Two Forms Of Disobediences

In the Qur’an there is the story of a event where God gathered three parties for a dialogue: Adam, the Angels and Iblis. God ordered the Angels and Iblis to prostrate to Adam in order to show him their respect and honor, as he was being chosen to be the Master on Earth.

The Angels peacefully obeyed God’s order and prostrated to Adam recognizing his sagacity. But Iblis (the Satan, who is in fact a Jinn) refused to act as the Lord had ordered him. He disdained and even brutally said “I am better than him; You created me from fire, while him You created from clay” (Qur’an, 7:12).

Adam (thus all human beings after him), was given all faculties, which make man capable to be worth of respect and honor, as long as he obeys God’s ordinances. This special honor, however, was not without wage. This honor, which includes a certain free will, puts him to the test. He then will be recompensed by a good reward if he succeeds or will be punished if he fails.

Before Adam and his wife started their task, God tried them, with an educational trial: God warned Adam and his wife of the enmity of Iblis (the Satan) against them. He let them enjoy whatever they liked in the garden except for one tree they were not allowed to approach.

Iblis asked God a respite till the Day of Resurrection to cause Adam’s descendants to become his followers and obey him blindly. He said he will adorn all that is evil on earth, so it will seem goodly for them, and will beguile them into grievous error, save those sincerely devoted to God.

So God said to him: “Go then, for whoever of them follows you, the Hell shall be the recompense of you all, a full recompense. And tempt whomever of them you can with your voice, and rally against them your cavalry and your infantry, and share with them in wealth, and children, and make promise to them. And Satan promises them nothing but delusion. As for my devotees, indeed you shall have no warrant. And your Lord suffices as a Guardian” (17:63-65).

The trial started for Adam and his wife, when Iblis came to them. “Then Satan (= Iblis) whispered to him (= Adam) saying: O Adam, shall I guide you to the Tree of Immortality, and a Kingdom that will never decay? And so the two (Adam and his wife) ate of it, and thereupon they became conscious of their nakedness and began to cover themselves with pieced-together leaves from the garden. And thus did Adam disobey his Lord, and thus did he fall into grievous error. Thereafter (however) his Lord elected him (for His grace), and accepted his repentance, and bestowed His guidance upon him” (20:120-122).

From this dialogue we understand that there are two kinds of disobediences from two different parties: Adam and Iblis. Satan (Iblis) disobeyed God because of his arrogance, while Adam disobeyed God because of his negligence or carelessness. Deceived by Satan, Adam soon became aware of his negligence, he repented to God, asking His forgiveness and God accepted his repent and forgave him. The arrogance of Satan made him a seducer and a tyrant.

It is reported that the Prophet (peace and God’s blessings upon him) said: “He who has, in his heart, an atom’s weight of arrogance will not enter Paradise”.  Some of his audience said: A person likes to wear beautiful cloths and shoes? The messenger of God said clearly: “God is Beautiful, He loves beauty. Arrogance is ridiculing and rejecting the Truth and despising people” (Narrated by Abdullah bin Masoud, and reported by Muslim in his Collection of Hadith).

Thus we have to understand how dangerous arrogance is. Observe Iblis (the Satan), he knows well that God is the Mighty, and that is why he swore “by Your Might” (Qur’an, 38:82): “He (Satan) said (to God): Then, I swear by Your Might, that I will definitely lead them (human beings) astray, all of them, except Your sincere devotees among them” (38:82-83).

And we can reflect and understand why God said to Adam and his wife “eat and enjoy” from whatever they want in the garden of test, but “do not approach this specific tree”.

He did not say “do not eat” from this tree. When God forbids, the most grievous and unpardonable sins to Adam, his wife and all their descendants, He uses the same term “do not approach” and “do not come near”, which is much stronger than “it is forbidden”.

“O mankind, eat of all what is in the earth, lawful and wholesome; and do not follow the steps of Satan, who is a manifest foe to you” (2:168).

This is the same term used for Adam and his wife when they were in the garden of trial:

“And (as for you) O Adam, dwell you and your wife in this garden, and eat, both of you, whatever you may wish, but do not approach this one tree, lest you become evildoers!” 87:19).

Again, let’s compare it with the following:

 “ And do not even go close to fornication (or adultery). It is indeed a shameful act, and an evil way to follow” (17:32).

“And do not come near (touch) the substance of an orphan, save to improve it, before he comes of age …” (17:34). 

To conclude I would say that if we do not want to fall into negligence, then we have to be more watchful, and not treat others with even the tiniest arrogance in our hearts. The Prophet said: “Anyone displays humbleness towards another seeking God’s pleasure, God will exalt him in ranks” (Narrated by Muslim from Abu-Hurairah).