Adam(as): Creation of first man

Adam creation of first man

Informing angels about Adam creation of first man

Allah informed angels about Adam creation of first man:

وَاِذۡ قَالَ رَبُّكَ لِلۡمَلٰٓٮِٕكَةِ اِنِّىۡ جَاعِلٌ فِى الۡاَرۡضِ خَلِيۡفَةً ؕ قَالُوۡٓا

“I am going to place a successive ˹human˺ authority on earth.” [Al-Baqarah 2:30]

The angels responded:

قَالُوۡٓا اَتَجۡعَلُ فِيۡهَا مَنۡ يُّفۡسِدُ فِيۡهَا وَيَسۡفِكُ الدِّمَآءَۚ وَنَحۡنُ نُسَبِّحُ بِحَمۡدِكَ وَنُقَدِّسُ لَـكَ​ؕ

“Will You place therein those who will make mischief therein and shed blood, while we glorify You with praises and thanks (exalted be You above all that they associate with You as partners) and sanctify You?' [Surah Baqrah:30]

The angels asked ALLAH about Adam creation of first man out of concern if the humans will cause mischief on Earth. It was not to question Allah but to understand the creation of humans.

Allah said:

اِنِّىۡٓ اَعۡلَمُ مَا لَا تَعۡلَمُوۡنَ‏ 

'I know that which you do not know.' [Surah Baqarah:30]

Allah said, there will be prophets, martyrs, pious, righteous, modest, scholars, and all kinds of people amongst them that outweighs the harm you are stating or concerned about.

وَعَلَّمَ اٰدَمَ الۡاَسۡمَآءَ كُلَّهَا ثُمَّ عَرَضَهُمۡ عَلَى الۡمَلٰٓٮِٕكَةِ فَقَالَ اَنۡۢبِــُٔوۡنِىۡ بِاَسۡمَآءِ هٰٓؤُلَآءِ اِنۡ كُنۡتُمۡ صٰدِقِيۡنَ‏

He taught Adam the names of all things, then He presented them to the angels and said, “Tell Me the names of these, if what you say is true?” [Surah Baqarah:31]

The angels said:

قَالُوۡا سُبۡحٰنَكَ لَا عِلۡمَ لَنَآ اِلَّا مَا عَلَّمۡتَنَا ؕ اِنَّكَ اَنۡتَ الۡعَلِيۡمُ الۡحَكِيۡمُ‏

"Glory be to You, we have no knowledge except what You have taught us. Verily, it is You, the All-Knower, the All-Wise." [Surah Baqarah:32]

Allah’s order to collect the clay:

So, Allāh told one of the angels to go and collect different types of soil from the earth.

In many places in the Quran, the dirt that was used to make Adam is called by different names. However, there are different stages of the creation of Adam(as) from the start until Allah breathed the soul into Adam(as).

The earth refused to give the clay

Ibn Masud and other companions of the Prophet Muhammad(pbuh) said that God the Most High sent Jibril(as) to the land to get clay from it.

The earth said, "I ask Allah to protect me from you reducing my number or making me look ugly." Gabriel went back, but he didn't take anything. And he said, "My Lord, the land asked You for safety, and You gave it."

So, Allah sent Michael for the same reason, and the land asked Allah for safety, which he gave. So, he went back to Allah and told him what Jibril(as) had said.

Then Allah sent the Angel of Death, and the land said the same. The angel said, "I also ask Allah to protect me from going back without doing what He told me to do." So, the angel of death brought a handful of all kinds and colors of soil, black, white, red, and all those in between, the soft and firm soil. From the valleys, deserts, fertile lands, and all over the earth.

The soil gathered from all over the earth was then mixed with the water, and the shape of Adam(as) was created.

SubanAllah that's why we see all kinds of people among the descendants of Adam, like the white, black, and all the colors between them. Some people are easy, some are difficult, and some are in between.

Adam(as) stayed there for years until Allah breathed a soul into him(as).

Wondering of Iblis

The Iblis came around to see what this creation is that Allah is going to create and what is different about it, which we jins, angels, and other creations do not have. Upon inspection, Iblis knew that this creation is not like angels, it has internal cavities, which means that it will be needing nourishment, and they are not mortal like us.

Iblis said to Adam, “Allah created you for a matter which I cannot perceive”. And he told angels that this being is weak, and nothing compared to us. I can beat him in an instant, so you do not have to worry about him.

The envy, ignorance, and arrogance of the Iblis have been there from the start for this new creation, humankind, us. He compared himself to Adam, thinking he is better than Adam(as).

Breath of soul and the first words of Adam(as)

The soul began to travel from the head of Adam, and he opened his eyes, looking around the paradise, and when the soul reached the nose of Adam(as), he sneezed. Angles said: “Alhumdulillah”, and Adam(as) repeated: “Alhumdulillah”. So the first words of Adam(as), the first-ever human was “Alhumdulillah(All praise and thanks to Allah)”. Subhanallah.

The soul then reached Adam’s arms and stomach, when he felt hungry and tried to reach the fruit on the trees before the soul could reach his legs.

Allah then said:

خُلِقَ الۡاِنۡسَانُ مِنۡ عَجَلٍ​ؕ

Humankind is made of haste. [Al-Anbya:37]

This is the essence of life, praising our lord. The first ever human being was brought to life with the words “Alhumdulillah”. Also, it says that human nature is impatient. It’s a good reminder for us to keep patience when things are not in our understanding.

The first greeting

Then Allah told Adam(as) to go to the angles and say: Asalam alaikum(May God’s peace be upon you), and he did so.

The angles responded, walaikum asalam wa rehmatullahi wa barakatuhu(and God’s peace upon you too).

Prostration to Adam(as)

All worship and praise belong only to Allah, but as an honor and adoration, Allah commanded angels to bow to Adam(as).

ثُمَّ قُلۡنَا لِلۡمَلٰۤٮِٕكَةِ اسۡجُدُوۡا لِاٰدَمَ​ ۖ فَسَجَدُوۡۤا اِلَّاۤ اِبۡلِيۡسَؕ لَمۡ يَكُنۡ مِّنَ السّٰجِدِيۡنَ‏ 

Then We said to the angels, "Prostrate to Adam"; so they prostrated, except for Iblees.1 He was not of those who prostrated. [Al-Araf:11]

The disobedience of Iblis (jin, made of fire)

This is the first act of disobedience to ALLAH, by Iblis because of his arrogance, ignorance, and envy. For us, it is important to understand that by not obeying Allah, in any way, explicitly or implicitly, we are following the way of Iblis - and Allah does not like the arrogant, disobeying ones. Furthermore, Allah has clearly told us about the destination of the ones who follow the path of Iblis(shaitan)

​قَالَ مَا مَنَعَكَ اَلَّا تَسۡجُدَ اِذۡ اَمَرۡتُكَ​ ؕ

Allah asked, “What prevented you from prostrating when I commanded you?” [Al-A’raf:12]

Iblis replied:

قَالَ اَنَا خَيۡرٌ مِّنۡهُ​ ۚ خَلَقۡتَنِىۡ مِنۡ نَّارٍ وَّخَلَقۡتَهٗ مِنۡ طِيۡنٍ‏

He replied, “I am better than he is: You created me from fire and him from clay.” [Al-A’raf:12]

Expulsion of Iblis

قَالَ فَاهۡبِطۡ مِنۡهَا فَمَا يَكُوۡنُ لَـكَ اَنۡ تَتَكَبَّرَ فِيۡهَا فَاخۡرُجۡ اِنَّكَ مِنَ الصّٰغِرِيۡنَ‏

Allah said, “Then get down from Paradise! It is not for you to be arrogant here. So get out! You are truly one of the disgraced.” [Al-A’raf:13]

Iblis despite being a jin, was given the place amongst angels by Allah subhana wa ta’ala - but he showed no obedience and gratitude to Allah for the favor he was given. It is by Allah whomever he wants to bless with whatever He wished, and so can Allah take away whatever He wills from whomever He wills.

As humans, it is important to be humble and grateful for the blessings Allah gives us - for Allah, it does not take a second to take away, but for us, nothing in the world can help us get what Allah does not will for us.

The arrogance of Iblis

The favor of Allah filled him with arrogance, and he became ignorant of the power of Allah, and his worth in front of the creator and the master. What’s to worry about here is that one little arrogance and envy of him took him to the point that he did not feel the need to repent for the mistake he did.

Rather than asking for Allah's forgiveness, he became adamant about his sin, challenging Allah and raging war against Allah.

قَالَ اَنۡظِرۡنِىۡۤ اِلٰى يَوۡمِ يُبۡعَثُوۡنَ‏

He appealed, “Then delay my end until the Day of their resurrection.” [Al-A’raf:14]

Allah granted Iblis the time:

قَالَ اِنَّكَ مِنَ الۡمُنۡظَرِيۡنَ‏

Allah said, “You are delayed ˹until the appointed Day”. [Al-A’raf:15]

The blame game vs. Acceptance of sins

Rather than accepting his mistake, Iblis blamed Allah for his expulsion from heaven and being arrogant, saying if you know and you are in control, then it's you who has put all this on me - and he, in his pride, raged war against Allah to astray His creation from the path of Allah.

قَالَ فَبِمَاۤ اَغۡوَيۡتَنِىۡ لَاَقۡعُدَنَّ لَهُمۡ صِرَاطَكَ الۡمُسۡتَقِيۡمَۙ‏ 

He said, “For leaving me to stray I will lie in ambush for them on Your Straight Path. [Al-A’raf:16]

Where Allah is the all-powerful and in control, He has given us the free will to make our choices, and that too He knows. Adam(as) was given the choice but was not forced to it. It's important to stay steadfast on what Allah has commanded, and that is the real test.

How can we put our blame and wrongdoings, on destiny, or on Allah, saying everything is written? The written also is how to live your life. Allah has given us the Quran and prophets throughout time to teach us the conduct of life. Then why do we put our wrong on Allah, while we do not hesitate to take the credit for the good to ourselves? Surely the temptations of the world and the devil are there, but we as humans are given the choice to choose from the path of right and wrong.

Humans are made with nature to err, and what’s important is to accept our mistakes, to Allah, and in our daily lives as well.

Iblis(shaitan) attack us from four sides

ثُمَّ لَاَتِيَنَّهُمۡ مِّنۡۢ بَيۡنِ اَيۡدِيۡهِمۡ وَمِنۡ خَلۡفِهِمۡ وَعَنۡ اَيۡمَانِهِمۡ وَعَنۡ شَمَآٮِٕلِهِمۡ​ؕ وَلَاٰ تَجِدُ اَكۡثَرَهُمۡ شٰكِرِيۡنَ‏

I will approach them from their front, their back, their right, their left, and then You will find most of them ungrateful. [Al-A’raf:17]

Shaitan did not mention the top and bottom. The top is Allah, and it's our way to connect to Allah by praying, seeking guidance, and refuge from the shaitan. Dua is the way to connect to Allah. The bottom is prostration(sujood), the state we are closest to Allah. So, Iblis cannot or do not attack us from the bottom.

It means that we must not be stiff in our actions and conduct like Iblis, but rather be in a state of humility, and prostration to Allah, always making dua and prostrating to Allah, to save ourselves from evil.

The likes of Iblis

Allah made clear to Iblis that you are given the time you ask for, and know that whoever will follow you will go with you. Here is the clear path for us. The place for the followers of Iblis is hellfire. And there is no doubt that it is self-earned - except for realizing, accepting, repenting, and then refraining from it.

قَالَ اخۡرُجۡ مِنۡهَا مَذۡءُوۡمًا مَّدۡحُوۡرًا ​ؕ لَمَنۡ تَبِعَكَ مِنۡهُمۡ لَاَمۡلَــٴَــنَّ جَهَنَّمَ مِنۡكُمۡ اَجۡمَعِيۡنَ‏

Allah said, “Get out of Paradise! You are disgraced and rejected! I will certainly fill up Hell with you and your followers altogether.” [Al-A’raf:18]

Creation of Eve(Hawa)

Adam(as) was alone in paradise for a long time and did not have anyone to talk to.

يٰۤـاَيُّهَا النَّاسُ اتَّقُوۡا رَبَّكُمُ الَّذِىۡ خَلَقَكُمۡ مِّنۡ نَّفۡسٍ وَّاحِدَةٍ وَّخَلَقَ مِنۡهَا زَوۡجَهَا وَبَثَّ مِنۡهُمَا رِجَالًا كَثِيۡرًا وَّنِسَآءً​ ۚ

O humanity! Be mindful of your Lord Who created you from a single soul, and from it He created its mate,1 and through both He spread countless men and women. [An-Nisa:1]

Adam(as) slept for some time and when he woke up, he found a woman, whom Allah had created from his ribs(shortest left rib).

Adam(as) asked her, "Who are you? She replied, "A woman(Eve)". He asked: "Why have you been created?" She said: "So that you could find tranquility in me."

Allah’s warning to Adam(as)

Then Allah told Adam Even to live in paradise, and enjoy - but refrain from the forbidden tree.

وَيٰۤاٰدَمُ اسۡكُنۡ اَنۡتَ وَزَوۡجُكَ الۡجَـنَّةَ فَـكُلَا مِنۡ حَيۡثُ شِئۡتُمَا وَلَا تَقۡرَبَا هٰذِهِ الشَّجَرَةَ فَتَكُوۡنَا مِنَ الظّٰلِمِيۡنَ‏

“O Adam! Live with your wife in Paradise and eat from wherever you please, but do not approach this tree, or else you will be wrongdoers.”

[al-A’raf:19]

Allah made halal and haram very clear from the beginning. What Allah has commanded us to refrain from, is not for our good, whether our minds are able to comprehend it or not. And we do not want Allah’s anger, and being among the wrongdoers.

The whispering of Iblis

Iblis knew the human weakness of Adam(as), and took the best advantage to misguide him. He came many times to coax Adam(as) to eat from the tree Allah clearly told Adam(as) not to and. And Allah also told him that it will make him among the wrongdoers. Whoever does not obey Allah is one of the followers of Iblis.

فَوَسۡوَسَ لَهُمَا الشَّيۡطٰنُ لِيُبۡدِىَ لَهُمَا مَا وٗرِىَ عَنۡهُمَا مِنۡ سَوۡاٰتِهِمَا وَقَالَ مَا نَهٰٮكُمَا رَبُّكُمَا عَنۡ هٰذِهِ الشَّجَرَةِ اِلَّاۤ اَنۡ تَكُوۡنَا مَلَـكَيۡنِ اَوۡ تَكُوۡنَا مِنَ الۡخٰلِدِيۡنَ‏

Then Satan tempted them in order to expose what was hidden of their nakedness. He said, “Your Lord has forbidden this tree to you only to prevent you from becoming angels or immortals.” [Al-A’raf:20]

Deception

When Iblis tried many times and could not mislead or trick Adam(as) to eat from the tree, he took the last resort. Despite going against Allah, Iblis, to deceive Adam(as) he swore by Allah that this is not to wrong them and it is only for their good.

وَقَاسَمَهُمَاۤ اِنِّىۡ لَـكُمَا لَمِنَ النّٰصِحِيۡنَۙ‏

And he swore to them, “I am truly your sincere advisor.” [Al-A’raf:21]

فَدَلّٰٮهُمَا بِغُرُوۡرٍ​ ۚ

Allah Almighty told us: "So he (Satan) misled them with deception." [Al-A’raf 7:22]

Eating the fruit

This is how the whispering of the shaitan(Iblis/devil) works. It keeps coming to you, making you think of the things that could go wrong.

Years passed and Adam and Eve stayed preoccupied with the thoughts of the forbidden tree. Eventually, as of human nature, they forgot the warning of Allah, thinking too much about the tree, and ate from it.

فَاَكَلَا مِنۡهَا فَبَدَتۡ لَهُمَا سَوۡاٰ تُہُمَا وَطَفِقَا يَخۡصِفٰنِ عَلَيۡهِمَا مِنۡ وَّرَقِ الۡجَـنَّةِ​ وَعَصٰۤى

So they both ate from the tree and then their nakedness was exposed to them, prompting them to cover themselves with leaves from Paradise. [Taha:121]

As soon as Adam finished eating the fruit, he started feeling pain and remorse, sadness, and shame, and they(Adam and Eve) found themselves naked. The deception of the Iblis was to uncover their awrah(private parts), which they were unaware of before. As soon as they saw themselves naked, they ran away from each other, plucking leaves from the trees to cover themselves.

This is what shaitan(the devil) do to us. He makes the sin tempting to us, and keeps whispering to us, making us think about it to the point where we are not able to stop ourselves - and once we do it, we feel the shame.

Why do we feel shame or remorse after sin?

It’s human nature and it's the mercy of Allah that He has given this the fitrah, the intellect to distinguish between right and wrong. This is where free will comes in. Understanding the word of Allah, and making decisions of our own. Only if we were animals, it makes sense to not own up to our sins or mistakes - and accepting our sins, and shortcomings is the way to salvation, to repentance.

Allah’s call to Adam

Allah the Almighty addressed Adam(as):

وَنَادٰٮهُمَا رَبُّهُمَاۤ اَلَمۡ اَنۡهَكُمَا عَنۡ تِلۡكُمَا الشَّجَرَةِ وَاَقُلْ لَّـكُمَاۤ اِنَّ الشَّيۡطٰنَ لَـكُمَا عَدُوٌّ مُّبِيۡنٌ‏ ٢٢

Then their Lord called out to them, “Did I not forbid you from that tree and ˹did I not˺ tell you that Satan is your sworn enemy?” [Al-A’raf:22]

Adam’s(as) repentance.

رَبَّنَا ظَلَمۡنَاۤ اَنۡفُسَنَا وَاِنۡ لَّمۡ تَغۡفِرۡ لَـنَا وَتَرۡحَمۡنَا لَـنَكُوۡنَنَّ مِنَ الۡخٰسِرِيۡنَ‏

“Our Lord! We have wronged ourselves. If You do not forgive us and have mercy on us, we will certainly be losers.” [AL-A’raf:23]

Allah’s forgiveness - The real test (khilafa)

ثُمَّ اجۡتَبٰهُ رَبُّهٗ فَتَابَ عَلَيۡهِ وَهَدٰى‏

Then his Lord chose him(for His grace), accepted his repentance, and guided him ˹rightly˺ [Taha:122]

Surely Allah is the most merciful and the most forgiving. He forgave Adam for the sin he committed and repented.

The difference between the first two disobedience - Adam vs. Iblis

Repentance. SubhanAllah

Iblis disobeyed Allah, and Adam disobeyed Allah. One was thrown into hell, while the other was saved from hell. The difference is; accepting, being shameful, repenting, and seeking the forgiveness of your master.

It's human nature to sin, but also to repent. Unlike Iblis, we must turn to Allah. Our merciful lord has given us the blessing of forgiveness. Also the blessing of intellect to differentiate between good and evil. Also the blessing of the realization of the sin. Iblis failed to submit to Allah, his lord, his creator, not only for what Allah commanded, but he also failed to repent for his mistake.

Descendence to Earth

Adam(as) was then sent to Earth to continue his life, find provision in Earth, continue the generation, and live there with all the blessings and tests of Allah. On earth, if you will follow your lord's commands, you will not be lost, nor in this life and the life that is going to come, the eternal life.

قَالَ اهۡبِطَا مِنۡهَا جَمِيۡعًا​ۢ بَعۡضُكُمۡ لِبَعۡضٍ عَدُوٌّ​ ۚ فَاِمَّا يَاۡتِيَنَّكُمۡ مِّنِّىۡ هُدًى ۙ فَمَنِ اتَّبَعَ هُدَاىَ فَلَا يَضِلُّ وَلَا يَشۡقٰى‏ 

Allah said, “Descend, both of you, from here together ˹with Satan˺ as enemies to each other. Then when guidance comes to you from Me, whoever follows My guidance will neither go astray ˹in this life˺ nor suffer ˹in the next˺. [Taha:123]

This life of ours is short and for trial, its preparation for us to go to our eternal home, paradise. The resurrection and the day of judgment are facts.

قَالَ فِيۡهَا تَحۡيَوۡنَ وَفِيۡهَا تَمُوۡتُوۡنَ وَمِنۡهَا تُخۡرَجُوۡنَ‏

He added, “There you will live, there you will die, and from there you will be resurrected.” [Al-A’raf:25]

We must not indulge in this life, which is temporary, that we forget our ultimate purpose of being created, worshipping Allah, obeying Him, and preparing ourselves for the hereafter. No matter the temptation we face, no matter the hardships we face here, they are as temporary as this life.

Takeaways

• We must always praise and thanks Allah for whatever He sends our way, for a peaceful life.

• Obeying Allah’s commands explicitly and implicitly.

• Following the path of Iblis(shaitan) make us one of the people of hell fire.

• The mercy of Allah is always there for the ones who submit to the will of Allah.

• Repentance; accepting our sins, and seeking forgiveness.

• Allah accepted Adam’s(as) repentance because it was sincere. We must repent with a sincere heart and an intention not to do it again, and make all the efforts to not commit the sin again. Surely Allah is the most merciful.

• Keep reminding ourselves of Allah.

• Fighting the whispers of satan.

• This life is a test for us, and those who live by Allah’s commands will get the reward in the life hereafter.

• We must live our life, keeping the eternal home in focus.

• The day of judgment is evident, and the time will come when we all will be returned to our lord.