The difference between Adam's sin and Iblis's

الفرق بين معصية آدم ومعصية إبليس

Sha'rawi holds that Adam's error was heedlessness; that he confessed and repented, and God accepted his repentance; that Iblis was proud and answered the command with a refusal, which was disbelief; and that the inherited sin requiring a redeemer has no basis in his view 1 2 3 4.

Depth

At a glance

Era
The Prophetic Era
Region
Global / Diaspora
Review
Draft Completeness 1/5 · Help complete it

Creed

Summary

Sha'rawi holds that Adam ate from the tree through heedlessness, then confessed and repented, and God accepted his repentance; and that Iblis answered the command with a refusal, which was disbelief 2 3. He answers those who say that sin is inherited and needs a redeemer 1. See al-A'raf 23 and al-Baqara 37.

Error and sin

He distinguishes an error that is corrected from a sin that is punished. Adam erred and was guided back, sin is not inherited, and one soul does not bear another's burden 1. See al-An'am 164.

Heedlessness and pride

He holds that Adam's sin was of heedlessness and Iblis's of pride against God's command 3. He warns against rejecting the command: one who does not pray should not say prayer is useless, but should affirm that the duty is true and ask for mercy for his weakness 3.

The words of repentance

He notes that the reports differ on the words Adam received, and holds that God inspired him with words by which he drew near to God, and that God created humans free to choose, so they err at times and then repent 4. See al-Baqara 37.

Not yet checked

This is Sha'rawi's reading. The view he rejects is described by him and not quoted from its source, and no comparative study of original sin is set out here. Not yet checked.

Opinions on the question

The question: Is Adam's sin inherited and in need of a redeemer, or was it an error for which God accepted repentance?

First opinion · Sunni tradition (the museum's frame)Main reference

Adam's error was pardoned after repentance; sin is not inherited; Iblis's was disbelief through pride

Sha'rawi distinguishes an error that is corrected from a sin that is punished. He holds that Adam erred and was guided, that sin is not inherited, and he compares Adam's acknowledgement with Iblis's pride {cite:tafsir-sharawi-khawatir-scan p.269} {cite:tafsir-sharawi-khawatir-scan p.273}.

Held by: Muhammad Mutawalli al-Sha'rawi

More opinions (2)

Academic viewSecondary opinion

A comparative study of the idea of original sin is not yet added

No comparative study of original sin in other religions is set out in these pages; it needs a named source.

Other viewOther opinion

The view he rejects, as he describes it

Sha'rawi describes a view that a redeemer is needed to ransom the world; the view is not quoted from its source here and has not been checked.

People and things also explored

The people of the qibla and not declaring takfir for sin· The hereafter: the grave, resurrection and reckoning· Islamic eschatology· Reason and heart· The Throne (al-Arsh)· Al-din al-qayyim (the upright religion)· Absolute unseen (al-ghayb al-mutlaq)· «Be, and it is» (kun fa-yakun): creation by command, not by a mould

Sources

  1. Sha'rawi's Khawatir around the Holy Quran, volume one (scan copy) , p.269
  2. Sha'rawi's Khawatir around the Holy Quran, volume one (scan copy) , p.272
  3. Sha'rawi's Khawatir around the Holy Quran, volume one (scan copy) , p.273
  4. Sha'rawi's Khawatir around the Holy Quran, volume one (scan copy) , p.274
Cite this page

islam.museum contributors. “The difference between Adam's sin and Iblis's”. islam.museum, https://islam.museum/en/concept/fariq-bayn-maasiyat-adam-wa-iblis/. CC BY-SA 4.0. Last updated 2026-10-23.

Improve this page on GitHub · Report an error · JSON

Wing

Ideas

Beliefs, concepts, sciences and schools, explained in plain words.
Related

The people of the qibla and not declaring takfir for sin

al-Tahawi's principle of calling the people of the qibla Muslims and believers so long as they accept what the Prophet brought, and of not declaring any of them an unbeliever for a sin unless he declares it lawful.