Prophet Adam | The First Man and Prophet of Allah

(Cite: Hamdani, Mufti Shah Rafi Uddin & Khan, Dr. (Mufti) Imran. (2018), Prophet Adam , Encyclopedia of Muhammad , Seerat Research Center, Karachi, Pakistan, Vol. 1, Pg. 77-90.)

Adam is an important figure in many other religions besides Islam. The history of Adam varies slightly across religions, but is consistent with its general theme and structure. ¹ As per the Holy Quran, and other religious text of other religions, he is the first human being who was created. The name ‘Adam’ may also be translated simply as "the man". However, the Bible seems to link this name to ‘Adamah’, the Hebrew word for ground. As told in the second chapter of Genesis, God created Adam from the Earth's clay, breathed life into him, and placed him in the Garden of Eden. ²

Adam was the first human created by God and is also known as Abu Bashar, the Father of humans, ³ and his wife Eve is known as the mother of humanity. He was not only the first human, but was also the first teacher who taught mankind the procedure of planting, harvesting, baking, alphabets and a lot more. Adam is held to be the first prophet, ⁴ and Allah taught him 21 manuscripts with such proficiency that he was able to write them himself. ⁵ As all the prophets were sent by one God, they all preached the same faith i.e. submission to one God. The story of Adam and his creation is pieced throughout the Holy Quran and Ahadith.

The Creation Of Adam

This is the most ancient story in the world - it has survived because it embodies the core fact of human life. A fact that has not changed one iota; amid all the superficial changes of civilisation's vivid array, this fact (origination of mankind from Adam ) remains. ⁶ The stories about the creation of Adam are mentioned in the sacred texts of all religions. However, since most of these texts are tampered, the authentic account can only be found in the Holy Quran and Ahadith, preserved through ages in their pristine originality.

According to the Holy Quran, Allah informed the angels that He was going to place a successor on Earth, upon hearing this news, the Angels said that the human would cause bloodshed and damage on earth, but Allah told them that He knew what they did not. Thus, He created Adam from clay, and breathed life into him. As the Holy Quran states:

وَإِذْ قَالَ رَبُّكَ لِلْمَلَائِكَةِ إِنِّي جَاعِلٌ فِي الْأَرْضِ خَلِيفَةً قَالُوا أَتَجْعَلُ فِيهَا مَن يُفْسِدُ فِيهَا وَيَسْفِكُ الدِّمَاءَ وَنَحْنُ نُسَبِّحُ بِحَمْدِكَ وَنُقَدِّسُ لَكَ قَالَ إِنِّي أَعْلَمُ مَا لَا تَعْلَمُونَ 30⁷

“And (remember) when your Lord said to the angels, “I am about to place My Caliph in the earth”; they said, “Will You place (as a caliph) one who will spread turmoil in it and shed blood? Whereas we glorify You with praise and proclaim Your Sanctity”; He said, “I know what you do not.”

The meaning of this verse is clear. God knew His creation inside out. He knew about the greater good in His creation, which the angels had overlooked, i.e. that prophet, messengers, righteous folk, martyrs and those who would accept the truth without hesitation would also come from the children of Adam . ⁸

The claim that Adam was created from clay is supported by the following verses of the Holy Quran:

وَلَقَدْ خَلَقْنَاكُمْ ثُمَّ صَوَّرْنَاكُمْ ثُمَّ قُلْنَا لِلْمَلَائِكَةِ اسْجُدُوا لِآدَمَ فَسَجَدُوا إِلَّا إِبْلِيسَ لَمْ يَكُن مِّنَ السَّاجِدِينَ ‎11قَالَ مَا مَنَعَكَ أَلَّا تَسْجُدَ إِذْ أَمَرْتُكَ قَالَ أَنَا خَيْرٌ مِّنْهُ خَلَقْتَنِي مِن نَّارٍ وَخَلَقْتَهُ مِن طِينٍ 12قَالَ فَاهْبِطْ مِنْهَا فَمَا يَكُونُ لَكَ أَن تَتَكَبَّرَ فِيهَا فَاخْرُجْ إِنَّكَ مِنَ الصَّاغِرِينَ 13⁹

And indeed We created you, then designed you and then ordered the angels, “Prostrate before Adam”; so they all prostrated, except Iblis (Satan); he did not become of those who prostrate. Said Allah, “What prevented you, that you did not prostrate when I commanded you?” Answered Iblis, “I am better than him; You created me from fire, whereas You created him from clay.” Said Allah, “Therefore go down from here – it does not befit you to stay here and be proud – exit, you are of the degraded.”

إِنَّ مَثَلَ عِيسَىٰ عِندَ اللَّهِ كَمَثَلِ آدَمَ خَلَقَهُ مِن تُرَابٍ ثُمَّ قَالَ لَهُ كُن فَيَكُونُ59¹⁰

The example of Isa with Allah is like that of Adam; He created him (Adam) from clay and then said to him, “Be” – and it thereupon happens!

وَلَقَدْ خَلَقْنَا الْإِنسَانَ مِن صَلْصَالٍ مِّنْ حَمَإٍ مَّسْنُونٍ 26‏ وَالْجَانَّ خَلَقْنَاهُ مِن قَبْلُ مِن نَّارِ السَّمُومِ 27‏ وَإِذْ قَالَ رَبُّكَ لِلْمَلَائِكَةِ إِنِّي خَالِقٌ بَشَرًا مِّن صَلْصَالٍ مِّنْ حَمَإٍ مَّسْنُونٍ 28‏ فَإِذَا سَوَّيْتُهُ وَنَفَخْتُ فِيهِ مِن رُّوحِي فَقَعُوا لَهُ سَاجِدِينَ 29فَسَجَدَ الْمَلَائِكَةُ كُلُّهُمْ أَجْمَعُونَ ‎30‏ إِلَّا إِبْلِيسَ أَبَىٰ أَن يَكُونَ مَعَ السَّاجِدِينَ 31‏قَالَ يَا إِبْلِيسُ مَا لَكَ أَلَّا تَكُونَ مَعَ السَّاجِدِينَ 32¹¹

Indeed We created man from sounding clay made out of the smelly black mud. And created the jinn before him, from smokeless fire. And recall when your Lord said to the angels, “I will create man from sounding clay made out of the smelly black mud. Therefore, when I have properly fashioned him and breathed into him a chosen noble soul from Myself, fall down before him in prostration. Therefore all the angels, each and every one of them, fell prostrate. Except Iblis (Satan); he refused to be among those who prostrated. Said Allah, “O Iblis! What happened to you that you stayed apart from those who prostrated?”

According to Muslims’ literature, Angel Azrael was tasked to collect the multi coloured sand from every portion of the earth and to place it in the centre of the Makkah and Taif. Allah sent the clouds which rained on it and turned that mud in the structure of Adam’s body. He then created the hollow structure of Adam’s body and left it there to be observed by the angels for almost 40 days. Interestingly, all the angels were afraid of this masterpiece, but surprisingly, Iblis (Satan) was the one who was most terrified of it. He used to pass through that body and knocked it by his toe, which sounded as if the ceramic utensils were being changed. ¹²

Then, Allah blew His Spirit into Adam and commanded the angels to prostrate before him. When asked to prostrate before Adam, Satan became filled with extreme envy and refused to prostrate before him. He said, “I am better than he; You created me from fire and You created him from clay." Hence he disobeyed the command and opposed the Lord Almighty. Resultantly, Satan was withdrawn from the mercy of his Lord and was removed from the high position which he had occupied due to his worship. Satan used to resemble the angels. However, he was not of the same species because he was created from fire, while they were created from light. He was deceived by his nature and reverted to his fiery origin. ¹³

We see that the children of Adam are different in many aspects. Such as, some have fair complexion while others have dark. Similarly, their behaviour and nature also vary. This was because Adam was created from different types of soil, and each child inherits a different physical quality of Adam .

Similar details are found in the Ahadith of Prophet Muhammad as well. He said:

عَنْ أَبِي مُوسَى الأَشْعَرِيِّ، قَالَ قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ‏ "‏ إِنَّ اللَّهَ تَعَالَى خَلَقَ آدَمَ مِنْ قَبْضَةٍ قَبَضَهَا مِنْ جَمِيعِ الأَرْضِ فَجَاءَ بَنُو آدَمَ عَلَى قَدْرِ الأَرْضِ فَجَاءَ مِنْهُمُ الأَحْمَرُ وَالأَبْيَضُ وَالأَسْوَدُ وَبَيْنَ ذَلِكَ وَالسَّهْلُ وَالْحَزْنُ وَالْخَبِيثُ وَالطَّيِّبُ ‏"‏ ‏.‏ قَالَ أَبُو عِيسَى هَذَا حَدِيثٌ حَسَنٌ صَحِيحٌ ‏.‏¹⁴

“Narrated Abu Musa Al-Ash'ari: That the Messenger of Allah 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 to the earth, some of them come red and white and black, and between that, and the thin, the thick, the filthy, and the clean."

The account of the Old Testament also matches the details provided by the Holy Quran and Hadith. Following are detailed is quoted in the Genesis regarding the creation of Adam :

وَجَبَلَ ٱلرَّبُّ ٱلْإِلَهُ آدَمَ تُرَابًا مِنَ ٱلْأَرْضِ، وَنَفَخَ فِي أَنْفِهِ نَسَمَةَ حَيَاةٍ. فَصَارَ آدَمُ نَفْسًا حَيَّةً. ¹⁵

Then the Lord God took some soil from the ground and formed a man out of it; he breathed life-giving breath into his nostrils, and the man began to live.

From these accounts, it can be safely concluded that humanity did not originate from monkeys or any other lowly species, but was created by God. Adam was the first human and prophet who was sent to this earth with Eve to start the human race. Secondly, Adam was not only the father of humanity, but was also the first teacher who taught mankind how to live.

Creation Of Eve And Her Companionship With Adam

Eve , also believed to be the Hebrew Hawwah, which is perhaps related to the word for "living"; is the name of the mother of all human beings in Islam, Judaism and in other religions, it has inspired. In the Bible, Eve appears in the second and third chapters of Genesis. There she is created from the rib of Adam as a companion for him. ¹⁶

As the story goes, Adam was alone in Paradise and did not have a partner from whom he could get tranquillity. 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 said: “So that you could find tranquillity 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." ¹⁷

The claim that Eve was created from the rib of Adam is supported by the following verses of the Holy Quran and hadith:

يَا أَيُّهَا النَّاسُ اتَّقُوا رَبَّكُمُ الَّذِي خَلَقَكُم مِّن نَّفْسٍ وَاحِدَةٍ وَخَلَقَ مِنْهَا زَوْجَهَا وَبَثَّ مِنْهُمَا رِجَالًا كَثِيرًا وَنِسَاءً وَاتَّقُوا اللَّهَ الَّذِي تَسَاءَلُونَ بِهِ وَالْأَرْحَامَ إِنَّ اللَّهَ كَانَ عَلَيْكُمْ رَقِيبًا1¹⁸

O mankind! Fear your Lord Who created you from a single soul and it created its spouse and from them, both have spread the multitude of men and women; fear Allah in Whose name you claim (your rights from one another) and be mindful of your blood relations; indeed Allah always sees you.

هُوَ الَّذِي خَلَقَكُم مِّن نَّفْسٍ وَاحِدَةٍ وَجَعَلَ مِنْهَا زَوْجَهَا لِيَسْكُنَ إِلَيْهَا فَلَمَّا تَغَشَّاهَا حَمَلَتْ حَمْلًا خَفِيفًا فَمَرَّتْ بِهِ فَلَمَّا أَثْقَلَت دَّعَوَا اللَّهَ رَبَّهُمَا لَئِنْ آتَيْتَنَا صَالِحًا لَّنَكُونَنَّ مِنَ الشَّاكِرِينَ189¹⁹

It is He Who created you from a single soul, and from him made its mate for him to gain comfort with her; so when the male covered her, she was burdened lightly in her womb, and she, therefore, moved easily carrying it; and when she felt the burden heavy, they both cried to their Lord Allah, “Indeed You may give us a child as You will, so we will surely be thankful.”

The expression 'Who created you from a single soul' indicates that the creation of the human species began with the creation of one individual. At another place, the Holy Quran specifies that the person from whom the human race spread in the world was Adam . The details how out of that 'being' its mate was created are not known to us. The explanation which is given by the commentators of the Holy Quran and which is also found in the Bible is that Eve was, created out of a rib of Adam . (The Talmud is even more detailed in that it states that Eve was created out of Adam's thirteenth rib on the left side.) The Holy Quran, however, is silent on the matter and on the tradition which is adduced in support of this statement. ²⁰ Nevertheless, some explanation is given in the hadith. The Holy Prophet is reported to have said:

عَنْ أَبِي هُرَيْرَةَ ـ رضى اللّٰه عنه ـ قَالَ قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ "‏ اسْتَوْصُوا بِالنِّسَاءِ، فَإِنَّ الْمَرْأَةَ خُلِقَتْ مِنْ ضِلَعٍ، وَإِنَّ أَعْوَجَ شَىْءٍ فِي الضِّلَعِ أَعْلاَهُ، فَإِنْ ذَهَبْتَ تُقِيمُهُ كَسَرْتَهُ، وَإِنْ تَرَكْتَهُ لَمْ يَزَلْ أَعْوَجَ، فَاسْتَوْصُوا بِالنِّسَاءِ‏"‏‏. ²¹

Narrated Abu Huraira: Allah's Apostle said, "Treat women nicely. As the woman is created from a rib, and the most curved portion of the rib is its upper portion, so, if you should try to straighten it, it will break, but if you leave it as it is, it will remain crooked. So treat women nicely."

These verses prove that the female was in fact created from the body of a male. Why she was made from the left rib of Adam , Allah knows best. Since the woman was created from the rib, and the rib is a curved and the brittle bone, one should take care in the treatment of women, because if she is treated unwisely, the results can be catastrophic.

When Adam And Eve Were In Heaven

Allah placed Adam and Eve in the garden and told them that they were free to enjoy its fruits, and travel as they pleased. Nonetheless, they were warned to stay away from a particular tree. The Holy Quran narrates this story as:

وَقُلْنَا يَا آدَمُ اسْكُنْ أَنتَ وَزَوْجُكَ الْجَنَّةَ وَكُلَا مِنْهَا رَغَدًا حَيْثُ شِئْتُمَا وَلَا تَقْرَبَا هَٰذِهِ الشَّجَرَةَ فَتَكُونَا مِنَ الظَّالِمِينَ35²²

And We said, “O Adam! You and your wife dwell in this Garden, and eat freely from it wherever you please – but do not approach this tree for you will become of those who transgress.”

The location of the paradise where Adam and Eve resided is unknown to us. The Holy Quran did not reveal it, and the commentators have five different opinions. Some said that it was the paradise of our refuge and that its place was heaven. Others regretted this statement because if it were the paradise of refuge, Satan would have been forbidden admission and disobedience would have been forbidden as well. Still, others said that it was another paradise that was created by Allah for Adam and Eve . A fourth group stated that it was a paradise on the earth located in a high place. And the last group simply accepted what was stated in the Holy Quran without questioning it. We also agree with this last opinion as the lesson we learn from its location is immaterial, and more important things can be learned from the events which took place there. ²³

Adam and Eve understood that they were forbidden to eat the fruit of that tree. Satan summoned all the envy within him and took advantage of Adam's humanity to exploit him. He began to whisper to him day after day, coaxing him: "Shall I lead you to the Tree of Immortality and the Eternal Kingdom?"; "Your Lord did not forbid you this tree save you should become angels or become of the immortals." He (Satan) even swore upon Allah, as the Holy Quran states:

فَوَسْوَسَ لَهُمَا الشَّيْطَانُ لِيُبْدِيَ لَهُمَا مَا وُورِيَ عَنْهُمَا مِن سَوْآتِهِمَا وَقَالَ مَا نَهَاكُمَا رَبُّكُمَا عَنْ هَٰذِهِ الشَّجَرَةِ إِلَّا أَن تَكُونَا مَلَكَيْنِ أَوْ تَكُونَا مِنَ الْخَالِدِينَ ‎20‏ وَقَاسَمَهُمَا إِنِّي لَكُمَا لَمِنَ النَّاصِحِينَ ‎21فَدَلَّاهُمَا بِغُرُورٍ فَلَمَّا ذَاقَا الشَّجَرَةَ بَدَتْ لَهُمَا سَوْآتُهُمَا وَطَفِقَا يَخْصِفَانِ عَلَيْهِمَا مِن وَرَقِ الْجَنَّةِ وَنَادَاهُمَا رَبُّهُمَا أَلَمْ أَنْهَكُمَا عَن تِلْكُمَا الشَّجَرَةِ وَأَقُل لَّكُمَا إِنَّ الشَّيْطَانَ لَكُمَا عَدُوٌّ مُّبِينٌ 22²⁴

Then Satan created apprehensions in their hearts in order to disclose to them matters of their shame which were hidden from them, and said, “Your Lord has forbidden you from this tree, for you may become angels or immortals.” And he swore to them, “Indeed I am a well-wisher for both of you.” So he brought them down with deception; and when they tasted from that tree, their shame became manifest to them and they began attaching the leaves of Paradise on themselves; and their Lord said to them, “Did I not forbid you from that tree, and tell you that Satan is an open enemy to you?”

Adam 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 passed by, and Adam and Eve were preoccupied with thoughts of that tree. Then one day they decided to eat its fruit. They forgot that Allah had warned them not to approach it and that Satan was their sworn enemy. Adam stretched out his hand, picked one of the fruits and offered it to Eve . They both ate from the forbidden tree. ²⁵

Once they ate from that tree, the whole ambience changed. The description is provided in the Holy Quran as:

فَأَكَلَا مِنْهَا فَبَدَتْ لَهُمَا سَوْآتُهُمَا وَطَفِقَا يَخْصِفَانِ عَلَيْهِمَا مِن وَرَقِ الْجَنَّةِ وَعَصَىٰ آدَمُ رَبَّهُ فَغَوَىٰ121²⁶

So they both ate from it – thereupon their shame became manifest to them, and they started applying on themselves the leaves of heaven, and Adam lapsed in obeying his Lord, so did not reach his goal. (Of achieving immortality)

No sooner did they disobey the command, they were deprived of all the facilities. However, naturally, the immediate effect of this as felt by them was that they were stripped of their garments. Then gradually, as they felt thirsty and hungry, they realised that they had been deprived of all the facilities that they enjoyed in the Garden.

Adam and Eve succumbed to the deceit of Satan because he tempted them in the garb of a true friend and well-wisher even though they knew well that he was their enemy. For, Adam had a direct knowledge of the envy and enmity of Satan, who had challenged to seduce and ruin him in his very presence. Allah had also warned them to guard against the envy of and the temptations by Satan and had informed them of the consequences of disobedience. Above all, Adam and Eve still believed in Allah and never thought of intentional disobedience. But in spite of this, when Satan tempted them in the garb of a friend, they forgot the command for the time being for lack of fineness of purpose. ²⁷

The Descent

Adam and Eve lived for five hundred years in paradise before they ate of the tree and fell. ²⁸ The Old Testament states that they ate from that tree because Eve was tempted by the serpent to eat of the forbidden tree. She ate because of the words of the serpent and fed Adam some of it. At that moment, their eyes were opened to the fact that they were naked, and they took the leaves of the fig tree to cover themselves. Wahb Ibn Munabah said that their clothing (before their sin) was made of light on the private parts of both of them. ²⁹

This account is preserved in the Holy Quran as well. Allah Almighty says:

يَا بَنِي آدَمَ لَا يَفْتِنَنَّكُمُ الشَّيْطَانُ كَمَا أَخْرَجَ أَبَوَيْكُم مِّنَ الْجَنَّةِ يَنزِعُ عَنْهُمَا لِبَاسَهُمَا لِيُرِيَهُمَا سَوْآتِهِمَا إِنَّهُ يَرَاكُمْ هُوَ وَقَبِيلُهُ مِنْ حَيْثُ لَا تَرَوْنَهُمْ إِنَّا جَعَلْنَا الشَّيَاطِينَ أَوْلِيَاءَ لِلَّذِينَ لَا يُؤْمِنُونَ27³⁰

O Descendants of Adam, beware! Do not let Satan put you on trial the way he removed your parents from Paradise and had their garments removed so that their shame become visible to them; indeed he and his tribe see you from where you do not see them; indeed We have made the devils the friends of those who do not believe.

At another place in the Holy Quran, a similar account is stated as:

فَدَلَّاهُمَا بِغُرُورٍ فَلَمَّا ذَاقَا الشَّجَرَةَ بَدَتْ لَهُمَا سَوْآتُهُمَا وَطَفِقَا يَخْصِفَانِ عَلَيْهِمَا مِن وَرَقِ الْجَنَّةِ وَنَادَاهُمَا رَبُّهُمَا أَلَمْ أَنْهَكُمَا عَن تِلْكُمَا الشَّجَرَةِ وَأَقُل لَّكُمَا إِنَّ الشَّيْطَانَ لَكُمَا عَدُوٌّ مُّبِينٌ ‎22‏قَالَا رَبَّنَا ظَلَمْنَا أَنفُسَنَا وَإِن لَّمْ تَغْفِرْ لَنَا وَتَرْحَمْنَا لَنَكُونَنَّ مِنَ الْخَاسِرِينَ 23قَالَ اهْبِطُوا بَعْضُكُمْ لِبَعْضٍ عَدُوٌّ وَلَكُمْ فِي الْأَرْضِ مُسْتَقَرٌّ وَمَتَاعٌ إِلَىٰ حِينٍ ‎24‏ قَالَ فِيهَا تَحْيَوْنَ وَفِيهَا تَمُوتُونَ وَمِنْهَا تُخْرَجُونَ 25³¹

So he brought them down with deception; and when they tasted from that tree, their shame became manifest to them and they began attaching the leaves of Paradise on themselves; and their Lord said to them, “Did I not forbid you from that tree, and tell you that Satan is an open enemy to you?” They both submitted, “Our Lord! We have wronged ourselves; so if You do not forgive us and have mercy on us, then surely, we are of the losers.” He said, “Go down, one of you is a foe unto the other, and for a fixed time you shall stay on earth and feed in it.” He said, “You shall live there and there shall you die, and from there only you will be raised.

Adam had hardly finished eating when he felt his heart contract, and then, he felt pain, sadness, and shame. The ambience, which was pleasant before, suddenly changed, and the aura of nicety was replaced with hollowness. He discovered that he and his wife were undressed, so they both picked up leaves and covered themselves.

Adam’s descent on earth can never be referred to as ‘degradation’; in fact, it was a dignified descent. Allah knew that Satan would exploit Adam’s and Eve’s innocence and tempt them. He was aware that Adam and Eve would succumb to Satan’s continuous enticements, eat from the tree and consequently descend to earth. That experience was essential for their life on earth. It was this incident that taught Adam and Eve that Satan was their open enemy, and that paradise could only be attained if one obeys Allah at all times, and when a person obeys Allah at all times, he becomes an enemy of Satan. In fact, they were destined to descend towards earth since Allah stated that He would make a vicegerent on earth and not in Paradise.

As per the verses recorded in the Holy Quran, it is evident that Adam descent was predestined. As the Holy Quran states:

وَإِذْ قَالَ رَبُّكَ لِلْمَلَائِكَةِ إِنِّي جَاعِلٌ فِي الْأَرْضِ خَلِيفَةً قَالُوا أَتَجْعَلُ فِيهَا مَن يُفْسِدُ فِيهَا وَيَسْفِكُ الدِّمَاءَ وَنَحْنُ نُسَبِّحُ بِحَمْدِكَ وَنُقَدِّسُ لَكَ قَالَ إِنِّي أَعْلَمُ مَا لَا تَعْلَمُونَ ‎30‏ وَعَلَّمَ آدَمَ الْأَسْمَاءَ كُلَّهَا ثُمَّ عَرَضَهُمْ عَلَى الْمَلَائِكَةِ فَقَالَ أَنبِئُونِي بِأَسْمَاءِ هَٰؤُلَاءِ إِن كُنتُمْ صَادِقِينَ 31قَالُوا سُبْحَانَكَ لَا عِلْمَ لَنَا إِلَّا مَا عَلَّمْتَنَاإِنَّكَ أَنتَ الْعَلِيمُ الْحَكِيمُ 32قَالَ يَا آدَمُ أَنبِئْهُم بِأَسْمَائِهِمْ فَلَمَّا أَنبَأَهُم بِأَسْمَائِهِمْ قَالَ أَلَمْ أَقُل لَّكُمْ إِنِّي أَعْلَمُ غَيْبَ السَّمَاوَاتِ وَالْأَرْضِ وَأَعْلَمُ مَا تُبْدُونَ وَمَا كُنتُمْ تَكْتُمُونَ 33³²

And (remember) when your Lord said to the angels, “I am about to place My Caliph in the earth”; they said, “Will You place (as a caliph) one who will spread turmoil in it and shed blood? Whereas we glorify You with praise and proclaim Your Sanctity”; He said, “I know what you do not.” And Allah the Supreme taught Adam all the names (of things), then presented them to the angels, saying, “Tell Me the names of these, if you are truthful.” They said, “Purity is to You! We do not have any knowledge except what You have taught us! Indeed You only are the All-Knowing, the Wise.” He said “O Adam! Inform them the names”; and when Adam had informed them their names, He said, “Did I not tell you that I know all the secrets of the heavens and the earth? And I know all that you disclose and all that you hide?”

A similar explanation (regarding the destiny of Adam ) can be found in the Ahadith of the Holy Prophet . He said:

أَنَّ أَبَا هُرَيْرَةَ، قَالَ قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صلى اللّٰه عليه وسلم ‏"‏ احْتَجَّ آدَمُ وَمُوسَى فَقَالَ لَهُ مُوسَى أَنْتَ آدَمُ الَّذِي أَخْرَجَتْكَ خَطِيئَتُكَ مِنَ الْجَنَّةِ‏.‏ فَقَالَ لَهُ آدَمُ أَنْتَ مُوسَى الَّذِي اصْطَفَاكَ اللَّهُ بِرِسَالاَتِهِ وَبِكَلاَمِهِ، ثُمَّ تَلُومُنِي عَلَى أَمْرٍ قُدِّرَ عَلَىَّ قَبْلَ أَنْ أُخْلَقَ ‏"‏‏.‏ فَقَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صلى اللّٰه عليه وسلم ‏"‏ فَحَجَّ آدَمُ مُوسَى ‏"‏ مَرَّتَيْنِ‏. ³³

Adam and Moses argued with each other. Moses said to Adam. 'You are Adam, whose mistake drove you out of Paradise.' Adam said to him, '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 Messenger said twice, "So, Adam overwhelmed Moses."

From these verses, it becomes clear that God destined the humans to arrive on earth. Secondly, he knew that the humans were capable of doing evil deeds (as angels pointed out), but there was something which the angels overlooked, i.e. the God gifted intellectual capability, which men could utilise for the good deeds.

The Day Of Descent

According to Prophet Muhammad , Adam descended on Friday. Following is the actual narration:

خَيْرُ يَوْمٍ طَلَعَتْ عَلَيْهِ الشَّمْسُ يَوْمُ الْجُمُعَةِ فِيهِ خُلِقَ آدَمُ وَفِيهِ أُدْخِلَ الْجَنَّةَ وَفِيهِ أُخْرِجَ مِنْهَا. ³⁴

“The best day on which the sun has risen is Friday; on it, Adam was created, on it, he was prepared to enter Paradise, on it, he was descended from it.

From this experience, Adam learned three distinct facts. Firstly, Satan was the one due to whom he was asked to descend from heaven, and was deprived of all its benefits. Secondly, Satan was his open enemy, and if someone followed Satan, he would inevitably head towards a disaster. Thirdly, Allah punishes disobedience, and that paradise could only be earned by submitting to the will of Allah. The most valuable lesson which he learned was that if one asked for forgiveness after committing a mistake, then Allah forgives since He is the most forgiving. Hence, when Adam repented and asked for forgiveness, Allah accepted Adam’s repentance and forgave him.

The Place Of Adam’s Descent

There are many traditions concerning the place of Adam's descent upon earth. Ibn Abi Hatim narrated that Ibn Abbas ؓ said: "Adam descended on land 'Dihna' between Makkah and Taif." Al -Hassan stated that Adam descended in India and Eve in Jeddah (Saudi Arabia), Iblis in Bodistiman (Iraq), and the serpent in Isfahan (Iran). Ibn Hatim. Ass'ady related that Adam descended with the Black Stone ³⁵ in India, and he had a handful of the seeds from paradise. He sowed the seeds in India, and they grew into the fragrant tree therein. Ibn Umar ؓ said that Adam descended on As-Safa and Eve on Al Marwa. ³⁶³⁷

Prophethood Of Adam

Adam was the first man on earth and the first prophet of God. God revealed His religion (Islam) to him and instructed him to teach his descendants that God is one, He is the Creator and the Sustainer of the world. Only He should be worshipped and obeyed. He gave life to humanity, and one day, all will return to him. If humans lived their life according to the will of God, He would reward them. However, if they transgressed and disobeyed, they would be punished.

The prophet hood of Adam is vividly mentioned in the Holy Quran and hadith. As the Holy Quran states:

فَتَلَقَّىٰ آدَمُ مِن رَّبِّهِ كَلِمَاتٍ فَتَابَ عَلَيْهِ إِنَّهُ هُوَ التَّوَّابُ الرَّحِيمُ37³⁸

dam learned from his Lord certain words (of revelation). Therefore, Allah accepted his repentance; indeed He has only been the Most Acceptor of Repentance, the Most Merciful.

It is a known fact that revelations are only sent towards the prophets, and since the Holy Quran quotes ‘Adam learned from his Lord certain words’, it shows Adam was a prophet. Furthermore, other verses of the Holy Quran also support the prophethood of Adam . Allah Almighty said:

إِنَّ اللَّهَ اصْطَفَىٰ آدَمَ وَنُوحًا وَآلَ إِبْرَاهِيمَ وَآلَ عِمْرَانَ عَلَى الْعَالَمِينَ39³⁹

Indeed Allah chose Aadam, and Noah, and the Family of Ibrahim, and the Family of Imran over the creation.

The word ‘chose’ does not necessarily mean that Adam was chosen for prophethood, since at another place Allah said to Mary : “Allah hath chosen thee.” But one should also note that Adam is mentioned with other prophets, and mentioning Adam along with Noah and Abraham indicates a special honour which could refer towards prophet hood. But, if this verse is looked in the light of another verse, everything would become crystal clear. The other verse is mentioned in the Holy Quran as:

قُلْنَا اهْبِطُوا مِنْهَا جَمِيعًا فَإِمَّا يَأْتِيَنَّكُمْ مِنِّي هُدًى فَمَنْ تَبِعَ هُدَايَ فَلَا خَوْفٌ عَلَيْهِمْ وَلَا هُمْ يَحْزَنُونَ 38 وَالَّذِينَ كَفَرُوا وَكَذَّبُوا بِآيَاتِنَا أُولَٰئِكَ أَصْحَابُ النَّارِ هُمْ فِيهَا خَالِدُونَ39⁴⁰

We said, “Go down from Paradise, all of you; then if some guidance comes to you from Me – so whoever follows My guidance, for such is neither fear nor any grief.” And those who disbelieve and deny Our signs, are the people of fire (Hell); they will remain in it forever.

Explaining this verse, Maulana Mawdudi says:

“The reiteration of this statement is significant. We have been told above that Adam repented and that God accepted his repentance. This means that the stain of sin was washed away and therefore no stain remained neither on Adam or his progeny that might require that God’s only son be sent to this world and be crucified as Christians believe, so as to expiate mankind’s sin.

On the contrary, God not only accepted Adam's repentance but also honoured him by endowing him with prophethood so that he might be able to direct his children correctly. The repetition of the order to leave paradise and go down to earth is aimed at driving home the point that the earth was not created as a place of punishment for the man. On the contrary, the man was placed in the land to serve as God's vicegerent there. It was only to test man and thereafter to equip him for the performance of God's vicegerency that man was placed temporarily in paradise.” ⁴¹

If we observe this verse deeply, we gather that Adam was provided with guidance. However, when we accept that he was provided with guidance, a question arises in the mind of a sane individual. Could guidance be achieved without revelation? Absolutely not. Hence it proves that Adam was provided with revelations, and since revelations only come towards the prophets, Adam was also a prophet.

Furthermore, another piece of substantial evidence is mentioned in the hadith of Prophet Muhammad . The Holy Prophet said:

أَنَّ رَجُلًا، قَالَ: يَا رَسُولَ اللَّهِ أنبيًا كَانَ آدَمُ؟ قَالَ: «نَعَمْ» قَالَ: كَمْ بَيْنَهُ وَبَيْنَ نُوحٍ؟ قَالَ: «عَشْرَةُ قُرُونٍ» قَالَ: كَمْ كَانَ بَيْنَ نُوحٍ وَإِبْرَاهِيمَ؟ قَالَ: «عَشْرَةُ قُرُونٍ» قَالَ: يَا رَسُولَ اللَّهِ كَمْ كَانَتِ الرُّسُلُ؟ قَالَ: «ثَلَاثَ مِئَةٍ وَثَلَاثَةَ عَشَرَ. ⁴²

A person asked: O Messenger of Allah! Was Adam a prophet? He (Prophet) said: Yes, said: How (long have been) between him and Noah? He (Prophet) said: Ten centuries. Said: How many (years) were between Noah and Abraham? He (Prophet) said: Ten centuries, said: O Messenger of God, how many were the Apostles? He (Prophet) said: Three hundred and thirteen.

After viewing these verses, the prophet hood of Adam becomes evident, and all the doubts are cleared. While the Holy Quran and other religious scriptures describe Adam and his prophethood, none provide any detail regarding the scriptures which were revealed to him. Still, some discourses about those scriptures are found in the Hadith of Holy Prophet (but the original text is not cited) and other books of history as Tabari states: “To Adam He revealed ten leaves”. ⁴³

What those scrolls were, or what were the details of those scrolls or leaves, we do not know. This is the reason why the prophecies of Adam about Prophet Muhammad will be quoted from other Biblical sources.

• ¹  Michael E. Stone (Editor) (1998), Biblical Figures Outside the Bible, Trinity Press International, Harrisburg, USA.
• ²  Robert S. Ellwood, Gregory D. Elles, (1998), The Encyclopedia of World Religions, Facts on File Inc., New York, USA, Pg. 2
• ³  Gordon Newby (2002), A Concise Encyclopedia of Islam, One World Publications, Oxford, U.K, Pg. 18
• ⁴  Ibid
• ⁵  Muhammad bin Jareer Abu Jafer Al-Tabari (1989), The History of al-Tabari (translated), State University of New York Press, New York, USA, Pg. 259.
• ⁶  Rutherford H. Platt Jr. (1926), The Forgotten Books of Eden, Alpha House, New York, USA, Pg. 3.
• ⁷  Holy Quran, Al-Baqarah (The Cow) 2: 30
• ⁸  Abul Fida Ismail Ibne Kathir (2010), Early Days (Taken from Al Bidayah wan Nihayah, Translated by the Research department of Darussalam(, Riyadh, Saudia Arabia, Pg. 144.
• ⁹  Holy Quran, Al-Aa`raf (The Heights) 7: 11–13
• <sup>10</sup>  Holy Quran, Aale Imran (The Family of Imran) 3: 59
• <sup>11</sup>  Holy Quran, Al-Hijr (The Stones) 15: 26-32
• <sup>12</sup>  Muhammad bin Jareer Abu Jafer Al-Tabari, Tareekh-e-Tabari, Al-Qaolo Fi Khalq-e-Adam, Vol. 1, Darul Turas, Beirut, Lebanon, Pg. 104-105.
• <sup>13</sup>  Abul Fida Ismail Ibne Kathir (2010), Early Days (Taken from Al Bidayah wan Nihayah, translated by the Research department of Darussalam), Riyadh, Saudia Arabia, Pg. 121.
• <sup>14</sup>  Muhammad bin Eisa Al-Tirmizi (2009), Sunan Al-Tirmizi, Tafseer-ul-Quran, Hadith: 2955, Dar-ul-Salam, Riyadh, Saudia, Pg. 873.
• <sup>15</sup>  The Bible, Genesis 2:7
• <sup>16</sup>  Robert S. Ellwood & Gregory D. Elles (1998), The Encyclopedia of World Religions, Facts on File Inc., New York, USA, Pg. 115.
• <sup>17</sup>  Abul Fida Ismail Ibne Kathir, Stories of the Prophets (Translated by Muhammad Mustapha), Darussalam, Riyadh, Saudia Arabia, Pg. 11.
• <sup>18</sup>  Holy Quran, Al-Nisa (The Women) 4:1
• <sup>19</sup>  Holy Quran, Al-Aa`raf (The Heights) 7: 189
• ²⁰  Sayyed Abu Ala Mawdudi (1989), Towards Understanding the Quran, Translated by Zafar Ishaq Ansari, The Islamic Foundation, Leicester, U.K, Vol. 2, Pg. 5.
• ²¹  Abu Abdullah Muhammad Bin Ismail Al-Bukhari (1999), Sahih Bukhari, Kitab-ul-Anbiya, Hadith: 3331, Darussalam, Riyadh, Saudia, Pg. 553.
• ²²  Holy Quran, Al-Baqarah (The Cow) 2: 35
• ²³  Abul Fida Ismail Ibne Kathir, Stories of the Prophets (Translated by Muhammad Mustapha), Darussalam, Riyadh, Saudia Arabia, Pg. 11-12.
• ²⁴  Holy Quran, Al-Aa`raf (The Heights) 7: 20-22
• <sup>25</sup>  Abul Fida Ismail Ibne Kathir, Stories of the Prophets (Translated by Muhammad Mustapha), Darussalam, Riyadh, Saudia Arabia, Pg. 12.
• <sup>26</sup>  Holy Quran, Ta-Ha 20: 121
• <sup>27</sup> http://islamicstudies.info/tafheem.php?sura=20&verse=116: Retrieved: 22-06-2017
• <sup>28</sup>  Rev. S. Baring-Gould (1871), Legends of the Old Testament Characters from the Talmud and Other Sources, Macmillan And Co. New York, USA, Vol. 1 Pg. 30.
• <sup>29</sup>  Abul Fida Ismail Ibne Kathir, Stories of the Prophets (Translated by Muhammad Mustapha), Darussalam, Riyadh, Saudia Arabia, Pg. 12.
• <sup>30</sup>  Holy Quran, Al-Aa`raf (The Heights) 7: 27
• ³¹  Holy Quran, Al-Aa`raf (The Heights) 7: 22-25
• ³²  Holy Quran, Al-Baqarah (The Cow) 2: 30-33
• ³³  Abu Abdullah Muhammad Bin Ismail Al-Bukhari (1999), Sahih Bukhari, Kitab-ul-Anbiya, Hadith: 3409, Darussalam, Riyadh, Saudia, Pg. 572-573.
• ³⁴  Muslim bin Al-Hajjaj Abul Hassan Al-Neshapuri (2000), Sahih Muslim, Kitab-ul-Jumm’ah Hadith: 1976, Darussalam, Saudia, Pg. 343.
• ³⁵  A large black stone set into the wall of the Ka'ba in Makkah. It is said to have come from paradise.
• ³⁶  These are the names of two mountains in the vicinity of the sacred house in Makkah. Part of the rites of pilgrimage (hajj) includes pacing between these two hills in commemoration of Hajar's search for water.
• ³⁷  Abul Fida Ismail Ibne Kathir, Stories of the Prophets (Translated by Muhammad Mustapha), Darussalam, Riyadh, Saudia Arabia, Pg. 15.
• ³⁸  Holy Quran, Al-Baqarah (The Cow) 2: 37
• ³⁹  Holy Quran, Aale Imran (The Family of Imran) 3: 33
• ⁴⁰  Holy Quran, Al-Baqarah (The Cow) 2: 38-39
• ⁴¹  Sayyed Abu Ala Mawdudi (1989), Towards Understanding the Quran (Translated by Zafar Ishaq Ansari), The Islamic Foundation, Leicester, U.K, Vol. 1, Pg. 66.
• ⁴²  Suleman bin Ahmad bin Ayyub bin Muteer-ul-Khami Al-Shami, Abul Qasim Al-Tabrani (1984), Musnad-ul-Shameen, Hadees: 2861, Beruit, Lebanon. Vol: 4, Pg. 105.
• ⁴³  Muhammad ibn Jarir al-Tabari (1987), The History of Tabari (Translated by WilLiyam M. Brinner), State of New York Press, New York, USA, Vol. 2, Pg. 130.