Learn what the Qur'an says about Eve. Is she really to blame for the Fall from Paradise? What does Islam say about Original Sin? Read this article and find out!
In nearly every culture around the world, “the woman” carries along a certain stigma that she is indeed the root of all evil. The story of Eve causing the fall from Paradise due to her gullibility towards the taunts of Satan and her seduction towards Adam is a world-wide folk lore, originating from scriptures of different faiths.
The Qur’an recites Eve’s story a little differently. As Prophet Adam and Lady Eve were husband and wife - man and woman - Islam’s directive is that they are to be treated without discrimination.
The forbidden fruit and the fall from paradise
The story is simple.
God spoke to Adam directly with the kind warning of the one limitation in paradise, “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 wrongdoers,” (al-Baqarah).
As the appointed leader of the two, Adam is meant to convey this message to his followers, (in this instance Lady Eve), and remind her and himself of His Lord’s warnings.
Unfortunately, in their humanness, both Prophet and wife were beguiled by Satan, “but Satan caused them to deflect therefrom and expelled them from the (happy) state in which they were;” (al-Baqarah). Contrary to popular belief, Satan had actually approached both Adam and Eve, and not Eve alone.
“And We said: Fall down, one of you a foe unto the other! There shall be for you on earth a habitation and provision for a tune.” (al-Baqarah). God does not discriminate between the couple as to fault. Both are equally responsible for defying His words.
God speaks to Adam again, as the leader of the household: “Then Adam received from his Lord words (of revelation), and He relented toward him.” (al-Baqarah).
“Lo! He is the Relenting the Merciful.” (al-Baqarah). God forgives both their sins - husband and wife’s.
“We said: Go down, all of you, from hence; but verily there cometh unto you from Me a guidance; and whoso followeth My guidance, there shall no fear come upon them neither shall they grieve.)” (Al-Baqarah). The fall from Paradise takes place to begin progeny on earth.
The Qur’an therefore narrates that both Prophet Adam and Lady Eve were equally wrong in trusting Satan's words. There is no stigma upon Lady Eve, let alone mention of her name in any verse of the Qur’an.
Both Adam and Eve repented for their sins and were forgiven - prior to their descent. Their expulsion from Paradise had a reason of its own. They were to start a whole civilization through their progeny leading to what we see around us today.
“(O mankind! Fear your Lord Who created you from a single soul, and from it created its mate and from the two of them spread abroad a multitude of men and women…)” (An-Nisa).
Eradicating original sin
Since the descent of Prophet Adam and Lady Eve was not a direct outcome of defying God’s words, original sin does not exist in Islamic teaching. “No soul will be questioned about what another soul has done.” (Al-Israa’).
Adam and Eve descended to earth, pure of their past sins, to start a new life. With original sin obliterated in the Islamic faith, Muslims are never to blame Prophet Adam, let alone Lady Eve, for any sins incurred throughout life.
The representation of women
“O mankind! Fear your Lord Who created you from a single soul, and from it created its mate and from the two of them spread abroad a multitude of men and women…” (An-Nisaa).
Lady Eve, in Islam, is not a representation of evil but a representation of all women who have been created to complement men. It was through Lady Eve that both men and women populated the earth – both made equal – equal in rewards and in sin.
