Did Hz. Adam forget or did he not forget Allah's covenant?

Dear Brother / Sister,

The word “nasiya” mentioned in verse 115 of the chapter of Ta Ha was interpreted differently by tafsir scholars.

According to Ibn Abbas and Mujahid, this word does not mean to forget but to abandon. (Tabari, the interpretation of the relevant verse)

Accordingly, the meaning of the verse is as follows: “We had already beforehand, taken the covenant of Adam, but he abandoned: and We found on his part no firm resolve.”

According to Ibn Zayd, the word “nasiya” is used in its original sense in this verse and it means to forget. Accordingly, the meaning of the verse is as follows: “We said to Adam, 'verily, this is an enemy to thee and thy wife: so let him not get you both out of the Garden so that thou art landed in misery' and gave him this order but he forgot the covenant and We found on his part no firm resolve.”

According to another narration, Ibn Abbas explains the reason why man is called “insan” in Arabic as “the fact that Adam forgot Allah’s covenant.” (Tabari, ibid)

We can state the following as a general evaluation:

Hz. Adam’s forgetting the covenant is not contradictory to his acting consciously in accordance with what Satan said. For, what is forgotten is the fact that “Satan is an enemy.”

Therefore, his forgetting Allah’s statement that Satan is his enemy is not contradictory but confirmative. For, Hz. Adam’s acting in accordance with what Satan said originated from his believing in Satan's words. The reason why he believed in Satan was the fact that he regarded him as a friend who gave him advice. The reason why he regarded Satan as a friend was the fact that he forgot Allah’s statement indicating “Satan was a ferocious enemy."

That is, Hz. Adam’s forgetting that “Satan was his enemy” caused him to believe in Satan and to be deceived by his delusions.

It can be said that an important reason why the repentance of Hz. Adam is accepted in the Quran is the fact that he forgot the “COVENANT”. The expressions stating that he made a mistake show that he believed in Satan and acted in accordance with what he said.

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