BENEFIT 412: How could Iblīs have whispered to Adam after being expelled from Paradise?

Student: There is a confusion? Sheikh ’Uthaymeen: What is the confusion? Student: How was Iblees able to whisper to Adam despite being expelled from Paradise. Sheikh ’Uthaymeen: I ask you: When was Iblees expelled from Paradise? Student: After he disobeyed. Sheikh ’Uthaymeen: And when did he disobey? Student: When he refused to prostrate to Adam. Sheikh ’Uthaymeen: I understand that you grasp the issue, I would say there is no real confusion here. There is no confusion, for Allāh—exalted is He—is fully capable of allowing Iblees's whispering to reach Adam, even if Iblees was merely at the gate of Paradise. Alternatively, it can be said that Allāh prohibited Iblees from entering Paradise in the sense of enjoying its blessings, but not from entering it with the purpose of influencing or tempting Adam. Thus, it is not inconceivable. Now you understand: There are two possible explanations. The first is that Iblees whispered to Adam without physically entering Paradise(1). The second is that the prohibition placed on Iblees regarding Paradise applied only to entering it for enjoyment, whereas entering it for the purpose of influencing Adam was a different matter entirely. __ (1) Another example is the saying of Allāh: ﴿وَنَادَى أَصْحَابُ النَّارِ أَصْحَابَ الْجَنَّةِ أَنْ أَفِيضُوا عَلَيْنَا مِنَ الْمَاءِ أَوْ مِمَّا رَزَقَكُمُ اللَّهُ قَالُوا إِنَّ اللَّهَ حَرَّمَهُمَا عَلَى الْكَافِرِينَ﴾ “And the companions of the Fire will call to the companions of Paradise, 'Pour upon us some water or from whatever Allāh has provided you.’ They will say, ‘Indeed, Allāh has forbidden them both to the disbelievers.’” [Surah Al-A'raf, 7:50] So, by His power, Allāh allows the inhabitants of Paradise to hear the speech of those in the Fire, despite the vast difference in their stations. Similarly, Allāh enabled Adam and Ḥawwā to hear what Iblees said and whispered to them. And this is not difficult for Allāh at all.