Short answer
Islam teaches that God (﷾) made Adam from clay and breathed life into him. He taught him the names of things, and told the angels to bow to him. Iblis (Satan) refused out of pride. God (﷾) made Adam's wife from Adam himself. Muslims call her Hawwa (Eve). They lived in the Garden and were told not to go near one tree. Satan whispered to them both, and both ate. The Qur'an does not say Eve tempted Adam. Then they both repented, and God (﷾) forgave them. So no one is born carrying their sin. Every soul answers only for itself. God (﷾) had planned from the start to place a successor on earth. Adam was the first man, the father of all people, and chosen by God (﷾).
Full explanation
Made from clay, given life and knowledge
The Qur'an tells how God (﷾) said to the angels: "I will create a vicegerent on earth." A vicegerent is one who looks after the earth on God's (﷾) behalf. He made man "from sounding clay" and breathed His spirit into him. Then "He taught Adam the names of all things". The angels could not name them, and Adam could. The Qur'an compares Jesus to Adam: God (﷾) made Adam from dust, said "Be", and he was.
“Behold, thy Lord said to the angels: "I will create a vicegerent on earth." They said: "Wilt Thou place therein one who will make mischief therein and shed blood?- whilst we do celebrate Thy praises and glorify Thy holy (name)?" He said: "I know what ye know not."”
“Behold! thy Lord said to the angels: "I am about to create man, from sounding clay from mud moulded into shape; "When I have fashioned him (in due proportion) and breathed into him of My spirit, fall ye down in obeisance unto him."”
“And He taught Adam the names of all things; then He placed them before the angels, and said: "Tell me the names of these if ye are right."”
“The similitude of Jesus before Allah is as that of Adam; He created him from dust, then said to him: "Be". And he was.”
The angels bowed, and Iblis refused
God (﷾) told the angels to bow down to Adam, and they bowed. Iblis refused. When God (﷾) asked why, he said: "I am better than he: Thou didst create me from fire, and him from clay." So the first sin in the story is pride. Iblis became Satan, the enemy of Adam and his children. The Prophet (ﷺ) said Adam's first words to the angels were "Peace be upon you" (Bukhari 3326). That has been the greeting of his children ever since.
“And behold, We said to the angels: "Bow down to Adam" and they bowed down. Not so Iblis: he refused and was haughty: He was of those who reject Faith.”
“It is We Who created you and gave you shape; then We bade the angels prostrate to Adam, and they prostrate; not so Iblis; He refused to be of those who prostrate. (Allah) said: "What prevented thee from prostrating when I commanded thee?" He said: "I am better than he: Thou didst create me from fire, and him from clay."”
Abu Hurayra reports that the Prophet (ﷺ) said Allah created Adam sixty cubits tall and told him to greet a group of angels. Adam said "Peace be upon you", and they answered "Peace be upon you, and the mercy of Allah": the greeting of his children ever since.
His wife, made from Adam
The Qur'an says God (﷾) created people "from a single person", and created "of like nature, His mate". The Arabic word here, minha, means "from it": from that single person, Adam. Ibn Kathir, a 14th-century commentator, explains that she was made from Adam's rib while he slept. The Prophet (ﷺ) said woman was created from a rib, and told men to treat women kindly (Bukhari 3331). The Qur'an does not give her name. Muslims call her Hawwa, the Arabic form of Eve. Man and woman share one origin, and neither is lesser in God's (﷾) sight.
“O mankind! reverence your Guardian-Lord, who created you from a single person, created, of like nature, His mate, and from them twain scattered (like seeds) countless men and women;- reverence Allah, through whom ye demand your mutual (rights), and (reverence) the wombs (That bore you): for Allah ever watches over you.”
On "and created from it its mate", Ibn Kathir says Hawwa (Eve) was created from Adam's left rib, from behind him, while he slept. When he woke and saw her, each felt affection for the other. He cites the authentic hadith that woman was created from a rib.
Abu Hurayra reports that the Prophet (ﷺ) said: treat women kindly, for woman was created from a rib. If you try to straighten it you will break it, so treat women kindly.
“O mankind! We created you from a single (pair) of a male and a female, and made you into nations and tribes, that ye may know each other (not that ye may despise (each other). Verily the most honoured of you in the sight of Allah is (he who is) the most righteous of you. And Allah has full knowledge and is well acquainted (with all things).”
Both ate, and the Qur'an blames neither one alone
They lived in the Garden and could eat freely, but were told not to go near one tree. "Then began Satan to whisper suggestions to them": to both of them. "They both ate of the tree", the Qur'an says. In one passage it names Adam: "thus did Adam disobey his Lord". In Genesis, Adam answers God (﷾): "The woman whom thou gavest to be with me, she gave me of the tree". The Qur'an never puts the blame on Eve. That matters. In the New Testament, Paul writes: "Adam was not deceived, but the woman being deceived was in the transgression." Words like these have long been used to blame women.
“We said: "O Adam! dwell thou and thy wife in the Garden; and eat of the bountiful things therein as (where and when) ye will; but approach not this tree, or ye run into harm and transgression." Then did Satan make them slip from the (garden), and get them out of the state (of felicity) in which they had been. We said: "Get ye down, all (ye people), with enmity between yourselves. On earth will be your dwelling-place and your means of livelihood - for a time."”
“Then began Satan to whisper suggestions to them, bringing openly before their minds all their shame that was hidden from them (before): he said: "Your Lord only forbade you this tree, lest ye should become angels or such beings as live for ever." And he swore to them both, that he was their sincere adviser. So by deceit he brought about their fall: when they tasted of the tree, their shame became manifest to them, and they began to sew together the leaves of the garden over their bodies. And their Lord called unto them: "Did I not forbid you that tree, and tell you that Satan was an avowed enemy unto you?"”
“In the result, they both ate of the tree, and so their nakedness appeared to them: they began to sew together, for their covering, leaves from the Garden: thus did Adam disobey his Lord, and allow himself to be seduced. But his Lord chose him (for His Grace): He turned to him, and gave him Guidance.”
“And the man said, The woman whom thou gavest to be with me, she gave me of the tree, and I did eat. And the Lord God said unto the woman, What is this that thou hast done? And the woman said, The serpent beguiled me, and I did eat.”
“And Adam was not deceived, but the woman being deceived was in the transgression.”
| Question | The Qur'an | Genesis and Paul |
|---|---|---|
| Who was led astray? | Satan whispered to both, and both ate | The serpent beguiled the woman, and she gave to Adam |
| Who is blamed? | Neither one alone; it names Adam's disobedience | Adam blames the woman; Paul says the woman was deceived |
| Were they forgiven? | Yes. Both repented, and God (﷾) forgave them | Many Christians: the sin passed to all mankind |
| Is anyone born with their sin? | No. No soul bears another's burden | Many Christians: yes, every person is born in sin |
They repented, and God (﷾) forgave them
Adam and his wife said: "Our Lord! We have wronged our own souls: If thou forgive us not and bestow not upon us Thy Mercy, we shall certainly be lost." God (﷾) taught Adam words of repentance and turned to him. "His Lord chose him (for His Grace)" and guided him. So their sin was forgiven, and it was not passed on. The Qur'an says "no bearer of burdens can bear the burden of another". Every child is born free of Adam's sin.
“They said: "Our Lord! We have wronged our own souls: If thou forgive us not and bestow not upon us Thy Mercy, we shall certainly be lost."”
“Then learnt Adam from his Lord words of inspiration, and his Lord Turned towards him; for He is Oft-Returning, Most Merciful.”
“In the result, they both ate of the tree, and so their nakedness appeared to them: they began to sew together, for their covering, leaves from the Garden: thus did Adam disobey his Lord, and allow himself to be seduced. But his Lord chose him (for His Grace): He turned to him, and gave him Guidance.”
“Namely, that no bearer of burdens can bear the burden of another;”
Life on earth was always the plan
Before Adam was made, God (﷾) had said He would place a vicegerent on earth. So the earth is not a prison for the sin of the first couple. It is where people were always meant to live and be tested. God (﷾) told them that guidance would come to them, and whoever follows it need have no fear. The Prophet (ﷺ) said Adam answered Moses' blame by saying God (﷾) had written it before he was made (Bukhari 6614). And God (﷾) chose Adam, with Noah and the families of Abraham and Imran.
“Behold, thy Lord said to the angels: "I will create a vicegerent on earth." They said: "Wilt Thou place therein one who will make mischief therein and shed blood?- whilst we do celebrate Thy praises and glorify Thy holy (name)?" He said: "I know what ye know not."”
“We said: "Get ye down all from here; and if, as is sure, there comes to you Guidance from me, whosoever follows My guidance, on them shall be no fear, nor shall they grieve.”
Abu Hurayra reports that the Prophet (ﷺ) said Adam and Moses argued. Moses blamed Adam for bringing people out of the Garden. Adam answered that Allah had written it for him before he was created. The Prophet (ﷺ) said Adam had the better of the argument.
“Allah did choose Adam and Noah, the family of Abraham, and the family of 'Imran above all people,-”
Perspectives
Original sin
Many Christians believe Adam's sin was passed on to all his descendants. So every person is born in sin, and needs Christ's death to be saved.
Paul says that by one man sin entered the world, and death passed upon all men.
Rebuttal
The Qur'an says God (﷾) forgave Adam and his wife, and that no soul bears another's burden. The Bible itself says: "The son shall not bear the iniquity of the father". A sin forgiven cannot be passed on.
The Islamic perspective
God (﷾) created Adam from clay, and his wife from Adam. Both ate from the tree, both repented and both were forgiven. No one inherits their sin, and life on earth was always God's (﷾) plan.
God (﷾) made Adam from clay, breathed into him and taught him the names of all things.
Iblis refused to bow out of pride: "I am better than he".
Satan whispered to both, and both ate from the tree.
Both repented and God (﷾) forgave them.
No soul carries another's burden, so no one is born with Adam's sin.