Almighty Allah informs the Angels regarding His new creation – Human
Allah the Exalted, told the Angels that He was going to create a vicegerent on the earth who will have children and grandchildren. The angels then asked to Allah the Almighty “Will You place therein those who will make mischief therein and shed blood? While we praise and worship you?” Allah replied, “Indeed, I know that which you do not know:
And [mention, O Muhammad], when your Lord said to the angels, “Indeed, I will make upon the earth a successive authority.” They said, “Will You place upon it one who causes corruption therein and sheds blood, while we declare Your praise and sanctify You?” Allah said, “Indeed, I know that which you do not know.”
{Surah Baqarah: Ayat 30}.
Allah the Almighty announced that, He was going to create a human being out of clay, that He would mould him and blow His spirit into him.
Almighty Allah ordered the Angels to get Him clay
Ibn Mas’ud and other companions of the Prophet (sallallahu ‘alayhi wa sallam) said that Allah the Almighty sent Gabriel onto the Earth to get Him clay therefrom. The Earth said: “I seek refuge in Allah from your decreasing my quantity or disfiguring me.” So Gabriel returned and did not take anything. He said: “My Lord, the land sought refuge in You and it granted.”
So Allah sent Michael for the same purpose, and the land sought refuge with Allah and it was granted. So he went back and said to Allah what Gabriel has said before him.
Then Allah sent the Angel of Death, and the land sought refuge in Allah, the angel said: “I also seek refuge with Allah from returning without carrying out His command.” So he took clay from the face of the earth and mixed it. The Angel of Death ascended with it, Allah soaked the clay till it became sticky. Then Allah said to the angels:
…”Indeed, I am going to create a human being from clay.”
{Surah Sad: Ayat 71}
…””I will create a human being out of clay from an altered black mud.”
{Surah Al-Hijr: Ayat 28}
Why are the Humans Different (being from the same father)
Abu Musa al-Ashari narrated that the Prophet Muhammad sallallahu ‘alayhi wa sallam said: “Allah created Adam from a handful of dust taken from different lands, so the children of Adam have been created according to the composition of the land. Therefore from mankind we have white, red, black and yellow ones; we have good and evil, ease and sorrow, and what comes in between them.” [Ibn Kathir]
What happened before breathing spirit on Adam(AS)
So Allah shaped Adam(AS) into a human being, but he remained a figure of clay for 40 years. The angels went past him. They were seized with fear by what they saw, and Iblis felt fear most. He used to pass by the figure of Adam, buffeting it, which would make a sound like pottery.
Allah told us: “He created man from clay like pottery.” {Surah Ar-Rahman: Ayat 14}.
Abu Hurayrah narrated that the Prophet Muhammad sallallahu ‘alayhi wa sallam said: After that Allah left him till it became like potter’s clay. Iblis used to go past him saying ‘You have been created for a great purpose.’ After that Allah breathed His spirit into him. The first thing into which the spirit passed was his eye and then his nose. He sneezed. Allah said: ‘May your Lord have mercy upon you, O Adam!”
Almighty Allah commanded the Angels + Iblees to prostrate before Adam(AS)
At that time, Iblees (the jinn) was allowed to mingle with the Angels and worship Allah(swt) in Paradise. After Allah(swt) created Adam(AS), He ordred the Angels + Iblees to prostrate before Adam(AS). Allah(swt) did not mean to ask their opinion or take their advice, for He is above that, he simply commanded them to do so.
Allah(swt) informed us through the Quran in various places:
And We have certainly created you, [O Mankind], and given you [human] form. Then We said to the angels, “Prostrate to Adam”… {Surah Al-A’raf: Ayat 11}
So when I have proportioned him and breathed into him of My [created] soul, then fall down to him in prostration.” {Surah Sad: Ayat 72; Surah Al-Hijr: Ayat 29}
What’s clear is that, this prostration was to show respect and did not mean that the angels were worshipping Adam. Prostrating in worship is done only for Allah.
Iblees’s Reaction against the Order
Iblees Refused to Prostrate and became Shaitan
Iblees refused to follow the command of Almighty Allah out of arrogance – and became a disbeliever (Shaitan):
And when We said to the angels, “Prostrate before Adam”; so they prostrated, except for Iblees. He refused and was arrogant and became of the disbelievers. {Surah Al-Baqarah: Ayat 34; Surah Sad: Ayat 73-74}.
So the angels prostrated – all of them entirely, Except Iblees, he refused to be with those who prostrated. {Surah Al-Hijr: Ayat 30-31; Surah Al-A’raf: Ayat 11}.
Iblees Tried to Compare himself with Adam(AS)
Allah(swt) questioned Iblis to mention the reason behind his refusal and Iblis tried to compare himself to Adam(AS) and establish own superiority over Adam. He believed that he was better in creation and more honorable than Adam. Therefore he abstained from prostrating even though Allah had commanded him to do so, just as He had commanded the angels.
Iblees declared his jealousy towards Adam(AS) which is captured in various Ayats:
[Allah] said, “What prevented you from prostrating when I commanded you?” [Satan] said, “I am better than him. You created me from fire and created him from clay.” {Surah Al-A’raf: Ayat 12; Surah Sad: Ayat 76}.
[Allah] said, O Iblees, what is [the matter] with you that you are not with those who prostrate?” He[Iblees] said, “Never would I prostrate to a human whom You created out of clay from an altered black mud.” {Surah Al-Hijr: Ayat 32-33}.
…He[Iblees] said, “Should I prostrate to one You created from clay?” {Surah Al-Hijr: Ayat 32-33}.
Allah(swt) ordered Iblees to get out of Paradise
Due to the denial, Iblis was expelled from Paradise:
[Allah] said, “Descend from Paradise, for it is not for you to be arrogant therein. So get out; indeed, you are of the disgraced one. {Surah Al-Araf: Ayat 13}.
[Allah] said, “Then get out of Paradise, for indeed, you are expelled. {Surah Al-Hijr: Ayat 34; Surah Sad: Ayat 77}.
Iblees requested permission to Survive and Mislead Humanity
Iblees then requested Allah(swt) to keep him alive till the Day of Resurrection. He was allowed such. He tied to justify his refusal by mentioning that the new creation from clay (which was more honored than Iblees) are such that they can be easily misled and sent to astray.
We must always bear in mind of this challenge of Iblees:
[Iblees] said, “Do You see this one whom You have honored above me? If You delay me until the Day of Resurrection, I will surely destroy his descendants, except for a few.” {Surah Al-Isra: Ayat 62}.
He[Iblees] said,” My Lord, then reprieve me until the Day they are resurrected.” [Allah] said, “So indeed, you are of those reprieved. {Surah Al-Hijr: Ayat 36-37; Surah Al-A’raf: Ayat 14-15; Surah Sad: Ayat 79-80}.
Iblees Blamed Allah(swt) for what happened
So, Iblees blamed Allah(swt) for this incident and promised to mislead the Human being so that they would be with him in hell. Shaitan will make the Human such that disobedience to Allah(swt) looks attractive to them and he will attack from before, behind, left and right so that most of them will not be thankful to Allah(swt).
[Satan] said, “Because You have put me in error, I will surely sit in wait for them on Your straight path. Then I will come to them from before them and from behind them and on their right and on their left, and You will not find most of them grateful [to You].” {Surah Al-A’raf: Ayat 16-17}.
[Iblees] said, “My Lord, because You have put me in error, I will surely make [disobedience] attractive to them on earth, and I will mislead them all {Surah Al-Hijr: Ayat 39}.
So Allah(swt) has warned us several times to avoid deception
Allah(swt) Has warned us in the Quran not to be deceived by our enemy, Shaitan:
“O Children of Adam! Let not Shaitan (Satan) deceive you, as he got your parents (Adam and Hawwa’ (Eve)) out of Paradise,” {Surah Al-A’raf: Ayat 27}
Indeed, Satan is an enemy to you; so take him as an enemy. He only invites his party to be among the companions of the Blaze. {Surah AL-A’RAF: Ayat 6}
The Covenant of Humanity (Including Us)
Adam’s(AS) progenies, including us, made a covenant with Allah(SWT), where we have testified Allah(swt) as our Lord/God and Allah(swt) after our testimony said, hope we can testify the same on the day of resurrection. But we have actually forgot this:
Allah the Almighty revealed: And when your Lord took from the children of Adam – from their loins – their descendants and made them testify of themselves, “Am I not your Lord?” They said, “Yes, we have testified.” lest you should say on the day of Resurrection, “Indeed, we were of this unaware.”Or [lest] you say, “It was only that our fathers associated [others in worship] with Allah before, and we were but descendants after them. Then would You destroy us for what the falsifiers have done?”And thus do We [explain in] detail the verses, and perhaps they will return.{Surah Al-Araf: Ayat172-4}
Adam’s(AS) progeny declared: “Our Lord, we bear witness that You are our Lord; we have no other Lord but Allah(swt). Allah raised their father Adam, and he looked at them and saw those of them who were rich and those who were poor, and those who had good forms and those who did not. Adam(AS) said: “O Allah! I wish You to make Your servants equal.” Allah replied “I love being thanked.” Adam(AS) saw among the prophets like lamps among his progeny.
The Covenant of The Prophets
Almighty Allah declared:
“Remember when We took from the Prophets their covenant, and from you (O Muhammad), and from Noah, Abraham, Moses, and Jesus son of Mary. We took from them a strong covenant.” {Surah Al-Ahzab: Ayat 7}
In another verse Allah the Exalted commanded:
“So set you (O Muhammad) your face towards the religion of pure Islamic Monotheism Hanifah (worship none but Allah Alone) Allah’s Fitrah (Allah’s Islamic Monotheism), with which He has created mankind. No change let there be in khalqillah (the Religion of Allah-Islamic Monotheism), that is the straight religion, but most men know not.” {Surah Ar-Rum: Ayat 30}
Similarity/Resemblance between Adam(AS) and Isa(AS)
Almighty Allah declared:
Indeed, the example of Jesus(Isa) to Allah is like that of Adam. He created Him from dust; then He said to him, “Be,” and he was.” {Surah Ali-Imran: Ayat 59}
Allah the Almighty taught Adam(AS) the name of everything
Allah taught Adam all the names of everything, then He showed them to the angels and said: “Tell Me the names of these if you are truthful.”
They (angels) said: “Glory be to You, we have no knowledge except what You have taught us. Verily, it is You, the All-Knower, the All-Wise.”
He (Allah) said: “O Adam! Inform them of their names,” and when he had informed them of their names, He said: “Did I not tell you that I know the unseen in the heavens and the earth, and I know what you reveal and what you have been hiding?”
{Surah Al-Baqarah: Ayat 31-33}
So, the angels realized that Adam(AS) was the creature who knew what they did not know.
Adam(AS) was told to Dwell in Paradise with Hawa(RA)
Adam(AS) was in Paradise, felt lonely and did not have a partner from whom he could get tranquility. One day he slept and when he awoke he found near his head, a woman, gazing at his face with beautiful tender eyes. Allah created her from Adam’s shortest left rib.
Allah the Exalted said:
“It is he Who has created you (humanity) from a single person (Adam) and then He created his wife from him, in order that he might enjoy the pleasure of living with her.”{Surah Al-Araf: Ayat 189}.
Adam(AS) asked her, “Who are you? She replied, “A woman” He asked: “Why have you been created?” She said :”So that you could find tranquility in me.”
The angels asked Adam(AS) her name he replied: “Eve (Hawa).” (means living things). They asked: “Why did you call her Eve?” Adam(AS) said: “Because she was created of me and I am a living being.”
And We said, “O Adam, dwell, you and your wife, in Paradise and eat therefrom in [ease and] abundance from wherever you will. But do not approach this tree, lest you be among the wrongdoers.” {Surah Al-Baqarah: Ayat 35}
Abu Hurairah narrated that the Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) said: “O Muslims! I advise you to be gentle with women, for they are created from a rib, and the most crooked portion of the rib is its upper part. If you try to straighten it, it will break and if you leave it, it will remain crooked, so I urge you to take care of the women.” {Sahih Bukhari Book 60, Hadith 6}.
The Forbidden Tree
Adam(AS) and Hawa(RA) were admitted to Paradise and there they lived the dream of all human beings. Allah permitted them to approach and enjoy everything except one tree.
“But come not near this tree or you both will be of the wrong doers.”
{Surah Al-Baqarah: Ayat 35}
Adam(AS) and Hawa(RA) understood that they were forbidden to eat the fruit of that tree. Adam(AS) was however a human being and man tends to forget. His heart changes and his will weakens. Iblis summoned all the envy within him and took advantage of Adam’s humanity to exploit him. He started to whisper to him day after day: “Shall I guide you to tree of Immortality and the Eternal Kingdom?” He said to them:
“‘Your Lord did not forbid you this tree save you should become angels or become of the immortals.’ He (Satan) swore by Allah to them both saying: ‘Verily I am one of the sincere well wishers for you both.’ “ {Surah Al-A’raf: Ayat 20–21}
Adam(AS) asked himself: “What will happen if I eat from this tree? It might truly be the Tree of Immortality.” His dream was to live forever in the pure innocence of Paradise.”
Years went by, and Adam(AS) and Hawa(RA) were preoccupied with thoughts of that tree. Then one day they decided to eat of its fruit. They forgot that Allah had warned them not to approach it and that Iblis was their sworn enemy. Adam(AS) stretched out his hand, picked one of the fruits and offered it to Eve. They both ate of the forbidden tree.
Allah(swt) told us: “So he (Satan) misled them with deception.” {Surah Al-A’raf:22} Allah(swt) said: “Thus did they disobey his Lord so he went astray.” {Surah Ta-Ha:121}
Adam(AS) had hardly finished eating when he felt his heart contract, and he as filled with pain, sadness and shame. The surrounding atmosphere had changed and the internal music had stopped. He discovered that he and his wife were naked, so they both started cutting tree leaves with which to cover themselves. Allah the Almighty revealed to us:
“O children of Adam, let not Satan tempt you as he removed your parents from Paradise, stripping them of their clothing to show them their private parts. Indeed, he sees you, he and his tribe, from where you do not see them. Indeed, We have made the devils allies to those who do not believe.”{Surah Al-A’raf:27}
Allah the Almighty addressed to Adam:
“‘Did I not forbid you that tree and tell you: Verily Satan is an open enemy unto you?’ They said: ‘Our Lord! We have wronged ourselves. If You forgive us not, and bestow not upon us Your Mercy, we shall certainly be of the losers.’ Allah said: ‘Get down, one of you an enemy to the other (Adam, Eve, and Satan etc). On earth will be a dwelling place for you and an enjoyment, for a time.’ He said: ‘Therein you shall live and therein you shall die, and from it you shall be brought out (resurrected).’ {Surah Al-A’raf: Ayat 22-25}
They left Paradise and descended upon the earth. Adam(AS) was sad and Hawa(RA) was crying. Allah accepted their repentance because it was sincere and He told them that the earth would be their realm and origin where they would live and die and whence they would come on the Day of Judgment.
Disobedience to Allah(swt) will only cause us harm
Adam(AS) was informed that Shaitan is his enemy. But Shaitan tricked him and he forgot and mistakenly disobeyed Allah(swt). Later on he was forgiven for his repentance and was given guidance by Allah(swt).
Adam(AS) was sent down on earth with his wife. And informed that whoever from his progeny will accept Allah’s(swt) guidance will not go astray nor fall into distress and misery. But, whoever disregards, will have a hard life and will be raised blind on the day of resurrection.
Allah the Almighty recounted this lesson for us:
“Indeed We made a covenant with Adam before, but he forgot, and We found on his part no firm will power. Remember when We said to the angels “Prostrate yourselves to Adam.” They prostrated (all) except Iblis, who refused. then We said: “O Adam! verily, this is an enemy to you and to your wife. so let him not get you both out of Paradise, so that you be distressed in misery. Verily, you have (a promise from Us) that you will never be hungry therein nor naked. And you will suffer not from thrist therein nor from the sun’s heat.” then Satan whispered to him, saying “O Adam! Shall I lead you to the Tree of Eternity and to a kingdom that will never waste away?” Then they both ate of that tree, and so their private parts appeared to them, and they began to stick on themselves the leaves from Paradise for their covering. Thus did Adam disobey his Lord, so he went astray. Then his Lord chose him, and turned to him with forgiveness and gave him guidance.
Allah said: “Get you down (upon the earth), both of you, together from Paradise, some of you are an enemy to some others. Then if there comes to you guidance from Me, then whoever follows My Guidance shall neither go astray, nor fall into distress and misery. But whosoever turns away from My Reminder (neither believes in this Quran nor acts on its orders etc). Verily, for him is a life of hardship and We shall raise him up blind on the Day of Resurrection.”
He will say: “O my Lord! Why have you raised me up blind, while I had sight before.” Allah will said: “like this, Our Ayat (proofs, evidences, verses, lessons, signs, revelations, etc). came unto you, but you disregarded them (you left them, did not think deeply in them, and you turned away from them), and so this Day, you will be neglected in the Hellfire, away from Allah’s Mercy.)” And thus do We requite him who transgresses beyond bounds (commits the great sins and disobeys his Lord (allah) and believes not in His Messengers, and His revealed Books, like this Quran etc), and believes not in the Ayat (proofs, evidences, verses, lessons, signs, revelations, etc). of his Lord, and the torment of the Hereafter is far more severe and more lasting.” {Surah Ta-Ha: Ayat 115-127}
Commentary: Why Adam(AS) and Hawa(RA) Descended
Some people believe that the reason why mankind does not dwell in Paradise is that Adam(AS) was disobedient and that if it had not been for this sin, we could have been there all along. These are naive fictions because when Allah wanted to create Adam, He said to the angels, “I shall make a vicegerent on the earth.” He did not say, “I shall make a vicegerent in Paradise.”
Allah knew that Adam(AS) and Hawa(RA) would eat of the tree and descend to earth. He knew that Satan would take advantage of their innocence. It was meant to teach Adam, Eve, and their progeny that it was Satan who had caused them to be expelled from Paradise and that the road to Paradise can only be reached by obedience to Allah and enmity to Satan.
Commentary: Adam’s Free will
Could it be said that Adam(AS) and the rest of mankind were predestined to sin and to be expelled from Paradise and sent to the earth?
Allah does not force things to happen. He grants free will to His human creatures. Adam(AS) had complete free will, and he bore the consequences of his disobedience.
Adam(AS) was taught and he understood his lesson from the consequence. He knew now in a practical way that Iblis was his enemy, the cause of his losing the blessing of living in Paradise, and the cause of his distress. Adam(AS) also understood that Allah punishes disobedience and that the way of Paradise has to be through submission to the will of Allah. And he learned from Allah Almighty to ask for forgiveness.
Allah accepted Adam’s repentance and forgave him. He then sent him to the earth as His first messenger. And this story of Adam(AS) is repeated in the Quran multiple times indicating us to have a lesson as to how Shaitan works and how we can protect ourselves and repent to Allah to clean up our sins.
Encounter Between Adam and Moses (pbut) – Hadith
Moses(pbuh) argued with Adam(AS) that due to his eating from the tree we are expelled from Paradise. But Adam(AS) beautifully counter-argued that this was pre-destined far before Adam(A)S was created and Adam(AS) overcame Moses (pbuh) with this argument. Since now many of us have the same question in mind and here is the answer. Adam AS was not actually blaming Allah(swt) for his sin. Rather he argued that we all, including himself was pre-destined to come in this Earth. So our Existence in this Earth is not as a result of Adam AS’s sin rather it was pre-destined by the Almighty.
Abu Hurayrah narrated that the Messenger sallallahu ‘alayhi wa sallam said: “Adam and Moses argued with each other. Moses said to Adam: ‘Your sin expelled you from Paradise.’ Adam said: ‘ You are Moses whom Allah selected as His messenger and as the one to whom He spoke directly. Yet you blame me for a thing which had already been written in my fate before my Creation?” Allah’s Prophet Muhammad sallallahu ‘alayhi wa sallam said twice, “So Adam overcame Moses with this argument.” {Sahih Bukhari Book 60, Hadith 82}.
Adam(AS) Gifted a portion of his lifespan to Dawud AS
Adam(AS) gifted his 60 years of lifespan to Dawud AS and later on forgot it at the time of his death.
Abu Hurairah narrated that the Messenger of Allah said: “When Allah created Adam, … he said: ‘What are these O my Lord?’ He said: ‘These are your offspring?’ Each one of them had his age written between his eyes. But among them there was a man who was the most illuminating of them. He said: ‘O Lord! Who is this?’ He said: ‘This is your son Dawud, I wrote forty years for him.’ He said: ‘O Lord! Add to his age.’ He said: ‘That is what I have written for him.’ He said: ‘O Lord! Give him sixty of my years.’ He said: ‘So you shall have it.’” He said: “Then, he resided in Paradise as long as Allah willed, then he was cast from it, so Adam was counting for himself.” He said: “So the Angel of death came to him, and Adam said to him: ‘You are hasty, one-thousand years were written for me.’ He said: ‘Of course! But you gave sixty years to your son Dawud.’ So he rejected, and his offspring rejected, and he forgot, and his offspring forgot.” He said: “So ever since that day, what is written and witnessed has been decreed.” {Jami` at-Tirmidhi, Book 44, Hadith 3367}.
Where Adam, Eve, and Iblis Descended
There are many traditions concerning the place of Adam’s descent upon earth.
Ibn Abi Hatim narrated that Ibn Abbas said: “Adam descended on the land ‘Dihna’ between Makkah and Ta’if. “Al-Hassan said that Adam descended in India and Eve in Jeddah (Saudi Arabia), Iblis in Bodistiman (Iraq), and the serpent in Asfahan (Iran). This last was also reported by Ibn Hatim.
Ass’adi related that Adam(AS) descended with the Black Stone (the stone that is set into the wall of the Ka’bah in Makkah) in India, and he had a handful of the seeds of Paradise. He sowed them in India and they grew into the fragrant tree therein.
Ibn ‘Umar said that Adam(AS) descended on as-Safa and Eve on al-Marwa (names of two mountains in the vicinity of the sacred house in Makkah.
This was also reported by Ibn Hatim. Abdur-Razzaq reported that Abu Musa Al-Ashari said that when Allah ordered Adam(AS) to descend from Paradise to earth, He taught him the making of everything and provided him with the crops from Paradise.
Abu Hurayrah narrated that the Prophet Muhammad sallallahu ‘alayhi wa sallam said: “The best day on which the sun has risen is Friday; on it Adam was created. on it he was made to enter Paradise, on it he was expelled from it. And the last hour will take place on no day other than Friday..” {Sahih Muslim, Book 7, Hadith 27}.
Adam’s Life on Earth
Adam(AS) knew he left the peace of Paradise. On earth he had to face conflict and struggle to sustain himself. He had to cultivate and construct and populate the earth. He had to protect himself with clothes and weapons and protect his wife and children from the wild beasts.
Above all, he had to struggle with the spirit of evil. Satan, the cause of his expulsion from Paradise. Satan continued to put effort to cause him and his children to be thrown into the eternal hellfire. The battle between good and evil is continuous, but those who follow Allah’s guidance and should fear nothing while those who disobey Allah and follow Iblis will be destroyed along with him.
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