The Second Forbidden Tree

The Second Forbidden Tree Adam was the first man. After he was created, he was placed in paradise where he enjoyed all kinds of freedom. But in paradise there was one tree which was forbidden. Adam was told that he could live freely in paradise, but that he was not allowed to go to this forbidden tree that if he failed to obey the commandment, he would be expelled from paradise. In a similar way, there is also a forbidden tree in this world, and that is violence. Those who act with violence, shall have to pay a heavy price for this crime and that is, being barred from entering paradise. We learn from the Quran that when Adam and Eve were settled on earth, a tragedy took place in the very beginning. Two sons of Adam, Cain and Abel, became involved in a confrontational situation, which ended with Cain killing Abel. Citing this incident as a bad precedent, God made the following revelation: “That was why we laid it down for the children of Israel that whoever killed a human being ---except as a punishment for murder or for spreading corruption in the land---shall be regarded as having killed all mankind, and that whoever saved a human life shall be regarded as having saved all mankind” (5:32). Such strong words have not been revealed for any other crime in the Quran. This shows that the gravest crime in the eyes of God is one man taking the life of another. The only exception in this matter is for a court or other authorized body under an established government, when it enforces the rule of justice. There is no exception to this rule for the common man. This strict forbidding of violence is essential, because violence goes against the natural system. The natural system established by the Creator is one according to which every man and woman receives the full opportunity to work in freedom. But violence and aggression disturbs this whole natural system. Violence is an intervention in the natural system of the Creator. And, without doubt, such an intervention is a very serious crime. How can we bring about an environment free from violence and aggression in this world? The answer is only one---the God-fearing have to bear the responsibility of exercising patience unilaterally: even if they are provoked, or are subjected to violence, they must