I recently read Surah Al-A’raf, verse 24, which discusses the expulsion of Adam and Hawa from paradise. It states: “Descend, being to one another enemies. And for you on the earth is a place of settlement and enjoyment for a time.” The word hostility (aduwwun) immediately caught my attention and inspired me to delve deeper into its meaning.
Understanding hostility
In a book I once read, it emphasized the importance of self-awareness to understand our purpose and mission in this world. The mention of hostility in the verse must hold significance—it wouldn’t be there if it wasn’t important. Could it be that, as the descendants of Adam, we humans are destined for hostility?
In Al-Munawwir dictionary, the root word ‘ada has several meanings, including “to flee,” “to turn away,” “to exceed,” and “to oppress.” The derivative aduww (plural: a’da’a) is synonymous with al-khusum, which means “enemy” or “opponent.”
However, hostility doesn’t always mean hatred, war, or mutual destruction. Sometimes, it simply means opposition—like black versus white, hot versus cold, north versus south, or positive versus negative charges. In real life, conflicts of interest often reflect opposition, where not all needs can be accommodated simultaneously.
In daily life, opposition is everywhere—within families, workplaces, governments, and other spheres. Conflicts arise because, in this limited world of time and space, not everything can be perfectly harmonized.
Are we punished by God?
According to Zubdatut Tafsir min Fathil Qadir by Sheikh Dr. Muhammad Sulaiman Al-Asyqar of the Islamic University of Madinah, the verse in Al-A’raf 24 states:
Allah said, “Descend, being to one another enemies”
This command was directed to Adam, Hawa, their descendants, and Iblis.
“Some of you will be enemies to others”
This hostility is part of God’s decree as a punishment.
“And for you on the earth is a place of settlement”
This refers to a dwelling place.
“And enjoyment”
This refers to the blessings of life in this world, such as food, drink, and other provisions.
“For a time”
This denotes either until the time of death or until the Day of Judgment.
From this interpretation, it’s clear that hostility on earth is a form of divine punishment. The next question in my mind was: How do we end this punishment?
Humans: beings with free will
Unlike angels, humans have the freedom to respond to situations. This response is how we act (or react) to stimuli. Ending the divine punishment of hostility depends on how we perceive and handle hostility itself. We can choose to respond to hostility with peace. Peace is achieved when we embody qualities like sincerity, forgiveness, and tolerance toward conflicting interests.
As I mentioned earlier, life on earth is limited, and conflicts of interest (problems) are inevitable. Conflicts arise when expectations don’t align with reality. Since we have many expectations, not all of them can be fulfilled. Managing our expectations is crucial to maintaining peace.
Forgiveness is equally vital. Throughout our lives, we encounter countless experiences that hurt us. Forgiving isn’t just for those who’ve wronged us—it’s for our own inner peace, enabling us to move forward with clarity and positivity.
The highest and most challenging virtue is sincerity. Sincerely accepting God’s decrees, qada, qadar, and what is written in Lauh al-Mahfuz regarding the conflicts in our lives is a profound act of faith. Mastering this virtue brings unparalleled peace to our hearts.
Life: A test of the heart
Life on earth is truly a test, and not everyone can respond to hostility with peace. It takes a generous heart to prioritize peace over enmity. Once we cultivate inner peace, I believe we’ve overcome and graduated from God’s punishment in this world. May we be among those who can rise above hostility and choose peace.
Note: I am not a scholar of tafsir or religion—just a learner seeking understanding.
References:
- Tafsir Web: Surah Al-A’raf, Verse 24 (accessed January 14, 2024)
- Repository UIN SUSKA: Conflict Analysis (accessed January 14, 2024)
