is a justification for the people of spiritual reality (ahl al-haqīqah) who have witnessed it, or for those who do not regard themselves as acting.”

Some have said that Adam prevailed over Moses in argument only because he was his father, because he had repented, because the sin occurred under one revealed law while the blame was expressed under another, or because this applies in this world but not in the Hereafter. All of this is false.

Rather, the meaning of the hadith is that Moses, peace be upon him, blamed his father only for the calamity that had befallen them because he ate from the tree. He said to him, “Why did you cause us and yourself to be expelled from Paradise?” He did not blame him merely for having committed a sin and then repented of it. Moses knew that someone who repents of a sin is not to be blamed, and he too had repented. Had Adam believed that divine decree absolved him of blame, he would not have said:

“Our Lord, we have wronged ourselves, and if You do not forgive us and have mercy upon us, we will surely be among the losers.”

The believer is commanded to be patient and submit when calamities strike, and to seek forgiveness and repent when he sins. Allah Most High said:

“So be patient; indeed, the promise of Allah is true. And seek forgiveness for your sin.”

Thus, He commanded him to endure calamities patiently and seek forgiveness for his faults.

And He Most High said:

“No calamity befalls except by Allah’s permission. And whoever believes in Allah, He guides his heart.”

Ibn Masʿūd said: “This is a man whom calamity strikes, who knows that it is from Allah, and so is content and submits.”

When believers suffer a calamity such as illness, poverty, or humiliation, they patiently endure Allah’s decree, even if it results from someone else’s sin. For example, if a father spends his wealth on sinful acts and his children become poor as a result, they must patiently endure what