فَقُلْنَا يَـٰٓـَٔادَمُ إِنَّ هَـٰذَا عَدُوٌّ لَّكَ وَلِزَوْجِكَ فَلَا يُخْرِجَنَّكُمَا مِنَ ٱلْجَنَّةِ فَتَشْقَىٰٓ 117
Translations
So We said, "O Adam, indeed this is an enemy to you and to your wife. Then let him not remove you from Paradise so you would suffer.
Transliteration
Faqulna ya adamu inna hadha aduwwun laka wa lizawjika fala yukhrijannakuma mina al-jannati fatashqa
Tafsir (Explanation)
Allah warns Adam and his wife that Satan (Iblis) is their enemy and must not be obeyed, lest they be expelled from Paradise and suffer. Classical scholars like Ibn Kathir and Al-Tabari emphasize that this divine warning preceded the actual temptation, demonstrating Allah's mercy in providing clear guidance before the trial. The ayah establishes that Satan's enmity toward humanity stems from his rebellion against Allah, and obedience to Satan inevitably leads to wretchedness (shaqā).
Revelation Context
This ayah appears in Surah Taha's narrative of Adam's story, which is primarily Meccan. It comes within the broader account of Adam's creation and his test in Paradise, serving as contextual background to the events that follow. The surah uses this narrative to comfort the Prophet Muhammad during Meccan persecution, reminding him that trials and tests are part of divine wisdom.
Related Hadiths
The hadith in Sahih Muslim relates that the Prophet (peace be upon him) said: 'When Allah created Adam, He said to him: Go and greet that group of angels and listen to how they greet you, for that will be your greeting and the greeting of your descendants.' This complements the ayah by showing Allah's direct communication with Adam. Additionally, hadith literature extensively discusses Satan's enmity toward humans and his vow to lead them astray (referenced in Surah Al-A'raf 7:16-18).
Themes
Key Lesson
This ayah teaches that Allah provides clear warnings against evil before we face temptation, demonstrating His mercy and justice. The lesson for modern believers is to remain vigilant against the whispers of Satan by remembering that he is our declared enemy, and that protecting our faith requires conscious obedience to Allah's commands and avoidance of what He has forbidden.