Imam al-Hadi and Adam's "sin"

More
7 years 10 months ago #304 by Imam Rassi Society
Below is a translated excerpt from a treatise by Imam al-Hadi Yahya b. al-Hussein, upon him be peace, regarding the error of Adam, upon him be peace. It is in question-answer format.
The Story of Adam

Regarding the statement of Allah: {…when We said to the angels: “Prostrate to Adam.” All of them prostrated except Iblîs [i.e. Satan]} (Q. 18:50), how was this prostration of theirs, may Allah bless them?

The intended meaning of {“Prostrate to Adam.”} is that they were to acknowledge the greatness of the creation of Adam. He was created from weak substances inferior to them, like mud. Therefore, it was permissible to say: {“Prostrate to Adam.”} because it was a prostration acknowledging his creation.

Regarding His statement: {All of them prostrated except Iblîs}, it is only permissible that he included Iblîs with them in the command but not including him amongst them in species. He was present amongst them when Allah gave the command to them. He commanded him to prostrate along with them. But, this does not imply that he shared with them their species. This is because the angels, may Allah bless them, were only created from wind and breezes; however, He created the jinn from smokeless fire. Smokeless fire is that which is cut from it when it is ignited and set ablaze.


What is your proof that Iblîs was from the jinn?

Allah, the Majestic states: {…except Iblîs, he was from the jinn. He defiantly disobeyed the command of his Lord} (Q. 18:50).


Did He command all of the jinn to prostrate to Adam, or was it specific to Iblîs in exclusion to them?

Allah, glorified be He, did not command any of them to prostrate [i.e. the jinn] except Iblîs.


Was he specified in exclusion to them?

Yes. He was specified in the command.


Did Adam, upon him be peace, disobey the command to not eat from the tree intentionally or out of forgetfulness?

Allah answers your question with His statement: {Verily, We gave Our contract to Adam in the past. However, he forgot, and We did not find in him the determination} (Q. 20:115). It means: “We did not find in him the determination to eat it and a deliberate intention .”
You may ask me: “If Adam ate of the tree out of forgetfulness, how could there have been a punishment on him? The Muslim Community agrees by consensus that if a person was to mistakenly eat or drink during Ramadan, he is forgiven; if he forgets to pray and the prayer time expires, he is forgiven; or if he mistakenly makes love to his wife while she is menstruating, he is forgiven. In these cases, Allah does not make it compulsory to punish him. If that is the case, how could a punishment been on Adam, upon him be peace, because he ate from the tree out of forgetfulness?”
If you were to ask me that, I would say: “The punishment of Adam, upon him be peace, was only because he hastily ate from the tree.” That is because Allah, the Blessed and Exalted, prevented him from eating from the tree while it was barren. He commanded him to eat of the barley and did not prohibit him from such. He ate from the barley tree while it sprouted leaves but didn’t bear fruit.
When it sprouted seeds and fruit, the command [to eat from it] applied. When the both of them did not grow, the prohibition applied. Then, the Accursed [i.e. Satan] came to him and then deceived him. He made an oath based on what was mentioned by Allah in His Book: {“Thy Lord did not prevent thee from this tree except that ye two will be as angels or would live forever (al-khâlidîn)!”} (Q. 7:20). Then, Adam hastily ate from the tree before it was time. He did not wait on Divine Inspiration (al-wahi) from Allah. Therefore, his punishment was because he ate out of hastiness and did not wait patiently for the command of his Lord.


How was the speech of Iblîs and his deception? Did he [Satan] appear to him in the form of a body and did he [i.e. Adam] see him with his eyes?

Adam only heard his voice; he did not see a body. Those narrations that mention otherwise are lies! How could it be that creation has the ability to create itself in a form other than what it was originally made and naturally formed?! This is not established or authentic to one with intellect and one that knows the truth!


Didn’t Prophet Muhammad, peace and blessings be upon him and his progeny, speak with Gabriel and saw him with his eyes while the latter had a glorified body?

Gabriel, upon him be peace, used to come down with revelation to Muhammad, peace and blessings be upon him and his progeny, in a subtle form that he was able to see. According to us, what is authentic is that Prophet Muhammad, peace and blessings be upon him and his progeny, used to see Gabriel in the form of Dihya al-Kalbi. This was only because Allah created this new form for him. Due to the weakness of human beings, they are not able to see the glorified forms of the angels in their created state and bodies.
Allah, the Blessed and Exalted, caused Muhammad, peace and blessings be upon him and his progeny, to know that. It was not possible for Gabriel, upon him be peace, to transform his own form from what state to another. This is due to the weakness and incapacity of creation. Allah removed this condition so that Muhammad, peace and blessings be upon him and his progeny, saw him [in his true form]. Allah, glorified be He, granted this vision to His Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him and his progeny. This was an action of Allah, not that of His creation. This should be sufficient for you, if Allah wills.


Did Adam’s, upon him be peace, desire for immortality cause him to pay heed to Iblîs’ advice?

His, upon him be peace, desire for immortality was only so that he could perpetually worship and be obedient to Allah. By that, he was seeking closeness to his Lord.


What is the meaning of His statement: {They ate from it. Then, their disgrace [alt. tr. “their nakedness” (saw`âtuhum)] became apparent to them} (Q. 20:121)?

The meaning of {Then, their disgrace became apparent to them} is “the disgrace of their actions.” It is not as the ignorant say—which is an impossibility—that Allah would have their nakedness uncovered. How could it be possible that Allah would do this to one of His prophets?! Allah does not love that a disbeliever uncovers his nakedness, so how could he permit it for His prophets?!


But what of His statement: {…removing their clothing} (Q. 7:27)?

There’s disagreement concerning that. There are many narrations. However, according to us, the most authentic of them is what has reached us on the authority of our Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him and his progeny, and that is {their clothing} refers to the clothing of God-consciousness and faith. It is not as the ignorant say—that it refers to clothing of robes, leaves, or the leaf of a tree! This is the meaning of {…removing their clothing}. The intended meaning of {their clothing} is the clothing of God-consciousness in that they were enticed and whispered to by the Liar and the oath he gave them.


But what of His statement: {…and they weaved over themselves the leaves of the Garden} (Q. 7:22)?

They were shaded in the Garden while under its trees. When they exited from it, they were afflicted by the burning sun. The ground was scorched. They desired that there be a place for them where there was shade, just as one who leaves his house to go on a journey or the Bedouins who go from one place to another. One cannot find shade or a place of tranquillity. One cannot find a Bedouin who constructs a roof except that he intends to cover himself from the sun and remain in the cool. This is the meaning of His statement: {weaved}.


The Garden that they were in—was it in the heavens or on the earth?

It was from amongst the gardens of this world. The Arabs call anything that has fruits and rivers a garden (janna).


But what of His statement: {“Descend from it—all of ye…”} (Q. 2:38)?

This is permissible in the Arabic language. You may say: “We descended upon Najrân”; “We descended upon Yemen”; or “We intend to descend upon the Hijâz.” All of that is well known to be permitted in the language. Therefore, it is permissible to say: {Descend from it}.


Regarding the statement of the Mighty and Majestic: {Adam learned some words from his Lord. And He accepted his repentance} (Q. 2:37), what were these {words} Adam learned from his Lord?

There have been disagreements concerning that. However, the most authentic statement according to us is that these {words} refer to the following, which Allah, the Blessed and Exalted, taught him: He will create from Adam, descendants and offspring. There will be from among them the obedient and the disobedient—by their own choice. He will accept the repentance of those who sincerely repent, rectify their actions, and return [to right actions]. When [Adam] ate of the tree, Allah taught him about the acceptance of repentance. [Adam] then said: {“Our Lord, we have oppressed our souls! If Ye forgive us not and show us mercy, we will be amongst the losers!”} (Q. 7:23). These are the words that Adam, upon him be peace, learned from his Lord.

The following user(s) said Thank You: Mohand

Please Log in or Create an account to join the conversation.

Time to create page: 0.167 seconds
Powered by Kunena Forum