Adam and Iblis: the cards as text

Stories. Draft written with AI help: awaiting scholar review.

1. Card 1

   One refused out of pride. Two slipped, turned back, and were forgiven.

2. Card 2

   "I will place a successor on earth"

   The story opens with an announcement. God tells the angels He will place a khalifah, a steward, on earth. They ask whether he will cause bloodshed. God answers: I know what you do not. Then He teaches Adam the names of all things.

3. Card 3

   Qur'an 2:30-31

   وَإِذۡ قَالَ رَبُّكَ لِلۡمَلَٰٓئِكَةِ إِنِّي جَاعِلࣰ فِي ٱلۡأَرۡضِ خَلِيفَةࣱۖ قَالُوٓاْ أَتَجۡعَلُ فِيهَا مَن يُفۡسِدُ فِيهَا وَيَسۡفِكُ ٱلدِّمَآءَ وَنَحۡنُ نُسَبِّحُ بِحَمۡدِكَ وَنُقَدِّسُ لَكَۖ قَالَ إِنِّيٓ أَعۡلَمُ مَا لَا تَعۡلَمُونَ ۝٣٠

   ³⁰ And [remember] when your Lord said to the angels, “I am going to appoint a vicegerent on earth.” They said, “Will You appoint on it someone who will spread corruption therein and shed blood, while we glorify You with Your praises and proclaim Your holiness?” He said, “I know that which you do not know.”

4. Card 4

   Lesson: Humans are honoured first by knowledge: Adam could learn the names.

5. Card 5

   The one who would not bow

   Adam has been honoured with knowledge. Now God commands the angels to bow to him. All bow but Iblis. I am better than him, he says; You made me from fire and him from clay. The first sin is pride, not ignorance.

6. Card 6

   Qur'an 7:12

   قَالَ مَا مَنَعَكَ أَلَّا تَسۡجُدَ إِذۡ أَمَرۡتُكَۖ قَالَ أَنَا۠ خَيۡرࣰ مِّنۡهُ خَلَقۡتَنِي مِن نَّارࣲ وَخَلَقۡتَهُۥ مِن طِينࣲ ۝١٢

   ¹² Allah said, “What prevented you from prostrating when I ordered you?” He said, “I am better than him; You created me from fire and created him from clay.”

7. Card 7

   Lesson: The first sin was Iblis saying "I am better than him."

8. Card 8

   The tree, and the way back

   Adam and his wife live in the garden, free except for one tree. Satan whispers to both of them. Both eat, and both feel ashamed. Adam receives words of repentance from God, and is forgiven.

9. Card 9

   Qur'an 7:23

   قَالَا رَبَّنَا ظَلَمۡنَآ أَنفُسَنَا وَإِن لَّمۡ تَغۡفِرۡ لَنَا وَتَرۡحَمۡنَا لَنَكُونَنَّ مِنَ ٱلۡخَٰسِرِينَ ۝٢٣

   ²³ They said, “Our Lord, we have wronged ourselves; if You do not forgive us and have mercy upon us, we will surely be among the losers.”

10. Card 10

    Lesson: Adam and his wife both ate, both repented, and both were forgiven.

11. Card 11

    How it differs from Genesis

    Adam's story may sound familiar. Genesis and the Qur'an share the garden, the tree and the fall. The Qur'an differs. Blame is shared. The forgiveness is immediate. No original sin is passed to Adam's children.

12. Card 12

    Qur'an 6:164

    قُلۡ أَغَيۡرَ ٱللَّهِ أَبۡغِي رَبࣱّا وَهُوَ رَبُّ كُلِّ شَيۡءࣲۚ وَلَا تَكۡسِبُ كُلُّ نَفۡسٍ إِلَّا عَلَيۡهَاۚ وَلَا تَزِرُ وَازِرَةࣰ وِزۡرَ أُخۡرَىٰۚ ثُمَّ إِلَىٰ رَبِّكُم مَّرۡجِعُكُمۡ فَيُنَبِّئُكُم بِمَا كُنتُمۡ فِيهِ تَخۡتَلِفُونَ ۝١٦٤

    ¹⁶⁴ Say [O Prophet], “Should I seek a lord other than Allah, when He is the Lord of everything?” Every soul will face the consequences of its actions. No bearer of burden will bear the burden of another. Then to your Lord is your return, and He will inform you concerning that over which you used to differ.

13. Card 13

    Lesson: In Islam, no one carries Adam's sin.

14. Card 14

    Reflect: What was Iblis's reason for refusing to bow?

    Answer: "I am better than him". Pride: he said he was made of fire and Adam of clay. Arrogance, not ignorance, was the first sin.

15. Card 15

    The end of Adam and Iblis.

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