Thumma ijtabahu rabbuhu fataba AAalayhi wahada (surah TaHa: 122)

Tafseer Tafheem-ul-Quran by Syed Abu-al-A'la Maududi

(20:122) Afterwards his Lord chose him *103 and accepted his repentance and gave him Guidance,

Summaj tabbahu Rabbuhoo fataaba `alaihi wa hadaa

*103) ".........His Lord chose him" because he did not disobey Him intentionally and did not persist in sin arrogantly. As soon as he realized his error he felt ashamed of it and asked Allah's pardon: "O our Lord, we have wronged ourselves gravely; if Thou dost not forgive us and have mercy upon us, we shall be totally ruined".(VII: 23). In contrast to Adam and Eve, Satan was cursed because he not only disobeyed his Lord but also persisted in his sin, and boldly challenged Him that it was He Who was responsible for his disobedience, for He had preferred Adam whom He had created of clay over him whom He had made of tire.