his sin, which had also been decreed for him? Adam had repented of his sin and sought forgiveness. Had invoking the decree been of any avail to him before his Lord, he would have invoked it rather than repenting and seeking forgiveness.

It is related in Israelite traditions that he invoked the decree. Even if such a report were plausible, it would not be affirmed as true; how much less so when it contradicts the fundamentals of Islam—indeed, the fundamentals of revealed law and reason. Certainly, if he mentioned the decree while also repenting, that is possible. Yet nothing of this appears in what Allah has told us about Adam. Nor is it permissible to cite Israelite traditions as evidence in religion, except where their content is established by Allah’s Book or the Sunnah of His Messenger. For the Prophet, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, said:

“When the People of the Book relate something to you, neither affirm nor deny it.”

Furthermore, if invoking the decree had been of any avail to him, why was he expelled from Paradise and sent down to earth?

If it is asked, “But he had repented, so why was he sent down to earth after repenting?” the answer is: repentance may require righteous deeds to complete it. A person may therefore be tested after repenting, to see whether he remains steadfast in obedience. Allah Most High said concerning someone who repents of apostasy:

“Except those who repent afterwards and mend their ways, for Allah is All-Forgiving, Most Merciful.”

Concerning those who conceal knowledge, He said:

“Except those who repent, mend their ways, and make the truth clear. Those are the ones whose repentance I will accept, for I am the Accepter of Repentance, the Most Merciful.”

He also said:

“If any of you does wrong out of ignorance, then repents afterwards and makes amends, He is indeed All-Forgiving, Most Merciful.”

And concerning slander, He said:

“Except those who repent afterwards and mend their ways