْبِطُواْ مِنْهَا جَمِيعاً فَإِمَّا يَأْتِيَنَّكُم مِّنِّي هُدًى
We said: "Get down all of you from this place (the Paradise), then whenever there comes to you Hudan (guidance) from Me,
Allah stated that when He sent Adam, Hawwa, and Shaytan to earth from Paradise, He warned them that He will reveal Books and send Prophets and Messengers to them, i.e., to their offspring.
Abu Al-Aliyah said, "Al-Huda, refers to the Prophets, Messengers, the clear signs and plain explanation."
فَمَن تَبِعَ هُدَايَ
And whoever follows My guidance, meaning, whoever accepts what is contained in My Books and what I send the Messengers with.
فَلَ خَوْفٌ عَلَيْهِمْ
There shall be no fear on them, regarding the Hereafter,
وَلَا هُمْ يَحْزَنُونَ
nor shall they grieve, regarding the life of this world.
Similarly, in Surah Ta Ha, Allah said,
قَالَ اهْبِطَا مِنْهَا جَمِيعاً بَعْضُكُمْ لِبَعْضٍ عَدُوٌّ فَإِمَّا يَأْتِيَنَّكُم مِّنِّى هُدًى فَمَنِ اتَّبَعَ هُدَاىَ فَلَ يَضِلُّ وَلَا يَشْقَى
He (Allah) said: "Get you down (from the Paradise to the earth), both of you, together, some of you are an enemy to some others. Then if there comes to you guidance from Me, then whoever follows My guidance, he shall neither go astray, nor shall he be distressed. (20:123)
Ibn Abbas commented, "He will not be misguided in this life or miserable in the Hereafter."
The Ayah,
وَمَنْ أَعْرَضَ عَن ذِكْرِي فَإِنَّ لَهُ مَعِيشَةً ضَنكًا وَنَحْشُرُهُ يَوْمَ الْقِيَامَةِ أَعْمَى
(But whosoever turns away from My Reminder (i.e. neither believes in this Qur'an nor acts on its teachings) verily, for him is a life of hardship, and We shall raise him up blind on the Day of Resurrection), (20:124) is similar to what Allah stated here,
Al-Baqarah - 2:39
وَالَّذِينَ كَفَرواْ وَكَذَّبُواْ بِأيَاتِنَا أُولَـيِكَ أَصْحَابُ النَّارِ هُمْ فِيهَا خَالِدُونَ
But those who disbelieve and belie Our Ayat ـ such are the dwellers of the Fire. They shall abide therein forever, meaning, they will remain in Hell for eternity and will not find a way out of it.
Al-Baqarah - 2:40
Encouraging the Children of Israel to embrace Islam
Allah says;
يَا بَنِي إِسْرَايِيلَ
O Children of Israel!
Allah commanded the Children of Israel to embrace Islam and to follow Muhammad. He also reminded them with the example of their father Israel, Allah's Prophet Yaqub, as if saying, "O children of the pious, righteous servant of Allah who obeyed Allah! Be like your father, following the truth."
This statement is similar to one's saying, "O you son of that generous man! Do this or that," or, "O son of the brave man, engage the strong fighters," or "O son of the scholar, seek the knowledge," and so forth. Similarly, Allah said,
ذُرِّيَّةَ مَنْ حَمَلْنَا مَعَ نُوحٍ إِنَّهُ كَانَ عَبْدًا شَكُورًا
O offspring of those whom We carried (in the ship) with Nuh (Noah)! Verily, he was a grateful servant. (17:3)
Israel is Prophet Yaqub (Jacob)
Israel is Prophet Yaqub, for Abu Dawud At-Tayalisi recorded that Abdullah Ibn Abbas said, "A group of Jews came to the Prophet and he said to them,
هَلْ تَعْلَمُونَ أَنَّ إِسْرَايِيلَ يَعْقُوبُ
Do you know that Israel is Jacob?
They said, "Yes, by Allah."
He said,
اللَّهُمَّ اشْهَد
O Allah! Be witness."
At-Tabari recorded that Abdullah Ibn Abbas said that;
'Israel' means, 'the servant of Allah.'
Allah's Blessings for the Children of Israel
Allah said,
اذْكُرُواْ نِعْمَتِيَ الَّتِي أَنْعَمْتُ عَلَيْكُمْ
Remember My favor which I bestowed upon you.
Mujahid commented, "Allah's favor that; He granted the Jews is that He made water gush from stones, sent down manna and quails for them, and saved them from being enslaved by Pharaoh."
Abu Al-Aliyah also said, "Allah's favor mentioned here is His sending Prophets and Messengers among them, and revealing Books to them."
I - Ibn Kathir - say that this Ayah is similar to what Musa said to the Children of Israel,
يَـقَوْمِ اذْكُرُواْ نِعْمَةَ اللَّهِ عَلَيْكُمْ إِذْ جَعَلَ فِيكُمْ أَنْبِيَأءَ وَجَعَلَكُمْ مُّلُوكاً وَءَاتَـكُمْ مَّا لَمْ يُوْتِ أَحَداً مِّن الْعَـلَمِينَ
O my people! Remember the favor of Allah to you:when He made Prophets among you, made you kings, and gave you what He had not given to any other among the nations (of their time. (5:20), meaning, during their time.
Also, Muhammad bin Ishaq said that Ibn Abbas said,
اذْكُرُواْ نِعْمَتِيَ الَّتِي أَنْعَمْتُ عَلَيْكُمْ
(Remember My favor which I bestowed upon you), means, "My support for you and your fathers," that is saving them from Pharaoh and his people.
Reminding the Children of Israel of Allah's Covenant with Them
Allah's statement,
وَأَوْفُواْ بِعَهْدِي أُوفِ بِعَهْدِكُمْ
And fulfill (your obligations to) My covenant (with you) so that I fulfill (My obligations to) your covenant (with Me), means, 'My covenant that I took from you concerning Prophet Muhammad, when he is sent to you, so that I grant you what I promised you if you believe in him and follow him. I will then remove the chains and restrictions that were placed around your necks, because of the errors that you committed.'
Also, Al-Hasan Al-Basri said, "The 'covenant' is in reference to Allah's statement,
وَلَقَدْ أَخَذَ اللَّهُ مِيثَـقَ بَنِى إِسْرَءِيلَ وَبَعَثْنَا مِنهُمُ اثْنَىْ عَشَرَ نَقِيباً وَقَالَ اللَّهُ إِنِّى مَعَكُمْ لَيِنْ أَقَمْتُمُ الصَّلوةَ وَءَاتَيْتُمْ الزَّكَوةَ وَءَامَنتُمْ بِرُسُلِى وَعَزَّرْتُمُوهُمْ وَأَقْرَضْتُمُ اللَّهَ قَرْضاً حَسَناً لاُكَفِّرَنَّ عَنْكُمْ سَيِّيَـتِكُمْ وَلادْخِلَنَّكُمْ جَنَّـتٍ تَجْرِى مِن تَحْتِهَا الاٌّنْهَـرُ
Indeed, Allah took the covenant from the Children of Israel (Jews), and We appointed twelve leaders among them. And Allah said:"I am with you if you perform As-Salah and give Zakah and believe in My Messengers; honor and assist them, and lend a good loan to Allah, verily, I will expiate your sins and admit you to Gardens under which rivers flow (in Paradise)." (5:12)
Other scholars said, "The covenant is what Allah took from them in the Tawrah, in that, He will send a great Prophet - meaning Muhammad - from among the offspring of Ismail, who will be obeyed by all peoples. Therefore, whoever obeys him, then Allah will forgive his sins, enter him into Paradise and award him two rewards."
We should mention here that Ar-Razi mentioned several cases of information brought by the earlier Prophets regarding the coming of Muhammad.
Further, Abu Al-Aliyah said that,
وَأَوْفُواْ بِعَهْدِي
(And fulfill (your obligations to) My covenant (with you)), means, "His covenant with His servants is to embrace Islam and to adhere to it."
Ad-Dahhak said that Ibn Abbas said, "'I fulfill My obligations to you' means, 'I (Allah) will be pleased with you and admit you into Paradise."'
As-Suddi, Ad-Dahhak, Abu Al-Aliyah and Ar-Rabi bin Anas said similarly.
Allah's statement,
وَإِيَّايَ فَارْهَبُونِ
And fear Me and Me alone.
Ibn Abbas said that it means, "Fear the torment that I might exert on you, just as I did with your fathers, like the mutation, etc."
This Ayah contains encouragement, followed by warning. Allah first called the Children of Israel, using encouragement, then He warned them, so that they might return to the Truth, follow the Messenger, heed the Qur'an's prohibitions and commands and believe in its content. Surely, Allah guides whom He wills to the straight path.
| Previous: Ayah 31-35 | Next: Ayah 41-45 | Tafsir by Ibn Kathir |
