It was also said that it was offered to all their inhabitants, rather than to the entities themselves—just as He, exalted is He, says, “Ask the town” (Joseph, 82), meaning, the people of the town. The first view, however, is sounder, and it is the position of the scholars.

“They declined to bear it and were apprehensive of it”: that is, they feared that they would not fulfil the Trust and would consequently incur punishment. “Yet man undertook it”: that is, Adam, peace be upon him. Allah said to Adam: “I offered the Trust to the heavens, the earth, and the mountains, but they were unable to bear it. Will you accept it with all that it entails?” He said, “My Lord, what does it entail?” He said, “If you do well, you will be rewarded; and if you do wrong, you will be punished.” Adam then undertook it and said, “It is between my ear and my shoulder.” Allah, exalted is He, said: “Now that you have undertaken it, I shall assist you. Give your sight a covering, and whenever you fear looking at what is unlawful for you, draw its covering down. Give your tongue two jaws as a lock, and whenever you are overcome, shut it. Give your private part a garment, and do not uncover it before that which I have forbidden you.”

Mujahid said: The time between Adam’s undertaking it and his leaving Paradise was no more than the interval between the noon and afternoon prayers. (1)

Al-Naqqash related through his chain of transmission from Ibn Masud that he said: The Trust was represented as a rock lying on the ground. The heavens, the earth, and the mountains were summoned to it, but they did not approach it. They said, “We are unable to carry it.” Adam came without having been summoned, moved the rock, and said, “If I were commanded to carry it, I would carry it.” They said to him, “Carry it.” So he lifted it up to his knees, then set it down, saying, “By Allah, if I wished to carry more, I could.” They said to him, “Carry it.” So he lifted it up to his waist, then set it down, saying, “By Allah, if I wished to carry more, I could.” They said to him, 86/b, “Carry it.” So he lifted it until he placed it upon his shoulder. When he wished to set it down, Allah said, “Stay where you are, for it is upon your neck and the necks of your descendants until the Day of Resurrection.”

“Indeed, he has been most unjust and ignorant.” Ibn Abbas said: Most unjust to himself, and ignorant of Allah’s command and of what he had undertaken of the Trust.

Al-Kalbi said: Most unjust when he disobeyed his Lord, and ignorant, not knowing the punishment for neglecting the Trust. Muqatil said: Most unjust to himself and ignorant of the consequence of what he undertook.

Al-Zajjaj and other scholars of meanings mentioned two views regarding His saying, “Yet man undertook it.” They said: Allah entrusted Adam and his children with one matter, and entrusted the heavens, the earth, and the mountains with another. Thus, the Trust with respect to the children of Adam is what we have mentioned: obedience and fulfilling the obligatory duties. The Trust with respect to the heavens, the earth, and the mountains is submission and obedience in that for which He created them.

It was also said that His saying, “They declined to bear it,” means that they fulfilled the Trust. It is said, “So-and-so did not bear the Trust,” meaning that he did not betray it. And “yet man undertook it” means that he betrayed it. It is said, “So-and-so bore the Trust,” meaning that he sinned with respect to it through betrayal.