Question:
Assalamalaikum.
Is it established on a sound basis that Hadrat Hawwa (Allah be well pleased with her) had consumed the fruit and then insisted Hadrat Adam (upon whom be peace) to eat it whilst their stay in Paradise? What is the stance of ‘Ulama and Sufiyya on this?
Thank you.
Answer:
786
Wa `alaykum as-Salam wa rahmatullah.
Yes, traditional histories are in agreement on this matter inasmuch as the unfolding of events is concerned, and so it is accepted by learned people not only in Islam, but in the earlier Abrahamic religions as well.
Nevertheless, the Islamic perspective clearly refuses to focus the “blame” for this transgression on Hawwa, may Allah have mercy on her. The signs in the Holy Qur’an wherein the cursed Devil tempts the paradisal pair together are ample testament, and it is rather Adam, peace be upon him, who is the focus in the following words from Surah Ta Ha:
120. But the Devil whispered to him, saying: O Adam! Shall I show thee the tree of immortality and power that wasteth not away?
121. Then they twain ate thereof, so that their shame became apparent unto them, and they began to hide by heaping on themselves some of the leaves of the Garden. And Adam disobeyed his Lord, so went astray.
122. Then his Lord chose him, and relented toward him, and guided him.
Your inquiry concerns the root cause of the descent from Paradise, and the hidden realities of this event are known to those whose rank is above the learned. In considering the “stance” of such people we must have open minds; for example, consider these words from the Sultan of Knowers Shaykh Nazim al-Haqqani, may Allah sanctify his secret, in a recent association with Shah Mardan, may Allah ennoble his face:
Prophet Adam was not heedless…Although from paradise he was assigned to earth, he was not cast out. Far from it. Prophet Adam was not cast out. Who says so, he is wrong. He came down from paradise to earth. When prophet Adam, the forefather of mankind, set foot on earth he paused standing on one foot…and said, “Bismi-Llahi r-Rahmani r-Rahim.” Aye, the darkness of this world lit up…”As a training ground for your coming offspring I have sent you down to this earth.” (18 April 2013)
A remarkable “stance” indeed!
Mahmoud Shelton
