[His saying, the Exalted: "Indeed, We offered the Trust..." to the end of the verse]

17810 - From Ibn ‘Abbas, may God be pleased with them both, regarding His saying: "Indeed, We offered the Trust," the verse, he said: The Trust is the religious obligations. God offered it to the heavens, the earth, and the mountains; if they performed it, He would reward them, and if they neglected it, He would punish them. So they disliked that and were afraid, not out of disobedience, but out of reverence for the religion of God, fearing that they might not uphold it. Then He offered it to Adam, and he accepted it with what it entailed. This is His saying: "But man [undertook to] bear it; indeed, he was unjust and ignorant," meaning: unaware of the command of God (1).

17811 - From Abu al-‘Aliyah, may God be pleased with him, regarding His saying: "Indeed, We offered the Trust to the heavens and the earth," he said: The Trust is what they were commanded to do and what they were forbidden from. And regarding His saying: "But man [undertook to] bear it," he said: Adam (2).

17812 - He said: Indeed, God offered the Trust to the lowest heaven, and it refused. Then [He offered it to] the one above it, until He had finished with them, then to the earth, then to the mountains. Then He offered it to Adam, peace be upon him, and he said: "Yes, [I will accept it] between my ears and my shoulder." God said: "Three things I command you with, for they will be a help to you. I have given you sight and two eyelids, so close them against everything I have forbidden you. I have given you a tongue between two jaws, so restrain it from everything I have forbidden you. I have given you private parts and covered them, so do not uncover them toward anything I have forbidden you" (3).

17813 - From Ibn Jurayj, may God be pleased with him, regarding the verse, he said: It has reached me that when God Almighty created the heavens, the earth, and the mountains, He said: "I am imposing a duty, and I am creating a Paradise and a Hell, and a reward for those who obey Me and a punishment for those who disobey Me." The heaven said: "You created me, and through me, the sun, the moon, the stars, the clouds, the wind, and the unseen were brought under subjection. I am subjected to what You created me for; I do not bear a duty, nor do I seek a reward or fear a punishment." The earth said: "You created me, subjected me, and caused rivers to flow within me, and brought forth fruits from me; You created me for whatever You willed, so I am subjected to what You created me for; I do not bear a duty, nor do I seek a reward or fear a punishment." The mountains said: "You created me as pegs for the earth, so I am as You created me; I do not bear a duty, nor do I seek a reward or fear a punishment." So when God created Adam, He offered it to him, and he bore it. "Indeed, he was unjust"—his injustice was against his own soul in his sin—"ignorant"—ignorant of the consequence of what he bore (4).