Adam and the Fall in Bible and the Qur’an: A Comparative Study of Symbolism and Theological Anthropology

Abstract

The article offers a comparative theological and symbolic analysis of the Adam narrative in the Book of Genesis and the Qur’an, focusing on its implications for anthropological, ethical, and soteriological constructs within Christian and Islamic traditions. Both texts recount the creation of Adam from earthly material, the divine breath, the command not to eat from a forbidden tree, the act of disobedience, and the subsequent exile. Yet beneath these structural parallels lie profound theological divergences. The Genesis narrative emphasizes rupture: Adam and Eve’s transgression introduces original sin, hereditary guilt, and the need for divine redemption, culminating in Christian doctrines of atonement and grace. Influenced especially by Augustinian theology, this view sees the human will as impaired and salvation as dependent on Christ’s redemptive work.

By contrast, the Qur’anic retelling reframes the fall as a moral error, immediately followed by repentance (tawbah) and divine mercy (raḥma). Adam’s mistake is not inherited by his descendants; instead, each individual is responsible for their own moral choices. The Qur’an portrays human beings as created in a state of fitrah (primordial purity), endowed with free will and moral agency, and continually guided by prophetic revelation. Rather than legalistic satisfaction, salvation in Islam is achieved through sincere repentance and ethical living.

The article explores four core dimensions – human origin, sin and the fall, repentance and mercy, and free will and moral agency – and demonstrates how typological and symbolic distinctions between the texts contribute to distinct theological anthropologies. While Genesis often leads to a pessimistic view of human nature, mitigated only by divine intervention, the Qur'an presents a more rehabilitative, hopeful model of moral growth. This comparative inquiry not only clarifies doctrinal differences but also opens space for interfaith reflection on shared concerns regarding divine justice, human responsibility, and the possibility of redemption.