Why is Bani Adam’s sentencing delayed but it wasn’t delayed for Adam and Hawa

Syed Sharfuddin

The holy Quran like other Divine Scriptures tells the believers about the origin of man. It informs them that Allah created Adam, gave him a soulmate, and permitted them to live in Jannah. The purpose of Adam’s creation was to make Adam Allah’s vicegerent on earth. The only restriction that Allah put on the First Couple was not to go near the forbidden tree. But Shaitan misguided them and made them disobey Allah. Their act fulfilled Allah’s divine plan to send Adam and Hawa from heaven to the earth to procreate and live for a limited amount of time.

Why Allah judged Adam immediately for disobeying His command? Why was there no waiting till the Day of Judgment to pronounce the decision on them? It was a summary trial in which not only was the ruling given immediately but the sentencing was also carried out without any delay. So why you and I are not punished immediately for disobeying Allah? Why is our punishment suspended till the Day of Judgement, but Adam’s sentence was not suspended? Why this different treatment? Shaitan plants such questions in the hearts of people, but true believers know these questions are from Shaitan.

It is only Allah’s mercy on humans that Allah does not judge them instantly but gives them time to repent and mend their evil ways. ‘If Allah were to punish people immediately for their wrongdoings, He would not have left a single living being on earth. But He delays them for an appointed term. And when their time arrives, they cannot delay it for a moment, nor could they advance it.’ (Surah An-Nahl, Verse 61). The door for repentance is open until the time of death but that time is unknown to humans. Allah accepted Adam’s repentance but his return to Jannah was delayed due to Allah’s divine plan. For Adam’s progeny, the arrangement is different. The decision on their actions is delayed by Allah out of His mercy but on the Day of Judgement their entrance into Jannah will not be delayed.

Allah told Adam: ‘O Adam, live with your wife in Jannah and eat as freely as you please but do not approach this tree or else you will be wrongdoers.’ (Surah Al-Araaf, Verse 19). Allah did not tell Adam and Hawa at that time that if they disobeyed the divine command, they would leave Jannah and go to earth, although they were warned that Shaitan is their sworn enemy. In fact, Shaitan told them exactly the opposite. He said to them: ‘I am your sincere friend.’ And he said that if they ate from the forbidden tree, they would become angels and live an everlasting life in Jannah. Adam also had two quintessential human weaknesses; the desire for having an exalted position and the love of immortality, which Iblis exploited to get the two of them to commit the original sin. (Surah Al-Araaf, Verse 20).

Their life on earth was going to be a trial in a world of misery, pain and hardship lasting unspecified years. This was the divine plan which Adam did not know about before it happened. But in the case of Adam’s progeny there is a different scenario. The children of Adam have been cautioned how their father Adam and mother Hawa fell in the trap of Shaitan. The children of Adam have also been given specific information about the punishment they will get for disobeying Allah. ‘O, children of Adam do not let Satan seduce you, as he seduced your parents, causing them to exit the Jannah, stripping off their garments to expose their nakedness to them. Satan and his forces can see you from where you cannot see them. We have made the evil people allies to those who do not believe.’ (Surah Al-Araaf, Verse 27). After receiving the warning if the children of Adam continue to follow Shaitan and engage in lewd Shaitani acts, they will be sent to a world of pain, misery and hardship which will be permanent and quite the opposite of Jannah. (Surah Saad, Verse 85).

Allah says for the Jannatis: ‘We will remove whatever bitterness they had in their hearts. Rivers will flow under their feet. And they will say, “Praise be to Allah for guiding us to this. We would have never been guided if Allah had not guided us. The messengers of our Lord had certainly come with the truth.” It will be announced to them: ‘This is Jannah awarded to you for what you used to do.’ Surah Al-Araaf, Verse 43). Truly Allah’s mercy embraces everything.