Why do most Muslims believe in Adam's Apple while it is never mentioned to be an Apple?

Sources

• ✓ 2:35 · Al-Baqara

  2:35 · Muhammad Marmaduke Pickthall

  وَقُلْنَا يَٰٓـَٔادَمُ ٱسْكُنْ أَنتَ وَزَوْجُكَ ٱلْجَنَّةَ وَكُلَا مِنْهَا رَغَدًا حَيْثُ شِئْتُمَا وَلَا تَقْرَبَا هَٰذِهِ ٱلشَّجَرَةَ فَتَكُونَا مِنَ ٱلظَّٰلِمِينَ

  And We said: O Adam! Dwell thou and thy wife in the Garden, and eat ye freely (of the fruits) thereof where ye will; but come not nigh this tree lest ye become wrong-doers.

• ✓ Tafsir Ibn Kathir on 2:35

  Sunni

  Tafsir Ibn Kathir · 2:35

  Allah begins by informing us of the honor bestowed upon Adam after commanding the angels to prostrate to him, which they all did except Iblis. He permitted Adam to dwell in Paradise wherever he wished and to eat freely from its abundant, good provisions. Narrated by the memorizer Abu Bakr ibn Mardawayh from a chain of transmission reaching Abu Dharr, it was asked of the Prophet whether Adam was a prophet. The Prophet confirmed, saying Adam was indeed a prophet and messenger, whom Allah spoke to directly and commanded, "Live, you and your spouse, in Paradise." There is disagreement among scholars about the location of the Paradise wherein Adam was placed—whether it was in the heavens or on earth. The majority hold it was in the heavens, though the Mu'tazila and Qadariyyah claimed it was on earth. This point is further discussed in the commentary on Surah Al-A'raf. The context here implies that Eve was created before Adam entered Paradise. Muhammad ibn Ishaq states that after Allah finished reprimanding Iblis, He turned to Adam, who had been taught the names of all things, and said, "O Adam, inform them of their names," then He cast a deep sleep upon Adam. While Adam slept, Allah took a rib from his left side (replacing it with flesh) and created from it his wife, Eve, making her a companion for him. When the sleep was lifted, Adam woke to find her beside him and said (according to some accounts), "This is my flesh and blood and my soul." He then dwelt at ease with her. When Allah married them and appointed them a dwelling from His own creation, He commanded Adam, "Live, you and your wife, in Paradise and eat abundantly wherever you wish, but do not approach this tree lest you become among the wrongdoers." Some say Eve was created after Adam's entry into Paradise. As reported by Al-Suddi, from chains including Ibn Abbas and companions, Iblis was expelled from Paradise and Adam was confined there alone, wandering without a spouse. One day he slept and upon awakening found a woman sitting by his side, created by Allah from his rib. When the angels asked Adam her name, he replied, "Eve," because she was created from something living. Allah then instructed Adam and his wife to live in Paradise and eat freely from it. Regarding the tree they were forbidden to approach, it is understood to be a test from Allah for Adam. Scholars differ on which tree this was. Al-Suddi and others, quoting Ibn Abbas, relate that the prohibited tree was the grapevine. This is supported by Sa'id ibn Jubayr, Al-Shu'bi, Ja'dah ibn Hubayrah, and Muhammad ibn Qais. Other narrations say it was the wheat plant, the spike, or the olive tree. Ibn Jarir and Ibn Abi Hatim report from Ibn Abbas that the forbidden tree was the spike—a type of grain. Other companions like Mujahid, and scholars Qatadah and Ibn Jurayj say it was the fig tree. The prominent exegete Abu Ja'far Al-Razi, citing Al-Rabi' ibn Anas, considered the tree to be the barley plant, reasoning that any new growth such as a sprout would be unsuitable for Paradise, which is free from defect or change. Abdul Razzaq narrated from Wahb ibn Munabbih that the forbidden tree had intertwined branches and bore fruit eaten by angels; it was the fruit specifically forbidden to Adam and Eve. These various identifications—grapevine, spike, fig, olive, barley—represent the diversity of scholarly opinion. The eminent scholar Ibn Jarir concludes that the correct understanding is Allah prohibited Adam and his spouse from eating from a specific tree among all of Paradise's trees, but the exact species is not clearly known. Neither the Qur'an nor the authentic Sunnah specify which tree it was. Knowledge of the specific tree is beneficial if known but ignorance of it causes no deficit in faith. Thus, the verse serves as a narrative of God's honor to Adam, the nature of his inhabitation of Paradise, the creation of Eve, and the divine command not to approach a particular tree, which was a test and trial. The multiplicity of opinions about the tree illustrates the humility in acceptably holding differing interpretations when the precise reality was not delineated clearly by scripture or sound tradition.