The Tree Mentioned In 2:35
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I think I understand the significance of the tree that's mentioned in 235.
235-36 And We said ?O Adam, reside you and your mate in the paradise, and eat from it bountifully as you both wish, and do not approach this tree, else you will be of those who did wrong.? So, the devil tricked them from it, and he brought them out from what they were in, and We said ?Descend; for you are enemies to one another; and on Earth you will have residence and provisions until the appointed time.?
I think the tree simply marked the beginning of what was outside the paradise that Adam and his mate were in. The paradise that they were in provided them with all the food that they desired (perhaps this paradise was a completely free capitalistic society), but Adam and his mate's shaitan (excessively proud, corrupt and rebellious aspect of human nature) tricked them into thinking that they could become malaika (controllers) if they left such a society (720). Perhaps what these verses tell us is that we shouldn't lust for power and that society can become a paradise if there's an equal distribution of power among all men and women.
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If the tree implies an inferior living existing outside of the paradise that Adam and his mate were ordained to live in, the question is Was shaitan also allowed to live in the paradise along with Adam and his mate? Was Adam the first man made out of clay? Or were they the first crop of mankind from the earth, throughout the world?
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I believe that a shaitan is nothing more than a harmful aspect of human nature so a shaitan was in paradise when Adam and his mate were. I think it is the god's law that one can only follow the god (by following reason) or one's devilish tendencies. The natural consequence of ignoring the god, who guides to reason, is to become an unthinking slave to one's devilish tendencies
7179 And We have committed to Hell many Jinn and humans; they had hearts with which they did not comprehend, and they had eyes with which they did not see, and they had ears with which they did not hear. They are like cattle; no, they are even more astray. These are the unaware ones.
In the absence of reason, which is what the god guides do, certain devilish tendencies take over
4336 And whosoever turns away from the remembrance of the Almighty, We appoint a devil to be his constant companion.
Ignoring reason is allowing your mind to be taken over by harmful tendencies and once that happens, you become the embodiment of the harmful aspects of human nature. The following verses make it clear that unreasoning humans are shayateen
214 And if they come across those who have believed, they say ?We believe,? and when they are alone with their devils they say ?We are with you, we were only mocking.?
6112 And as such, We have permitted the enemies of every prophet ? human and Jinn devils ? to inspire each other with fancy words in order to deceive. Had your Lord willed, they would not have done it. You shall disregard them and their fabrications.
I think Adam and his mate had ignored reason by thinking that they deserved to have control (perhaps over other people).
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Thanks for linking us to that thread, Wakas.
20120 But the devil whispered to him, he said ?O Adam, shall I lead you to the tree of immortality and a kingdom which will not waste away??
Perhaps Adam (which some people say means "Humankind" was duped into thinking that there was something better than a free capitalistic society outside his garden. Perhaps 20120 is telling us not to expect more than all the good things that come with complete freedom. Maybe we're told that having a kingdom and being a controller aren't better than complete freedom.
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I believe that a shaitan is nothing more than a harmful aspect of human nature so a shaitan was in paradise when Adam and his mate were.
Peace,
We know about the paradise in the hereafter; and in it shaitan has no place at all. And more, shaitanic tendency cannot be an aspect of man if it was the paradise where Adam lived. If shaitanic influence was indeed there, it was quite unlikely then to be a paradise.
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This is the Tree
14 26
And the parable of an evil whispering is that of an evil tree; it is torn up by the root from the surface of the earth; it has no stability.Never allow the whispering in the hearts and entertain them in it for they are malicious suspicions against the glad tidings of Allah; those thoughts will shake you up and uproot you from your stability in the path of attaining Glory and Grace of Allah. So fail not in your belief in the unseen Grace, the glad tidings of Allah.
Peace.
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Please reveiew the story of Adam from ourbeacon.com. from 230 onwards. It is a very sensible rendition. Few Ayat are copied here for relevant reference.
235We told the early humans, Adam and his wife (men and women), ?O Mankind! Reside in this land which is Paradise and partake the fruit thereof as you please. But do not go near this branching Tree (of Selfishness). Or, you will become of the wrongdoers.?
236But Satan caused them both (men as well as women) to stumble therein and got them out of the happy state they were in. And so We said, ?Degraded you have become with wedges of discord among yourselves! There shall be for you habitation and livelihood on earth for a while.?
However, in order to understand the exact meaning, a linguistic analysis of the words, letter by letter, using all the grammar books and lexical books and tools will be needed. So far we only have renditions and interpretations, and various belief stories from multiple sources, and thus the confusion. Unless we work on each word letter by letter using all the tools available, we will keep wondering.
