Hazrat Adam (AS): Infallible or Sinner?
After the creation of Adam and Eve, God settled them in paradise, telling them to eat and benefit from every blessing there but not to get near the forbidden tree.
However, Satan deceived them and they ate fruit from the forbidden tree. Due to their disobedience, they were banished from paradise and had to live on earth.
The Holy Quran describes Adam’s (AS) move as disobedience: “… Adam disobeyed his Lord and went astray.” (Surah Taha, verse 121)
Adam (AS) was the first prophet and, according to Shia beliefs, prophets of God never commit sins or wrongdoings. So how can one explain Adam’s disobedience? There are five views about this mentioned in Shia interpretations of the Quran:
1- The errors made by prophets like Adam (AS), Yusuf (AS), Yunus (AS), …, are not sins but Tark al-Awla (abandoning the better). Disobedience does not necessarily mean committing a sin by abandoning a Wajib (an obligation) or doing something Haram (forbidden) but may mean abandoning something that is Mustahab (recommended) or doing something that is Makruh (better to avoid). So Adam’s disobedience was a Makruh act but because prophets have a sublime status, even doing a Makruh act is not expected from them and if they do it, God reprimands them.
2- Some believe that God ordered Adam and Eve not to eat fruit from that tree in order for them to realize the natural consequences of that action. If a patient does not act in accordance with what the doctor tells him to do, it will not have punishment but he will suffer from the consequences.
The Quran says: “We said, ‘Adam, this (Satan) is your enemy and the enemy of your spouse. Let him not expel you and your spouse from Paradise lest you plunge into misery.” (Surah Taha, verse 117)
3- Some Quran interpreters say that forbidding Adam from getting near the tree and eating its fruit was not an order but only a recommendation. That is to say, they believe that it was a Mustahab act to avoid eating the fruit, and Adam (AS) deprived himself from its Thawab (reward) by not doing it.
4- Some others say that the story of Adam (AS) and his disobedience is an allegory symbolizing humanity not Adam (AS) himself.
5- Some other Quran interpreters refer to a number of Hadiths and say Adam’s (AS) disobedience took place before his Bi’tha (appointment to prophethood).
