Surah Taa-Haa (20) — Ayah 115

(Ayah 115) ➊ The meaning of {وَ لَقَدْ عَهِدْنَاۤ اِلٰۤى اٰدَمَ …: ’’ عَهِدَ إِلَيْهِ ‘‘} is {’’ أَوْصَاهُ ‘‘}, that He emphasized it to him. By emphasis is meant the command not to go near the specific tree. The meaning of {’’نَسِيَ‘‘} is generally "he forgot," but here it means to deliberately abandon an action. The evidence for this is that Iblis cast a whisper into the hearts of Adam and Hawwa (peace be upon them) and swore to them that he was their well-wisher: «{ مَا نَهٰىكُمَا رَبُّكُمَا عَنْ هٰذِهِ الشَّجَرَةِ اِلَّاۤ اَنْ تَكُوْنَا مَلَكَيْنِ اَوْ تَكُوْنَا مِنَ الْخٰلِدِيْنَ}» [ الأعراف : ۲۰ ] "Your Lord has not forbidden you from this tree except that you may become angels or become of the immortals." It is clear that Adam (peace be upon him) remembered Allah's command at the time of eating from the tree, but due to the whisper of Satan and out of greed, he disobeyed the command. Therefore, Allah declared his action as disobedience, saying: «{ وَ عَصٰۤى اٰدَمُ رَبَّهٗ فَغَوٰى }» [ طٰہٰ : ۱۲۱ ] "And Adam disobeyed his Lord, so he went astray." An action done out of forgetfulness is not called disobedience. Tabari has narrated with a sound chain from Ibn Abbas (may Allah be pleased with them both) that {’’ فَنَسِيَ يَقُوْلُ فَتَرَكَ‘‘} that is, the meaning of {’’ فَنَسِيَ ‘‘} is "he abandoned the action." The details of this incident are coming ahead.
➋ In the Quran, the story of Adam (peace be upon him) is being mentioned for the sixth time: first in Surah Al-Baqarah, second in Al-A'raf, third in Al-Hijr, fourth in Bani Isra'il, fifth in Al-Kahf, and sixth here. And in every place, this story is repeated in a different style for a specific purpose. Here, in relation to what precedes, several reasons have been mentioned; one of them is that it is connected to the verse: « كَذٰلِكَ نَقُصُّ عَلَيْكَ مِنْ اَنْۢبَآءِ مَا قَدْ سَبَقَ» [ طٰہٰ : ۹۹ ] (Thus We relate to you some of the news of what has preceded), meaning that in this verse it was indicated that We will narrate stories, so under this, the story of Adam (peace be upon him) was narrated. Another relevance is that after commanding to say {’’ رَبِّ زِدْنِيْ عِلْمًا ‘‘}, the story of Adam (peace be upon him) was narrated to increase the knowledge of the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him), and another relevance is the one that has already been mentioned above in the explanation of Shah Abdul Qadir (may Allah have mercy on him).

15. 1. Forgetfulness (nisyan) is inherent in the nature of every human being, and weakness of will, that is, lack of determination, is also generally found in human character. These two weaknesses are what cause one to fall into the whispers of Satan. If these weaknesses do not include the spirit of rebellion and defiance against Allah’s command, and a firm intention to disobey Allah, then a mistake made out of forgetfulness and weakness of will is not contrary to the infallibility and perfection of prophethood, because after such a mistake, a person immediately becomes remorseful, humbles himself before Allah, and engages in repentance and seeking forgiveness. (As Prophet Adam ؑ did.) Allah had instructed Prophet Adam ؑ that Satan is your enemy and the enemy of your wife; he will cause you to be expelled from Paradise. This is the matter that is referred to here as the covenant. Adam ؑ forgot this covenant, and Allah had forbidden Prophet Adam ؑ from going near a certain tree, that is, from eating anything from it. Prophet Adam ؑ had it in his heart that he would not go near that tree. But when Satan swore by Allah and convinced them that its fruit has such an effect that whoever eats it attains eternal life and everlasting kingdom, he could not remain firm in his resolve, and due to this lack of determination, he fell prey to Satanic whispers.

115. And We had already taken a covenant from Adam before, but he forgot; and We did not find in him firm resolve [83].

[83]
Forgetfulness and Error Are Part of Human Nature; Sayyiduna Adam Made a Mistake Out of Forgetfulness:

Here, the mention of Sayyiduna Adam’s forgetfulness is stated in accordance with the context of remembrance. That is, since forgetting is part of human nature, this is why reminders and admonitions from Allah have been sent down repeatedly. And the beginning of this human nature started with their forefather Adam himself. His resolve was not so strong that he could remember the covenant made with Allah at all times. Thus, after a long period, when Sayyiduna Adam ؑ had forgotten that covenant, Satan’s plot succeeded and he fell into Satan’s deception. From this, the result is that forgetfulness and error are part of human nature, and the second meaning stated here is that he disobeyed Allah out of forgetfulness and error. His intention was never to disobey. And the result of this meaning is the exoneration of Adam ؑ from rebellion. In terms of the context, the first meaning seems to be correct.