Al-Qur'an Surah Al-A'raf Verse 20

Mufti Taqi Usmani

Then Satan whispered to them, so that he might expose to them their shame that was hidden from them; and said, “Your Lord has not prohibited this tree for you, but to avoid your becoming angels or your becoming eternal.”

Dr. Mustafa Khattab, the Clear Quran

Then Satan tempted them in order to expose what was hidden of their nakedness. He said, “Your Lord has forbidden this tree to you only to prevent you from becoming angels or immortals.”

Ruwwad Translation Center

Then Satan whispered to them in order to expose what was hidden from them of their private parts. He said, “Your Lord has only forbidden to you this tree to prevent you from becoming angels or immortals.”

A. J. Arberry

Then Satan whispered to them, to reveal to them that which was hidden from them of their shameful parts. He said, 'Your Lord has only prohibited you from this tree lest you become angels, or lest you become immortals.'

Abdul Haleem

Satan whispered to them so as to expose their nakedness, which had been hidden from them: he said, ‘Your Lord only forbade you this tree to prevent you becoming angels or immortals,’

Abdul Majid Daryabadi

Then the Satan whispered unto the twain in order that he might discover unto the twain that which lay hidden from the twain of their shame, and said: your Lord forbade you not vender tree but lest ye twain should become angels or become of the abiders.

Abdullah Yusuf Ali

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."

Abul Ala Maududi

But Satan made an evil suggestion to both of them that he might reveal to them their shame that had remained hidden from them. He said: 'Your Lord has forbidden you to approach this tree only to prevent you from becoming angels or immortals.'

Ahmed Ali

But Satan suggested (evil) to them, in order to reveal their hidden parts of which they were not aware (till then), and said: "Your Lord has forbidden you (to go near) this tree that you may not become angels or immortal."

Ahmed Raza Khan

Then Satan created apprehensions in their hearts in order to disclose to them matters of their shame which were hidden from them, and said, “Your Lord has forbidden you from this tree, for you may become angels or immortals.”

Ali Quli Qarai

Then Satan tempted them, to expose to them what was hidden from them of their nakedness, and he said, ‘Your Lord has only forbidden you from this tree lest you should become angels, or lest you become immortal.’

Ali Ünal

Then Satan made an evil suggestion to both of them that he might reveal to them their private parts that had remained hidden from them (and waken their carnal impulses), and he said: "Your Lord has forbidden you this tree only lest you should become sovereigns, or lest you should become immortals."

Amatul Rahman Omar

Then satan made an evil suggestion to them both, with the result that their shortcomings which were hidden from them, became manifest to them, and he said, `Your Lord forbade you from this tree only lest you should become angels or become of the immortals.´

English Literal

So the devil talked to/gave evil suggestions and temptations to them (B) to show to them (B) what was hidden/concealed from them (B) from their (B)`s shameful genital private parts, and he said: "Your (B)`s Lord did not prevent you (B) from that/this tree except that you (B) become/be two angels or you (B) become/be from the immortal/eternal ."

Faridul Haque

Then Satan created apprehensions in their hearts in order to disclose to them matters of their shame which were hidden from them, and said, "Your Lord has forbidden you from this tree, for you may become angels or immortals."

Hamid S. Aziz

Then Satan whispered to them (planted suggestions in their minds) to display to them what was kept back from them of their shame (they felt shame or guilt for the first time), and he said, "your Lord has only forbidden you this tree lest you should become angels, or should become of the immortals."

Hilali & Khan

Then Shaitan (Satan) whispered suggestions to them both in order to uncover that which was hidden from them of their private parts (before); he said: "Your Lord did not forbid you this tree save you should become angels or become of the immortals."

Maulana Mohammad Ali

And (We said): O Adam, dwell thou and thy wife in the garden, so eat from whence you desire, but go not near this tree, lest you become of the unjust.

Mohammad Habib Shakir

But the Shaitan made an evil suggestion to them that he might make manifest to them what had been hidden from them of their evil inclinations, and he said: Your Lord has not forbidden you this tree except that you may not both become two angels or that you may (not) become of the immortals.

Mohammed Marmaduke William Pickthall

Then Satan whispered to them that he might manifest unto them that which was hidden from them of their shame, and he said: Your Lord forbade you from this tree only lest ye should become angels or become of the immortals.

Muhammad Sarwar

Satan tempted them to reveal that which was kept private from them and said, "Your Lord has not prohibited you (to eat the fruits of this tree) unless you want to be angels or immortal."

Qaribullah & Darwish

But satan whispered to them, so that he might reveal to them their shameful parts which had been hidden from them, he said: 'Your Lord has prohibited you from this tree lest you both become angels or become among the immortal'

Safi-ur-Rahman al-Mubarakpuri

Then Shaytan whispered suggestions to them both in order to uncover that which was hidden from them of their private parts (before); he said: "Your Lord did not forbid you this tree save you should become angels or become of the immortals."

Wahiduddin Khan

But Satan tempted them so that he might reveal to them their nakedness which had been hidden from them. He said, "Your Lord has forbidden you to approach this tree lest you should become angels or become of the immortals,"

Talal Itani

But Satan whispered to them, to reveal to them their nakedness, which was invisible to them. He said, “Your Lord has only forbidden you this tree, lest you become angels, or become immortals.”

Tafsir jalalayn

Then Satan, Ibls, whispered to them that he might manifest, reveal, to them that which was hidden (wriya; based on [the verbal form] f`ila and [derives] from [the infinitive] al-muwr) to them of their shameful parts. And he said, `Your Lord prohibited you from this tree only, in aversion, lest you become angels (malakayn may also be read malikayn) or become immortals', in other words, that is the necessary consequence of eating from it, as [is stated] in another verse; Shall I guide you to the Tree of Immortality and a kingdom that does not waste away? [Q. 20;120].

Tafseer Ibn Kathir

فَوَسْوَسَ لَهُمَا الشَّيْطَانُ لِيُبْدِيَ لَهُمَا مَا وُورِيَ عَنْهُمَا مِن سَوْءَاتِهِمَا


"And O Adam! Dwell you and your wife in Paradise, and eat thereof as you both wish, but approach not this tree otherwise you both will be of the wrongdoers.Then Shaytan whispered suggestions to them both in order to uncover that which was hidden from them of their private parts (before);

Allah states that He allowed Adam and his wife to dwell in Paradise and to eat from all of its fruits, except one tree.

We have already discussed this in Surah Al-Baqarah.

Thus, Shaytan envied them and plotted deceitfully, whispering and suggesting treachery. He wished to rid them of the various favors and nice clothes that they were enjoying.

وَقَالَ

He (Shaytan) said,

uttering lies and falsehood,

مَا نَهَاكُمَا رَبُّكُمَا عَنْ هَـذِهِ الشَّجَرَةِ إِلاَّ أَن تَكُونَا مَلَكَيْنِ

"Your Lord did not forbid you this tree save you should become angels..."

meaning, so that you do not become angels or dwell here for eternity.

أَوْ تَكُونَا مِنَ الْخَالِدِينَ




or become of the immortals."

Surely, if you eat from this tree, you will attain both, he said.

In another Ayah,

قَالَ يـَادَمُ هَلْ أَدُلُّكَ عَلَى شَجَرَةِ الْخُلْدِ وَمُلْكٍ لاَّ يَبْلَى
Shaytan whispered to him, saying;"O Adam! Shall I lead you to the Tree of Eternity and to a kingdom that will never waste away." (20;120)

Here, the wording is similar, so it means, `so that you do not become angels,' as in;

يُبَيِّنُ اللَّهُ لَكُمْ أَن تَضِلُّواْ

(Thus) does Allah make clear to you (His Law) lest you go astray. (4;176)

meaning, so that you do not go astray,

and,

وَأَلْقَى فِى الاٌّرْضِ رَوَاسِىَ أَن تَمِيدَ بِكُمْ

And He has affixed into the earth mountains standing firm, lest it should shake with you; (16;15)

that is, so that the earth does not shake with you