فَوَسْوَسَ لَهُمَا ٱلشَّيْطَـٰنُ لِيُبْدِىَ لَهُمَا مَا وُۥرِىَ عَنْهُمَا مِن سَوْءَٰتِهِمَا وَقَالَ مَا نَهَىٰكُمَا رَبُّكُمَا عَنْ هَـٰذِهِ ٱلشَّجَرَةِ إِلَّآ أَن تَكُونَا مَلَكَيْنِ أَوْ تَكُونَا مِنَ ٱلْخَـٰلِدِينَ 20
Translations
But Satan whispered to them to make apparent to them that which was concealed from them of their private parts. He said, "Your Lord did not forbid you this tree except that you become angels or become of the immortal."
Transliteration
Fawasawasa lahuma ash-shaytanu liyubdiya lahuma ma wuriya anhuma min sawatin wa-qala ma nahaakuma rabbukuma an hadhihi ash-shajarati illa an takuna malakayni aw takuna min al-khalideen
Tafsir (Explanation)
This ayah describes how Shaytan whispered (waswas) to Adam and Eve, convincing them that Allah forbade the tree only to prevent them from becoming angels or immortal beings. According to Ibn Kathir and Al-Tabari, Shaytan's deception employed two tactics: first, making them desire what was hidden (their private parts/nakedness), and second, insinuating that Allah's prohibition was motivated by jealousy rather than wisdom. The scholars emphasize that this represents Shaytan's characteristic method of exploiting human desire and sowing doubt about Allah's intentions.
Revelation Context
This ayah is part of the narrative of Adam and Eve in Surah Al-A'raf (verses 11-18), which details the creation of humanity and the first sin. While Al-A'raf is a Meccan surah revealed to remind the Meccans of Allah's signs and warnings, this particular passage provides the archetypal story of how human weakness, desire, and susceptibility to Satanic whispers led to the first disobedience of a divine command.
Related Hadiths
The Prophet (peace be upon him) said: 'Verily Shaytan flows through the son of Adam like blood' (Sahih Bukhari and Sahih Muslim). Additionally, 'The best of you are those who struggle most against their nafs (self)' - related to resisting Satanic whispers and base desires (Tirmidhi).
Themes
Key Lesson
This ayah teaches us that Shaytan's most effective weapons are doubt about Allah's wisdom and the exploitation of our natural desires—we must recognize that divine prohibitions stem from mercy, not deprivation. In our modern context, we should be vigilant against whispers that rationalize disobedience by questioning Allah's justice or by promising worldly gain, remembering that true elevation comes through obedience, not rebellion.
Related Ayahs
حَقِيقٌ عَلَىٰٓ أَن لَّآ أَقُولَ عَلَى ٱللَّهِ إِلَّا ٱلْحَقَّ ۚ قَدْ جِئْتُكُم بِبَيِّنَةٍ مِّن رَّبِّكُمْ فَأَرْسِلْ مَعِىَ بَنِىٓ إِسْرَٰٓءِيلَ
[Who is] obligated not to say about Allāh except the truth. I have come to you with clear evidence from your Lord, so send with me the Children of Israel."
وَلَا تَقْعُدُوا۟ بِكُلِّ صِرَٰطٍ تُوعِدُونَ وَتَصُدُّونَ عَن سَبِيلِ ٱللَّهِ مَنْ ءَامَنَ بِهِۦ وَتَبْغُونَهَا عِوَجًا ۚ وَٱذْكُرُوٓا۟ إِذْ كُنتُمْ قَلِيلًا فَكَثَّرَكُمْ ۖ وَٱنظُرُوا۟ كَيْفَ كَانَ عَـٰقِبَةُ ٱلْمُفْسِدِينَ
And do not sit on every path, threatening and averting from the way of Allāh those who believe in Him, seeking to make it [seem] deviant. And remember when you were few and He increased you. And see how was the end of the corrupters.
لَقَدْ أَرْسَلْنَا نُوحًا إِلَىٰ قَوْمِهِۦ فَقَالَ يَـٰقَوْمِ ٱعْبُدُوا۟ ٱللَّهَ مَا لَكُم مِّنْ إِلَـٰهٍ غَيْرُهُۥٓ إِنِّىٓ أَخَافُ عَلَيْكُمْ عَذَابَ يَوْمٍ عَظِيمٍ
We had certainly sent Noah to his people, and he said, "O my people, worship Allāh; you have no deity other than Him. Indeed, I fear for you the punishment of a tremendous Day."
وَمَا كَانَ جَوَابَ قَوْمِهِۦٓ إِلَّآ أَن قَالُوٓا۟ أَخْرِجُوهُم مِّن قَرْيَتِكُمْ ۖ إِنَّهُمْ أُنَاسٌ يَتَطَهَّرُونَ
But the answer of his people was only that they said, "Evict them from your city! Indeed, they are men who keep themselves pure."