FALL

The (of Adam). Is known amongst Muslim writers as zallatu Ādam , “the fall,” or slip of Adam. The term zallah , “a slip” or “error,” being applied to prophets, but not ẕamb , “a sin,” which they say Prophets do not commit. The following is the account of Adam’s “ slip ,” as given in the Qurʾān, Sūrah ii. 33 :— “And we said, ‘O Adam! dwell thou and thy wife in the Garden, and eat ye plentifully therefrom wherever ye list; but to this tree come not nigh, lest ye become of the transgre ors.’ “But Satan made them slip ( azallahumā ) from it, and caused their banishment from the place in which they were. And we said, ‘Get ye down, the one of you an enemy to the other: and there shall be for you in the earth a dwelling-place, and a provision for a time.’ ” Sūrah vii. 18–24 :— “ ‘And, O Adam! dwell thou and thy wife in Paradise, and eat ye whence ye will, but to this tree approach not, lest ye become of the unjust doers.’ “Then Satan whispered them to show them their nakedne , which had been hidden from them both. And he said, ‘This tree hath your Lord forbidden you, only lest ye should become angels, or lest ye should become immortals.’ “And he sware to them both, ‘Verily I am unto you one who counselleth aright.’ “So he beguiled them by deceits: and when they had tasted of the tree, their nakedne appeared to them, and they began to sew together upon themselves the leaves of the garden. And their Lord called to them, ‘Did I not forbid you this tree, and did I not say to you, “Verily, Satan is your declared enemy”?’ “They said, ‘O our Lord! With ourselves have we dealt unjustly: if thou forgive us not and have pity on us, we shall surely be of those who perish.’ “He said, ‘Get ye down, the one of you an enemy to the other; and on earth shall be your dwelling, and your provision for a season.’ “He said, ‘On it shall ye live, and on it shall ye die, and from it shall ye be taken forth.’ ” Sūrah xx. 114–120 :— “And of old We made a covenant with Adam; but he forgat it ; and we found no firmne of purpose in him. “And when We said to the angels, ‘Fall down and worship Adam,’ they worshipped all, save Eblis, who refused: and We said, ‘O Adam! this truly is a foe to thee and to thy wife. Let him not therefore drive you out of the garden, and ye become wretched; “ ‘For to thee is it granted that thou shalt not hunger therein, neither shalt thou be naked; “ ‘And that thou shalt not thirst therein, neither shalt thou parch with heat’; “But Satan whispered him: said he, ‘O Adam! shall I shew thee the tree of Eternity, and the Kingdom that faileth not?’ “And they both ate thereof, and their nakedne appeared to them, and they began to sew of the leaves of the Garden to cover them, and Adam disobeyed his Lord and went astray. “Afterwards his Lord chose him for himself, and was turned towards him, and guided him.” The Muslim Commentators are much perplexed as to the scene of the fall of Adam. From the text of the Qurʾān it would appear that the Paradise spoken of was in heaven and not on earth; and the tradition, that when Adam was cast forth he fell on the island of Ceylon, would support this view. But al-Baiẓāwī says some say the Garden of Eden was situated either in the country of the Philistines or in Fāris, and that Adam was cast out of it and sent in the direction of Hindustān. But this view he rejects, and maintains that the Garden of Eden was in the heavens, and that the fall occurred before Adam and Eve inhabited this earth of ours. [ EDEN .] The Muḥammadan commentators are silent as to the effects of Adam’s fall upon the human race.