Tree of life (Quran)

Short description: Tree of life motif in the Quran

The Tree of Immortality, Palace of Shaki Khans, Azerbaijan

The Tree of Immortality (Arabic: شَجَرَةُ الْخُلْد) is the tree of life motif as it appears in the Quran. It is also alluded to in hadiths and tafsir. Unlike the biblical account, the Quran mentions only one tree in Eden, that was whispered to Adam by Satan as the tree of immortality,^[1] which Allah specifically forbade to Adam and Eve; in other words, there is no tree of knowledge in the Quran.^[2]^[3] The tree in the Quran is used as an example for a concept, idea, way of life or code of life. A good concept/idea is represented as a good tree and a bad idea/concept is represented as a bad tree.^[4] Satan appeared to them and told them that the only reason God forbade them to eat from that tree is that they would become angels (malak) or start using the idea/concept of ownerships (mulk) in conjunction with inheritance generations after generations which Iblis convinced Adam to accept.^[5]

The ahadith, however, speak about other trees in heaven.^[6]

References

↑ "The Qur'an, 20:120". https://quran.com/20/120. "فَوَسْوَسَ إِلَيْهِ الشَّيْطَانُ قَالَ يَا آدَمُ هَلْ أَدُلُّكَ عَلَىٰ شَجَرَةِ الْخُلْدِ وَمُلْكٍ لَّا يَبْلَىٰ But Satan whispered to him, saying, "O Adam, shall I direct thee unto the tree of immortality, and a possession that withers not away?""
↑ Brannon Wheeler Prophets in the Quran: An Introduction to the Quran and Muslim Exegesis 0826449565 2002 Page 24 "Abu Hurayrah: The Prophet Muhammad said: "In Paradise is a tree in the shade of which the stars course 100 years without cutting it: the Tree of Immortality." "
↑ Oliver Leaman The Qur'an: An Encyclopedia 0415326397, 2006, p.11 "Unlike the biblical account of Eden, the Qur'an mentions only one special tree in Eden, the Tree of Immortality, from which Adam and Eve were prohibited."
↑ "The Qur'an, 14:24". https://quran.com/14/24. "Sahih International - Have you not considered how Allah presents an example, [making] a good word like a good tree, whose root is firmly fixed and its branches [high] in the sky?"
↑ "The Qur'an, 20:120". https://quran.com/20/120. "Sahih International - Then Satan whispered to him; he said, "O Adam, shall I direct you to the tree of eternity and possession that will not deteriorate?""
↑ Muhammad Ali, Maulana (1992) (in English). Introduction to the Study of the Holy Qur'an (2nd ed.). Lahore: Ahamiyya Anjuman Ishaat Islam. pp. 133. ISBN 9780913321065. "This in itself gives an indication that it is the well-known tree of evil, for both good and evil are compared to two trees in 14:24, 25 and elsewhere. This is further corroborated by the devil's description of it as “the tree of immortality” (20:120), ..."

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[1] "The Qur'an, 20:120". https://quran.com/20/120. "فَوَسْوَسَ إِلَيْهِ الشَّيْطَانُ قَالَ يَا آدَمُ هَلْ أَدُلُّكَ عَلَىٰ شَجَرَةِ الْخُلْدِ وَمُلْكٍ لَّا يَبْلَىٰ But Satan whispered to him, saying, "O Adam, shall I direct thee unto the tree of immortality, and a possession that withers not away?""

[2] Brannon Wheeler Prophets in the Quran: An Introduction to the Quran and Muslim Exegesis 0826449565 2002 Page 24 "Abu Hurayrah: The Prophet Muhammad said: "In Paradise is a tree in the shade of which the stars course 100 years without cutting it: the Tree of Immortality." "

[3] Oliver Leaman The Qur'an: An Encyclopedia 0415326397, 2006, p.11 "Unlike the biblical account of Eden, the Qur'an mentions only one special tree in Eden, the Tree of Immortality, from which Adam and Eve were prohibited."

[4] "The Qur'an, 14:24". https://quran.com/14/24. "Sahih International - Have you not considered how Allah presents an example, [making] a good word like a good tree, whose root is firmly fixed and its branches [high] in the sky?"

[5] "The Qur'an, 20:120". https://quran.com/20/120. "Sahih International - Then Satan whispered to him; he said, "O Adam, shall I direct you to the tree of eternity and possession that will not deteriorate?""

[6] Muhammad Ali, Maulana (1992) (in English). Introduction to the Study of the Holy Qur'an (2nd ed.). Lahore: Ahamiyya Anjuman Ishaat Islam. pp. 133. ISBN 9780913321065. "This in itself gives an indication that it is the well-known tree of evil, for both good and evil are compared to two trees in 14:24, 25 and elsewhere. This is further corroborated by the devil's description of it as “the tree of immortality” (20:120), ..."

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Tree of life (Quran)

Topic: Religion

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References