The First Boundary Crossing: Adam Descending

Abstract

After having covered the “ultimate” boundary crossing and having established the God-centeredness and focus on nearness and vision of the Sufi hereafter, this chapter focusus on discussions of the first boundary crossing: Adam’s banishment from Paradise. It shows the importance of the idea of the loss of primordial Paradise in Sufi eschatology. Firstly, it shows why Adam ‘had’ to be banished in the thought of the commentators: how do they interpret it to fit within God’s larger (eschatological) plan with humankind, and how do they deal with questions of predestination and theodicy related to it? Secondly, it shows what these authors exactly held to be ‘lost’ by the banishment: what constitutes the yearning to Paradise during this-worldly life? What do Sufis hope to regain? Is it indeed the typical Sufi-eschatological themes of nearness to and vision of God?