[Al-Quran 50:6-8] Have they not looked at the heaven above them - how We structured it and adorned it and how it has no rifts? And the earth - We spread it out and cast therein firmly set mountains and made grow therein [something] of every beautiful kind, Giving insight and a reminder for every servant who turns [to Allah].

Friday, December 17, 2021

Female recall

Exploring the reason for the directive for two female witnesses, in lieu of one man  


يَا أَيُّهَا الَّذِينَ آمَنُوا إِذَا تَدَايَنتُم بِدَيْنٍ إِلَىٰ أَجَلٍ مُّسَمًّى فَاكْتُبُوهُ 

وَاسْتَشْهِدُوا شَهِيدَيْنِ مِن رِّجَالِكُمْ ۖ فَإِن لَّمْ يَكُونَا رَجُلَيْنِ فَرَجُلٌ وَامْرَأَتَانِ مِمَّن تَرْضَوْنَ مِنَ الشُّهَدَاءِ أَن تَضِلَّ إِحْدَاهُمَا فَتُذَكِّرَ إِحْدَاهُمَا الْأُخْرَىٰۚ 

… 

وَاتَّقُوا اللَّهَ ۖوَيُعَلِّمُكُمُ اللَّهُ ۗ وَاللَّهُ بِكُلِّ شَيْءٍ عَلِيمٌ


This portion of Q2:282 is generally translated as: 

Saheeh International:  

282. O you who have believed, when you contract a debt for a specified term, write it down. … 

 And bring to witness two witnesses from among your men. And if there are not two men [available], then a man and two women from those whom you accept as witnesses - so that if one of the women errs, then the other can remind her. … 

… And fear Allah. And Allah teaches you. And Allah is Knowing of all things.  


Two key words in this, which need to be studied are: 

امْرَأَتَانِ   and   ضِلَّ


1) Err, not forget 

Thankfully, in the above translation, we find ضِلَّ translated as ‘errs’. However, in some translations, we find ضِلَّ translated as ‘forgets’, which is an incorrect translation as the root word for forget is ن س ی 

This leads many people wonder why forgetfulness is given as the reason, as both men and women are prone to forgetfulness. Both men and women are also prone to erring, going astray as well. A study of the root letters (ض ل ل) across The Quran agrees with this observation. Then, why do women need each other’s help in the matter, while men have to shoulder the responsibility by themselves? 


2) The word used for women 

The Quran is very precise in its use of words, to convey the exact meaning. Different Arabic words are generally translated as men and women. 

For example, Q12:30 mentions women of the city (نِسْوَةٌ فِي الْمَدِينَةِ) , and wife of the Aziz (امْرَأَتُ الْعَزِيزِ) ; Q51:29 for old woman (عَجُوزٌ) ; Q27:23 for the Queen of Saba (امْرَأَةً). 

The word used in the ayat under study, Q2:282, is امْرَأَتَانِ  

The root mīm rā hamza (م ر أ) is used: 

as ( الْمَرْءِ وَزَوْجِهِ) in Q2:102 for male gender, which can be translated as: the man and his wife; 

and 

as (امْرَأَتَيْنِ تَذُودَانِ) in Q28:23  for female gender, which can be translated as: two women keeping back 

Looking up in Lane’s Lexicon, pages 2702-3, the words formed with this root are used to express shades of meanings of food, easily digestible, and gullet, man, woman, … 

So, looking up if the female digestive tract is affected by her gender, a study titled Effects of the phases of the menstrual cycle on gastric emptying, glycemia, plasma GLP-1 and insulin, and energy intake in healthy lean women  suggests that: 

 Our observations establish that in healthy women after ingestion of a 50-g glucose preload, 1) gastric emptying is slower and glycemic, plasma GLP-1, and insulin responses, hunger and energy intake are less during the follicular compared with the luteal phase; 2) energy intake and the glucose, plasma GLP-1, and insulin responses are related to gastric emptying; and 3) these parameters are reproducible when assessed twice within one phase of the menstrual cycle, i.e., the follicular phase.’ 

This leads to another question: what is the link between glucose levels and ability to recall. A study titled Dose-dependent action of glucose on memory processes in women: effect on serial position and recall priority suggests that: ‘ The effect of glucose appears to be localized on the recall primacy effect, suggesting that glucose acts on precise memory operations. ’ 

So, there does appear to be some biological basis for concern, even though it may not be generally apparent. And Allah knows best. 

Q2:282 is the longest ayat in The Quran. In it, Allah teaches the Believers how to contract a debt. A debt is a very serious matter, and payments of debts are so important that even at the time of distribution of inheritance, it is essential to first pay off the debts (Q4:11-12) of the deceased. 

The next ayat (Q2:283) goes on to instruct about an exceptional situation, in which committing the contract to writing is not possible, and in it the hiding of witness is linked to sinfulness in a person. 

Science is coming to recognise three neural centres in the human body (brain, heart, and gut).  There is a lot of communication between them. In a article titled Your gut is directly connected to your brain, by a newly discovered neuron circuit, they report: 

 The study reveals "a new set of pathways that use gut cells to rapidly communicate with … the brain stem," says Daniel Drucker, a clinician-scientist who studies gut disorders at the Lunenfeld-Tanenbaum Research Institute in Toronto, Canada, who was not involved with the work. Although many questions remain before the clinical implications become clear, he says, "This is a cool new piece of the puzzle." ’ 

In another article titled: From microbiome to mental health: The second brain in your gut, it states: 

 We really do have a second brain that influences our judgment, and much else besides. Known as the Enteric Nervous System (ENS) – enteric meaning ‘to do with intestines’ – it’s an extensive network of brain-like neurons and neurotransmitters wrapped in and around our gut. 

“Your gut has capabilities that surpass all your other organs, and even rival your brain,” says ENS specialist Dr Emeran Mayer of the University of California, Los Angeles, who is author of The Mind-Gut Connection, an account of the science of the ENS. “This second brain is made up of 50-100 million nerve cells, as many as are contained in your spinal cord.”

Researchers worldwide are now racing to explore the implications. The results are revealing the key role of the ENS in everyday health – and also what happens when it malfunctions. Links are emerging between the ENS and a host of disorders ranging from obesity and clinical depression to rheumatoid arthritis and even Parkinson’s disease.’  


Complete ayat 2:282 



يَا أَيُّهَا الَّذِينَ آمَنُوا إِذَا تَدَايَنتُم بِدَيْنٍ إِلَىٰ أَجَلٍ مُّسَمًّى فَاكْتُبُوهُ ۚوَلْيَكْتُب بَّيْنَكُمْ كَاتِبٌ بِالْعَدْلِ ۚوَلَا يَأْبَ كَاتِبٌ أَن يَكْتُبَ كَمَا عَلَّمَهُ اللَّهُ ۚ فَلْيَكْتُبْ وَلْيُمْلِلِ الَّذِي عَلَيْهِ الْحَقُّ وَلْيَتَّقِ اللَّهَ رَبَّهُ وَلَا يَبْخَسْ مِنْهُ شَيْئًا ۚ فَإِن كَانَ الَّذِي عَلَيْهِ الْحَقُّ سَفِيهًا أَوْ ضَعِيفًا أَوْ لَا يَسْتَطِيعُ أَن يُمِلَّ هُوَ فَلْيُمْلِلْ وَلِيُّهُ بِالْعَدْلِ ۚوَاسْتَشْهِدُوا شَهِيدَيْنِ مِن رِّجَالِكُمْ ۖ فَإِن لَّمْ يَكُونَا رَجُلَيْنِ فَرَجُلٌ وَامْرَأَتَانِ مِمَّن تَرْضَوْنَ مِنَ الشُّهَدَاءِ أَن تَضِلَّ إِحْدَاهُمَا فَتُذَكِّرَ إِحْدَاهُمَا الْأُخْرَىٰ ۚ وَلَا يَأْبَ الشُّهَدَاءُ إِذَا مَا دُعُوا ۚ وَلَا تَسْأَمُوا أَن تَكْتُبُوهُ صَغِيرًا أَوْ كَبِيرًا إِلَىٰ أَجَلِهِ ۚ ذَ‌ٰلِكُمْ أَقْسَطُ عِندَ اللَّهِ وَأَقْوَمُ لِلشَّهَادَةِ وَأَدْنَىٰ أَلَّا تَرْتَابُوا ۖإِلَّا أَن تَكُونَ تِجَارَةً حَاضِرَةً تُدِيرُونَهَا بَيْنَكُمْ فَلَيْسَ عَلَيْكُمْ جُنَاحٌ أَلَّا تَكْتُبُوهَا ۗ وَأَشْهِدُوا إِذَا تَبَايَعْتُمْ ۚ وَلَا يُضَارَّ كَاتِبٌ وَلَا شَهِيدٌ ۚ وَإِن تَفْعَلُوا فَإِنَّهُ فُسُوقٌ بِكُمْ ۗ وَاتَّقُوا اللَّهَ ۖوَيُعَلِّمُكُمُ اللَّهُ ۗ وَاللَّهُ بِكُلِّ شَيْءٍ عَلِيمٌ
282. O you who have believed, when you contract a debt for a specified term, write it down. And let a scribe write [it] between you in justice. Let no scribe refuse to write as Allah bless has taught him. So let him write and let the one who has the obligation dictate. And let him fear Allah, his Lord, and not leave anything out of it. But if the one who has the obligation is of limited understanding or weak or unable to dictate himself, then let his guardian dictate in justice. And bring to witness two witnesses from among your men. And if there are not two men [available], then a man and two women from those whom you accept as witnesses - so that if one of the women errs, then the other can remind her. And let not the witnesses refuse when they are called upon. And do not be [too] weary to write it, whether it is small or large, for its [specified] term. That is more just in the sight of Allah and stronger as evidence and more likely to prevent doubt between you, except when it is an immediate transaction which you conduct among yourselves. For [then] there is no blame upon you if you do not write it. And take witnesses when you conclude a contract. Let no scribe be harmed or any witness. For if you do so, indeed, it is [grave] disobedience in you. And fear Allah. And Allah teaches you. And Allah is Knowing of all things.

Al-Quran 2:282 

Arabic: https://www.searchtruth.com/chapter_display.php?chapter=2&translator=7 

Translation: https://www.searchtruth.com/chapter_display.php?chapter=2&translator=29 


Many key words appear together in Q2:282. It is fascinating to simply dwell upon each root word, and observe its usage across The Quran. There is so much to learn from this ayat.


…. 

Some root letters searches: 

https://corpus.quran.com/qurandictionary.jsp?q=rjl#(48:25:14) 

https://corpus.quran.com/qurandictionary.jsp?q=nsw#(2:49:12) 

https://corpus.quran.com/qurandictionary.jsp?q=Ejz#(51:29:8) 

https://corpus.quran.com/qurandictionary.jsp?q=mrA#(4:128:2) 


https://corpus.quran.com/qurandictionary.jsp?q=Dll#(2:282:67) 

https://corpus.quran.com/qurandictionary.jsp?q=nsy#(20:52:11) 


https://corpus.quran.com/qurandictionary.jsp?q=dyn#(2:282:6) 


Lane’s Lexicon http://www.tyndalearchive.com/TABS/Lane/ 



Last updated on: December 20, 2021 

Thursday, December 2, 2021

The Serpent & The Third Eye

The serpent and the third eye in paganism and polytheism seem to have their origin in the deception story in the Garden, which led to the Fall of Adam. 

Consider the following: 

Genesis 3 1 Now the serpent was more subtle than any beast of the field which the LORD God had made. And he said unto the woman: 'Yea, hath God said: Ye shall not eat of any tree of the garden?' 

Genesis 3 2 And the woman said unto the serpent: 'Of the fruit of the trees of the garden we may eat; 

Genesis 3 3 but of the fruit of the tree which is in the midst of the garden, God hath said: Ye shall not eat of it, neither shall ye touch it, lest ye die.' 

Genesis 3 4 And the serpent said unto the woman: 'Ye shall not surely die; 

Genesis 3 5 for God doth know that in the day ye eat thereof, then your eyes shall be opened, and ye shall be as God, knowing good and evil.' 


The Quran does not mention the conversation between the serpent and the woman. It mentions the reason the serpent whispered to them, that is, both to Adam and to his wife, and the temptation he presented to them:  

فَوَسْوَسَ لَهُمَا الشَّيْطَانُ لِيُبْدِيَ لَهُمَا مَا وُورِيَ عَنْهُمَا مِن سَوْآتِهِمَا وَقَالَ مَا نَهَاكُمَا رَبُّكُمَا عَنْ هَـٰذِهِ الشَّجَرَةِ إِلَّا أَن تَكُونَا مَلَكَيْنِ أَوْ تَكُونَا مِنَ الْخَالِدِينَ

 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
[Al-Quran 7:20, Translation: Pickthal]

Satan knew exactly what harm he would lead them to by fooling them into eating from the forbidden tree. 

The Quran also focuses on the specific temptations whispered to Adam: 

فَوَسْوَسَ إِلَيْهِ الشَّيْطَانُ قَالَ يَا آدَمُ هَلْ أَدُلُّكَ عَلَىٰ شَجَرَةِ الْخُلْدِ وَمُلْكٍ لَّا يَبْلَىٰ

But the devil whispered to him, saying: O Adam! Shall I show thee the tree of immortality and power that wasteth not away
[Al-Quran 20:120, Translation: Pickthal]


Genesis 3 6 And when the woman saw that the tree was good for food, and that it was a delight to the eyes, and that the tree was to be desired to make one wise, she took of the fruit thereof, and did eat; and she gave also unto her husband with her, and he did eat. 

and that the tree was to be desired to make one wise, … 

Now that’s a strange statement: seeking wisdom, even though Allah had already imparted knowledge to Adam (Q2:31-33). 

The next verse of Genesis informs us that their eyes were opened. Weren’t their eyes already open when they were considering that tree? Or are we being informed about the ‘third eye’ being opened? Enhancing their vision? 

The Quran, Surah an-Nur, ayaat 30-31 orders both men and women to lower their vision. 

Genesis 3 7 And the eyes of them both were opened, and they knew that they were naked; and they sewed fig-leaves together, and made themselves girdles.

فَأَكَلَا مِنْهَا فَبَدَتْ لَهُمَا سَوْآتُهُمَا وَطَفِقَا يَخْصِفَانِ عَلَيْهِمَا مِن وَرَقِ الْجَنَّةِ ۚ وَعَصَىٰ آدَمُ رَبَّهُ فَغَوَىٰ

Then they twain ate thereof, so that their shame became apparent unto them, and they began to hide by heaping on themselves some of the leaves of the Garden. And Adam disobeyed his Lord, so went astray
[Al-Quran 20:121, Translation: Pickthal]

The Quran places the responsibility upon Adam for his disobedience, citing it as the cause for his going astray. Q20:115 begins with the mention of the covenant taken from Adam, which he forgot, and Q20:121 mentions Adam disobeyed. 

Satan’s tool to tempt Adam was whispering ( فَوَسْوَسَ ). The Quran concludes with a prayer specifically against the evil of such whispers: 


بِسْمِ اللَّهِ الرَّحْمَٰنِ الرَّحِيمِ
قُلْ أَعُوذُ بِرَبِّ النَّاسِ
مَلِكِ النَّاسِ
إِلَٰهِ النَّاسِ
مِن شَرِّ الْوَسْوَاسِ الْخَنَّاسِ
الَّذِي يُوَسْوِسُ فِي صُدُورِ النَّاسِ
مِنَ الْجِنَّةِ وَالنَّاسِ

Say, "I seek refuge in the Lord of mankind,
The Sovereign of mankind.
The God of mankind,
From the evil of the retreating whisperer -
Who whispers [evil] into the breasts of mankind -
From among the jinn and mankind." 
[Al-Quran 114, Translator: Sahih International



Last updated on: August 10, 2022 







Wednesday, December 1, 2021

Time, Death & Decay

 DRAFT 


  

‏وَقَالُوا۟ مَا هِىَ إِلَّا حَيَاتُنَا ٱلدُّنْيَا نَمُوتُ وَنَحْيَا وَمَا يُهْلِكُنَآ إِلَّا ٱلدَّهْرُ ۚ وَمَا لَهُم بِذَلِكَ مِنْ عِلْمٍ ۖ إِنْ هُمْ إِلَّا يَظُنُّونَ

And they say, "Not it (is) but our life (of) the world, we die and we live, and not destroys us except the time." And not for them of that any knowledge; not, they (do) but guess. 

[Al-Quran 45:24 https://www.islamawakened.com/quran/45/24/] 

A couple of ayaat earlier, Surah al-Jathiya ayat 22, mentions that the purpose of creation is to recompense every nafs for what it has earned. The next ayat (Q45:23) mentions those who have taken their desires as their gods. Denial of accountability frees them to follow their desires. 

The deniers of resurrection and accountability refuse to believe. They attribute non-existence and existence, death and life, to natural processes which are time bound. The truth of the matter is that nobody comprehends death, nor does anyone even know what is the nature of time. We can measure time, as the physical distance between two events, but nobody really understands time. Apparently, it is but a physical distance, a dimension, one in which we can’t seem to travel in reverse gear. 

Living creatures generally appear to rot and decay, till they disintegrate and become dust and bones. However, there are reports of well-preserved bodies, who were buried without any mummification, yet they did not suffer decay. There are also reports of some pagan religious leaders whose body did not deteriorate for days after they died. 

The Quran mentions that the Pharaoh was divinely saved in His body (Q10:92), when he was drowned in the sea, while pursuing Moses. It was a sign. It wasn’t a blessing. It also states that the Pharaoh and his family are cursed in this world, they are shown the fire morning and evening, and on the Day the Hour appears, they will be thrown in the severest of punishment (Q40:46). 

In the same surah, Q40:34 mentions that even though Joseph had come with clear proofs earlier, after he perished (هَلَكَ) the people stopped expecting the Messenger that he had prophesied about. 

Q28:41 states that Pharaoh and his soldiers have been made leaders inviting to the Fire.  

It is important to remember these ayaat, lest we be misled by the miraculously preserved bodies of some people, which is taken by people as a sign of sainthood, and thus revered. 

Death is a creation (Q67:2), a state of existence, which is not understood. There is a barrier that cannot be crossed(23:100), except once, and in one direction only. Therefore, all theories, scientific or scriptural, cannot be verified. While the believers take the scriptural facts on faith, the scientists are actively researching death, which they consider a disease. They hope to delay its onset, or even cure it someday. 

The Quran links longevity with progress and prosperity, clarifying that it is a divine act, and not an outcome of human endeavour: 

Holy Quran 21:44

------------------

بَلْ مَتَّعْنَا هَٰؤُلَاءِ وَآبَاءَهُمْ حَتَّىٰ طَالَ عَلَيْهِمُ الْعُمُرُ ۗ أَفَلَا يَرَوْنَ أَنَّا نَأْتِي الْأَرْضَ نَنقُصُهَا مِنْ أَطْرَافِهَا ۚ أَفَهُمُ الْغَالِبُونَ

But, [on the contrary], We have provided good things for these [disbelievers] and their fathers until life was prolonged for them. Then do they not see that We set upon the land, reducing it from its borders? So it is they who will overcome?

Holy Quran 21:45

------------------

قُلْ إِنَّمَا أُنذِرُكُم بِالْوَحْيِ ۚ وَلَا يَسْمَعُ الصُّمُّ الدُّعَاءَ إِذَا مَا يُنذَرُونَ

Say, "I only warn you by revelation." But the deaf do not hear the call when they are warned.



Related Posts 

Immortality & A Kingdom that Never Decays 

Non-Living & Living 

Life Extension 

Death & The Pursuit of Immortality 

Human: Body or Soul? 

Nafs

The Case against Organ Transplant 










Monday, November 29, 2021

The Ayat about The Shin

 

   قُلْ هُوَ اللَّهُ أَحَدٌ
اللَّهُ الصَّمَدُ
لَمْ يَلِدْ وَلَمْ يُولَدْ
وَلَمْ يَكُن لَّهُ كُفُوًا أَحَدٌ

Say, "He (is) Allah, the One.
Allah, the Eternal, the Absolute.
Not He begets and not He is begotten.
And not is for Him equivalent any [one]."
[Al-Quran 112]

In Surah al-Qalam, ayaat 42,43 state: 

42
يَوْمَ يُكْشَفُ عَن سَاقٍۢ وَيُدْعَوْنَ إِلَى ٱلسُّجُودِ فَلَا يَسْتَطِيعُونَ
43
خَـٰشِعَةً أَبْصَـٰرُهُمْ تَرْهَقُهُمْ ذِلَّةٌۭ ۖوَقَدْ كَانُوا۟ يُدْعَوْنَ إِلَى ٱلسُّجُودِ وَهُمْ سَـٰلِمُونَ
Translation: Saheeh International 
42. The Day the shin will be uncovered and they are invited to prostration but the disbelievers will not be able,
43. Their eyes humbled, humiliation will cover them. And they used to be invited to prostration while they were sound.
Translation: Abdullah Yusuf Ali 
42. The Day that the shin shall be laid bare, and they shall be summoned to bow in adoration, but they shall not be able,-
43. Their eyes will be cast down,- ignominy will cover them; seeing that they had been summoned aforetime to bow in adoration, while they were whole, (and had refused).

Arabic: https://www.searchtruth.com/chapter_display.php?chapter=68&translator=30 

Translation: Saheeh International 

https://www.searchtruth.com/chapter_display.php?chapter=68&translator=29 

Translation: Abdullah Yusuf Ali 

https://www.searchtruth.com/chapter_display.php?chapter=68&translator=2


Hadith briefly explaining this ayat


عن أبي سعيد الخدري -رضي الله عنه- مرفوعاً: «يكشِف ربُّنا عن ساقِه، فيسجدُ له كلُّ مؤمنٍ ومؤمنةٍ، فيبقى كلُّ مَن كان يسجدُ في الدنيا رياءً وسُمْعةً، فيذهبُ ليسجدَ، فيعودَ ظهرُه طبقًا واحدًا».   
[صحيح.] - [متفق عليه.] 
المزيــد ... 

Abu Sa‘īd al-Khudri (may Allah be pleased with him) reported that the Prophet (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) said: "Our Lord will reveal His Shin, and then all believers, men and women, will prostrate themselves before Him, but there will remain those who used to prostrate in the worldly life for showing off and gaining good reputation. Such people will try to prostrate (in that situation) but their backs will be as stiff as if it is one bone (a single vertebra)."   
[Sahih/Authentic] - [Al-Bukhari and Muslim]

Explanation

The Lord, Glorified and Exalted, will reveal His noble Shin on the Day of Judgment, and every believer, male and female, will prostrate to Him. As for the hypocrites who used to prostrate to Allah in the worldly life so as to be seen by people, they will not be able to prostrate because their backs will be made of one vertebra or one straight bone. They will not be able to bend nor prostrate, because they did not really prostrate to Allah in the worldly life, rather they only prostrated to their worldly purposes. It is not permissible to interpret Allah's Shin as hardship, distress and so on. Rather it is obligatory to affirm this attribute for Allah, the Almighty, without asking 'how', and without drawing resemblance or similitude, and without stripping it of its true meaning. 

https://hadeethenc.com/en/browse/hadith/8291

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Translation of Detailed Hadith about that Day: 

 1) Narrated Abu Sa'id Al-Khudri: We said, "O Allah's Apostle! Shall we see our Lord on the Day of Resurrection?" He said, "Do you have any difficulty in seeing the sun and the moon when the sky is clear?" We said, "No." He said, "So you will have no difficulty in seeing your Lord on that Day as you have no difficulty in seeing the sun and the moon (in a clear sky)." The Prophet then said, "Somebody will then announce, 'Let every nation follow what they used to worship.' So the companions of the cross will go with their cross, and the idolators (will go) with their idols, and the companions of every god (false deities) (will go) with their god, till there remain those who used to worship Allah, both the obedient ones and the mischievous ones, and some of the people of the Scripture. Then Hell will be presented to them as if it were a mirage. Then it will be said to the Jews, "What did you use to worship?' They will reply, 'We used to worship Ezra, the son of Allah.' It will be said to them, 'You are liars, for Allah has neither a wife nor a son. What do you want (now)?' They will reply, 'We want You to provide us with water.' Then it will be said to them 'Drink,' and they will fall down in Hell (instead). Then it will be said to the Christians, 'What did you use to worship?' They will reply, 'We used to worship Messiah, the son of Allah.' It will be said, 'You are liars, for Allah has neither a wife nor a son. What: do you want (now)?' They will say, 'We want You to provide us with water.' It will be said to them, 'Drink,' and they will fall down in Hell (instead). When there remain only those who used to worship Allah (Alone), both the obedient ones and the mischievous ones, it will be said to them, 'What keeps you here when all the people have gone?' They will say, 'We parted with them (in the world) when we were in greater need of them than we are today, we heard the call of one proclaiming, 'Let every nation follow what they used to worship,' and now we are waiting for our Lord.' Then the Almighty will come to them in a shape other than the one which they saw the first time, and He will say, 'I am your Lord,' and they will say, 'You are not our Lord.' And none will speak: to Him then but the Prophets, and then it will be said to them, 'Do you know any sign by which you can recognize Him?' They will say. 'The shin,' and so Allah will then uncover His shin whereupon every believer will prostrate before Him and there will remain those who used to prostrate before Him just for showing off and for gaining good reputation. These people will try to prostrate but their backs will be rigid like one piece of a wood (and they will not be able to prostrate). Then the bridge will be laid across Hell." We, the companions of the Prophet said, "O Allah's Apostle! What is the bridge?' He said, "It is a slippery (bridge) on which there are clamps and (Hooks like) a thorny seed that is wide at one side and narrow at the other and has thorns with bent ends. Such a thorny seed is found in Najd and is called As-Sa'dan. Some of the believers will cross the bridge as quickly as the wink of an eye, some others as quick as lightning, a strong wind, fast horses or she-camels. So some will be safe without any harm; some will be safe after receiving some scratches, and some will fall down into Hell (Fire). The last person will cross by being dragged (over the bridge)." The Prophet said, "You (Muslims) cannot be more pressing in claiming from me a right that has been clearly proved to be yours than the believers in interceding with Almighty for their (Muslim) brothers on that Day, when they see themselves safe. They will say, 'O Allah! (Save) our brothers (for they) used to pray with us, fast with us and also do good deeds with us.' Allah will say, 'Go and take out (of Hell) anyone in whose heart you find faith equal to the weight of one (gold) Dinar.' Allah will forbid the Fire to burn the faces of those sinners. They will go to them and find some of them in Hell (Fire) up to their feet, and some up to the middle of their legs. So they will take out those whom they will recognize and then they will return, and Allah will say (to them), 'Go and take out (of Hell) anyone in whose heart you find faith equal to the weight of one half Dinar.' They will take out whomever they will recognize and return, and then Allah will say, 'Go and take out (of Hell) anyone in whose heart you find faith equal to the weight of an atom (or a smallest ant), and so they will take out all those whom they will recognize." Abu Sa'id said: If you do not believe me then read the Holy Verse:-- 'Surely! Allah wrongs not even of the weight of an atom (or a smallest ant) but if there is any good (done) He doubles it.' (4.40) The Prophet added, "Then the prophets and Angels and the believers will intercede, and (last of all) the Almighty (Allah) will say, 'Now remains My Intercession. He will then hold a handful of the Fire from which He will take out some people whose bodies have been burnt, and they will be thrown into a river at the entrance of Paradise, called the water of life. They will grow on its banks, as a seed carried by the torrent grows. You have noticed how it grows beside a rock or beside a tree, and how the side facing the sun is usually green while the side facing the shade is white. Those people will come out (of the River of Life) like pearls, and they will have (golden) necklaces, and then they will enter Paradise whereupon the people of Paradise will say, 'These are the people emancipated by the Beneficent. He has admitted them into Paradise without them having done any good deeds and without sending forth any good (for themselves).' Then it will be said to them, 'For you is what you have seen and its equivalent as well.'"  (Book #93, Hadith #532s)

https://www.searchtruth.com/searchHadith.php?keyword=Shin&search_word=exact&translator=1&records_display=10 


The Mirage in Surah al-Noor 


39
وَٱلَّذِينَ كَفَرُوٓا۟ أَعْمَـٰلُهُمْ كَسَرَابٍۭ بِقِيعَةٍۢ يَحْسَبُهُ ٱلظَّمْـَٔانُ مَآءً حَتَّىٰٓ إِذَا جَآءَهُۥ لَمْ يَجِدْهُ شَيْـًۭٔا وَوَجَدَ ٱللَّهَ عِندَهُۥ فَوَفَّىٰهُ حِسَابَهُۥ ۗ وَٱللَّهُ سَرِيعُ ٱلْحِسَابِ

Translation: Abdullah Yusuf Ali 

39. But the Unbelievers,- their deeds are like a mirage in sandy deserts, which the man parched with thirst mistakes for water; until when he comes up to it, he finds it to be nothing: But he finds Allah (ever) with him, and Allah will pay him his account: and Allah is swift in taking account.

Arabic: https://www.searchtruth.com/chapter_display.php?chapter=24&translator=30 

Translation: https://www.searchtruth.com/chapter_display.php?chapter=24&translator=2 





Last updated on: December 19, 2021 



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Saturday, November 13, 2021

Winds of Glad Tidings

Holy Quran 12:94

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وَلَمَّا فَصَلَتِ الْعِيرُ قَالَ أَبُوهُمْ إِنِّي لَأَجِدُ رِيحَ يُوسُفَ ۖ لَوْلَا أَن تُفَنِّدُونِ

And when the caravan departed [from Egypt], their father said, "Indeed, I find the smell of Joseph [and would say that he was alive] if you did not think me weakened in mind."


Joseph (عليه السلام)  was taken away from his father Jacob (عليه السلام) several years ago. Jacob grieved, but never lost hope in the Mercy of Allah. Q12:94 informs us of the good news that was literally ‘in the air’. 

The Quran mentions ‘winds of glad tidings before the Mercy of Allah’ in a number of ayaat, for example: 


Holy Quran 7:57

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وَهُوَ الَّذِي يُرْسِلُ الرِّيَاحَ بُشْرًا بَيْنَ يَدَيْ رَحْمَتِهِ ۖ حَتَّىٰ إِذَا أَقَلَّتْ سَحَابًا ثِقَالًا سُقْنَاهُ لِبَلَدٍ مَّيِّتٍ فَأَنزَلْنَا بِهِ الْمَاءَ فَأَخْرَجْنَا بِهِ مِن كُلِّ الثَّمَرَاتِ ۚ كَذَٰلِكَ نُخْرِجُ الْمَوْتَىٰ لَعَلَّكُمْ تَذَكَّرُونَ

And it is He who sends the winds as good tidings before His mercy until, when they have carried heavy rainclouds, We drive them to a dead land and We send down rain therein and bring forth thereby [some] of all the fruits. Thus will We bring forth the dead; perhaps you may be reminded.


Holy Quran 25:48

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وَهُوَ الَّذِي أَرْسَلَ الرِّيَاحَ بُشْرًا بَيْنَ يَدَيْ رَحْمَتِهِ ۚ وَأَنزَلْنَا مِنَ السَّمَاءِ مَاءً طَهُورًا

And it is He who sends the winds as good tidings before His mercy, and We send down from the sky pure water


Holy Quran 27:63

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أَمَّن يَهْدِيكُمْ فِي ظُلُمَاتِ الْبَرِّ وَالْبَحْرِ وَمَن يُرْسِلُ الرِّيَاحَ بُشْرًا بَيْنَ يَدَيْ رَحْمَتِهِ ۗ أَإِلَٰهٌ مَّعَ اللَّهِ ۚ تَعَالَى اللَّهُ عَمَّا يُشْرِكُونَ

Is He [not best] who guides you through the darknesses of the land and sea and who sends the winds as good tidings before His mercy? Is there a deity with Allah? High is Allah above whatever they associate with Him.


Holy Quran 30:46

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وَمِنْ آيَاتِهِ أَن يُرْسِلَ الرِّيَاحَ مُبَشِّرَاتٍ وَلِيُذِيقَكُم مِّن رَّحْمَتِهِ وَلِتَجْرِيَ الْفُلْكُ بِأَمْرِهِ وَلِتَبْتَغُوا مِن فَضْلِهِ وَلَعَلَّكُمْ تَشْكُرُونَ

And of His signs is that He sends the winds as bringers of good tidings and to let you taste His mercy and so the ships may sail at His command and so you may seek of His bounty, and perhaps you will be grateful. 

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A brief recap of Joseph’s story 

Jacob had twelve sons. He was especially fond of Joseph. The elder brothers conspired against Joseph. They abandoned Joseph in a well, and brought his shirt stained with false blood to their father, saying that a wolf had devoured Joseph. The father’s grief for his son was great. Many years later, the elder sons came with the news that Jacob’s youngest son, who was Joseph’s younger brother, was arrested in a foreign land. He did not believe them. His sorrow for Joseph increased in intensity. The grieving father’s eyes went white and he lost his vision: 

Holy Quran 12:83

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قَالَ بَلْ سَوَّلَتْ لَكُمْ أَنفُسُكُمْ أَمْرًا ۖ فَصَبْرٌ جَمِيلٌ ۖ عَسَى اللَّهُ أَن يَأْتِيَنِي بِهِمْ جَمِيعًا ۚ إِنَّهُ هُوَ الْعَلِيمُ الْحَكِيمُ

[Jacob] said, "Rather, your souls have enticed you to something, so patience is most fitting. Perhaps Allah will bring them to me all together. Indeed it is He who is the Knowing, the Wise."

Holy Quran 12:84

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وَتَوَلَّىٰ عَنْهُمْ وَقَالَ يَا أَسَفَىٰ عَلَىٰ يُوسُفَ وَابْيَضَّتْ عَيْنَاهُ مِنَ الْحُزْنِ فَهُوَ كَظِيمٌ

And he turned away from them and said, "Oh, my sorrow over Joseph," and his eyes became white from grief, for he was [of that] a suppressor.

Holy Quran 12:85

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قَالُوا تَاللَّهِ تَفْتَأُ تَذْكُرُ يُوسُفَ حَتَّىٰ تَكُونَ حَرَضًا أَوْ تَكُونَ مِنَ الْهَالِكِينَ

They said, "By Allah, you will not cease remembering Joseph until you become fatally ill or become of those who perish."

… 

Later in the story, when Joseph sent his shirt to his father through his brothers, Q12:94 informs us of the ‘winds of glad tidings’ such that Jacob could smell Joseph, while the caravan made its way from Egypt to Canaan. Eventually, when it arrived: 

Holy Quran 12:96

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فَلَمَّا أَن جَاءَ الْبَشِيرُ أَلْقَاهُ عَلَىٰ وَجْهِهِ فَارْتَدَّ بَصِيرًا ۖ قَالَ أَلَمْ أَقُل لَّكُمْ إِنِّي أَعْلَمُ مِنَ اللَّهِ مَا لَا تَعْلَمُونَ

And when the bearer of good tidings arrived, he cast it over his face, and he returned [once again] seeing. He said, "Did I not tell you that I know from Allah that which you do not know?"

Jacob vision was restored, the entire family was reunited in Egypt, and they all settled there: repentant, forgiven and prosperous. 


— — — 

Read Surah Yusuf: 

https://quran.com/12

Compare 50+ translations: 

https://www.islamawakened.com/quran/12/94/default.htm 

Search result for word ‘winds’: 

https://corpus.quran.com/search.jsp?q=Winds

Concordance: 

https://corpus.quran.com/search.jsp?q=lem%3AriyH+pos%3An

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https://corpus.quran.com/qurandictionary.jsp?q=rwH 




Thursday, November 4, 2021

Adam's Fall in Genesis 3 in the light of The Quran

DRAFT


 Preamble

The Quran 2:4 defines the pious as those who believe in The Quran, as well as in the scriptures revealed before it, going on to state that those are the ones who are upon guidance from their Lord, and those are the ones who will be successful (Q2:5).  

Comparing the Adam narrative in the scriptures, there seem differences and disconnects in the texts and the translations. As both The Torah and The Quran are from God, the reason for the apparent disconnects must be due to our lack of knowledge of the whole story. Perhaps, they describe different aspects of the story, or different events from the life of Adam. 

For example: As Joseph's story helps us unravel Adam's story, there were three distinct events, separated by time, in which Joseph's shirt was mentionable. In the first, his brothers took his shirt; in the second, the lady tore his shirt; in the third, he himself gave his shirt to heal his father's blindness. 

The following is an effort to reconcile the learnings about Adam's fall, and the human condition, from The Quran, with the narrative in Genesis 3. May Allah increase us in knowledge. 

As there are discrepancies in the translations, an effort is being made to quote and compare various sources. May Allah bless and accept. 


DRAFT

Full Text 



The Quran, Surah TaHa informs us that a covenant was taken from Adam before, but he forgot. The narrative about Adam begins in Q20:115. As per the sequence of the narrative, a covenant was taken from Adam even before the command to all angels to prostrate. Iblis, the snake, refused to prostrate, exposing his arrogance, and establishing his enmity towards Adam and his progeny.  


The Forbidden Tree & The Nafs 

In Genesis 2 15-17, God had commanded and warned Adam thus: 

Screenshot from arabicbible.com

Genesis 2 15 And the LORD God took the man, and put him into the garden of Eden to dress it and to keep it. 16 And the LORD God commanded the man, saying: 'Of every tree of the garden thou mayest freely eat; 17 but of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, thou shalt not eat of it; for in the day that thou eatest thereof thou shalt surely die.' 

After erring, Adam prayed that they had 'wronged' or 'put in darkness' their nafs. The nafs is essential for a flourishing life in The Garden of Eden. In fact, that life is The Life that we are being invited to. 

On a daily basis, our nafs is removed in sleep, and returned when we awake. Upon death, the nafs is permanently removed. The scriptures also inform us that upon death, the vision becomes clear, and the dying person is able to see the angels. Regarding the Day of Resurrection & Judgment, Q50:22 states that the vision will be 'hadid' i.e. literally iron, and generally translated as 'sharp', 'keen', 'piercing', because the cover will have been removed. The greatest losers in the Hereafter will be the ones who will permanently lose their nafs, and be put in Hell. 

So, when The Lord told Adam that if he eats from Tree of Knowledge of Good and Evil he will surely die, it was a true statement, in that Adam could no longer remain in the Garden while his nafs was in such a state of darkness. They were naturally expelled from The Garden. 

All sins are against our own nafs, increasing it in wrong / darkness. Repenting and reforming, doing good deeds, spending in charity, remove some of the wrong / darkness. 


Genesis 3 1-7 in Arabic 

Screenshot from arabicbible.com

 


The Serpent in The Garden & The Warnings 

Genesis 3 1 Now the serpent was more subtle than any beast of the field which the LORD God had made. And he said unto the woman: 'Yea, hath God said: Ye shall not eat of any tree of the garden?'

Early on in The Quran, we read that Adam was pre-warned about Iblis' enmity, so that he could take precautions against his deceptions, and not be beguiled by him: 

وَقُلْنَا يَا آدَمُ اسْكُنْ أَنتَ وَزَوْجُكَ الْجَنَّةَ وَكُلَا مِنْهَا رَغَدًا حَيْثُ شِئْتُمَا وَلَا تَقْرَبَا هَٰذِهِ الشَّجَرَةَ فَتَكُونَا مِنَ الظَّالِمِين

And We said: O Adam! Dwell thou and thy wife in the Garden, and eat ye freely (of the fruits) thereof where ye will; but come not nigh this tree lest ye become wrong-doers
[Al-Quran 2:35, Translation: Pickthal]

Reading the narrative in Surah TaHa, we learn: 

وَلَقَدْ عَهِدْنَا إِلَىٰ آدَمَ مِن قَبْلُ فَنَسِيَ وَلَمْ نَجِدْ لَهُ عَزْمًا

وَإِذْ قُلْنَا لِلْمَلَائِكَةِ اسْجُدُوا لِآدَمَ فَسَجَدُوا إِلَّا إِبْلِيسَ أَبَىٰ

فَقُلْنَا يَا آدَمُ إِنَّ هَـٰذَا عَدُوٌّ لَّكَ وَلِزَوْجِكَ فَلَا يُخْرِجَنَّكُمَا مِنَ الْجَنَّةِ فَتَشْقَىٰ

إِنَّ لَكَ أَلَّا تَجُوعَ فِيهَا وَلَا تَعْرَىٰ

وَأَنَّكَ لَا تَظْمَأُ فِيهَا وَلَا تَضْحَىٰ

 And verily We made a covenant of old with Adam, but he forgot, and We found no constancy in him

And when We said unto the angels: Fall prostrate before Adam, they fell prostrate (all) save Iblis; he refused

Therefor we said: O Adam! This is an enemy unto thee and unto thy wife, so let him not drive you both out of the Garden so that thou come to toil

It is (vouchsafed) unto thee that thou hungerest not therein nor art naked

And that thou thirstest not therein nor art exposed to the sun's heat
[Al-Quran 20:115-119, Translation: Pickthal]


The Temptations 

Genesis 3 2 And the woman said unto the serpent: 'Of the fruit of the trees of the garden we may eat;

Genesis 3 3 but of the fruit of the tree which is in the midst of the garden, God hath said: Ye shall not eat of it, neither shall ye touch it, lest ye die.'

Genesis 3 4 And the serpent said unto the woman: 'Ye shall not surely die; 

Genesis 3 5 for God doth know that in the day ye eat thereof, then your eyes shall be opened, and ye shall be as God, knowing good and evil.' 


The Quran does not mention the conversation between the serpent and the woman. It mentions the reason the serpent whispered to them, that is, both to Adam and to his wife, and the temptation he presented to them:  

فَوَسْوَسَ لَهُمَا الشَّيْطَانُ لِيُبْدِيَ لَهُمَا مَا وُورِيَ عَنْهُمَا مِن سَوْآتِهِمَا وَقَالَ مَا نَهَاكُمَا رَبُّكُمَا عَنْ هَـٰذِهِ الشَّجَرَةِ إِلَّا أَن تَكُونَا مَلَكَيْنِ أَوْ تَكُونَا مِنَ الْخَالِدِينَ

 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
[Al-Quran 7:20, Translation: Pickthal]

Satan knew exactly what harm he would lead them to by fooling them into eating from the forbidden tree. 

The Quran also focuses on the specific temptations whispered to Adam: 

فَوَسْوَسَ إِلَيْهِ الشَّيْطَانُ قَالَ يَا آدَمُ هَلْ أَدُلُّكَ عَلَىٰ شَجَرَةِ الْخُلْدِ وَمُلْكٍ لَّا يَبْلَىٰ

But the devil whispered to him, saying: O Adam! Shall I show thee the tree of immortality and power that wasteth not away
[Al-Quran 20:120, Translation: Pickthal]


Genesis 3 6 And when the woman saw that the tree was good for food, and that it was a delight to the eyes, and that the tree was to be desired to make one wise, she took of the fruit thereof, and did eat; and she gave also unto her husband with her, and he did eat. 


… and that the tree was to be desired to make one wise, … 

Now that’s a strange statement: seeking wisdom, even though Allah had already imparted knowledge to Adam (Q2:31-33). 

The next verse of Genesis informs us that their eyes were opened. Weren’t their eyes already open when they were considering that tree? Or are we being informed about the ‘third eye’ being opened? 


Genesis 3 7 And the eyes of them both were opened, and they knew that they were naked; and they sewed fig-leaves together, and made themselves girdles.

فَأَكَلَا مِنْهَا فَبَدَتْ لَهُمَا سَوْآتُهُمَا وَطَفِقَا يَخْصِفَانِ عَلَيْهِمَا مِن وَرَقِ الْجَنَّةِ ۚ وَعَصَىٰ آدَمُ رَبَّهُ فَغَوَىٰ

Then they twain ate thereof, so that their shame became apparent unto them, and they began to hide by heaping on themselves some of the leaves of the Garden. And Adam disobeyed his Lord, so went astray
[Al-Quran 20:121, Translation: Pickthal]

The Quran places the responsibility upon Adam for his disobedience, citing it as the cause for his going astray. Q20:115 begins with the mention of the covenant taken from Adam, which he forgot, and Q20:121 mentions Adam disobeyed. 


Genesis 3 8-19 in Arabic 

Screenshot from arabicbible.com

 


Genesis 3 8 And they heard the voice of the LORD God walking in the garden toward the cool of the day; and the man and his wife hid themselves from the presence of the LORD God amongst the trees of the garden. 

Genesis 3 9 And the LORD God called unto the man, and said unto him: 'Where art thou?' 

Genesis 3 10 And he said: 'I heard Thy voice in the garden, and I was afraid, because I was naked; and I hid myself.' 

Genesis 3 11 And He said: 'Who told thee that thou wast naked? Hast thou eaten of the tree, whereof I commanded thee that thou shouldest not eat?' 

Genesis 3 12 And the man said: 'The woman whom Thou gavest to be with me, she gave me of the tree, and I did eat.'

Genesis 3 13 And the LORD God said unto the woman: 'What is this thou hast done?' And the woman said: 'The serpent beguiled me, and I did eat.' 


Genesis 3 14 And the LORD God said unto the serpent: 'Because thou hast done this, cursed art thou from among all cattle, and from among all beasts of the field; upon thy belly shalt thou go, and dust shalt thou eat all the days of thy life.

upon thy belly... 

In Surah al-Mulk, we read: 

أَفَمَن يَمْشِي مُكِبًّا عَلَىٰ وَجْهِهِ أَهْدَىٰ أَمَّن يَمْشِي سَوِيًّا عَلَىٰ صِرَاطٍ مُّسْتَقِيمٍ

Is he who goeth groping on his face more rightly guided, or he who walketh upright on a straight road
[Al-Quran 67:22, Translation: Pickthal]

... dust shalt thou eat all the days of thy life.

Quoting https://creation.com/snakes-do-eat-dust 

There is an organ in the roof of a snake’s mouth called ‘Jacobson’s organ’. This helps the snake to smell in addition to its nose. Its darting, forked tongue samples bits of dust by picking them up on the points of the fork, which it then presents to its matching pair of sensory organs inside its mouth. Once it has ‘smelt’ them in this way, the tongue must be cleaned so the process can be repeated immediately.

Therefore serpents really do lick dust and eat it.



Genesis 3 15 And I will put enmity between thee and the woman, and between thy seed and her seed; they shall bruise thy head, and thou shalt bruise their heel.' {S}

Genesis 3 16 Unto the woman He said: 'I will greatly multiply thy pain and thy travail; in pain thou shalt bring forth children; and thy desire shall be to thy husband, and he shall rule over thee.' {S}

Genesis 3 17 And unto Adam He said: 'Because thou hast hearkened unto the voice of thy wife, and hast eaten of the tree, of which I commanded thee, saying: Thou shalt not eat of it; cursed is the ground for thy sake; in toil shalt thou eat of it all the days of thy life.

Genesis 3 18 Thorns also and thistles shall it bring forth to thee; and thou shalt eat the herb of the field. 

Genesis 3 19 In the sweat of thy face shalt thou eat bread, till thou return unto the ground; for out of it wast thou taken; for dust thou art, and unto dust shalt thou return.' 


Genesis 3 20-24 in Arabic 

Screenshot from arabicbible.com

Mother of All Living ????

Genesis 3 20 And the man called his wife's name Eve; because she was the mother of all living. 

Revisiting Genesis 2:15-17, quoted at the beginning of this post, eating from the Tree of Knowledge of Good and Evil caused them to 'die' or put their nafs in a state of zulm (injustice || darkness || wrongdoing). Q2:35 informs us that Adam was warned to not even go near that tree lest becomes zalimeen (unjust || darkened || wrongdoers). Just before starting the first narrative about Adam in The Quran, we read: 

كَيْفَ تَكْفُرُونَ بِاللَّهِ وَكُنتُمْ أَمْوَاتًا فَأَحْيَاكُمْ ۖ ثُمَّ يُمِيتُكُمْ ثُمَّ يُحْيِيكُمْ ثُمَّ إِلَيْهِ تُرْجَعُونَ

هُوَ الَّذِي خَلَقَ لَكُم مَّا فِي الْأَرْضِ جَمِيعًا ثُمَّ اسْتَوَىٰ إِلَى السَّمَاءِ فَسَوَّاهُنَّ سَبْعَ سَمَاوَاتٍ ۚ وَهُوَ بِكُلِّ شَيْءٍ عَلِيمٌ

How disbelieve ye in Allah when ye were dead and He gave life to you! Then He will give you death, then life again, and then unto Him ye will return
He it is Who created for you all that is in the earth. Then turned He to the heaven, and fashioned it as seven heavens. And He is knower of all things
[Al-Quran 2:28, Translation: Pickthal]

In surah an-Nahl, we read: 


وَاللَّهُ أَخْرَجَكُم مِّن بُطُونِ أُمَّهَاتِكُمْ لَا تَعْلَمُونَ شَيْئًا وَجَعَلَ لَكُمُ السَّمْعَ وَالْأَبْصَارَ وَالْأَفْئِدَةَ ۙ لَعَلَّكُمْ تَشْكُرُونَ

And Allah brought you forth from the wombs of your mothers knowing nothing, and gave you hearing and sight and hearts that haply ye might give thanks
[Al-Quran 16:78, Translation: Pickthal]

Babies do not seem to have the 'knowledge of good and evil'. Furthermore, in Surah an-Nur, 24:31 -32, the believing men and believing women are directed to 'lower their gaze': 

... قُل لِّلْمُؤْمِنِينَ يَغُضُّوا مِنْ أَبْصَارِهِمْ 

Tell the believing men to lower their gaze ...

... وَقُل لِّلْمُؤْمِنَاتِ يَغْضُضْنَ مِنْ أَبْصَارِهِنَّ 

And tell the believing women to lower their gaze ...

Q24:32, which is a long ayat, also mentions the innocence of young children: 

... أَوِ الطِّفْلِ الَّذِينَ لَمْ يَظْهَرُوا عَلَىٰ عَوْرَاتِ النِّسَاءِ ...

... or children who know naught of women's nakedness. ...

So, when Adam named her 'mother of all living', he meant that those who come from her womb will not have the 'knowledge' of good and evil, and thus their nafs is in a pristine state!  

As Surah TaHa informs us: 

ثُمَّ اجْتَبَاهُ رَبُّهُ فَتَابَ عَلَيْهِ وَهَدَىٰ

قَالَ اهْبِطَا مِنْهَا جَمِيعًا ۖ بَعْضُكُمْ لِبَعْضٍ عَدُوٌّ ۖ فَإِمَّا يَأْتِيَنَّكُم مِّنِّي هُدًى فَمَنِ اتَّبَعَ هُدَايَ فَلَا يَضِلُّ وَلَا يَشْقَىٰ

Then his Lord chose him, and relented toward him, and guided him
He said: Go down hence, both of you, one of you a foe unto the other. But when there come unto you from Me a guidance, then whoso followeth My guidance, he will not go astray nor come to grief
[Al-Quran 20:122-123, Translation: Pickthal]


Clothing 
Genesis 3 21 And the LORD God made for Adam and for his wife garments of skins, and clothed them. {P}

The Quran is quite explicit that the clothes are a sign from Allah, and that they were stripped off from our parents.

Surah TaHa (Q20) mentions blue-eyed criminals, and the criminals being resurrected blind. The surah also mentions the specie of the snake (حَيَّةٌ) which is the cobra. Snakes periodically shed skin. Just before they are ready to shed their skin, their eyes become blue, and they go temporarily blind.     


Genesis 3 22 And the LORD God said: 'Behold, the man is become as one of us, to know good and evil; and now, lest he put forth his hand, and take also of the tree of life, and eat, and live for ever.'

The Quran mentions The Cursed Tree of Zaqqum, which will be a trial upon resurrection. The Quran also informs us that the people of Hell: they will neither live nor die. They will have lost their nafs, and they will suffer perpetually. 


Genesis 3 23 Therefore the LORD God sent him forth from the garden of Eden, to till the ground from whence he was taken. 


Genesis 3 24 So He drove out the man; and He placed at the east of the garden of Eden the cherubim, and the flaming sword which turned every way, to keep the way to the tree of life. {S}

The Quran informs us that The Tree of Zaqqum grows from the midst of Hell: 

أَذَ‌ٰلِكَ خَيْرٌ نُّزُلًا أَمْ شَجَرَةُ الزَّقُّومِ

إِنَّا جَعَلْنَاهَا فِتْنَةً لِّلظَّالِمِينَ

إِنَّهَا شَجَرَةٌ تَخْرُجُ فِي أَصْلِ الْجَحِيمِ

Is this better as a welcome, or the tree of Zaqqum
Lo! We have appointed it a torment for wrong-doers
Lo! it is a tree that springeth in the heart of hell
[Al-Quran 37:62-64, Translation: Pickthal]