THE STORY OF PROPHET ADAM (AS)

In the heavens,

Allah (سُبْحَٰنَهُۥ وَتَعَٰلَىٰ) informed His angels that He had decided to place a Khalifah, or a vicegerent, which means a "successor" or "ruler" on earth who would reside there from generation to generation.

وَإِذۡ قَالَ رَبُّكَ لِلۡمَلَـٰٓئِكَةِ إِنِّي جَاعِلٞ فِي ٱلۡأَرۡضِ خَلِيفَةٗۖ قَالُوٓاْ أَتَجۡعَلُ فِيهَا مَن يُفۡسِدُ فِيهَا وَيَسۡفِكُ ٱلدِّمَآءَ وَنَحۡنُ نُسَبِّحُ بِحَمۡدِكَ وَنُقَدِّسُ لَكَۖ قَالَ إِنِّيٓ أَعۡلَمُ مَا لَا تَعۡلَمُونَ

Wa iz qaala rabbuka lil malaaa’ikati innee jaa’ilun fil ardi khaleefatan qaalooo ataj’alu feehaa mai yufsidu feehaa wa yasfikud dimaaa’a wa nahnu nusabbihu bihamdika wa nuqaddisu laka qaala inneee a’lamu maa laa ta’lamoon

English Translation:

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, 2:30)

In Islam, angels are considered special creations of Allah (سُبْحَٰنَهُۥ وَتَعَٰلَىٰ), distinct in their origin and purpose.

The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) described angels as being "created from light," contrasting them with jinns, who were "created from a smokeless flame of fire" (Sahih Muslim 2996). The Qur'an also gives insight into their purpose as obedient servants of Allah (سُبْحَٰنَهُۥ وَتَعَٰلَىٰ), never disobeying or questioning his command, "...angels, who do not disobey Allah in whatever He commands them and who perform whatever they are commanded to." (Surah Tahrim, ayah 6)

This characteristic of being in complete submission to Allah (سُبْحَٰنَهُۥ وَتَعَٰلَىٰ) is further shown in two other verses:

"…In fact, those angels are only His honored servants, who do not speak until He has spoken, only acting at His command." (Surah Al-Anbiya, 21:26-27)

"And to Allāh prostrates whatever is in the heavens and whatever is on the earth of creatures, and the angels [as well], and they are not arrogant. They fear their Lord above them, and they do what they are commanded." (Surah An-Nahl, 16:49-50)

It's important to highlight this because, in the ayah where Allah (سُبْحَٰنَهُۥ وَتَعَٰلَىٰ) reveals His creation to the angels, they responded by asking, "Will You place upon it one who causes corruption therein and sheds blood, while we declare Your praise and sanctify You?"

This statement by the angels by Qur'an commentators is explained as saying it is neither a form of dispute, rebellion, or out of envy. Rather, this question is an expression of their wonderment, seeking a reason rather than doubting their Lord. Hence why, Allah (سُبْحَٰنَهُۥ وَتَعَٰلَىٰ) responds, "Indeed, I know that which you do not know," and the verse continues to name how mankind would be bestowed with knowledge, to which the Angels then reply, “Glory be to You! We have no knowledge except what You have taught us. You are truly the All-Knowing, All-Wise." (Surah Baqarah, ayah 32)

CREATION OF ADAM عَلَيْهِ ٱلسَّلَامُ - THE FIRST MAN:

Allah (سُبْحَٰنَهُۥ وَتَعَٰلَىٰ) then molded Adam (عَلَيْهِ ٱلسَّلَامُ) using clay gathered from various parts of the earth, reflecting the diverse complexions and physical characteristics of his descendants. This is corroborated by an authentic narration in Tirmidhi 2955, where The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) said: "Indeed Allah Most High created Adam from a handful that He took from all of the earth. So the children of Adam come in according with the earth, some of them come red, and white and black, and between that, and the thin, the thick, the filthy, and the clean."

Furthermore, in Sahih Bukhari 3326, Prophet Muhammad (ﷺ) mentioned, "Allah created Adam, making him 60 cubits tall [...] And everyone who enters Paradise will be in the form of Adam."

Some scholars interpret this to refer to his stature in Paradise, and upon being descended to Earth, he was given an appropriate height. Regardless, under the command of Allah (سُبْحَٰنَهُۥ وَتَعَٰلَىٰ), Adam (عَلَيْهِ ٱلسَّلَامُ) could've been 50ft or 100ft. Nothing is impossible for Allah (سُبْحَٰنَهُۥ وَتَعَٰلَىٰ). We are also told in the same hadith, "People have been decreasing in stature since Adam's creation."

Adam Height

In Sahih Muslim 2789, it is reported that Adam (عَلَيْهِ ٱلسَّلَامُ) was created after 'Asr on a Friday. Allah (سُبْحَٰنَهُۥ وَتَعَٰلَىٰ) then made an announcement to the angels about the creation of man, "Indeed, I am going to create a human being from clay. So when I have proportioned him and breathed into him of My [created] soul, then fall down to him in prostration." (Surah Sad, ayat 71-72)

For forty years, the first man, fashioned from clay, remained a lifeless figure. During this time, angels passing by would experience a sense of awe and fear. Iblis, in particular, harbored envy towards Allah's new creation. He would often strike the clay figure of Adam (عَلَيْهِ ٱلسَّلَامُ), taunting him, saying, "You are nothing! If I gain dominion over you, I will destroy you; if you gain power over me, I will not obey you." Each blow produced a pottery-like sound.

“

This detail is mentioned in the Qur'an where Allah (سُبْحَٰنَهُۥ وَتَعَٰلَىٰ) tells us,

"He created man (Adam) from sounding clay like the clay of pottery."

— (Surah Ar-Rahman 55:14)

ANGELS PROSTRATE BEFORE ADAM عَلَيْهِ ٱلسَّلَامُ

The time eventually came for the soul to be breathed into the first man. Allah (سُبْحَٰنَهُۥ وَتَعَٰلَىٰ) issued the divine command to all the angels, “After I have created him and breathed into him of My spirit, fall you down, prostrating yourselves to him” (Surah As-Sad, ayah 72) With this, Allah (سُبْحَٰنَهُۥ وَتَعَٰلَىٰ) breathed a soul into Adam (عَلَيْهِ ٱلسَّلَامُ), giving him life and marking the beginning of human existence.

When the soul reached him, Adam (عَلَيْهِ ٱلسَّلَامُ) he sneezed, saying: “Alhamdulillah (All praise is due to Allah)!” So, he praised Allah with His permission. Then His Lord said to him: ‘May Allah have mercy upon you, O Adam” (Jami at-Tirmidhi 3367).

As commanded, all the angels fell down in prostration, obeying the command of Allah (سُبْحَٰنَهُۥ وَتَعَٰلَىٰ), "so the angels prostrated - all of them entirely, Except Iblees; he refused to be with those who prostrated." (Surah Al-Hijr, ayat 31-32)

Now, in this ayah, it gives the impression that Iblis was an angel. However, this confusion is cleared in Surah Kahf, verse 50, where Allah (سُبْحَٰنَهُۥ وَتَعَٰلَىٰ) says, "And [mention] when We said to the angels, “Prostrate to Adam,” and they prostrated, except for Iblees. He was of the jinn and departed from the command of his Lord." This is how Iblees was able to refuse Allah's command, he has freedom of will just as we humans do.

Allah سُبْحَٰنَهُۥ وَتَعَٰلَىٰ asked Iblees:

“O Iblis! What is the matter with you that you did not join others in prostration?”

— (Surah Al-Hijr 15:32)

Iblis, revealing his pride, refused to comply with Allah's command, declaring,

"I am better than he. You created me from fire, and him You created from clay."

— (Surah Al-A'raf, ayah 12)

This statement not only highlights his arrogance but serves as evidence that Iblees was from the jinn, as opposed to angels, who we know were created from light. Ibles further objected,

“It is not for me to prostrate to a human You created from sounding clay molded from black mud.”

— (Surah Al-Hijr 15:33)

Iblis's disdain for Adam, due to his self-proclaimed superiority, set the stage for his subsequent fall from grace, being one of Allah's most favored jinns to an accursed enemy.

Allah (سُبْحَٰنَهُۥ وَتَعَٰلَىٰ) was angered by Iblees’ response: “So get out! You are truly cursed.”

— (Surah Al-Hijr, ayah 34)

Iblees then appealed to Allah (سُبْحَٰنَهُۥ وَتَعَٰلَىٰ): “My Lord! Then delay my end until the Day of their resurrection. 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 Except, among them, Your chosen servants." (Surah Al-Hijr, ayat 36, 39, 40)

“You are of those allowed respite (until the Day of Judgment),” Allah (سُبْحَٰنَهُۥ وَتَعَٰلَىٰ) conceded, adding: “This is a path [of return] to Me [that is] straight. Indeed, My servants – no authority will you have over them, except those who follow you of the deviators. And indeed, Hell is the promised place for them all. It has seven gates; for every gate is of them a portion designated.” (Surah Al-Hijr, ayat 37-38, 41-44)

Newly endowed with the gift of life, Adam (عَلَيْهِ ٱلسَّلَامُ) found himself in the middle of an exchange between Iblis and his creator. A deep sense of love and admiration for Allah (سُبْحَٰنَهُۥ وَتَعَٰلَىٰ) filled his heart. But, simultaneously, he was struck with awe seeing Iblees' blatant disobedience towards Allah (سُبْحَٰنَهُۥ وَتَعَٰلَىٰ). Adam (عَلَيْهِ ٱلسَّلَامُ) was confused by Iblee's hatred towards him without having any knowledge about him. It became clear to Adam (عَلَيْهِ ٱلسَّلَامُ) that this creature was consumed with pride and arrogance and recognized Iblees as the enemy.

Allah (سُبْحَٰنَهُۥ وَتَعَٰلَىٰ) then instructed Adam (عَلَيْهِ ٱلسَّلَامُ) to go to a gathering of angels and greet them with: “As-salaamu alaikum (peace be upon you).”

Salam

Upon doing so, the angels replied to Adam (عَلَيْهِ ٱلسَّلَامُ) with: “wa alaikum assalam wa rahmatullah (May the peace and mercy of Allah be with you too).”

When Adam (عَلَيْهِ ٱلسَّلَامُ) returned to his Creator, He said: “This is your greeting and the greeting of your children among each other.” (Jami at-Tirmidhi 3367)

ADAM عَلَيْهِ ٱلسَّلَامُ LEARNS THE NAMES OF EVERYTHING:

Allah (سُبْحَٰنَهُۥ وَتَعَٰلَىٰ) distinguished Adam (عَلَيْهِ ٱلسَّلَامُ), giving him unique attributes that set him apart from all other creations. Unlike the angels, Adam was granted free will, power of perception and reasoning, and a capacity for creativity. These qualities were given so that Adam (عَلَيْهِ ٱلسَّلَامُ) could reflect on his true identity, see the truth, and his reason for existence.

"And He taught Adam the names – all of them."

— (Surah Al-Baqarah, ayah 31)

Now, what is meant by the names of everything? Some scholars have said he was given the knowledge about the proper names of all things, so he knew the names of the angels, his progeny, and the names of other species. Another opinion is that he learned the names of all regular things and their characteristics, like birds, humans, sky, water, trees, and so on. Another position is he was given knowledge of speech, Allah (سُبْحَٰنَهُۥ وَتَعَٰلَىٰ) created the first language with all its nouns, verbs, and adjectives and gifted that knowledge to Adam (عَلَيْهِ ٱلسَّلَامُ) so he could communicate with eloquence.

He also instilled in Adam (عَلَيْهِ ٱلسَّلَامُ) a love for knowledge and a strong desire to impart knowledge to his offspring. When His creation had learned all that he needed to learn, Allah (سُبْحَٰنَهُۥ وَتَعَٰلَىٰ) presented him before His angels.

Letter Right

“

He first asked the angels,

“Tell Me the names of these, if what you say is true?”

— (Surah Al-Baqarah 2:31)

They responded,

“Glory be to You! We have no knowledge except what You have taught us. You are truly the All-Knowing, All-Wise,” the angels replied, admitting their inability to do so.

— (Surah Al-Baqarah, ayah 32)

Allah (سُبْحَٰنَهُۥ وَتَعَٰلَىٰ) then turned to Adam (عَلَيْهِ ٱلسَّلَامُ) and instructed:

“O’ Adam! Inform them of their names.”

As commanded, Adam (عَلَيْهِ ٱلسَّلَامُ) recited the names of everything to the amazement of the angels. It is also quite interesting here Allah (سُبْحَٰنَهُۥ وَتَعَٰلَىٰ) says to the Angels, "tell me," but in commanding Adam (عَلَيْهِ ٱلسَّلَامُ), he says, "tell them," which is an expression that shows Adam (عَلَيْهِ ٱلسَّلَامُ) as a teacher and the angels taking on the role of a student. This highlights the degree of superiority in knowledge man has been given over angels.

Then Allah (سُبْحَٰنَهُۥ وَتَعَٰلَىٰ) speaks to his knowledge,

“Did I not tell you that I know the secrets of the heavens and the earth, and I know what you reveal and what you conceal?”

— (Surah Al-Baqarah, ayah 33)