However, the Qur'an depicts a different reason for "sending" the duo to earth. We will draw a comparison of both versions in this post today. However it is only for intellectual / academic insight, and not in any case to prove who is right and who is wrong.
Biblical Account
- The story unfolds in Genesis 2–3:Setting: God creates Adam and Eve, placing them in Eden with one prohibition: not to eat from the "tree of the knowledge of good and evil" (Genesis 2:16–17), under penalty of death.
- The Temptation: A serpent (often interpreted as Satan) tempts Eve, questioning God's command and promising godlike wisdom (Genesis 3:1–5).
- The Act: Eve eats the fruit and shares it with Adam. Their "eyes are opened," they recognize their nakedness, and they hide from God (Genesis 3:6–7).
- Consequences:
- "God curses the serpent, the ground, and the couple—introducing pain in childbirth, toil, and expulsion from Eden (Genesis 3:14–19)."
- This event symbolizes humanity's fall from innocence.
This narrative is echoed in the New Testament, e.g., Romans 5:12: "Therefore, just as sin entered the world through one man, and death through sin, and in this way death came to all people, because all sinned."
Original sin is thus a foundational doctrine in Christian theology, referring to the first act of disobedience by Adam and Eve in the Garden of Eden, as described in Genesis 3. This "sin" fundamentally altered human nature, introducing mortality, suffering, and a propensity for sin into the world. It's not just the act itself but its inherited consequences for all humanity.
The Qur'anic Account
The mention of "expulsion" of Prophet Adam and his wife commences much better that the anecdote of nearing the tree of the forbidden tree and enticement of Iblis (Satan) to eat its fruit, thus defying the exclusive Divine Commandment and committing an unpardonable sin which could become a cause of their expulsion from Heaven to earth.
Herein under is the Qur'anic account:
Sequence of Events of Making a Man
- Making of the First ever Man from Clay: The Qur’an repeatedly mentions that man was created from clay (ṭīn), dust, or related terms, to emphasize both our humble origin and Allah’s power of creation. Below is a detailed description of these verses with their wording and context:
- Surah As-Sajdah (32:7): “He began the creation of man from clay.”
- Surah Al-Mu’minūn (23:12): “And certainly We created man from an extract of clay.”
- Surah Al-Raḥmān (55:14): “He created man from sounding clay like pottery.”
- Surah Al-Ḥijr (15:26): “And We did certainly create man out of clay from an altered black mud.”
- From dust (turāb): “Indeed, the example of Jesus to Allah is like that of Adam. He created him from dust, then He said to him, ‘Be,’ and he was.” (3:59)
- The appointment of man (Adam عليه السلام) as Khalīfah (vicegerent) on earth:
- Having decided to make the first man, Allah decided to make this man his vicegerent on earth.
- The account of Prophet Adam is first mentioned in Surah al-Baqarah (2:30): “And [mention, O Muhammad], when your Lord said to the angels, ‘Indeed, I will place upon the earth a successive authority (khalīfah).’ They said, ‘Will You place upon it one who causes corruption therein and sheds blood, while we declare Your praise and sanctify You?’ He said, ‘Indeed, I know that which you do not know.’”
- This verse sets the context: Allah declared His plan to appoint mankind as His representative on earth.
- And this clearly means that Adam was yet to be made and the Divine mindset laid out its plan to make a human and send him to earth as His vicegerent on earth.
- Meaning of Khalifa / vicegerent
- Vicegerent / Representative: To act on earth in a way that upholds Allah’s commands.
- Successor / Generation after generation: Humans succeed one another in responsibility.
- It signifies duty and responsibility, not just privilege. Man is entrusted to establish justice, worship Allah, and avoid corruption.
- Allah's Plan and Angels' Wondering
- Allah announced His plan (2:30) – that humans would be His khalīfah on earth.
- Angels questioned, not objected: They wondered why humans, with free will, might spread bloodshed, while they themselves only glorify Allah.
- Allah affirmed His wisdom: He has knowledge of qualities (such as intellect, moral responsibility, capacity to learn, and potential for worship) that angels do not.
- Allah taught Adam names/knowledge (2:31–33) – showing man’s unique gift of knowledge and ability to learn.
- The Order to Prostrate the First Man:
- Once the man was made and taught the Divine wisdom, angels were ordered to prostrate.
- Command to prostrate (2:34) – After Adam was given knowledge, Allah ordered the angels to prostrate to Adam as an honor (not worship). All obeyed except Iblīs (Satan), who arrogantly refused. And or this disobedience Iblīs was expelled from the Divine Court.
So, yes, the mention of Adam being appointed khalīfah (2:30) on earth comes before the command of prostration (2:34) in the Qur’anic sequence and eating of the fruit from the forbidden tree.
Enticement by Iblīs (Satan)
The Qur’an then narrates the story of Adam (عليه السلام) and his wife, the forbidden tree, Shayṭān’s enticement, their fall, and their repentance (duʿā’) in several places. Let’s go step by step:
- Eating the Forbidden Tree: In Qur'an a number of places the episode of eating the forbidden fruit is given. Some are quoted herein under:
- Surah Al-Baqarah (2:35–36):
- “And We said, ‘O Adam, dwell, you and your wife, in Paradise and eat therefrom in abundance wherever you will. But do not approach this tree, lest you be among the wrongdoers.’
- But Shayṭān caused them to slip out of it and removed them from that [condition] in which they had been.”
- Surah Al-Aʿrāf (7:19–22):
- Allah commanded: “O Adam, dwell, you and your wife, in Paradise and eat from wherever you will, but do not approach this tree, lest you be among the wrongdoers.”
- Shayṭān whispered: “Your Lord did not forbid you this tree except that you become angels or become immortal.”
- Then he swore: “Indeed, I am to you a sincere advisor.”
- “So he misled them with deception. And when they tasted of the tree, their shame became apparent to them, and they began to fasten together over themselves from the leaves of Paradise.”
- Surah Ṭā Hā (20:120–121):
- Shayṭān whispered: “O Adam, shall I direct you to the tree of eternity and a kingdom that will never decay?”
- “And they both ate from it, and their private parts became apparent to them, and they began to cover themselves with leaves of Paradise. And Adam disobeyed his Lord and erred.”
The Difference between Bible and Qur'an begin from Here on
- Version of Bible:
- After the episode of enticement by Shayṭān, the Bible tells us that they were expelled from Heaven to earth fo committing the "Original Sin" which they carried and transformed the Original Sin to every new born till the world lasted.
- "God curses the serpent, the ground, and the couple—introducing pain in childbirth, toil, and expulsion from Eden (Genesis 3:14–19)."
- This event symbolizes humanity's fall from innocence.
- Version of Al Qur'an: qur'an from hereon differs from the Bible and mentions that both Adam and Eve made a supplication for forgiveness and God forgave them:
- Their Supplication for Forgiveness
- Surah Al-Aʿrāf (7:23): “They said, ‘Our Lord, we have wronged ourselves, and if You do not forgive us and have mercy upon us, we will surely be among the losers.’”
- This is the duʿā’ of Adam and Ḥawwā’, showing acknowledgment of sin, confession, and appeal to Allah’s mercy.
- Allah’s Forgiveness
- Surah Al-Baqarah (2:37): “Then Adam received words from his Lord, and He accepted his repentance. Indeed, it is He who is the Accepting of repentance, the Merciful.”
- Surah Ṭā Hā (20:122): “Then his Lord chose him, turned to him in forgiveness, and guided him.”
Hadith about wiping of sins of those embracing Islam
In addition to the above explanation of man being born with out sins, there are clear and authentic Ḥadīths about forgiveness of sins when a person sincerely repents his past sins and embraces Islam. Let me share some of the strongest Ḥadīths on the subject:
- Sahih Muslim (121) – Narrated by Amr ibn al-‘Ās (RA):
- When Allah put Islam in his heart, Amr (RA) came to the Prophet ﷺ and said: “Stretch out your hand so that I may pledge allegiance to you.”
- The Prophet ﷺ stretched out his hand, but Amr withdrew his. The Prophet ﷺ asked, “What is wrong with you, O Amr?”
- He said, “I want to make a condition that Allah will forgive me my past sins.”
- The Prophet ﷺ said: “Do you not know that Islam destroys (erases) what came before it, and hijrah destroys what came before it, and Hajj destroys what came before it?”
- That means When someone accepts Islam, all their previous sins are forgiven, and they start with a clean slate.
- Forgiveness upon repentance
- Sahih Muslim (2749): The Prophet ﷺ said: “The one who repents from sin is like the one who has no sin.”
- This vindicates the repentance of Prophet Adam and his Divine forgiveness.
- Allah’s mercy is greater than all sins
- Sahih al-Bukhari (7554), Sahih Muslim (2751): The Prophet ﷺ said: Allah says: “O son of Adam, if your sins were to reach the clouds of the sky and then you asked forgiveness of Me, I would forgive you. O son of Adam, if you were to come to Me with sins nearly as great as the earth, and then meet Me without associating anything with Me, I would come to you with forgiveness nearly as great as it.”
- This hadith once again reassures a man that no matter how much sins a man may committed, if he repents sincerely, Allah will accept his repentance and forgive him. Though the sin of Prophet of Adam was grave for defying the Divine Commandment, he was still forgiven.
- So there is no question to have moved to earth laden with the Original Sin.
Lessons for Us Today
- Anyone who accepts Islam becomes as pure as a newborn baby, free of all past sins.
- For Muslims, sincere tawbah (repentance) has the same effect: Allah erases sins and restores purity.
- This highlights Allah’s immense mercy — He loves to forgive, and His forgiveness is greater than any sin.
The Conclusion
The above detailed comparison shows that:
- Allah had already chosen to send a man He would make to the earth as His vicegerent
- The eating of the forbidden fruit was not the reason of the expulsion of Adam and Eve from Heaven to earth as per Bible. Rather it was pre-ordained to happen at a time to be decided by Allah.
- Since Allah had pardoned Adam and Eve of their folly of falling to the Satanic enticement, there is no question of carrying the sin of defiance of Allah by them to the earth.
- And since they were sinless, there also doesn't no question arises of transformation of the so called Original Sin to their posterity.
You may like to listen to a narration on the subject of Khalifah on Earth: The Real Story of Adam by eminent Muslim scholar Nouman Ali Khan, given herein under:
With this explanation, I leave here for academic, intellectual and theological correlation of events for those who want to ponder more over the subject.
May Allāh (سبحانه و تعالى) help us understand Qur'ān and follow the Sunnah of Prophet Muhammad ﷺ, which is embodiment of commandments of Allah contained in the Qur'ān. May Allah help us to be like the ones He loves and let our lives be lived helping others and not making others' lives miserable or unlivable. May all our wrong doings, whether intentional or unintentional, be forgiven before the angel of death knocks on our door.
وَمَا عَلَيۡنَاۤ اِلَّا الۡبَلٰغُ الۡمُبِيۡنُ
(36:17) and our duty is no more than to clearly convey the Message.”
That is Our duty is only to convey to you the message that Allah has entrusted us with. Then it is for you to accept it or reject it. We have not been made responsible for making you accept it forcibly, and if you do not accept it, we shall not be seized in consequence of your disbelief, you will yourselves be answerable for your actions on Day of Resurrection.
May Allah forgive me if my posts ever imply a piety far greater than I possess. I am most in need of guidance.
Reading the Qur'ān should be a daily obligation of a Muslim - Reading it with translation will make it meaningful. But reading its Exegesis / Tafsir will make you understand it fully. It will also help the Muslims to have grasp over social issues and their answers discussed in the Qur'an and other matter related to inter faith so that they are able to discuss issues with non-Muslims with authority based on refences from Qur'an.
Note: When we mention God in our posts, we mean One True God, we call Allah in Islam, with no associates. Allah is the Sole Creator of all things, and that Allah is all-powerful and all-knowing. Allah has no offspring, no race, no gender, no body, and is unaffected by the characteristics of human life.
Photo: Grok | References: | ChatGPT and Grok | Al Qur'an | Hadith References: | Sahi Muslim 12m 1 | Sahi Muslim 2749 |
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