Juz’ 16 – Al Kahf 75 – Ta Ha 135, Topic: Perhpas we've just forgotten?

In Surah Ta Ha there is more narration on the creation of Adam. Interestingly, Allah discusses Adam after Allah gives a prayer to Prophet Muhammed which directs him to continue to seek knowledge or revelation from Allah. In surah 20:114, Allah says to the Prophet...

Exalted is God, the True Sovereign. Be not in haste with the Quran before its revelation is completed for thee, but say, "My Lord! Increase me in knowledge!"

It is right after this that Allah discusses the creation of Adam. The link, according to many of the commentators is that in 2:31, Allah says that he taught Adam all of the names, which many commentators interpret as Allah giving knowledge to Adam. Therefore, Allah's discussion of the creation of Adam (which follows) could be seen as commentary on the divine knowledge that mankind has been granted access to.

And We indeed made a pact with Adam aforetime, but he forgot. And We found no resoluteness in him. (20:115)

The pact here, many commentators say, was that Adam gave his allegiance to obey Allah and in turn Allah taught Adam all the names (offered him access to divine knowledge).   Alas, Adam forgot. This most certainlly refers to Adam forgetting the pact which was evidenced by him disobeying God. What is more interesting is the disagreement the commentators have on the second part of this ayah on finding "no resoluteness in him". Some commentators believe that this means that even though Adam did not obey Allah, he did so unintentionally and so finding no resoluteness in him means that Allah did not find him resolute to deliberately disobey Him. However, other commentators say that finding no resoluteness in Adam refers to the fact that Adam forgot the pact and therefore was not resolute about his end of the bargain ( obedience).

The second interpretation about forgetting and lack of  resoluteness is very compelling and resonates tremendously with my own experience of faith. It reminds me of the guidance from Imam-e-Zaman which calls upon us to remember the names of Allah, the Prophet and Imams and gently tells us that we may not be doing this, not because we have lost faith, but perhaps because we have just forgotten. After all isn't that what the purpose of life is---a tug-of-war between remember and forgetting? We come into this world with a strong covenant, and through the distractions of this fool's paradise we forget.