However, the angels were made to pledge service to Prophet Aadam^-AS For instance when the President appoints a Governor; immediately the entire administration of the Province is at his service, whether his orders are right or wrong is none of their concern. That is between the Governor and the Appointing Authority. But when the President himself orders the arrest of the Governor, the entire administration turns against him and arrests him. Similarly, whatever a person embarks on doing within the framework of his authority, takes place accordingly. Had Allaah^-SWT seized the urge of an adulterer at the time of the crime, or of a thief, or numbed the hands of anyone trying to misuse anything in the Universe, man could no longer be held accountable. He would rather be a helpless prisoner. Therefore, when a man is involved in an activity, no matter how much to the dislike of the angels, they do not interfere, until they are told by the Supreme Ruler to do so.

Anyway, all the angels bowed down before Prophet Aadam^-AS except Satan, who wasn’t an angel but resided amongst them and refused to bow out of sheer arrogance. According to Qura'an Satan was a Jinn, but a devoted one, and since the Jinn also possess a subtle body, they by virtue of their creation had access to the heavens which wd denied only after the advent of the Holy Prophet^-SW by a Divine Decree. Until then, their excursions were a normal routine. Sometimes they were driven away by the angels, while at others they would pick up some secrets en-route, add something and whisper to their agents on Earth; the sorcerers. Before the creation of Prophet Aadam^-AS the wicked amongst them were often punished. But Satan proved to be such a devout that he found a place in the ranks of the angels and would often accompany the angels deputed to punish the rebel Jinn. Now when he disobeyed Divine Orders, the Qura'an says: Wa kana mm al-Kajirin. Its translation; “and so became a non-believer”, does not seem appropriate because it would mean that Allaah^-SWT learnt about his disbelief only after the event. While in actual fact, it had ever been in Allaah^-SWT’s Knowledge that Satan was certainly a disbeliever. He was temporarily inclined towards obedience only for the attainment of authority, and continued to progress until put to trial, after which his disloyalty, hitherto known only by Allaah^-SWT, was disclosed to everyone. Allaah^-SWT too declared that he had always been a non-believer. He nurtured a desire in his heart to establish his own importance and greatness, whereas, the entire creation has no worth vis-à-vis the Almighty, the Creator, the Sustainer. How can anyone dare to disobey Him and claim any importance for himself?

It is Allaah^-SWT, Who protects the humble creation from disgrace, preserves the self-respect of each and commands them to bow only before Him and no one else. Respect is something else and must be paid, as the status enjoyed by any one is directly commensurate with his responsibilities. But everyone has his own rights, and in terms of being Allaah^-SWT’s creation, all do Sajdaah before Him only. None is obliged to worship the other, which is a heinous crime and an affront to Allaah^-SWT’s Greatness. (But here obedience to Aadam^-AS amounts to Allaah^-SWT’s obedience.) The Qura'an reiterates, whosoever obeyed the Prophet^-SW indeed Obeyed Allaah^-SWT. It reassures that this obedience does not injure the self-respect of anyone, because it is in essence the obedience to Allaah^-SWT; and this man is the pride of humanity and its greatest benefactor, as he conveys us the Message of our Rubb. Anyone who does not accept this fact from the core of his heart cannot become a true believer. Though the outward confession of Islam is sufficient to enjoy all the rights as a Muslim, yet sooner or later the inner disbelief manifests itself either by renouncing Islam, during one’s lifetime, or at the time of death! However as long as a person does not accept the faith from the core of his heart, he remains a non-believer with Allaah^-SWT. Satan also acquired a status from his outward devotion, just as some people today manage to be taken as saints by their outward display of devotion and worship. Satan, too, became a quasi saint but was soon exposed just as the pseudo saints will be forced to face the reality at the approach of death. Satan was put to trial by the creation of Prophet Aadam^-AS and the true feelings of his heart were verbalised. Hence, whether one is an erudite or a worshipper, a saint or an orator, a general or a ruler, he owes it all to Allaah^-SWT; it is totally improper to be arrogant before Him. This is a satanic attitude adopted by the majority of mankind.

If a person forsakes the Sunnah and follows his own customs, he displays the same inner impurity, because he obviously thinks that he knows better than the Holy Prophet^-SW. It is important to look for the cure of this ailment through a spiritual master so that the vanity and arrogance are replaced by acknowledgement of Allaah^-SWT’s Greatness. Only a true descendant of the Holy Prophet^-SW can affect this cure, because it is from the realm of Prophethood and is extremely rare. The real excellence of Prophethood is the capability of healing the hearts through Divine Lights. And the true heirs of Prophethood are those who have acquired this excellence according to their own capacity. Otherwise it is all a façade, which will sooner or later fall apart.

We said, “O Adam!... lest you become wrongdoers “.

Now the training of Prophet Aadam^-AS begins, as to how he will live on Earth. He^-AS is not being told to dwell in Paradise forever but the word Uskun indicates a temporary stay, during which he^-AS and his wife may enjoy the food, clothing and begin their family life. Every new born learns the ways of life from his predecessors, but Prophet Aadam^-AS being the very first man and also a Prophet^-AS receives guidance directly from Allaah^-SWT. Both are told to stay in Paradise, but as a pre-training step for their next destination, which is a place of trials and restrictions, they are told to observe a restriction here too. They are allowed to eat whatever they wish but are forbidden to go near a specified tree, lest they become transgressors. However, the description of that tree has not been given anywhere, probably because it was not required. And anything not explained by Allaah^-SWT and His Prophet^-SW need not be probed into unnecessarily. This stay in Paradise was not like the one promised in the Aakhirah, as the latter is characterised with permanence, while this was only temporary. Thus Prophet Aadam^-AS started to live in Paradise and began to enjoy Divine hospitality. There was no restriction on his^-AS movement besides that single restraint; he^-AS was free to eat, drink and go about at will.

Here, it is important to recall a unanimous belief that the Prophets^-AS are innocent. If this state of innocence is detached from them even for a moment, the entire religion given by them will be rendered unreliable because of the possibility of an error. But despite this innocence Prophet Aadam^-AS erred. The point to ponder is that; is Paradise a place of trial, and are there any restrictions imposed on its residents? Not at all, as they will be of such fine temperaments that they will naturally act piously just as the Prophets^-AS do in their worldly existence. And is there a tree in Paradise, poisonous or harmful to the residents? Certainly not! Then why this discrimination with Prophet Aadam^-AS It was because he was not going to stay permanently in Paradise as a reward, but was being prepared and trained for deputation to this world. It was his^-AS school, and his^-AS mentor was Allaah^-SWT Himself. He was being trained that in the worldly life there would be restrictions together with the bounties, and an enemy would always be in search of an opportunity to mislead him, to whom he must not listen. He^-AS practically experienced it when deceived by Satan.

Then Satan... stay and livelihood for a while”

The entry of Satan to the heavens had not been prohibited, and it is possible that he may have spoken to Prophet Aadam^-AS from there. After all the dialogue between the dwellers of Paradise and Hell is also mentioned in the Qura'an and they will also be able to see one another. So it is also possible that Satan may have spoken to Prophet Aadam^-AS from a far off distance; It also declares that Prophet Aadam^-AS forgot. Besides, Satan swore in Allaah^-SWT’s name and Prophet Aadam^-AS thought that no one could swear in Allaah^-SWT’s name over falsehood. Amidst these feelings, he^-AS ate from the forbidden tree and had to depart from Paradise. He^-AS was told that for a certain period ordained by the Almighty, he would have to live in the world, where all provisions of life are available. And he^-AS must not forget that Satan was his^-AS avowed enemy. There could never be any truce between them.

He^-AS was not sent to Earth as a punishment rather he^-AS had been created to act as Allaah^-SWT’s deputy on Earth. But the mistake committed by him^-AS made his^-AS heart restless. The spouses landed miles apart from each other and had to go through hardship, though what they had violated was not a formal law of Shari’ah, nor was Paradise a place of trial.

Kashf of a Wali is no Authority for Others

This brings out a principle of Suluk that even though the Kashf and intuition of a Wali constitutes no authority for others, yet if he himself does not abide by it, he would suffer in two ways. Firstly, he would experience decline in his spiritual status and secondly suffer worldly setbacks. However, his faith would be preserved. It must, however, be remembered that Kashf and intuition must not be contradictory to any aspect of Shari’ah, whence these ought to be rejected.

Then Adam learnt some words from his Rubb... Ever Relenting, Most Merciful.

When Prophet Aadam^-AS found himself in distress, he^-AS turned to Allaah^-SWT, seeking guidance. His^-AS prolonged silence became a tacit petition, which was finally answered by Divine Grace and he^-AS was taught the redeeming words. This is Providence that He blesses man with the knowledge necessary for him, just as He provides him with food and other necessities. But the blessings are bestowed commensurate with one’s needs and capacity. Those content with bare bread are not forced to have butter. Similarly, knowledge is not given without quest, while a seeker is never deprived.

It has also been clarified that the recital of only those words and prayers would be beneficial, which have been prescribed by Allaah^-SWT, and taught by the Holy Prophet^-SW The Barakah of those taught by the Shaikh cannot be denied but these must be in conformity with the Qura'an and the Sunnah, and not invented by him. A physician can only dispense medicine for a disease, but cannot create new herbs that are within the exclusive domain of the Almighty. He is, however, given the requisite knowledge about the illness and its cure, which is his distinction. Similarly a Shaikh may prescribe the recital of certain phrases or Ayat from the Qura'an or Sunnah, according to the circumstances, but he can never invent any thing on his own accord. For example, Hadhrat ‘Abdul Qadir Jilani^-RUA devoted his entire life in teaching the Qura'an and the Sunnah, but his so-called followers concocted Qasidah-e-Ghauthia (a eulogy). Why not read what the accomplished Shaikh had read himself? Did he only recite his own eulogy?