Prophet Adam (Pbuh)
Overview
The story of Adam will be covered in the following chapters:
Before the creation of Adam: Angels and Jinn. Creation of Adam, Satan (Iblis), Adam and Eve in Heaven, Out of Heaven, Adam on Earth & story of Abil and Cain
Before the creation of Adam: Angels and Jinn. Before going into Adam’s life details, it is important to know who was created before him. Allah created angels, obedient creatures who supplicate and pray to Him and obey His will. He also created the Jinn who, unlike human beings, are made of fire. Also, they lack reason and intelligence and act like children.
According to ‘Abdullah Ibn Umar, the jinn had existed for about two thousand years before Adam and had shed blood. As a result, Allah sent on them an army of angels that drove them out to the depths of the seas. Most of the jinn committed a lot of sins and disobeyed Allah. Satan (also known as Iblis) however was the only jinn who never disobeyed his God. And, as a reward, God raised him to Heaven to live with the angels.
Creation of Adam Allah the Almighty revealed: ‘ “Behold, your Lord said to the angels: “I will create a vicegerent on earth.” They said: “Will You place therein one who will make mischief therein and shed blood? – while we do celebrate Your praises and glorify Your holy (name)?” He (Allah) said: “I know that which you do not know.” “Angels then concealed to each other that, even if Allah creates a new being, they will still be better than him by being more knowledgeable and more generous. Allah knew what angels have said and not revealed it to him. Then, Allah, the Exalted said: “And He taught Adam the nature of all things.” Surah 2:31After Adam had learned from his God the names of all things, along with their properties and uses, ‘ “then He (Allah) placed them (the things) before the angels, and said: “Tell Me the names of these if you are truthful.” ‘ Surah 2:31. The angels admitted their incapacity and said: ‘ “Glory to You, we have no knowledge except what You have taught us. Verily, it is You, The All-Knower, The All-Wise. ” ‘ Surah 2:32
Allah Almighty then turned to Adam: ‘ “O Adam! Tell them their natures” When he had told them, Allah said: “Did I not tell you that I know the secrets (Ghaib) of heaven and the earth, and I know what you reveal and what you conceal?” ‘ Surah 2: 33 Allah proved once again that he knows the secrets including hidden talks of angels.
Before going further into Adam’s life, let’s discuss his origin. Allah Almighty recounted his creation in the following verses: ‘Verily, the likeness of Jesus, in Allah’s Sight is the likeness of Adam. He created him from dust, then (He) said to him: “Be!”- and he was.’ Surah 3: 59Allah said to the angels: ‘ “Truly, I am going to create man from clay. So when I have fashioned him (in due proportion) and breathed into him of MY spirit, you fall down obeisance to him.” ‘ Surah 38: 71-72Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) declared: “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.” Sahih Al-BukhariAllah shaped Adam into a human being, but he remained a figure of clay for forty years. It was narrated that the prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) said that he was 60 meters long. The angels went past him. They were seized with fear by what they saw, and Iblis felt this fear most. After all, angels were made of a powerful substance which is light; the Jinn were made of fire, also known as powerful and dangerous. However, Adam is made of a weak substance, which is dust. Iblis was aware of that but was afraid of him. He used to pass by the figure of Adam, going inside and out of it, buffeting it, which would make a sound like pottery. Allah told us: ‘He created man (Adam) from sounding clay like the clay of pottery.’ Surah 55: 14Abu Hurairah reported that Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) said: ”
Allah created Adam from dust after He mixed the clay and left him for some time until it became sticky mud, after which Allah shaped him. 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! Go to those angels and see what they would say.’ So Adam went and greeted them. They replied saying: ‘Peace be upon you and the mercy and blessings of Allah.’ Allah said: ‘O Adam! This is your greeting and that of your offspring.” Sahih Al-BukhariWhen Allah was about to breathe into Adam from His soul, He asked the angels: “When I breathe My spirit into him prostrate before him” Allah breathed His spirit into Adam and when it reached his head Adam sneezed. The angels said: “Say all praise belongs to Allah.” Adam repeated: “All praise belongs to Allah.” Allah said to him: “Your Lord has granted you mercy.” When the spirit reached his eyes, Adam looked at the fruits of Paradise. When it reached his abdomen Adam felt an appetite for food. He jumped hurriedly before the spirit could reach his legs in order to reach the fruits of Paradise. Allah then declared: ‘Man is created of haste.’ Surah 21:37. After that, the angels followed their Lord’s orders: ‘The angels prostrated themselves, all of them together. Except for Iblis – he refused to be among the prostrators.’ Surah 15: 31-32
Satan (Iblis) Almighty Allah recounted the story of Iblis’s refusal to prostrate before Adam: ‘And (remember) when your Lord said to the angels: “I am going to create a man (Adam) from sounding clay of altered black smooth mud. So, when I have fashioned him completely and breathed into him (Adam) the soul which I created for him, then fall (you) down prostrating yourselves unto him” So, the angels prostrated themselves, all of them together. Except Iblis, – he refused to be among the prostrators. (Allah) said: “O Iblis! What is your reason for not being among the prostrators?” (Iblis) said: “I am not the one to prostrate myself to a human being, whom You created from sounding clay of altered black smooth mud.” (Allah) said: “Then, get out from here, for verily, you are Rajim (an outcast or a cursed one). And verily, the curse shall be upon you till the Day of Recompense (i.e. the Day of Resurrection).” ‘ Surah 15: 28-35Satan’s arrogance and disbelief were mentioned several times in the Quran:’ “Shall I prostrate to one whom You created from clay?” (Iblis) said: “See? This one whom You have honored above me, if You give me respite (keep me alive) to the Day of Resurrection, I will surely seize and mislead his offspring (by sending them astray) all but a few!” ‘ Surah 17: 62′(Remember) when your Lord said to the angels: “Truly, I am going to create man from clay. So when I have fashioned him and breathed into him (his) soul created by Me, then you fall down prostrate to him.” So the angels prostrated themselves, all of them: except Iblis, he was proud and was one of the disbelievers.
(Allah) said: “O Iblis! What prevents you from prostrating yourself to one whom I have created with Both My Hands. Are you too proud (to fall prostrate to Adam) or are you one of the high exalted?” (Iblis) said: “I am better than he, You created me from fire, and You created him from clay.” (Allah) said: “Then get you from here, for verily, you are outcast. And verily!, My Curse is on you till the Day of Recompense.” (Iblis) said: “My Lord! Give me then respite till the Day the (dead) are resurrected.” Allah said. “Verily! You are of those allowed respite – till the Day of the time appointed.” Iblis said: “By Your Might, then I will surely mislead them all, – except Your chosen slaves amongst them (faithful, obedient, true believers of Islamic Monotheism).” ‘ Surah 38: 75-85(Allah) said: ‘ “The truth is, and the truth I say, – that I will fill Hell with you (Iblis) and those of them (mankind) that follow you, together. ” ‘ Surah 38: 84-85
Adam and Eve in heaven the angels realized that Adam was the creature who knew what they did not know and that his capacity to learn was his noblest quality. His knowledge included knowledge of the Creator which we call Faith or Islam, as well as the knowledge he would need to inhabit and master the earth. Muhammad Ibn Ishaaq and Ibn ‘Abbas related that Eve was created from the shortest left rib of Adam while he was sleeping. And after a while, she was clothed with flesh.
That is why Allah the Exalted said: «O Mankind! Be dutiful to your Lord, Who created you from a single person (Adam) and from him (Adam) He created his wife (Eve), and from them both He created many men and women.» Surah 4: 1Allah also said: «It is He Who has created you from a single person (Adam), and (then) He created from him his wife (Eve), in order that he might enjoy the pleasure of living with her.» Surah 7: 189 Ibn ‘Abbas and a group of the companions of the Prophet (PBUH) narrated that when Iblis was sent out of Paradise and Adam was accommodated therein, Adam was alone in Paradise and did not have a partner from whom he could get tranquility. He slept for some time and when he woke up, he saw a woman whom Allah had created from his ribs. So he asked her: “Who are you?” She replied: “A woman.” He asked: “Why have you been created?” She replied: “So that you could find tranquility in me.” The angels, trying to find out the extent of his knowledge, asked him: “What is her name, O Adam?” He replied: “Eve.” They asked: “Why was she so named?” He replied: “Because she was created from something living.”
Allah commanded Adam to dwell in Paradise: «”O Adam! Dwell you and your wife in the Paradise and eat both of you freely with pleasure and delight of things therein as wherever you will, but come not near this tree or you both will be of the Zalimeen (wrong-doers).”» Surah 2:35 Out of Heaven” And (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 thirst therein nor from the sun’s heat.”
Adam and Eve 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, which might have been the Tree of Pain or the Tree of Knowledge. Allah forbade them before they were given abode in Paradise: «”But come not near this tree or you both will be of the Zalimeen (wrong-doers). “» Surah 2: 35Satan whispered to them: «”Your Lord did not forbid you this tree save you should become angels or become of the immortals.” And he (Satan) swore by Allah to them both (saying): “Verily, lam one of the sincere well-wishers for you both.”.So he [Satan] misled them with deception.» Surah 7: 20-22. Allah also said: ‘ Thus did Adam disobey his Lord, so he went astray. ‘ Surah 20: 121Eve was the first one who ate from that tree and tempted Adam to do the same. After they ate from it, the clothes they were wearing were gone, so they started cutting tree leaves with which to cover themselves. Adam started to run while saying “forgiveness! Forgiveness!”. So Allah asked: “Are you running away from Me?” Adam replied: “No, my Lord, but I am shy of You.” Allah the Almighty addressed him: ‘ “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 (i.e., 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 (i.e. resurrected).” ‘ Surah 7: 22-25Adam, unlike Satan, knew he was guilty and asked God for forgiveness. That is why God accepted his repentance. However, he punished him and sent him to Earth.
Adam and Eve on Earth & story of Abil and CainAdam and Eve started a new life on Earth. They were able to live there and overcome difficulties thanks to the knowledge given by Allah. They had to cultivate, construct and populate the Earth. They also witnessed the birth of 20 twins. The first and second sets of twins were Cain (Qabil) and his sister, and Abel (Habil) and his sister. Adam’s kids grew up and then came the time for marriage. Allah revealed to Adam that it was forbidden for anyone to marry his twin and that Adam should marry each son to the twin sister of the other. So, Cain had to marry Abel’s sister Abel had to marry Cain’s sister. Nevertheless, Cain was more attracted to his twin sister (who was more beautiful) and refused Allah’s commands. Another even added Cain’s rage against his brother was related to the sacrifice that each one had to offer to Allah. Abel’s sacrifice (good sheep) was accepted while Cain’s (bad grain) was not. Satan took advantage of Cain’s anger to whisper to him and tell him to kill his brother. Allah the Almighty revealed: ‘And (O Muhammad) recite to them (the Jews) the story of the two sons of Adam (Abel and Cain) in truth; when each offered a sacrifice (to Allah), it was accepted from the one but not from the other. The latter said to the former: “I will surely kill you.”The former said: ‘Verily, Allah accepts only from those who are Al-Muttaqeen (the pious). If you do stretch your hand against me to kill me, I shall never stretch my hand against you to kill you, for I fear Allah; the Lord of the ‘Alamin (mankind, jinn, and all that exists).
Verily I intend to let you draw my sin on yourself as well as yours, then you will be one of the dwellers of the Fire, and that is the recompense of the Zalimeen (polytheists, and wrong-doers).So the Nafs (self) of the other (latter one) encouraged him and made fair-seeming to him the murder of his brother; he murdered him and became one of the losers. Then Allah sent a crow who scratched the ground to show him to hide the dead body of his brother. He (the murderer) said: ‘Woe to me! Am I not even able to be as this crow and to hide the dead body of my brother?” Then he became one of those who regretted.’ Surah 5: 27-31When Abel had not appeared for some time, Adam began to search for him but found no trace of his beloved son. He asked Cain about Abel’s whereabouts. Cain insolently replied that he was not his brother’s keeper nor his protector.
From these words, his father understood that Abel was dead and Adam was filled with grief. Meanwhile, Cain did not know what to do with his brother’s corpse. He carried it on his back wandering from place to place, trying to hide it. His anger had now subsided, and his conscience was saddled with guilt. He was tired under the burden of the corpse which had started to have a stench. As a mercy, and to show that dignity could be retained even in death, Allah sent two ravens that began fighting, causing the death of one. The victorious bird used its beak and claws to dig a hole in the ground, rolled its victim into it, and covered it with sand.
Some scholars reported that Adam lived for 1000 years and got the chance to see many of his grandchildren.
