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162 - Element 4: EXPLANATION - Differences between the biblical and koranic descriptions of Paradise
Change element a) (only Adam in the Bible, but in the Koran Adam and his mate) was already addressed above (Nr. 09.1.1).
The koranic omission of the biblical “tree” (element “b” above) is connected to the biblical creation account (Genesis 1:11-13). There we read that God created plants yielding seed (like wheat) as well as trees bearing fruit (like fig trees). Since Yahweh did not cultivate a crop field in Eden, but he planted a Garden in Eden (Genesis 2:8), we do not expect to find things like wheat there, but more likely things like fig trees. So, the Bible is consistent in mentioning trees here in Genesis 2:16b. But the Koran omitted the fact that Yahweh planted a garden in Eden, therefore it did not specify what was growing there. Could it be that this is the reason, why the Koran omitted “trees” here?
The Koran changing the biblical “eat of every tree” to “eat from wherever you want” (element “c” above) is a consequence of the koranic lack of mentioning trees in the garden, which we just highlighted. Since the koranic Jannah garden is not specified as containing primarily trees, it makes no sense in the Koran to restrict the permission to eat only from trees, as is the case in the Bible.
Finally, the koranic addition of eating “with pleasure” was already discussed above in the context of the job description Yahweh gave Adam in the garden (see Nr. 09.1.2 above). It can be understood as an additive exclusion of the biblical purpose for Adam in the Garden of Eden: NOT to work it and to keep it, BUT to enjoy it without any work being explicitly mentioned.