A Deeper Look into Surah Taha

 

The Quran often presents narratives in a layered manner, seemingly shifting between topics, yet upon closer examination, these shifts may represent a continuation of a single story. One such case is the story of Adam in Surah Taha, which, when read carefully, raises an intriguing question:

 

Will Adam be Raised Blind on the Day of Judgment?

 

Let’s examine the relevant verses in sequence:

 

20:121 “So they both ate from it, and their bodies became apparent to them, and they began to place leaves on themselves from the paradise. Adam had disobeyed his Lord and had gone astray.”

 

20:122 “Then his Lord recalled him, and He forgave him, and gave guidance to him.”

 

20:123 “He said: ‘Descend from this, all of you, for you are enemies to one another. So, when My guidance comes to you, then, whoever follows My guidance, he will not go astray nor suffer.’”

 

20:124 “And whoever turns away from My remembrance, then he will have a miserable life, and We will raise him blind on the Day of Resurrection.”

 

20:125 “He said: ‘My Lord, you have raised me blind while I used to be able to see?’”

 

20:126 “He said: ‘It was the same when Our revelations came to you, you forgot them, and similarly today you will be forgotten.’”

 

20:127 “And it is such that We recompense he who transgresses and did not believe in the revelations of his Lord. And the retribution of the Hereafter is more severe and more lasting.”

 

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A Forgotten Revelation

 

The Quran makes it clear that Adam had received divine communication before—but he forgot.

The start of Adam's story in Surah Taha begins with:

 

20:115 “And We had already taken a covenant from Adam before, but he forgot; and We did not find determination in him.”

 

This verse is critical because it connects directly to 20:126, where Allah states:

 

“It was the same when Our revelations came to you, you forgot them, and similarly today you will be forgotten.”

 

The same pattern appears twice—Adam receives divine guidance, but he forgets.

 

An important detail emerges here: when did Adam first receive revelation?

 

The first instance of Adam receiving divine words occurs after his removal from the heavenly state:

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2:37 “Then Adam received words from his Lord, and He turned to him mercifully. Indeed, He is the Accepting of Repentance, the Merciful.”

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20:122 “Then his Lord recalled him, and He forgave him, and gave guidance to him.”

 

This means Adam’s first experience with revelation came after his initial fall. Yet 20:115 states that Adam had received a covenant “before” but forgot.

 

Does this mean Adam forgot a second time?

 

If so, it directly connects to 20:124-126, where Allah warns that those who turn away from His remembrance will be raised blind.

 

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Who is Raised Blind?

 

A striking ambiguity appears in 20:125:

 

“He said: ‘My Lord, you have raised me blind while I used to be able to see?’”

 

The Quran typically identifies new speakers explicitly, yet here, it simply states “qāla” (he said) without specifying who.

 

This suggests continuity in the narrative—the speaker is still Adam.

 

If Adam is the one speaking in 20:125, it means he is the one being raised blind. But why?

 

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Why Would Adam Be Raised Blind?

 

To answer this, let’s examine 7:189-190, which is widely understood to refer to Adam and his spouse:

 

7:189 “He is the One who created you from one person, and He made from it its mate to reside with. When he dwelled with her, she became pregnant with a light load, and she continued with it; then when it became heavy, they called on God, their Lord: ‘If You give us an upright child, then we will be among the thankful.’”

 

7:190 “But when He gave them an upright child, they set up partners with Him in what He had given them. God be exalted above what they set up as partners.”

 

There is unanimous agreement that 7:189 refers to Adam and his spouse, as it explicitly describes their creation from one person—a clear reference to Adam.

 

However, this raises an unavoidable question:

 

If these verses are about Adam and his spouse, then it means they sinned again—this time by associating partners with Allah.

 

This connects directly to 20:124-126, where Allah warns that those who turn away from His remembrance will be raised blind. If Adam and his spouse fell into shirk after being guided, this could explain why Adam himself is the one speaking in 20:125, questioning why he has been raised blind.

 

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The Implication?

 

Even a prophet, if he turns away from revelation, faces the consequences. If this applies to Adam, what does it mean for the rest of humanity?

 

This question leads directly into the ongoing debate about whether Adam was a prophet.

 

Adam undeniably received divine communication—the Quran states that:

• “Adam received words from his Lord, and He forgave him” (2:37)

• “His Lord recalled him, forgave him, and gave him guidance” (20:122)

 

What follows in both Surahs is striking:

• 2:38 “Whoever follows My guidance will have no fear, nor will they grieve.”

• 20:123 “So, when My guidance comes to you, then whoever follows My guidance will not go astray nor suffer.”

 

Since Allah speaks about guidance immediately after Adam receives divine words, it implies that Adam had been entrusted with something meant to be followed by others. If he was responsible for conveying this guidance, then by definition, this would technically qualify him as a prophet.

 

However, merely receiving revelation does not mean one is exempt from trials—or from failing them. The Quran provides a clear example of this in 7:175-176:

 

7:175 “And recite to them the narrative of him to whom We gave Our communications, but he withdrew from them, so Satan overtook him, and he became of those who went astray.”

 

7:176 “And if We had willed, We could have elevated him with it, but he clung to the earth and followed his desires. His example is like that of a dog—whether you chase it or leave it alone, it pants with its tongue hanging out. Such is the parable of the people who reject Our communications.”

 

Here, we see someone who received divine guidance, yet failed due to greed and attachment to worldly desires.

 

Could the same apply to Adam?

 

If Adam was given guidance but later turned away—whether through his initial disobedience or through the possibility of associating partners with Allah as suggested in 7:189-190—then his story is not just about the fall of the first human, but about the dangers of forgetting guidance after receiving it.

 

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Conclusion: A Forgotten Guidance

 

This interpretation challenges the conventional reading of Adam’s story. The Quran suggests not just a single act of disobedience in Paradise, but a possible repetition of forgetfulness—a lesson that applies to all of humanity.

 

Will Adam be raised blind on that day because he set up partners after Allah provided for him?

 

If so, it serves as a profound warning to all of us:

 

Turning away from divine guidance—even after receiving it—carries lasting consequences