فَوَسْوَسَ لَهُمَا ٱلشَّيْطَـٰنُ لِيُبْدِىَ لَهُمَا مَا وُۥرِىَ عَنْهُمَا مِن سَوْءَٰتِهِمَا وَقَالَ مَا نَهَىٰكُمَا رَبُّكُمَا عَنْ هَـٰذِهِ ٱلشَّجَرَةِ إِلَّآ أَن تَكُونَا مَلَكَيْنِ أَوْ تَكُونَا مِنَ ٱلْخَـٰلِدِينَ 20
Translations
But Satan whispered to them to make apparent to them that which was concealed from them of their private parts. He said, "Your Lord did not forbid you this tree except that you become angels or become of the immortal."
Transliteration
Fawasawasa lahuma ash-shaytanu liyubdiya lahuma ma wuriya anhuma min sawatin wa-qala ma nahaakuma rabbukuma an hadhihi ash-shajarati illa an takuna malakayni aw takuna min al-khalideen
Tafsir (Explanation)
This ayah describes how Shaytan whispered (waswas) to Adam and Eve, convincing them that Allah forbade the tree only to prevent them from becoming angels or immortal beings. According to Ibn Kathir and Al-Tabari, Shaytan's deception employed two tactics: first, making them desire what was hidden (their private parts/nakedness), and second, insinuating that Allah's prohibition was motivated by jealousy rather than wisdom. The scholars emphasize that this represents Shaytan's characteristic method of exploiting human desire and sowing doubt about Allah's intentions.
Revelation Context
This ayah is part of the narrative of Adam and Eve in Surah Al-A'raf (verses 11-18), which details the creation of humanity and the first sin. While Al-A'raf is a Meccan surah revealed to remind the Meccans of Allah's signs and warnings, this particular passage provides the archetypal story of how human weakness, desire, and susceptibility to Satanic whispers led to the first disobedience of a divine command.
Related Hadiths
The Prophet (peace be upon him) said: 'Verily Shaytan flows through the son of Adam like blood' (Sahih Bukhari and Sahih Muslim). Additionally, 'The best of you are those who struggle most against their nafs (self)' - related to resisting Satanic whispers and base desires (Tirmidhi).
Themes
Key Lesson
This ayah teaches us that Shaytan's most effective weapons are doubt about Allah's wisdom and the exploitation of our natural desires—we must recognize that divine prohibitions stem from mercy, not deprivation. In our modern context, we should be vigilant against whispers that rationalize disobedience by questioning Allah's justice or by promising worldly gain, remembering that true elevation comes through obedience, not rebellion.
Related Ayahs
وَإِذَا لَمْ تَأْتِهِم بِـَٔايَةٍ قَالُوا۟ لَوْلَا ٱجْتَبَيْتَهَا ۚ قُلْ إِنَّمَآ أَتَّبِعُ مَا يُوحَىٰٓ إِلَىَّ مِن رَّبِّى ۚ هَـٰذَا بَصَآئِرُ مِن رَّبِّكُمْ وَهُدًى وَرَحْمَةٌ لِّقَوْمٍ يُؤْمِنُونَ
And when you, [O Muḥammad], do not bring them a sign [i.e., miracle], they say, "Why have you not contrived it?" Say, "I only follow what is revealed to me from my Lord. This [Qur’ān] is enlightenment from your Lord and guidance and mercy for a people who believe."
ثُمَّ بَدَّلْنَا مَكَانَ ٱلسَّيِّئَةِ ٱلْحَسَنَةَ حَتَّىٰ عَفَوا۟ وَّقَالُوا۟ قَدْ مَسَّ ءَابَآءَنَا ٱلضَّرَّآءُ وَٱلسَّرَّآءُ فَأَخَذْنَـٰهُم بَغْتَةً وَهُمْ لَا يَشْعُرُونَ
Then We exchanged in place of the bad [condition], good, until they increased [and prospered] and said, "Our fathers [also] were touched with hardship and ease." So We seized them suddenly while they did not perceive.
قَالَ أَلْقُوا۟ ۖ فَلَمَّآ أَلْقَوْا۟ سَحَرُوٓا۟ أَعْيُنَ ٱلنَّاسِ وَٱسْتَرْهَبُوهُمْ وَجَآءُو بِسِحْرٍ عَظِيمٍ
He said, "Throw," and when they threw, they bewitched the eyes of the people and struck terror into them, and they presented a great [feat of] magic.
فَأَلْقَىٰ عَصَاهُ فَإِذَا هِىَ ثُعْبَانٌ مُّبِينٌ
So he [i.e., Moses] threw his staff, and suddenly it was a serpent, manifest.