The Forbidden Tree
On a Friday, after Eve was created, Allah caused her and Adam (as husband and wife) to dwell in Paradise as a test for them. Allah allowed them to eat of any of the many fruits of Paradise except for those from one particular tree, which was forbidden to them.
"And We said: 'O Adam! Dwell you and your wife in the Paradise and eat both of you freely with pleasure and delight, of things therein as wherever you will, but come not near this tree or you both will be of the Zaalimoon (wrong-doers)'"
(Qur'an 2:35)
In addition to warning Adam and his wife about the tree, Allah also warned them against Iblees because of the promise Iblees had made to lead Adam and his offspring astray. Allah told them that they were assured of never being hungry or thirsty and would not be aware of their nakedness if they obeyed Him. Allah said:
"O Adam! Verily, this is an enemy to you and to your wife. So let him not get you both out of Paradise, so that you will be distressed. Verily, you have (a promise from Us) that you will never be hungry therein nor naked. And you (will) suffer not from thirst therein nor from the sun's heat."
(Qur'an 20:117-119)
Iblees envied Adam and Eve and plotted against them to strip them of their blessings and the favours that Allah had given them. Iblees whispered to Adam and his wife, to tempt them to eat from the forbidden tree.
"Then Shaytaan (Satan) whispered to him, saying : 'O Adam! Shall I lead you to the Tree of Eternity and to a kingdom that will never waste away?'
(Qur'an 20:120)Then Shaytaan (Satan) whispered suggestions to them both in order to uncover that which was hidden from them of their private parts (before); he said: "Your Lord did not forbid you this tree save you should become angels or become of the immortals. And he [Shaytaan (Satan)] swore by Allah to them both (saying): "Verily, I am one of the sincere well-wishers for you both.""
(Qur'an 7:20)
In effect, Iblees was telling them that the reason Allah had told them not to eat from that particular tree was so that they wouldn't become angels and dwell in paradise forever. Iblees also implied that because he had existed for longer, he knew more about Paradise than Adam and his wife.
Adam and Eve believed the lies and deceit of Iblees, forgot what Allah had told them and could not resist the temptation (of wanting to live forever in Paradise). So they disobeyed their Lord and ate from that tree:
"Then they both ate of the tree, and so their private parts became manifest to them, and they began to cover themselves with the leaves of the Paradise for their covering. Thus did Adam disobey his Lord, so he went astray"
(Qur'an 20:121)
Note: One distinction that should be made here between what the Islamic texts report and what the Judeo-Christian texts report, is that in the Islamic texts, no individual blame is attributed to either Adam or his wife, rather they both ate from the tree and disobeyed Allah together. Therefore, in no way should men or women be singled out and blamed for the act of eating from the forbidden tree.
Adam and Eve had forgotten about Allah's warnings and the prohibition of the tree and disobeyed their Lord. This is the reason that Allah named mankind Insaan, which is derived from the Arabic word meaning "to forget".
"And indeed We made a covenant with Adam before, but he forgot, and We found on his part no firm will-power"
(Qur'an 20:115)
Before
Adam and his wife had eaten from
the tree there was a kind of light covering the private parts of each of
them so that the other could not see their private parts. When they
tasted the fruit from the forbidden tree, this cover was removed and their
nakedness became clear to them. When Adam realised this he began
running and because he was so tall his hair got caught in a tree in
Paradise and the tree would not release him. Adam told the tree to
let go of him and tree said that it would not. Then Allah called to
Adam and said "Oh Adam! Do you run away from Me?" and Adam replied "Oh
Lord! I felt ashamed before you (shy)."
After their disobedience, Allah called to Adam and Eve and said:
"'Did I not forbid you that tree and tell you: Verily, Shaytaan (Satan) is an open enemy unto you?'"
(Qur'an 7:22)
When Adam and Eve realised the enormity of what they had done, they were very regretful and asked Allah for forgiveness.
"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.' "
(Qur'an 7:23)
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