Creation of Adam 6: Why Do We Suffer?

Here the temptation and “fall” of Adam is in the central position, making it a “narrative within a narrative.” But this internal narrative is also surrounded by Allah’s mercy. It shows us that the All-Merciful wants the best for us.

But Satan, a name/word that is more of a title than a name, means enemy, and has become the sole word used to refer to the embodiment of evil and harm in the form of an enemy. Although he was a being of the jinn, others who act as an enemy to our trust/faith are given the same name — “from the jinn and from people” as per Al-Nass 114:6. And this enemy is the source of our suffering, per aya 20:117 below. 

The Creation of Adam Story in the Quran Explained – Ring Composition

Ring Analysis of First Creation-of-Adam Narrative

Above is a ring composition analysis of the first creation-of-Adam narrative in the Quran, which is in Surat Al-Baqara as shown. It is the first of seven such narratives, which I insha’Allah shall analyze one by one in a series of posts, comparing them to each other and showing the significance and value of multiple narratives of the same event; and how the arrangement of each of them contributes to our understanding of the meaning. This is after all a truly foundational event, answering the most basic questions of why are we here? What is the purpose of life? Why is there evil in the world? Why is there paradise and hell, and why must we die in the first place?