The Quran describes the tree as the tree of eternity. Satan tempted Adam and his mate with the false promise of eternity. The Old Testament, in Genesis 2:1-25 and 3:1-24, narrates the same event with some differences. According to Genesis, the tree is about the knowledge of evil and good, and the one who was first tempted is Eve. The Biblical accusation of Eve for the failure of Adam in this major event, would later be exploited fully by misogynistic clergymen. St. Paul justifies his male chauvinist teaching based on women's serpentine-like role in the original sin. The other major difference in the account of this event is the depiction of the tree. The Bible describes the tree as the tree of knowledge. This depiction might be one of the causes of dogmatic and anti-scientific attitude developed by the Church. Sunni and Shiite mushriks imported and adopted this Judeo-Christian distortion regarding creation and the role of man and woman in our failure, through hadith narrations. These misogynistic ideas later were sneaked into the commentaries of the Quran that relied on hadiths. See 2:36; 20:115-123.

Our creation on earth with material bodies starts with our failure of a divine test. We believed in Satan's promise and we ended up with a temporal body rather than an eternal one. We are given a second chance in this temporal body, which is designed to fail in a short time. The temptation of attaining eternity, shame, body, and covering the body all imply that the temptation was sexual intercourse between man and woman. In this second test, however, sexual attraction and intercourse per se is not prohibited; to the contrary, it is considered a divine blessing (30:21; 33:52). Nevertheless, the purpose of the test is the same: we should peacefully surrender ourselves to God alone, lead a righteous life to redeem ourselves, and expect that there will be a Day after death in which God alone will judge our intentions, attitude and actions, which will determine our eternal salvation or damnation. See 7:26 and 15:29.

Some translators and commentators render the word sawa as "sin" or "ugly parts" or "genitals." Though the word is etymologically related to "sin" or "shame," we prefer translating it as "body," which appeared to us after our sinful and shameful failure of the first test. For the other usages of the same word, see 5:31; 7:20,22,27; 20:121.

There is no contradiction between 7:27 and 7:30. While the Quran states that every event happens in accordance to God's design and permission (8:17; 57:22-25), the Quran also informs us regarding our freedom to choose our path (6:110; 13:11; 18:29 42:13,48; 46:15).

In Euthyphro, Plato narrates a conversation between Socrates and a pious priest on the meaning of virtue and the baffling question, "is it right because God says so or does God says so because it is right?" We know from the Quran that Truth or Justice are among God's attributes and thus their existence is the essence of God's self. In other words, the answer to the Socratic question should be "both are true: it is right because God says so and God says so because it is right." See 37:105-107.

See 2:35 and 20:120, as well as the corresponding notes.

Lit., "so as to make manifest to them that of their nakedness which [hitherto] had been imperceptible to them": an allegory of the state of innocence in which man lived before his fall from grace-that is, before his consciousness made him aware of himself and of the possibility of choosing between alternative courses of action, with all the attending temptations towards evil and the misery which must follow a wrong choice.

Lit., "or [lest] you become of those who are enduring": thus instilling in them the desire to live forever and to become. in this respect, like God. (See note 106 on 20:120.)

Sc., "from this state of blessedness and innocence". As in the parallel account of this parable of the Fall in 2:35-36, the dual form of address changes at this stage into the plural, thus connecting once again with verse 10 and the beginning of verse 11 of this surah, and making it clear that the story of Adam and Eve is, in reality, an allegory of human destiny. In his earlier state of innocence man was unaware of the existence of evil and, therefore, of the ever-present necessity of making a choice between the many possibilities of action and behaviour: in other words, he lived, like all other animals, in the light of his instincts alone. Inasmuch, however, as this innocence was only a condition of his existence and not a virtue, it gave to his life a static quality and thus precluded him from moral and intellectual development. The growth of his consciousness-symbolized by the wilful act of disobedience to God's command-changed all this. It transformed him from a purely instinctive being into a full-fledged human entity as we know it - a human being capable of discerning between right and wrong and thus of choosing his way of life. In this deeper sense, the allegory of the Fall does not describe a retrogressive happening but, rather, a new stage of human development: an opening of doors to moral considerations. By forbidding him to "approach this tree", God made it possible for man to act wrongly-and, therefore, to act rightly as well: and so man became endowed with that moral free will which distinguishes him from all other sentient beings. - Regarding the role of Satan - or Iblis - as the eternal tempter of man, see note 26 on 2:34 and note 31 on 15:41 .

Lit., "as plumage" - a metaphorical expression derived from the beauty of birds' plumage.

Lit., "this is [one] of God's messages, so that they.. .", etc.

Lit., "see you from where you do not see them".

The interpolated word "truly" is implied in this phrase in view of the subsequent reference to the erroneous beliefs of such people: for, although their beliefs are wrong, some of them are under the impression that the "shameful deeds" subsequently referred to have been enjoined by God. As for the "satanic forces" (shayatin), it is to be remembered that this designation is applied in the Qur'an to all kinds of wicked impulses or propensities that are "near unto" (i.e., in the hearts of) those who do not truly believe in God (see note 31 on 14:22): hence, the term shayatin occurring in verse 30 below has been rendered as "evil impulses".

Contrary to the popular beliefs that the forbidden Tree was the tree of knowledge, fruit of this plant and that plant, or of sexual charms, it refers to humanity dividing itself like the branches of a tree. 2:35-36, 2:213, 20:120

The selfish desires of humans prompted them to think about their own children rather than the collective good. That would, in a way, give them power and immortality

Personal interests dominated their minds rather than the collective good of all. Humanity began to fall into mutual contention

Men and women accepted responsibility acknowledging that they had free will, while Satan blamed God and ascribed his disobedience to the will of God. 7:16

Tribes 49:13

In the meantime they could regain their lost Paradise if they followed the Divine Commands. 2:213