Creation from the Rib': How is Eve's role described in the holy books of Islam, Christianity, and Judaism?

In Christian and Jewish holy books i.e. 'Gospel' and 'Torah', Eve is considered to be the main character in the incident of leaving the garden of Behest because according to these two holy books, Eve was involved in the process of eating a forbidden fruit.

But according to the Holy Book of Islam, the Holy Book of Islam, 'Iblis' i.e. Satan 'gradually attracted both of them and then they tasted the fruit of the tree' (due to which their shame was opened on them and they started covering their bodies with the leaves of this garden'.

The composition of 'Bagh Behesht' has been used by poet Allama Muhammad Iqbal in a poem in his book 'Bal Jibril' for the place where Adam and Eve were placed before being sent to earth. He has also written the composition of 'Hukam Safar' in his poem for the order to leave the same place:

Why did you order me to travel from the Garden of Behesht?

Where the kar is, wait for the dead now.

This incident is mentioned in Surah Al-Araf of the Qur'an. In this regard, religious scholar Javed Ahmad Ghamdi writes in his commentary that the tree for which the word 'al-shajra' is used here, in a verse of Surah Taha, it is called 'Shajarat al-Khald'.

"It is clear from this that the word al-Shajra is here in a virtual sense. Both the meaning of the word Tree al-Khald and the effects of eating the fruit of this tree, which have been described earlier, clearly indicate that it refers to the same tree whose fruit man is keeping himself in this world by eating it, but even today the biggest test for him in the world, if there is any, then this tree. is. That is, sexual relations that Adam and Eve had not yet become aware of. ‘

Similarly, in the Gospels and the Torah, this is the central point of human existence and reaching earth.

However, many new studies aim to reinterpret the event related to the creation of man in order to provide a clearer understanding of the role of Eve.

In the 18th century, The British monk Joanna Southcott mentioned the role of Eve.

In his interpretation of the story of man's origin, he said, "(Hazrat) Eve brought knowledge to humanity, due to which she was expelled from the Garden of Eden, which is considered paradise." ‘

According to the commentary of Javed Ahmad Ghamdi, it was probably a garden of the same world, which was declared to be the place of stay of Adam and Eve.

He writes that the word 'Ahbatwa' is actually used. The meaning of 'Uttaro' in it is the same as in the words 'Ahbatwa Misra' in verse 61 of Sura Al-Baqara, i.e., O Adam, Eve and Iblis, all of you come out of this garden and descend into the earth. ‘

According to British nun Joanna Southcott, "Eve is now seen as defeating Satan and liberating humanity." ‘

'Eve didn't seduce Adam'

Naeem Ahmed Baloch, a researcher at the Ghamdi Center of Islamic Learning in the US, told the Quran shows that both Adam and Eve were seduced by Satan.

"Unlike the Bible, there is no sign or verse in the Qur'an that suggests that Adam was willing to disobey Allah's command because of what Eve said," he said. Some Bible researchers also believe that Eve's attempt to seduce Adam is natural. ‘

In her interpretation of the incident, nun Joanna Southcott also says, "The root of all evil is the snake, which represents Satan, not Eve." ‘

In 1869, British thinker Harriet Law played an important role in the controversy over the reinterpretation of Eve's role in the Garden of Paradise.

Harriet Law described Eve as a symbol of feminist rights against patriarchy that was against oppression.

"Eve was the first women's rights activist in history to fight against the environment against women at the time. For this reason, many women around the world view Eve with respect. ‘

Many feminist advocates, translators of sacred books, and contemporary academics argue that the world's first woman, Eve, needs to be viewed from a new perspective.

Maria Clara Benjamin, a professor at pontifical Catholic University in Brazil, says, "Today Eve is seen in a new way. ‘

She calls Eve "like the earth" from which all kinds of life were created. ‘

Nun and feminist philosopher Yvonne Gabhart says, "In the events related to the origin of man, the interpretations of Eve are different, in which (in some of them) she is said to be weak and violating the command of God by not controlling her desire and eating forbidden fruits." ‘

Sociologist and anthropologist Fabiola Rodin argues in her master's paper The Feminism of Holness, presented at the Federal University of Rio de Janeiro in 1995, that "Eve is as important to feminist theology as Mary." ‘

Rodin highlighted that this importance is due to The Prophet Eve being held responsible for the action that applies to all women.

However, Rodin admits that redefining the interpretation of the 'mythology of Adam and Eve' is a complex and challenging task.

Fabiola Rodin has studied the writings of feminist philosopher Yvonne Gabhart for her master's degree. Yvonne Gabhart believes that over time, a contradiction arose between Eve and Mary and they were presented as 'two symbols of feminism'.

"Although Eve is generally seen as a symbol of a sinful woman and Mary as a symbol of a holy woman, Gebhart offered a new approach that challenges these traditional assessments," says Rodin. ‘

"We see Eve as the savior of feminine power. ‘

For humans, he says, "Eve's actions are seen as disturbing acts because they reveal human weakness, inability to resist greed, and the mysterious power humans possess." ‘

He says, "The weakness and mystery associated with the story of Eve is imposed on all the women in history... Every woman is seen as Eve, which is the cause of humanity's decline, weakness, desire, greed and sin." ‘

While Professor Maria Clara Benjamin emphasizes that 'this is only part of the story of Eve.' There is more to his character than that. ‘

She also stresses that "the Bible is also against these ideas." ‘

According to researcher Naeem Ahmed Baloch, "The indications of the Qur'an show that the garden in which Adam and Eve stayed for a long time was not paradise. The biggest argument for this is that Satan cannot enter Paradise, these are clear verses of the Qur'an. ‘

"It is clear from the Qur'an that the appointment of man as caliph in the earth was the intention of Allah Almighty. Adam and Eve were sent to earth only after their mistake was forgiven, not as punishment. ‘

In the first book of the Torah, 'Genesis', it is written that 'this man called his wife Eve, because she was the mother of all the living.' ‘

She also provides evidence for the word that 'Eve' (in Hebrew) means 'living' or 'source of life'.

"Since the 20th century, we have started to study mythology seriously. The purpose of these events is to explain many secrets of human existence. ‘

"In other words, everyone represents Adam and Eve and the seduced snake," she says. They are also a symbol of man's quest for freedom and breaking boundaries for him. ‘

"That is, we are a mixture of strength and weakness, fear and cunning, resistance and a constant search for self-understanding. ‘

"Today Adam and Eve are being redefined, based on the idea that we are a combination of different qualities," she says. ‘

He argues that humanity "must overcome duplicity in order to achieve a unified understanding of itself beyond rebellion and bravery." ‘

However, she cautions that "portraying Eve as a heroine or labeling Adam as weak and otherwise is superficial, and that it is a mistake of approach." ‘

Theologian Holly Morris points out in an article published in the book The Bible and Feminism that in order to move forward, we must address the key challenge by eliminating traditional patriarchal interpretations to uncover true meaning.

In the late Middle Ages, the Italian philosopher and poet Cristina de Pisano (1363-1430) deeply considered the fact that women cannot be excluded when discussing the virtue of God's creation.

Therefore, he used the story of Eve to argue that women are 'perfect' just as men are 'perfect'. Not only this, he religiously argued that insulting women amounts to insulting God.

In the ancient Middle East, says Chavez Diaz, only kings were considered "god's angels" and other human beings were considered their attendants. This approach thus describes a revolutionary vision that describes all human beings as 'god's shadows'.

Creation of Adam and Eve

In the second chapter of the Torah on the creation of man, Adam is described as the first created man.

Literally, the name Adam means 'distilled from the earth' and it reflects the whole of mankind.

Researcher Naeem Baloch says that from verse 67 of Surah Maryam, he understands that when the world was formed and the earth became able to live, Allah decided to create man in it.

According to him, in verse 59 of Surah Al-Imran, Allah says that Adam and eve were created from clay, then i do not mean 'dust' by this soil, but it is in the sense of 'earthly material'. Obviously, at that time people were not aware of what elements are in the soil, so soil does not mean soil, all the earth's minerals etc. are included in it. ‘

"Seeing Adam alone, God decided to create a partner for him. God put Adam to sleep and took his rib and created the woman. ‘

She explains by saying that there is an interesting fact here that in most translations of the Bible, the Hebrew word tesla is translated as 'rib'.

Over the centuries, this translation provided the basis for this explanation, and it was understood that women have more feelings of inferiority than men. ‘

She suggests translating the same passage as follows: "Then he (God) took a side of him and closed it with meat." God created a woman using the part he had taken from the man. ‘

Researcher Naeem Baloch says that the name of Hazrat Eve does not appear clearly in the Quran, but she is mentioned with Hazrat Adam. In hadiths and Islamic history, his name has been mentioned as Eve.

According to religious scholar Pir Zia-ul-Haq Naqshbandi, the famous exegetes Imam Tabari and Hafiz Ibn Kathir have explained the meaning of the decree of Allah (wa khalq minha zajaja) that Eve was created from the rib of Adam (as). It is narrated in a hadith about the creation of Eve that the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) said: "A woman is created from a man's rib, and the most crooked thing is her upper rib, if you try to straighten it, you will break it, and if you allow her to remain in this state, she will remain crooked, so treat women well." Do it. ‘

According to Naeem Baloch, this hadith describes as a parable that the nature of a woman is based on gentleness and tenderness, and she should be treated with love and wisdom.

Naqshbandi says, "According to Islamic traditions, Eve is the mother of the human race, and all human beings are the children of her and Adam." Hazrat Hawa has been mentioned with respect in hadiths and Islamic history. She is the mother of the human race and her life teaches us to avoid satan's deception and stay away from disobeying Allah. ‘

Eve and Adam are each other's companions and comforters.

According to the Hebrew text, a woman is a man's companion. Chavez Diaz says, "It is generally believed that this is a divine attribute, that God is the helper for man and he is the one without whom one cannot live, and that it is the work of women." ‘

Translators point to another place where the Hebrew word 'kenekto' is used. This means that the woman has been created as a suitable partner for the man, i.e. she can be taken to mean 'opposite, forward, backward, near'.

"That is, a woman should be the one who is equal to you in front of you," she insists. ‘

He also notes that "the Hebrew text never allows us to confirm the superiority of men over women, or the inferiority and subordination of women over men." ‘

Researcher Naeem Baloch quotes verse 21 of Surah Al-Rum as saying: "And one of His signs is that He created pairs for you of your own sex so that you may find peace with them, and He has established love and sympathy between you. ‘

According to the medieval philosopher Christina de Pisano, it is wrong to say that men are important because Adam was created before Eve.

He further says that God's creative power has increased from woman's creation after gaining the experience of man's creation.

"The Bible is an open book," insists Chávez Diaz. The Bible and its other texts are important because they force people to think about the meaning of life, the role of men and women in themselves, with God, with others, and with the universe. ‘

"Eve is an ancient character with many facets and different meanings, and to understand her story, it is important to inspire and challenge people to think about the fundamental and important questions of life. ‘