[The holy Quran 20:115] We tested Adam in the
past, but he forgot, and we found him indecisive.
[20:116] Recall that we said to the angels, "Fall
prostrate before Adam." They fell prostrate, except Satan; he refused.
[20:117] We then said, "O Adam, this is an enemy
of you and your wife. Do not let him evict you from Paradise, lest you
become miserable.
[20:118] "You are guaranteed never to hunger
therein, nor go unsheltered.
[20:119] "Nor will you thirst therein, nor suffer
from any heat."
[20:120] But the devil whispered to him, saying,
"O Adam, let me show you the tree of eternity and unending kingship."
[20:121] They ate from it, whereupon their bodies
became visible to them, and they tried to cover themselves with the leaves
of Paradise. Adam thus disobeyed his Lord, and fell.
[20:122] Subsequently, his Lord chose him,
redeemed him, and guided him.
We human
being must be always very grateful to Allah, almighty. God created us and
honored us even above angels. What more we could expect! So we must have
some minimum responsibilities to maintain this great honor and position. God
commanded all angels and the father of Jinn (Satan) to fall prostrate before
our father, Adam. This is huge significant as we all are just children of
Adam. God also allowed Adam and his wife to live in paradise. But how did
our father Adam follow a simple command of God?! He made a big crime to
disobey God's commands. He was enticed by devil despite God clearly showed
him that devil is his enemy. Even though, subsequently
God chose him, redeemed him, and guided
him[20:122]. As we all are children of Adam, we could expect similar amount
of mercy from God. So, what our father Adam did to get God's mercy even
though he made a horrendous mistake before? He simply implored
God to seek His forgiveness and mercy and he was never insistent on his
first crime.
[The Quran 7:23] They (Adam and his wife) said,
"Our Lord, we have wronged our souls, and unless You forgive us and have
mercy on us, we will be losers."
God is very loving and merciful to us, no doubt.
[3:135] If they fall in sin or wrong their souls,
they remember GOD and ask forgiveness for their sins - and who forgives the
sins except GOD - and they do not persist in sins, knowingly.
[4:110] Anyone who commits evil, or wrongs his
soul, then implores GOD for forgiveness, will find GOD Forgiving, Most
Merciful.
[16:18] If you count GOD's blessings, you cannot
possibly encompass them. GOD is Forgiver, Most Merciful.
God's Infinite Mercy
[39:53] Proclaim: "O My servants who exceeded the
limits, never despair of GOD's mercy. For GOD forgives all sins. He is the
Forgiver, Most Merciful."
It is huge good news for all of us. God is,
without doubt, very much loving and merciful towards us. That is why God is
the most merciful. But if we repeatedly disobey His commands, we must be
ready to be punished. And His punishment is indeed dreadful. God is the most
merciful but He is efficient to enforce severe punishment if we continuously
annoy Him to disobey His commands.
Dr.
Md. Anisur Rahman
http://www.progressive-muslim.org/