Transliteration:( Fawaswasa lahumash Shaitaanu liyubdiya lahumaa maa wooriya 'anhumaa min saw aatihimaa wa qaala maa nahaakumaa Rabbukumaa 'an haazihish shajarati illaaa an takoonaa malakaini aw takoonaa minal khaalideen )
"Then the devil whispered to them, to make apparent to them their shame [34], which was concealed from them, and he said, 'Your Lord has not forbidden you from this tree except that you become two angels or become of the immortal ones' [35]."
From this we learn that no person is completely safe from the temptations of the devil, regardless of time or place. Hazrat Adam (peace be upon him) was a true devotee of Allah Almighty, and Paradise was a secure and sacred space, yet even there, Satan succeeded in misleading Hazrat Adam and Bibi Hawwa (may Allah be pleased with them). Therefore, one must never frequent evil places and must constantly seek Allah’s refuge from Satan. Never assume oneself to be safe from Satan’s influence. From this we also learn that even Prophets can face temptation, but they do not commit sins or adopt false beliefs. Hence, there is no inconsistency in the verse.
From this we learn that until that moment, Hazrat Adam and Bibi Hawwa (may Allah be pleased with them) had not seen each other’s nakedness. From this, it is understood that it is preferable for a husband and wife not to expose their nakedness unnecessarily to each other.
By this, it is meant that one of the peculiar traits of the forbidden tree was that whoever ate from it would become an angel or attain immortality. O Adam, when you were created, you did not have the capacity to eat its fruit, and so you were temporarily prohibited. That prohibition was not permanent, and now that you have the capacity to digest it, the restriction is no longer in effect. Therefore, there is no inconsistency in the verse, nor did Hazrat Adam (peace be upon him) mistrust Allah Almighty, or believe that something good was kept away from him unfairly.
The tafsir of Surah Al-A’raf verse 20 by Ibn Kathir is unavailable here.
Please refer to Surah A’raf ayat 19 which provides the complete commentary from verse 19 through 21.
(7:20) But Satan made an evil suggestion to both of them that he might reveal to them their shame that had remained hidden from them. He said: ‘Your Lord has forbidden you to approach this tree only to prevent you from becoming angels or immortals.’
There is no commentary by Abul Maududi available for this verse.
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