Sin death and beyond

SIN, DEATH AND BEYOND: M.M.NINAN
B
ISLAMIC INTERPRETATION
In Mohammedan Literature:
No mention is made of Adam in the early suras of the Koran. Though Mohammed speaks of
the creation of man in general from a "clot of blood" or a "drop of water" (suras lxxv. 34, lxxvii.
20, xcvi. 1), it is only in the later Meccan suras that the original creation of man is connected
with a particular individual. But in these suras the theory is already developed that Satan's
designs against man are consequent upon the expulsion of the former from paradise at the
time of man's creation. Geiger has incorrectly remarked ("Was Hat Mohammed aus dem
Judenthume Aufgenommen?" p. 100) that this is not a Jewish idea (see Vita Adæ et Evæ, §
16). It belongs also to the cycle of the Christian-Syriac Midrash (see Budge, "The Book of the
Bee," p. 21, trans.; Bezold, "Die Schatzhöhle," pp. 5, 6, trans.). In the earliest account the
name Adam does not occur; nor does Iblis vow vengeance upon a single individual, but rather
upon the whole race of mankind:
Iblis, the Devil, Respited.
"When thy Lord said to the angels, 'Verily, I am about to create a mortal out of clay; and when I
have fashioned him, and breathed into him of My spirit, then fall ye down before him adoring.'
And the angels adored, all of them save Iblis, who was too big with pride, and was of the
misbelievers. Said He, 'O Iblis! what prevents thee from adoring what I have created with My
two hands? Art thou too big with pride? or art thou amongst the exalted?' Said he, 'I am better
than he; Thou hast created me from fire, and him Thou hast created from clay.' Said He, 'Then
go forth therefrom; for verily thou art pelted, and verily upon thee is My curse unto the day of
judgment.' Said he, 'My Lord! then respite me until the day when they are raised.' Said He,
'Then thou art amongst the respited until the day of the stated time.' Said he, 'Then, by Thy
might, I will surely seduce them all together, except Thy servants amongst them who are
sincere!' Said He, 'It is the truth, and the truth I speak; I will surely fill hell with thee and with
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