Satan Poses as Friends
7. Sura al-Araf, Mecca 39
The Quranic Text & Ali’s Version:
فَوَسْوَسَ
لَهُمَا الشَّيْطَانُ
...
7: 20. Then began Satan to whisper suggestions to them,
C1005. The transition from the name "Iblis" to the name "Satan" is similar to that in 2:36, where it is explained in n. 52.
... لِيُبْدِيَ لَهُمَا مَا وُورِيَ عَنْهُمَا مِن سَوْءَاتِهِمَا...
bringing openly before their minds all their shame that was hidden from them (before):
C1006. Our first parents as created by Allah (and this applies to all of us) were innocent in matters material as well as spiritual. They knew no evil. But the faculty of choice, which was given to them and which raised them above the angels, also implied that they had the capacity of evil, which by the training of their own will, they were to reject.
They were warned of the danger. When they fell, they realized the evil. They were (and we are) still given the chance, in this life on a lower plane, to make good and recover the lost status of innocence and bliss.
...وَقَالَ مَا نَهَاكُمَا رَبُّكُمَا عَنْ هَـذِهِ الشَّجَرَةِ...
he said
"Your Lord only forbade you this tree,
...إِلاَّ أَن تَكُونَا مَلَكَيْنِ أَوْ تَكُونَا مِنَ الْخَالِدِينَ ﴿٢٠﴾
lest ye should become angels or such beings as live for ever."
وَقَاسَمَهُمَا
إِنِّي لَكُمَا
لَمِنَ النَّاصِحِينَ
﴿٢١﴾
7: 21. And he swore to them both, that he was their sincere adviser.
يَا
بَنِي آدَمَ
لاَ يَفْتِنَنَّكُمُ
الشَّيْطَانُ
كَمَا أَخْرَجَ
أَبَوَيْكُم
مِّنَ الْجَنَّةِ...
7: 27. O ye children of Adam!
let not Satan seduce you, in the same manner as he got your parents out of the garden,
C1009. That is, by fraud and deceit, - by putting you off your guard and telling lies.
Adam's story here becomes an introduction to the later religious history of mankind: 7:20-22. In the Garden, Satan's deceit stripped off their raiment of honour and innocence.
In this life on a lower plane he seeks to strip us of the raiment of righteousness. And he can take up positions on a vantage ground of worldly power or influence or riches, in which he and his confederates are not seen in their true colours. They may assume a fair-seeming disguise of disinterested friendship or high motives of patriotism or public spirit, or loyalty to ancestors, when beneath it there is nothing but spite and selfishness.
...يَنزِعُ عَنْهُمَا لِبَاسَهُمَا لِيُرِيَهُمَا سَوْءَاتِهِمَا...
stripping them of their raiment, to expose their shame:
...إِنَّهُ يَرَاكُمْ هُوَ وَقَبِيلُهُ مِنْ حَيْثُ لاَ تَرَوْنَهُمْ...
for he and his tribe watch you from a position where ye cannot see them:
...إِنَّا جَعَلْنَا الشَّيَاطِينَ أَوْلِيَاء لِلَّذِينَ لاَ يُؤْمِنُونَ ﴿٢٧﴾
We made the evil ones friends (only) to those without faith.
7: 20
Asad Thereupon Satan whispered unto the two with a view to making them conscious of their nakedness, of which they had been unaware; and he said: “Your Sustainer has but forbidden you this tree lest you two become angels, or lest you live forever.”
Pickthall Then Satan whispered to them that he might manifest unto them that which was hidden from them of their shame, and he said: Your Lord forbade you from this tree only lest ye should become angels or become of the immortals.
Transliteration Fa waswasa lahumasy syaita_nu liyubdiya lahuma_ ma_ wu_riya'anhuma_ min sau'a_tihima_ wa qa_la ma_ naha_kuma_ rabbukuma_ 'an ha_zihisy syajarati illa_ an taku_na_ malakaini au taku_na_ minal kha_lidin(a).
[[ Ruby – The sin that is committed here by Adam and Eve is not trusting the inherent good in complying with God’s command. Not eating the fruit of a tree is a deprivation of a bodily urge but this deprivation is good for the ultimate welfare of a human being. When asked of this deprivation it should be complied for the greater and longer interest of a person. This is the implied narrative of this allegory.]]
7: 21
ASAD And he swore unto them, ‘Verily, I am of those who wish you well indeed!”
Pickthall And he swore unto them (saying): Lo! I am a sincere adviser unto you.
Transliteration Wa qa_samahuma_ inni lakuma_ laminan na_sihin(a).
[[ Ruby’s note – It indicates that in the course of human affairs the parties who help bring evil ideas and insinuation often pose as friends and well-wishers. ]]
7: 27
Asad O children of Adam! Do not allow Satan to seduce you in the same way as he caused your ancestors to be driven out of the garden: he deprived them of their garment [of God-consciousness] in order to make the aware their nakedness. Verily, he and his tribe are lying in wait for you where you cannot perceive them!” Verily, we have placed [all manner of ] satanic forces near unto those who do not [truly] believe; and [so] wherever they commit a shameful deed, they are wont to say, : We found out forefathers doing it,” and ‘God has enjoined it upon us.”
Say: “Behold, never does God enjoin deeds of abomination. Would you attribute unto God something of which you have no knowledge?”
Pickthall O Children of Adam! Let not Satan seduce you as he caused your (first) parents to go forth from the Garden and tore off from them their robe (of innocence) that be might manifest their shame to them. Lo! he seeth you, he and his tribe, from whence ye see him not. Lo! We have made the devils protecting friends for those who believe not.
Transliteration Ya_ bani a_dama la_ yaftinannakumusy syaita_nu kama_ akhraja abawaikum minal jannati yanzi'u 'anhuma_ liba_sahuma_ liyuriyahuma_ sau'a_tihima_, innahu_ yara_kum huwa wa qabiluhu_ min haisu la_ taraunahum, inna_ ja'alnasy syaya_tina auliya_'a lillazina la_ yu'minu_n(a).
[[ Ruby’s note – This story is allegorical to convey something much deeper in meaning. This cannot be in actuality because God does not punish one for another’s sin and failure, God does not pass the blame for generations. Why the generations of human being would pay for the failure of two people in the beginning, it does not make any sense as far as justice is concerned. However if these expressions are taken to extract deeper meanings these make sense. And this story in contradiction with these fundamental premises of the Quran. However, as a metaphor it addresses to entire humanity and conveys something of primary essence. First, disobedience to God’s moral law exposes one to evilness and becoming evil. The word “garment” is allegorical here because right after this expression the same word “garment’ is used for God consciousness [“ but the garment of God consciousness” is conveying this metaphor. ]]
[[ Ali’s notes - 1008 The body: is pure and beautiful, as long as it is not defiled by misuse: its clothing and ornaments may be good or meretricious, according to the motives in the mind and character: if good, they arc the symbols of purity and beauty: but the best clothing and ornament we could have comes from righteousness, which covers the nakedness of sin, and adorns us with virtues. (7.26)
1009 That is, by fraud and deceit,-by putting you off your guard and telling lies. Adam's story here becomes an introduction to the later religious history of mankind: vii. 20-22. In the Garden, Satan's deceit stripped off their raiment of honor and innocence. In this life on a lower plane he seeks to strip us of the raiment of righteousness. And he can take up positions on a vantage ground of worldly power or influence or riches, in which he and his confederates are not seen in their true colours. They may assume a fair-seeming disguise of disinterested friendship or high motives of patriotism or public spirit, or loyalty to ancestors, when beneath it there is nothing but spite and selfishness. (7.27)
[[ Asad’s note 20 - …………As for the “satanic forces” [shayatin] it is to be remembered that this designation is applied in the Quran to al kinds of wicked impulse or propensities that are “near unto” (i.e., in the heart 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”.]]