سُوْرَةُ طٰهٰ
Surah Taa-Haa (20) — Ayah 115
وَلَقَدْ عَهِدْنَآ إِلَىٰٓ ءَادَمَ مِن قَبْلُ فَنَسِىَ وَلَمْ نَجِدْ لَهُۥ عَزْمًا ﴿115﴾
Translation by Dr. Muhammad Muhsin Khan & Dr. Taqi-ud-Din al-Hilali
And indeed We made a covenant with Adam before, but he forgot, and We found on his part no firm will-power.
Word by Word — Arabic, Transliteration & Meaning
وَلَقَدْ
walaqad
And verily
عَهِدْنَآ
ʿahid'nā
We made a covenant
إِلَىٰٓ
ilā
with
ءَادَمَ
ādama
Adam
مِن
min
before
قَبْلُ
qablu
before
فَنَسِىَ
fanasiya
but he forgot
وَلَمْ
walam
and not
نَجِدْ
najid
We found
لَهُۥ
lahu
in him
عَزْمًۭا
ʿazman
determination
Tafsir al-Quran al-Karim — Hafiz Abdus Salam Bin Muhammad Bhutvi
Tafsir al-Quran al-Karim is a 4-volume Quran commentary by Hafiz Abdus Salam bin Muhammad Bhutvi, a renowned Salafi (Ahl al-Hadith) scholar and Sheikh ul-Hadith from Pakistan. Based on over 45 years of teaching and research, this tafsir follows the methodology of Tafsir bil-Ma'thur — interpreting the Quran through authentic Hadith, statements of the Companions, and the understanding of the early generations (Salaf). It is distinguished by its complete avoidance of Israeliyyat (Judeo-Christian narratives) and unverified reports. The tafsir is originally written in Urdu, translated to English by tohed.com.
(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).
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).
